| From: | Todd James Gillespie <toddg@****.ACS.UNT.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Death Spells |
| Date: | Wed, 21 Jun 1995 08:42:18 -0500 |
> Todd James wrote:
>
> >> New subject. I don't know if any of you read the Wheel of Time
> >>series by Robert Jordan, but there are several scenes in there that show
> >>something I think should happen, that being last blast magic. There are
> >>times where people who are so ridden with pain, loss, shock, etc. reach
> >>out to the magical energies and, knowing it will kill them, channel an
> >>incredible amount of magical energy to destroy whatever. Such as when
<snip>
>
> Why bother with all the rulings? If a character wants to do this, just rule
> that they achieve the effect and die. This kind of 'last ditch' effort (as
> seen at the very end of the 2XS novel) should, IMHO, be reserved for
> climactic endings to a very important and dramatic event in a campaign, and
> as such rules are irrelevant. As soon as you start giving it numbers and
> dice rolls, characters are going to start using it willy nilly as an excuse
> to cast really powerful spells all the time. This just shouldn't happen -
> the player should _know_ that his/her character is going to die if they try
> this. That way, it really represents a sacrifice. (Of course, as the ref,
> you could always surprise them and let them live, but the players should be
> as surprised as Hart was if this happens, and certainyl shouldn't count on
> getting away with it again).
I think you're right about screwing the rulings tolet it happen.
However, I think some slight guidelines should be set, other wise you get
something like: GM:"he's dead. (renraku guards got him)" P: "Ok, I make
Japan explode into a thousand pieces and sink into the sea."
I like the idea of running suicide magic, but my players aren't
going to cause another Breaking of the World. Not while I'm GMing.
Also, Andy and Mike, adstral plane fluctuations wasn't something I had
considered before. Good idea, as a matter of fact, it can be used for
more than a last ditch effort. However, you also have to consider that I
was talking about more than just whatever random flux comes by, I mean
where the char. actively reaches out to channel an incredible amount of
astral energy. Remember also that they will barely be able to control
this spell, or maybe not at all. Add to that the fact that they have lost
it, and they probably won't want to control it that much anyway. So we
are looking at many deaths.
Remember, though, not everyone can do this everytime a player dies. Only
those whose mental condition has gone to that point (guess who decides
mental conditions here <evil grin>) or else those characters whose
players are giving me fabulous sex.
And good for me.
