From:	Brett Borger <bxb121@***.EDU>
Subject:	Re: [SR3] Spell Rituals
Date:	Wed, 9 Jul 1997 08:13:50 EST

> RITUALS

Don't call them rituals, save that name for the "preparation"
modifier someone suggested. Look up some appropriately impressive
sounding name.

> When casting a spell, the caster chooses whether or not to apply any
> rituals to it. Each ritual used in the spellcasting reduces the
> Force of the spell by one for the purpose of determining the Drain

Gurth pointed out that this makes Talismans the same as Fetishes.

> Rituals cannot reduce the effective Force of a spell for Drain
> purposes below 1. Ritual modifiers are applied before Drain Code
> modifiers. If the final result is less than 2, the Drain Target
> Number is considered to be 2. For example, a Powerbolt spell has a
> Drain of +1S. If the spell is cast at Force 5 with two rituals, the
> effective Force for Drain is reduced to 3. The final Drain Code for
> the spell is (3+1) = 4S.

Good. You define it well, with example, removing the chance of
loopholes.

> Rituals can only be used while the spellcaster is in physical form
> (including while using astral perception) because they rely on

Also good.

> Exclusive

I would worry that characters would start using such rituals all the
time....this is alright, but only if you bulk up the drain codes.

BTW, mention the spell defense thing in the definition..."magical
skill" isn't very clear.


> Fetish

See Gurth's comment about Fetishes and Talismans. BTW, I like
separating the two into different names.

> Gesture
> The caster must gesture, dance or make similar movements while
> casting the spell. This requires the caster to be free to move. Such
> movements are easily noticed and preclude the use of Stealth.

Better clear up about how this is _SO_ bloody obvious as opposed to
normal casting which is <insert poor current definition of your favor
here>

> Incantation
> Talisman
> GEASA
> CENTERING

Ok. Unlike Caric, I think using those last two as "countable towards
multibple" works, because of the added penalty (you have to be
initiated to get Centering, and you get a +2 if you don't fulfill the
geasa)

Otherwise it will be a long debate about using Centering vs. Using
the ritual....IT would pretty much kill centering, since you would
need a very high Centering Skill to make it worth giving up the
rituals.

-=SwiftOne=-