From:	Galen Silversmith <galens@***.GWU.EDU>
Subject:	Re: adepts and metamagic
Date:	Wed, 30 Jun 1993 16:05:54 -0400

On Wed, 30 Jun 1993, SHADE wrote:
> My previous post had some errors in it. Sorry, but I did not have
> my Grim with me. Shamantic adepts as well as elementalists can perceive
> astrally and can therefore use most of the metamagic. Only centering for
> spellcasting requires astral perception. Dispelling does not require
> astral perception. Anchoring doesn't either, but the item must be enchanted
> and I wouldn't trust a talismonger to do it.

Well, actually, both Elementalists and Shamantic Adapets can project as
well as percieve, so they get all the percs of Initiation, including
meta-plane projection, which none of the other adapets can get.

> As for conjuring adepts with low magic attribute. Dispelling is almost
> certain to cause physical drain. They cant use shielding because it is based
> on magic pool which they don't have. This leaves the adept with the centering
> to drain and masking. Not too unbalancing in my opinion.

Well, that's not the way I see it. The Conjurer can only use Conjurartion
fully as a skill, but they are still allowed to have Sorcery as a skill,
and since they are somewhat magically attunded, they still should have a
pool, if they want it. As I see it, all the adapets would have atleast
some instinctive knowledge on how to protect themselves from a spell that
mundanes wouldn't have. i could, however, see that the pool is halved
compared to the actual spellcasters though, but I still believe they
should be able to have one. If they had a magic pool, it would also
allow them both spell resistance, as well as access to these meta-skills.

> The other adepts
> have similar drawbacks: Sorcery because they don't have perception they can't
> quicken, or center to spellcasting, or anchor without enchanting which they
> can't get. They can shield and dispel assuming they know some spell is
> active because they can't see it. While this makes them fairly strong it
> is still not nearly as strong as a full mage.

ummm... Why can't a Sorcerer get anchoring without enchanting? I don't
believe there is anything about needing to be astral to anchor w/o enchant.
If I missunderstood you, why can't they do it with enchanting?
Enchanting is a skill many mundanes participate in, so i see no reason
that adepts arn't allowed to use it.

> Shamantic adepts and elementalists have their fair share of problems
> Elementalists can't even get health spells. The earth elementalist is the
> only one with any variety of spells to choose from. Shamantics are better, but
> they loose their totum bonuses and are basically stuck to one type of spirit.
> These types of adepts also loose in the areas of meta magic in that they are
> not as deversified in what they can do.

Earth elemantalists can only use the "physical, matter based" spells as it
is, which means to telekinesis, no control emotions/thoughts, not mana
barriers, etc. But still, all of these adepts are pretty powerful. Any
corp would be hard pressed to stop a water-elemenatlist on getting inside
if they wanted. It's not likely you can pull anything over the eyes of an
air elementalist. I'd put most fire elementalists up verse a street sam
almost any day, and an earth elementalist can cause havoc whenever they
really want to.

Shamantic adepts have an even better advantage, being able summon on the
fly, and having a usually larger selection of spells to choose from, there
really isn't any way to insult them.

> In short while adepts look appealing the price they pay for half-magics
> barely makes up for the loss of money or skills given to street samurai, or the
versatility of a full fledged mage. These are only my opinions, yours may
> differ, but those are the facts as I see them.
>
> Isbin and Thurmite
> <hermetic mage:his ally>
That's just your opinion. i personnaly have a great prefferene toward
adepts. But this is also an illogical statement. You pointed-out all their
weaknesses verses a full mage or shaman, and used that as a basis for
saying an adept is worse than a Street Sam. I don't see the connection
anywhere, but I'll take your street sam on any day with either of my fire
adept or Snake adept any day. Just watch your back :)