From:	Mark Steedman <RSMS@******.EEE.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject:	Re: No mage bias?!!! (Was: potential ...)
Date:	Wed, 26 Apr 1995 11:04:11 GMT

Jani Fikouras writes

>
> > > It's a bitch making a mage and very rarely does it turn out the
> > > way you want it.
>
> I fully agree, but thats the price for versatility. The system is
> fine as it is.
>
It is only a pain if you are sensible and keep the spell locks under
control. Not only are too many munchkin (they are very hard) but they
turn you into an astral 'Christmas tree' hey i'm hard. Ever heard of
folks trying to 'beat the fastest gun in the west'.

> Well both our mage players think that the char gen system forces
> the players to make one dimentional mages - but as I said thats the
> price you pay for all that versatility. Do sammies complain about
> their cyberpsychosys :)
>
> > And once they start Initiating ... !
>
> Why would anyone want to initiate beyond grade 0 anyway. It costs
> LOADS of karma and all you get for it is masking. Why not just
> increase your attributes/skills... ?
>
For masking, the most wonderful ability out.
This allows you to tell lies on the astral plane, hey i'm a mundane
joe bloggs, and he looks it! well till he starts dropping manabolts
anyway.
Also this allows you to use spell locks without people grounding
things through them. Masked detect enemies is very nice, enemy mage
sneaking up behind you, thinks you're mundane and goes BLAM, only to
whatch in dismay as the shielding pops up (enemy detect you knew it
was comming) and one pissed initiate turn round and give him a lesson
in manners. (particularl;y if hes also got maked +3d6 initative
locked.)
[carefull though too much karma and this gets very munchkin very
easily, i fourtunately have not seen it done by as PC yet in practice]

> --
> "Believe in Angels." -- The Crow
>
Mark