From:	Justin Pinnow <vanyel@*******.NET>
Subject:	Re: Astral Targeting
Date:	Mon, 14 Jul 1997 12:52:44 -0400

> From: Bruce H. Nagel <NAGELBH@******.ACS.MUOHIO.EDU>
> Date: Monday, July 14, 1997 1:30 PM
>

> My take on spell targeting prior to hearing of the correction in the 3rd
> printing was this: All spells need a 'bridge' from astral to the
physical to
> affect the target. In grounding, an active focus provides this
> astral-to-physical bridge. Otherwise, something must provide it. In the
case
> of my previous understanding, wherein physical sight (not assensing)
could
> provide this, allowing the spell to travel to the target's aura and
ground from
> it into their physical form (doing damage or what-have-you). Something
needed
> to provide this bridge. Now, if they reversed themselves in the 3rd
printing
> and decided that assensing *could* target a spell for a target you could
not
> physically see, well... Now there is a gap. What forms the 'bridge'
here?
> Their astral-aura-to-body connection? No, because if they are a mundane,
or a
> magician lacking active foci, you cannot cast spells on them from the
astral,
> can you? An active focus on them would allow you to, because it is a
constant
> bridge. When astral (assensing or projecting) you could only cast at
astrally
> active targets (spirits, foci, barriers, et cetera).

> This is why I thought the way I did, and would like an explanation if
someone
> has one handy, as to how a bridge for the spell is formed without
physical
> senses finding the target.

Okay, here is the deal. Nothing's really changed. You need to have 2
things in order to target someone with a spell: the target needs to be
present in both the physical and the astral (keep in mind that having a
living aura is enough presence on the astral in this case); and you need to
meet the same qualifications, plus you need to synchronize the spell
between your aura and the target's. This is always the case, except for
Damaging Manipulations.

If, however, you are astrally projecting, you no longer have the physical
portion of your requirement fulfilled, and therefore cannot target someone
with a spell unless: 1.) they exist solely on the astral; or 2.) they
provide some bridge that is strong enough to carry the spell into the
physical via their aura (for example: an active focus or they are
dual-natured).

Damaging Manipulations cannot be cast while on the astral...you need to be
physical to cast them, and cannot ground them.

Hope that clears things up. :)

> losthalo

Justin :)