From:	Jonathan Hurley <jhurley1@************.EDU>
Subject:	Re: New Physad Metamagic Power
Date:	Wed, 3 Dec 1997 01:40:05 -0500

Adam Treloar[SMTP:guardian@*******.DIALIX.COM.AU] wrote:
> On Wed, 3 Dec 1997, Jonathan Hurley wrote:
>
> > This reminded me of the power I just wrote up for a physad in my
campaign:
> > Weapon merge.
> >
> > Weapon Merge: Cost:0.5 Effects: The physical adept with this power has
the
> > ability to 'project' a limited part of his awareness into a weapon he
is
> > holding - melee or ranged. It takes a simple action for the adept to
merge
> > with the weapon. Once merged, he is more aware of the weapon, giving
him a
> > -2 bonus to any tests taken with the weapon. There is a significant
> > disadvantage, however; any actions taken that do not directly involve
the
> > use of the weapon are at a +2 penalty. Furthermore, it takes a simple
> > action to unmerge from the weapon safely.
>
> Not too bad... Except I'd maybe change it to -1/+1, or negation of one
> penalty (eg visibility, wounds etc) against +2 or +3. Otherwise sounds
> pretty reasonable.

If you like. But a -1 bonus can be obtained with a laser sight. This is
intended to be an equivalent to smartgun links/enhanced aim spells. I feel
that the +2 penalty balances out the fact that *any* weapon can be merged
with. Wound penalties can be ignored by a physad anyway, as can many of the
vismods.

[snip]

> > If the weapon takes damage, the physical adept must resist
> > stun damage with willpower, against a damage code determined by the
> > gamemaster, based on the amount of damage taken by the weapon. (If a
sword
> > is chipped by hitting a metal-laced bone, it might be Light damage,
while a
> > baseball bat splintering over a troll's cyberskull would be Deadly).
While
> > merged, the weapon is treated as being included in the physical adept's
> > aura for spell-targeting purposes (i.e. the physical adept's aura
> > 'surrounds' the weapon while the physical adept is merged with it.)
>
> It's a good idea, but how many of us use weapon damage rules of any kind?
> Except where acid-based spells and effects are concerned, of course.

Roleplaying effect, more than anything else. That's why I leave it up to
the Gm's discretion

--
Quicksilver rides again
--------------
Those who would give up a little freedom for security
deserve neither freedom nor security
-Benjamin Franklin
Yeah, I have Attention Deficit Dis - Hey, look at that butterfly!
Jonathan Hurley (mailto:jhurley1@************.edu)