From:	Sebastian Vilstrup <vilstrup@*****.IHI.KU.DK>
Subject:	Re: Stuff
Date:	Tue, 19 Sep 1995 14:13:47 +0200

Christopher Maley <cmaley@******.LINFIELD.EDU> wrote

>Hello. I'm fairly new to this post and I have about a zillion questions
>about Shadowrun. For now I'll just ask one.
> This weekend I'm starting a campaign With several magic users,
>and I'm still not clear on the whole concept of fetishes. What is their
>general purpose? How do they effect the game in terms of dice? How do
>they effect spells? I'd appreciate any help.

The purpose of fetishes is to boost the power of your spell, without
causing more drain. This is done by having the fetish touch your skin
(holding it in your hand or perhaps in a necklage under the clothes) and
channeling the magical power through it.
The use of fetish must be decided upon at the time of character
creation or when the character learns a spell in-game. It can never be
changed, but the character can learn the same spell again without the
fetish if she wishes. Ergo one spell with and one without.

Game terms: Basically there are two kind of fetishes, reusable and
expendable.
Reusable fetishes add 1 effective force to your spell.
Expendable festishes add 2 effective force to your spell

the spell functions exactly as if it were one or two force points higher
for all intents and purposes, except when calculating drain. The drain is
always based on the base force of the spell.

Example: Patriot the mage want to throw a manabolt at the goons. His
manabolt spell requires an expendable fetish. He casts it at force 4, adds
2 for the fetish, and lets the energy go. Patriot rolls 6 dice (eff.
force) + magic pool (up to magic attr.) vs. the goons willpower. The
goons roll his willpower vs. TN 6 and probably takes a lot of damage.
Normally such a spell would cause 6/2 S drain, but since the base force
is only 4 Patriot only takes 4/2 S drain.

>
>Thanx, >C.M.

I'm glad to help, that's one of the things we're here for. Don't be
afraid to ask stupid questions, we've all been through it. Someony
probably knows the answer

Welcome to the list
Madman