From:	"Jason Carter, Nightstalker" <CARTER@***.EDU>
Subject:	Re: magick
Date:	Sat, 15 May 1993 12:32:13 -0700

>>I would like to ask people out there what they think of the mages
"lifestyle"
>>in terms of aquiring foci, artifacts, and spells. I really dislike the fact
>>that mages have to burn outrageous amount of Karma just to do or get anything.

Considering the cost of most magic items (cash and karma) along with the
disadvantages, there isn't that much of a problem. Especially when you remember
that everyone else ends up pouring tons of karma into their skills.

>>Instead, in my world spells are extremely tightly controlled as is magical
>>research. Usually major University magic depts. have a special computer
>>devoted to magic spells, lab work, modeling programs, and discussions. Acess
>>is strictly controlled and partitioned. Undergrads only get acess to spells
>>up to M drain. Grads S and later some D drain spells. Things like Hellblast
>>and other nasty stuff is for profs - or by special permission. Discussions,
>>lab work, and modeling/simulation programs are similarly controlled and
>>partioned.

That's all fine and dandy for people who study magic in school, but most
shadowrunners learn their spells directly from other magicians. Who cares if
only graduates can get S drain spells from the computer, I'll just learn it for
Sal the Mage. Besides, I'd just convince the party decker to bust into the
system and grab all the spell formulas he could get his hands on.

>>So in my game the mage actively seeks to get access into (and then higher
>>levels of) MagCom time. This creates raw material for adventures and acts as
>>a bonus mechanism. This way I can controll and dispense magic and avoid alot
>>of the hassle in the book. The foci & artifacts in my game are similarly
>>dispensed, either as "spoils" recovered from a 'run or
given/bought/found by
>>the mage. I control the level and power of these things so I don't make the
>>mage burn mucho karma getting the stuff. Same thing for initiation. So whadda
>>you guys think.

Making foci less common would just require the GM making them less available or
more expensive. "So what if you have 350,000 Nuyen, the enchanter only has a
power focus 3 available and he wants 400,000 Nuyen for it. Now if you want a
power focus 2 he can build one, but it will take a month and cost 300,000
Nuyen." Still, foci and initiation should still cost karma, but if you think
they cost too much, reduce the cost.

>>--- Oh, by the way. the name or unit of measure of magic in my game is
>>Tolkiens (just like volts or amps or watts measure electricity)

Sounds too scientific for magic. I hear shamans laughing in the distance.

See Ya in Shadows,
Jason J Carter
The Nightstalker