From:	Jeffrey Riordan <JRIORDAN@***.gov>
Subject:	Re: Spell loss -Reply
Date:	Tue, 21 May 1996 09:42:10 -0400

(Snip. Other material quoted by A Halliwell from a
message by TopCat.)

>>> A Halliwell <u5a77@**.keele.ac.uk> 05/21/96
05:20am >>>

And just because you've got a force 6 spell, doen't
mean you can't cast it at a lower force......
<<<<<<<<<<<<

The point of the post I made was that it IS possible
to lose the magic abilaty. There is a reason there is
an Arch type called the Burned out Mage. If you don't
have 1 point of Magic rating I don't care how much
Karma you've spent in Spells you can't do a thing with
them. Cyber may get damaged but it can be repaired
(replaced in some cases depending on your GM). You
don't lose the cybereyes unless some one shoots
them out or steals them.
I think both are equal as far as potential for growth
and increase in abilaties. Another factor depends on
the style of the GM a great deal. If your GM throws
several combat situations at you per run then odds
are that the Sams will shine brighter than the mages.
If the GM doesn't than the Mages will be as prominent
if not more than the Sams. Yes, this sounds like a
stereotype but mage spells can often go beyond the
limits of things like enhanced hearing/sight cyber
mods.
I am not saying that it's always the case since I've
seen Combat mages that toast 3 street sams in one
shot with a Mana ball that his friend couldn't have
done short of using a HE rocket to catch them all in the
blast area.
Both sides have Pros and Cons and each person
has their own preference and opinion about which is
better. The only thing that is true is that no matter how
good you think you are there is always someone else
who is better.