From:	Mark Steedman <RSMS@******.EEE.RGU.AC.UK>
Subject:	Re: Speed is Life : now elementals ans sustaining
Date:	Wed, 27 Sep 1995 13:37:03 GMT

Jani Fikouras writes

> > > > Using elementals to sustain spells is expensive... :)
just slightly :)

> > >
> > > Well not nececerily, but a rather strong force 6-10 Elemental would
> > > be kinda expensive, not to mention taxing to summon :) Anyway its a really
> > > fullproff way of sustaining a spell on yourself and you only need to do it
> > > once a run. I'd say that a highpayed runner mage would definitely spend the
> > > 10K to do it.
yes they could, considering other folks using up ammo, drones etc
this can be worth it for heavy duty stuff, but remember most astral
defences only respond to astral intrusion, hence you could just be
unlocking another can of worms, like watcher to wage mage 'Da's a
whooping huge great fire thing over derrr, i don't like it !!' no
prizes for guessing what happens next.

> I dont think that a force 10 elemental has much to fear from spells.
depends but unless they are force 6 and karmered its likely to last a
while. [ this depends lots on how 'good' your dice are]

> And yes the elemental can sure sustain it and fight at the same
> time,
i would agree with that.

> not that anyone would be dumb enough toduke it out with a
> force 10 elemental in the astral.
depends a LOT on the mage. Your 'average' mage could roll sorcery 6 +
6 pool dice, so with a decent Charisma could hurt it hand - hand,
though i don't fancy it without karma on hand. From experience fire
elementals are a real pain, there action is ranged attack, so you
don't get to hit back at only 4's!, this gets through damage tracks
and karma real fast.
However give that mage any sort of reach enhancing weapon focus or
charisma 6 and reasonable karma on the first roll or nice big force 6
spell and life can look lots different very very fast.

> And even if that happens, you
> can always project and gang up on the attacker, can you say *ouch* :)
>
Squelch, ah look at the mess, would be more in line unless the wage
mage is some nasty grade initate and you are not.

Mark