| From: | Ereskanti <Ereskanti@***.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Shaper Genetics (Re: Regeneration house rules.) |
| Date: | Sat, 20 Dec 1997 19:36:51 EST |
Assassin". I didn't seperate them in any way, I figure the reading alone
would suffice...
In a message dated 97-12-20 18:12:14 EST, barbie@**********.COM writes:
> >Look up the Atzlan source book.
> >According to the book fovae are astral dead areas, just like outer
> >space and with the same effect.
> >One of the quotes says (as I rumage for the book) :
> >'A shapechanger bud of mine said fovae feel like nothing. Like a big
> >hole torn from the fabric of reality. Gave him a quesy feeling, he
> >saud. Said he'd go a long way to avoid having to step into one.
> >-Starburst '
> >Page 103, Atzlan.
Ah yes, I remember this one. It brought up a very frightening concept to the
games here once...
> >OK, this is an ICC, but it's quite useful. Assuming that an Atzlaner
> >shapechanger would come across these several times in his life that
> >one has had time to get used to them. I'd say that the first few
> >times the 'shifter would go unconcious. With time they'd just be
> >severely discomforted. +2 to +4 mod to all actions sounds about
> >right since they've just lost about half their sight amogst other
> >things.
An interesting way of looking at things, yes...and something that would at
least not render such character's "Dead without a Chance".
> Sounds like at last like a change, what did others think abou it?
> Keith, Steve?
The idea for me is okay and we've played something similar. There is a reason
for it actually, but it involves some -very- long range game mechanics design.
And no offense to anyone out there...but most do not like such "long winded
details". And Barbie, thank you for mentioning me with Steve...(Binder's
Knowing Smile)
-=-=-=-=-=-
The Short / Long of It = The Awakening Mana Cycle allowed for magic to
directly augment the genetic structure of -ALL- life that was caught within
it's influence. Once those changes were wrought, life had been given a new
batch of "possibilities" in which it could diversify into. Shapechangers
(Shapers in the games here) are but once such possibility. The "Shaper
Allele" was finally given the ability to manifest directly in living beings.
Most of us in SR terms agree that this happened to animals, giving them the
ultimate in "survival camouflage". The ability to appear, sound and even
function like the category of (meta)humanity. The abilities of such are not
fully detailed, as the folks at FASA don't even want to tread that far.
"Shapechanger" is a power all it's own, NOT just a category for beings. It's
power has potential to go beyond what is considered so far in the established
SR Mechanics (not to be confused with "Mike's Mechanics"). The "mind"
of the
Shapechanger (I call it the "Psyche True") remains what it is regardless of
the form the individual is in. Because of differing (bio)chemical changes in
physiology, "coherent" thinking is difficult (hence the slight variations in
mental attributes now found in SR Companion). But "coherent thinking" isn't
required to be an animal-self, thus the "Shapechanger" doesn't think anything
of this, while the rest of (meta)humanity considers them to be "too
animalistic" and hence are not suitable for the consideration of sapience
(which is different than Sentience...just so you all know).
Hence, when a Shapechanger "wanders" into such etheric null zones as the
"Fovea" in Aztlan, they do not die. They are "stuck". In a response
situation similar to "visual compensation" in the animal eye...the change in
environment's cause the "active aura" of the Shapechanger to go dormant until
it's safe again (the presence of pervailing mana). What this does is "lock"
the individual into whatever form they are currently retaining. "Prevalent"
powers that are associated with Shapechangers, such as Regeneration, also go
dormant, as they are merely an extension of the "morphic qualities" of a
Shapechanger in regards to his/her bodies recovery abilities. This explains
why a few accounts of shapechangers (such as Tikki/Striper, the Tiger)
accounting for an advanced appetite after recovering from large wounds.
-=-=-=-=-
Space: Our Greatest Frontier-
Outer Space is a misleading term. What we call "Outer Space" is really just
"space" beyond the boundaries of our -vaguely- understandable Earth.
"Space"
is simply a term used to describe something of volume that can be ventured
into or filled in some category.
Massive Biological Communities formulate the "prevalent" etheric domains that
are now understood within the realm of SR Mechanics. And I do mean "massive".
However, they are -NOT- the only methods by which SR Magic can function.
Wider forces, known in Science as "Small" or "Cosmic" Forces are at
work that
are even harder to grasp.
The Metaplanes of SR are actually the boundaries of other energy states and
"ephemeric" boundaries that are just now becoming reachable (again) to the
inhabitants of the "SR World." However, there are forces out there that could
change our way of viewing...enter, 2060....the Year of the Comet....
Yes, the Comet, Halley's Comet...and it's set to literally swing it's tail
through across the path of Earth itself. Want to see a bunch of "Firey
Firmament" beings going nuts.....just have some patience....
-=-=-=-=-=-
Anyway, I've digressed...Shapechangers have a physical shell that is just like
the rest of physical life, they are just allowed to change between forms.
Perhaps a Shapechanger would best be described as being an animal with "Human
Form (Limited)" the power. When a shapechanger moves between forms the astral
form of the shapechanger is showing the "animal" form. I don't entirely
believe this. I believe it is showing "the alternate form". A "Quest of
True
Aura" performed upon a Shapechanger would reveal much, including possibly how
long the individual has been within a given form, their age, their
environmental comfortability, and more...
If a Shapechanger were to be taken into space, the "survival" instinct of the
being would shut out one set of sensory perceptions. I do agree, this would
be worth at least a +2 or +4 modifier (similar to being blind) as the
individual is suddenly seeing the world so "blandly".
I would like to point out that no where in Tikki's (Striper) descriptions of
stuff does she actually seem to be assensing or seeing things differently than
others. In fact, it took a Cat Shaman's interference to make her notice the
"astral cord" that the Hermetic Mage had tied to her in "Striper
Assassin". I
don't believe that a Shapeshifter pays attention to it unless they are of a
particular mentality. In fact, that particular author's deference to the way
Tikki is described is quite spectacular at times. Without a doubt, she is one
of the most famous of all SR's "Prime Runners". And for LOTS of reasons...now
doubt one of them is the powerful female cat prowling image that so many men
see (reclaiming self control now)....
Please understand that there are LOTS of things one must understand about that
situation. Illusions are automatically noticed by someone with Astral
Perception...that is NOT true.
Physical Illusions yes...Mana (as in Mental) are NOT. The clarifications are
going to have be determined...yes...
-=-=-=-=-
The Short??? If a Shaper goes into a null mana zone, while they are actively
"assensing", they suffer the same effects as any other magician performing
such. If they just "wander" into the site, then they suffer no additional
effects, let alone death. Same holds true in space. The effect is the
concept of "active magic" within such an Etheric Null Zone. "Passive"
Magic,
that is something entirely different...
-K
