| From: | John E Pederson <lobo1@****.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Chargen |
| Date: | Wed, 23 Jul 1997 11:51:26 EDT |
<<Nonsense. I have thoroughly read the point system. I just reread the
entire section and couldnt find a single sentence saying anything about
base magical ability being a requirement for taking magical edges. I
couldnt find a "Magical Talents" section anywhere in the Companion. I
realize it makes sense for the low essence samauri to be unable to use
magical edges however the (official) rules do not state that he is unable
to take them. >>
<buzzer> Oh, I'm sorry, that's not the correct answer, but you've been a
great contestant and we have some wonderful consolation prizes for you...
Actually, that is _exactly_ what the official rules state. Under "Magical
Talent", p33
Only magically active characters with Magic Ratings of 1 or
higher can purchase any of the Magical Talent Edges. . .
This is contrary to the intentions of the writer (Steve Kenson), who
intended that only a character who has not already selected Magic
Priority could get _one_ of the Magical Talent Edges (so a character
without any selected Magic Priority could get Astral Sight OR the ability
to conjure watchers OR the ability to cast a _single_ spell OR etc, etc)
<<Please feel free to post a page number for the section "Magical
Talents" I seem to have "overlooked" it.>>
See above.
<<The description of astral perception as an Edge is this: "The character
can see into the astral plane through astral perception. However,
characters cannot astrally project or make use of any magical skills
without the appropriate magic priority allocation. Astrally active
characters have all the normal abilities of astral perception and can
learn the aura reading skill (p.96 AWAKENINGS)." I am not advocating that
GMs let .1 essence samauri have magical abilities however there is
nothing in the book that prohibits it.>>
Again, see above. It also states that a character loses all magical
talents and abilities when his Magic rating becomes less than 1.
<<Are you trying to imply the point system cant be abused? I suggest
house rules.>>
No, TopCat just feels that the point system is less open to abuse, not
that it is immune to abuse.
<<As for the other edges/flaws some are _incredibly_ easy to abuse. Take
for example the 1 pt edge Natural Immunity.>>
Actually, Astral Sight is a better one, you can give it to a physad. Or
there's Lightning Reflexes. Or High Pain Tolerance. Or Amnesia (for the
person too lazy to write up a background, 2 _extra_ Build Points). Or
SOTA Model. Or Aptitude. Or. . . But, if you, as a GM, can't trust your
players to create balanced characters on their own, then you need to
start working more closely with them. Feel free to ban certain Edges and
Flaws, and feel free to ban the entire point-based system, the entire
book is totally optional, after all.
<<Is it balanced if RunnerX is immune to narcoject toxin in exchange for
a mild phobia of hearing a trains whistle? I guess that +1TN modifier
while hearing a train whistly is worth complete immunity to narcoject? At
any rate please show me I'm wrong.>>
On which point, Magical Talents or Natural Immunity? I just demonstrated
Magical Talents, and if you'll read closely you'll see that Natural
Immunity is only good against a _natural_ disease or toxin, so unless you
can point out a passage where it states that Narcoject is a
naturally-ocurring substance. . . You can have an immunity to hemlock, or
nightshade, cyanide (it _does_ occur naturally, after all:) or against
VITAS or the common cold, but not against any man-made poison or
biowarfare agent, which is explicitly stated in the approriate text.
<<I would rather like to read the cleverly hidden section on balancing
magical talents.>>
Page 33, bottom left-hand column, Shadowrun Companion. Read it closely,
it's not that complicated.
--
-Canthros
I had rather believe all the fables in the legends and the Talmud
and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind.
--Francis Bacon
http://members.aol.com/canthros1
