From:	"Mike (Leszek Karlik)" <trrkt@******.COM>
Subject:	Re: SPELL: Totemform
Date:	Sun, 20 Jul 1997 04:24:23 +0000

Hmmm...

> >> > This spell can be cast only by shamanic initiates.
> >> I really don't see why.
> >Because it masks the aura. It is rather useful this way, and I think
> >that since masking is only available to initiates...

> I think it was the 'shamanic' part he was disputing...

Oh, yeah. I see. Well, mages have no Totem, so this would be kinda
poinless for them (I suppose). A shamanic adept could cast
it, too...

> >> > Range: Personal only

> Why? Why wouldn't the Totem give the shaman the ability to pass such a
> 'gift' to another person?

Well, because draws directly on the strength of the totem, which is
given as a form of "reward" for the caster. (Also, it lowers the
drain code :P ).
But I see it could be disputable...


> >Yes, but masking allows only to appear as a mundane human. An animal
> >with a human aura in astral space is a pretty obvious give-away,
> >isn't it? Now, think of the possibilities for the Rat shaman (you can
> >spell-cast in the animal form, after all...).

> I think your point on Masking is open to debate. What it says is that it
> 'hides the true nature of the magician's aura, allowing him to appear as
> a mundane when assensed.' In my mind, at least, there's no reason he
> shouldn't be able to make his aura appear as whatever the heck he wants,
> it hides the aura's true appearance, I see no reason the initiate should
> be limited to the appearance of a mundane or a non-initiate if he prefer
> something else. One could assume, however, that a mundane of the
> magician's race is the default appearance, else a dragon or one of the
> <gasp> IE would be unable to appear as anything but a dragon or Immortal
> Elf (we'll ignore the fact that such persons don't exactly obey the
> normal game rules:)

Hmmm... Yeah, if the GM rules you're able to mask yourself as
whatever you want, I guess you're better off with a Personal
Critterform... :> Still, the only +1 for sustaining as a gift from
the totem is nice. (Of course, I would rule that it's not cumulative
with the Focussed Concentration. Or maybe it is? Darn, I guess it
would be worth the higher drain... Anyway, we have no Companion, thus
no E&Fs...)

> While, I'm talking, your e-mail reply-to isn't getting over-ridden by the
> listproc. You might have fewer problems with it if you leave the reply-to
> blank...

Thanks...

Mike (Leszek Karlik) - trrkt@******.com; http://www.wlkp.top.pl/~bear/mike
FL/GN Leszek/Raptor II/ISD Vanguard, (ISM) {IWATS-IIC} JH(Sith)/House Scholae Palatinae
(Emperor's Hammer)
Michael Cross - clan Nosferatu, computer hacker.