From:	Steve Kenson <TalonMail@***.COM>
Subject:	Re: SR3 Magic Terms
Date:	Mon, 22 Dec 1997 15:40:39 -0500

[numerous "no" votes on the term mystic snipped]:
OK, message received <grin>. I'll admit that I think "magically active" is
a
clumsy term for all characters with a Magic Attribute of 1+. "Mystic" seemed
to be a decent generic term that didn't already have a meaning in Shadowrun.
Perhaps "magical" and "magical people/characters" can be used. I would
use
"Awakened" but it also refers to metahumans and paranormal critters in many
cases. "Thaumaturge" and related terms are too heavily hermetic and tend to
give me D&D flashbacks.... <shudder>

"David E. Smith" <dave@********.ML.ORG> wrote:
>So what's the "official" term for them [mundanes] in the SR universe?

In the game rules? Mundanes. In the fictional universe? I doubt there is an
"official" term. (Official according to whom?) Mundanes, normals, norms, etc.
are probably common slang, while "non-magically-active" and "astrally
dormant" probably get bandied about in academia.

Max Rible <slothman@*********.ORG> wrote:
>[traditions...]
>Since there are shamanic Physical Adepts, how do non-shamanic Physical
Adepts
>qualify? I can certainly see that Physical Adepts may have the easiest time
>learning to use their magic unconsciously, but with Initiation I would
expect
>there to be a body of magic theory regarding Physical Adepthood that might
>be quite distinct from normal hermetic theory. You might want to address
that.
>(Possibly by suggesting that most non-shamanic physical adepts are a
tradition
>of their own, like voudoun or druidism, rather than being hermetic because
>they aren't shamanic...)

IMHO, physical adepts constitute a unique tradition of their own. Hopefully
SR3 will be able to clarify this. The "Ways" material in Awakenings was
intended to expand on the idea of physical adepts as their own unique
tradition.

Chris Hayes <chris_hayes@*******.COM> wrote:
>Shouldn't these terms be reversed. Manifest is when you create a physical
>body foryourself and materialize is when you can be seen and heard. I could
>be wrong...

Well, technically, materialize literally means "to make material or solid,"
while manifest means "to make visible or apparent." Therefore, IMHO, spirits
should manifest when they become visible and audible, and materialize when
they become solid and able to affect the physical world. We'll see if FASA
agrees : )

Max Rible <slothman@*********.ORG> wrote:
>While you're talking about these things (in either SR3 or the Grimoire 3),
>it'd be good establish a few things:
>1. Can Free Spirits mask their auras to appear as mundanes?

IMHO, yes, they can. Of course, if the freebie doesn't have a material body
that looks at least somewhat (meta)human, it's not going to be very
convincing. Of course, they might try masking as a projecting magical
character.

>2. Can an astrally perceiving Initiate mask to appear like they aren't
masking?

I assume you mean mask to look like they are not astrally perceiving/active.
IMHO, no. Masking cannot conceal the ASTRAL FORM, it conceals the AURA, the
information the astral form gives off. You can't mask your astral form to
make it look like a different race, for example, or to make an active form
appear inactive, but you can mask your aura to conceal your magical ability,
initiate status, emotions, relative health, and all of the other things that
can be read from the aura.

Steve K.