From:	Jani Fikouras <feanor@**********.UNI-BREMEN.DE>
Subject:	Re: SR's Poor Magic System, IMHO!
Date:	Fri, 9 Jun 1995 13:00:27 +0200

> > I think the WYTIWYG rule should only be applied, as FASA applies it, to
> > Important Mystical NPCs.
>
> An excellent idea.

*Sigh* Would someone care to explain to me why everyone (or at least lotsa
people) seem to think that WYTIWYG is meant for player use ? I have repeatedly
emphasised that its only a background idea, used to interpret and explain
the magic system as presented by FASA.

> > As for the "mad mage" idea, where the guy is insane and so
believes
> > that he's a god, or whatever; I'd play it as either 1. If you're mad, you
> > can't properly channel the spell forces and you're going to run into
> > trouble or 2.Madness doesn't qualify as belief necessary to fuel magic or
> > 3.Madness is a surface thing, while magic comes from, and is dependent
> > upon, the inner subconcious and experience that knows better.
>
> None of these convince me as good reasons for stopping the mad mage
> from munchkinising through WYTIWYG: 1) Removes too much potential
> for colour and drama, 2) Sounds too much like an arbitrary kludge,
> and 3) just sounds wrong - madness can go as deep as you like.

The fix is simple. A "mad magician" would definitely qualify for
a different world view. B?ut I see him as the equivalent of a samurai
with more that 6 points of essence in cyberware. He is simply out of
bounds and therefore should not be used as a PC. Period.

> The real `fix' is to stop using the term WYTIWYG - it's too misleading.
> It's not what you think is what you get. It's just that a few (very
> few) of the rules of magic are limited by people's belief systems.
>
> That doesn't mean that what you believe will work, will work.
> That's why the term WYTIWYG is so wrong.

What you believe will certainly work. Albeit within the limits
of the possible and with the fact in mind that you canot consiously
change your world view.

--
GCS d H s+: !g p1 !au a- w+ v-(?) C++++ UA++$S++L++$>++++ L++>+++ E--- N+ h*(+)
W(+)(---) M-- !V(--) -po+(---) Y+ t++ 5++ R+++ tv b++ e+ u++(-) f+ r- n!(-) y?

Moderator of alt.c00ld00z (coolness in general)