From:	Tom Pendergrast <pendergr@***.EDU>
Subject:	Re: High profile guns and magic
Date:	Wed, 15 May 1996 14:21:55 -0700 (PDT)

<snip>
> > Like wise, it's good to have a force 10 mana bolt to
> > throw around when you need to get your ass out of the fire. If you start
> > casting it at people on the street, you're going to get LS on you, for the
> > same reasons as for a PAC.
>
> Agreed. Keep in mind that there is a target number to notice
> spellcasting. If you do level that force 10 manabolt at someone in your
> local McHugh's, there will be lots of people seeing it (it's kind of hard
> to hide), and later saying to the police, "And then there was this guy,
> and he held out his arms, and, and all of a sudden there was a shimmer
> around him and the other guy's head exploded, and there were brains all
> over the place, and..." Then the police will proceed to get a
<snip>
> The major difference between high profile guns and high profile
> magic is that the guns get spotted whether they are being used or not.
> Magic is a bit more subtle in that it only becomes apparent when it's too
> late. Either way, there is a time and place for high profile offensive
> capability, but it should be applied judiciously and cautiously so as to
> minimize your opportunities for screwing yourself.

Our mage friend's biggest spell is a force-9(11ex) manabolt. His MR is
14 (17, PF3). 90% of the time, he casts it down to a 6(8) 'bolt... which
is going to be nearly impossible to spot. Even when he casts is at full,
its stil going to be 1 in hundreds to spot... but I fully see your point.


---Tom---

---the ex-double parenthesis guy---