From:	"J. Keith Henry" <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject:	Re: The Chromium Mage (was: [SR3] Geasa)
Date:	Wed, 30 Jul 1997 23:49:11 -0400

In a message dated 97-07-30 15:11:22 EDT, mbreton@**.netcom.com (Matb)
writes:

>
> Speaking of Conjuring, neither Enchanters nor Astral Adepts rely on
> their Magic Rating either, a situation which could be improved upon.
> I'd suggest making the "Reduce Time" test a function of Magic Rating.
> Not sure how it can be incorporated into Astral Adeptitude, since
> Assensing is pretty straightforward. Maybe have it apply a reduction in
> target number (Astral Adepts *should* be better at Assensing than anyone
> else.)

Okay, from someone whose fave character is an Enchanter Adept, I can say that
this isn't totally correct. Magic Attribute in Orichalcum is a requirement,
as is in the radical tests. And if you are going for the Shamanic Adept
variation on the Enchanter Adept (say for Creator or Ometeotl-EWG), then the
idea of spending more time on the Astral Plane searching for the correct
astral energies of a given raw material is nice as well.

As for making things better, how about letting Astral Adepts spend their
points like a Physical Adept for a couple of "Edges", say Aptitude (Aura
Reading) or for the Enchanter, Aptitude (Enchanting). It mentions Sorcery
and Combat Skill and Computers, but what about the support skills? Why does
everyone and everything have to be about augmenting the one, how about
augmenting the -ALL- as well.

> Now, I do have a problem with the adept who goes out and buys a megayen
> of foci and bonds them all. The problem can usually solved by several
> NPC mages and a few ground spells....

Or maybe a piano falling on someone's head...just as evil...

> How many out there allow initiation for starting characters? Not many.
> Physads, incidentally, don't get the base 30 Force in the build system,
> and even allowing for the non-Edge purchase of them (Q: Why have the
> somewhat-optional Edge when a somewhat-optional rule allows for it
> anyway?) means they have to blow a considerable amount of points on
> Initiating for a marginal increase in ability. The more experienced
> players won't; the beginners usually end up with a dead character.

If I have someone who is joining a given storyline in progress, and an
initiated mage or adept is an option (depending on the group status and/or
feelings), then allowing for someone to start as Grade 0 (Grade 1 for a
PAdept) isn't so bad. Circumstances would make the ruling.