From:	"Mark Steedman" <M.J.Steedman@***.rgu.ac.uk>
Subject:	Re: (Yet more) Magical questions
Date:	Tue, 14 May 1996 13:40:58 GMT

Joel Nesbitt writes

> Just a few questions, on which I would be most grateful for any comments:
>
> I think I'm right on this already, but sustaining a spell does not require
> LOS to be sustained as well, does it?
>
As some folks said no, only to cast though the SR2 books are not very
explicit about this.

> Does the +2 target modifier for sustaining a spell apply to the Drain
> test for that spell?
>
It would seem some folks say yes. Well i say no. I treat it as a
damage resistance test and do not apply target number penalties
[two exceptions, multicast that specifically states it applies to
drain target nos and 'Very high' background count -see the rules for
that (not in Grimoire, if that does not help you should not know :) )]

If you apply penalties to drain for sustaining spells you should
apply wound penalties as well, and both of these to all other damage
resistance target numbers. The result will likely be mor realistic
(injured folks jump out of the way more slowly) but it leads to
exponential rates of taking damage and two types of characters
1) alive and unhurt, because he/she still has karma pool
2) dead, thats a very fast slippery slide once the karma runs out and
you start taking damage.

> Is it possible for someone to do Ritual Sorcery on his/her own?
>
Yes but its very difficult as you have to split your dice up so much.

> Detect Spells, eg. Detect Life, do they simply give a result of "yes
> there is life in the target area" or is positional information available
> as well - I'd assumed that the GM should perhaps say something along the
> lines of "Yes, there's two lifeforms about 10 metres to your right and
> one about 5 meters below you" or perhaps draw the player a little circle
> with dots for any 'blips' that show up. The same rules apply to Detect
> Life, Guns, Enemies, Trolls, whatever, correct?
>
GM discretion but some idea of target location would seems fair.

> Can you use an expendable fetish for one which requires a reusable one?
>
No see the rules.

> And whilst I'm asking, does anyone know of ay supplements that might
> allow a sorcerer to somehow learn astral perception (LOTS of initiation,
> perhaps?), 'official' FASA or otherwise. I fully deny all allegations of
> munchkinism ;-)
>
Nothing offical, although the 'physical magician' from awakenings can
simulate somthing pretty close to this (buts its magic A). I have
home written rules for in game expression of magic/metahumanity but
no time to post them now (as have other folks - varying degrees of
detail i suspect its happened enough times i've heard of).

>
> Joel
>
Mark