| From: | "Jason Carter, Nightstalker" <CARTER@***.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Metaphysical Maelstrom |
| Date: | Sun, 18 Apr 1993 17:42:43 -0700 |
1) I stated quite clearly that what instigated this idea was a friend's desire
incorporate the Magic Attribute into spell casting such that it possessed a
far more integral role.
The Magic Attribute does the following in SRII spell casting:
1) Determines the Maximum number of Magic Pool Dice that can be added to the
Magic Success Test.
2) Is used to determine the Range of a Limited Range Spell.
3) Determines the Max Force of spell that can be cast without taking Physcial
Drain.
4) Determines the area of an Area Effect spell.
5) Is the base time a Sustained Ritual Sorcery Spell is sustained.
How much more must the Magic Attribute do to be an integral part of spell
casting?
2) The nature of Initiation...
In SRI, initiate shamans do come closer to their Totems. Their Totem Dice are
increased by their Grade. This is initiation affecting their spell tossing
ability directly. Maybe your GM should do something similar for Hermetic mages
and those silly Coyote Shamans. That will make Initiation affect spellcasting
directly without a whole new set of Magic rules.
3) The semantics of Experience...
Doctor, the Magic Attribute is a horrible thing to equate as experience. It
inicates the strength of you bond to the astral plane, not how much skill you
have. Skill is the measure of experience. In the case of magic, Sorcery is the
skill that tells how much experience. Given two mages with Magic 6, how do you
tell which is more experienced? Look at their Sorcery skill ratings.
The very fact that you can lose Magic Attribute points tells you it cannot be
experience. You don't loose experience, it stays with you always. Thus
anywhere in your equations were you put the Magic Attribute to show the effect
of Experience you should be putting Sorcery Skill.
5) It should be pointed out that...
Although I can understands your GM's disliking of SRII in general, the
changes to Magic in SRII are excellent IMHO. But if your using SRI magic and
Grimoire, than resisting D3 drains codes is easy for a high grade initiate.
Take your centering skill (still the Number 1 best reason it initiate) and
resist drain with them. The target number is only the force of the spell minus
your grade. How hard can that be?
7) As to the case of Vampires, why should they be more powerful? Why should
this virus affect them thusly?
Actually, Vampires are more powerful in magic than normal people. First of
all to qoute the Vampire entry in SRII:
Magic Capability: Latent. Active Magic is much commoner in humans infected
with the virus than among the uninfected. It is unknown whether this is due to
side effects of the virus or perferential selection of magic-capable
individuals by its carriers.
Vampires absorb the life essence of their victims. With their prolonged life
span, they have the potential to become powerful magicians. It seems likely
that legends of vampiric powers are based on the magical prowess of individual
vampires.
I'll take the first hypotheses as to why they are more likely to use magic.
On the question as to why vampires have been written as powerful magicians,
everybody who could use magic before the Awakening seemed to be a powerful
magicains reguardless of how strong he really was.
Also if a vampire has an essence of 10, much higher than any human will have,
then his Magic Attribute is 10. Can we say Force 10 Manabolt? Thirdly they
regenerate any drain damage they take. Can we say I don't give a damn about
drain? Can we see why vampires are powerful Magicians?
See Ya in Shadows,
Jason J Carter
The Nightstalker
