From:	The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject:	Gathering
Date:	Thu, 12 Aug 1993 15:25:19 -0500

>The Power (Game Mechanics): Once a mage (Initiation Level 1) has decided to
>cast a spell, and specified a Force Level, he may try to "Gather Magic" in
>order to make it more potent. To do this he must relax and go into Astral
>Space. For every Complex Action he spends in astral space (up to a maximum
>equal to his Magic Attribute) he may try to "Gather MagiC". Every action he
may
>roll a number of dice equal to his Magic Attribute - this represents him using
>his "sensitivity" to the threads and currents of Astral Energy- to Gather
Magic
>al Force. Target Number is the Declared Force of the spell. For every success
>he gathers one point of magical force. At the end, he MUST cast the spell at
>the declared force or loose the spell and the Gathered Magic. Benifits: For
>every point the mage gathers his Drain Target number goes down 1, thus possibly
>reducing a spell that would have caused physical damage to stun damage.

>Say the mage has an Magic Attribute of 7. He decides to cast a Force 9 fireball
> Its combat time, and his crew is badly outnumbered. He declares all this
>stuff and goes into astral space to Gather Magic. He spends only 2 complex acti
>ons doing this (he's in a hurry) and gets 4 successes. Now he must cast the
>spell, which he does, his Drain Target number is now 4. In addition, he resists
>the spell as if he had cast it at Force 4 (Drain is stun, not physical).

If he got four successes, wouldn't that reduce it to Force 5 for drain purposes?
(9-4=5) <--I'm pretty sure of this :)

Also, the wording is a litle obtuse. Let me make sure I understand what
you're supposed to do:
Mage selects Force of Spell
Every Complex Action Mage spends Gathering, he rolls his
Magic Attribute vs a TN of actual Spell Force. Each
success lowers the effective Force of the spell for the
purpose of Drain only.

I would also make more flexible, allowing it to affect things like TN
penalties, as well as drain, much like Centering. In fact, this whole idea
(not just from you) is like Centering except that it takes time.

/
\I/ J Roberson
-0- Modesty, Sobriety, are rare in this society
/I\ -Sting, "Englishman in New York"
+ Nothing Like the Sun