From:	Robert Watkins <bob@**.NTU.EDU.AU>
Subject:	Re: Specialized Barriers
Date:	Sat, 8 Apr 1995 14:16:46 +0930

Marc A Renouf wrote:
>
> Remember that the barrier is a construct of will by the casting
> mage or shaman. As such, it has some similarities to the caster. The
> caster *knows* what a bullet is, even in all its myriad manifestations.
> Thus, the barrier will *know* what bullets are because the caster had
> that type of object in mind when erecting the barrier in the first
> place. And it's easier to cast than a normal physical barrier because
> the caster doesn't have to consider *all* of the possible things that
> could be coming his way.
> It's not a matter of the barrier spell being able to recognize
> what a bullet is, it's a matter of the will of the caster.

This is probably the best summary I've seen.

If we consder the way a magician practises magic to be affected by his/her
world view (and we must, according to HB), then it's obvious that specific
target spells are also affected by this world view.

A bullet barrier stops bullets. Speed is irrelevant (at least in my game...
I tend to have bullet barriers as a means of searching players. "Step right
through this crackling wall of energy, please.") Blade barriers stop
blades. Purple people eater barriers stop purple people eaters. In all
cases, it's what the designer considers it to affect. If you weren't aware
of what a bullet was, you wouldn't be able to design a bullet barrier.

Me, my bullet barrier would stop artillery shells (I think of them as
bullets, fired by bloody big guns). But other bullet barriers may only stop
bullets fired by firearms (which is the case of the bullet barrier in the
rules). Get the spell designers to say how far reaching the definition is,
and work out the drain on that.

--
Robert Watkins bob@**.ntu.edu.au
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