From:	Wordman <wordman@*******.COM>
Subject:	Re: Enchanter Adepts? (was Re: Talismongering)
Date:	Wed, 13 May 1998 00:58:45 -0400

Jeremy "Bolthy" Zimmerman <jeremy@***********.COM> wrote:
> Robert Nesius <nesius@******.COM> wrote:
>> On another note, I have a question about Enchanter Adepts. It's my
>> understanding that Adepts cannot asense. Yet that is a necessary ability
>> for Enchanters. So like, what gives? Was this a big FASA brain fart or
>> what?

>Some adepts actually can asense. I don't remember which ones. I'm feeling
>like too lazy of a bastard to bend over and dig my BBB out of the backpack,

Shamanic adepts can assense and project (BBB, pg124-125). Elemental adepts
can assense and project (GrimII, pg 33). Physads can buy the ability to
assense (BBB, pg. 125).

Enchanter Adepts have never really been fleshed out in SR. The BBB says
that a magical adept can use _one_ magical skill, but enchanting is not
mentioned as a magical skill in the BBB. Enchanting is introduced in the
Grimore II, and Enchanter Adepts are not mentioned.

I personally would give an Enchanter Adept full astral abilities, as
otherwise they are significantly less powerful compared to other adepts.
The other adepts are pretty much balanced against each other, but without
astral abilities, Enchanter Adepts are not in the same league.

Note also that astral abilities give Enchanter Adepts more reason to avoid
cyberware. (With higher Essence, they can stay in astral space longer).
Without astral abilities Enchanter Adepts (like Conjuring Adepts) have
little reason to keep their Magic Rating high. Magic Rating is useful to an
enchanter only in setting the target number for making Orichalcum. For this
reason, GMs may want to create some sort of house rule, like "Enchanters
can only create foci with rating less than or equal to their Magic Rating".
(BTW, Conjuring Adepts only use Magic Rating for Banishing.)

Having said that, though, none of the enchanting rules _require_ astral
perception. Alchemy and artificing require the performer be magically
active, but they never have to look into astral space to get the job done.

Another question to consider is what kind of foci Enchantier Adepts may
use. This is pretty much by elimination. Can't use Fetish, Spell or Spirit
foci. Can't place spell locks. This leaves weapon and power foci.

Last adept question is can they initiate and what kind of metamagic can
they use. Again, by elimination. No sorcery skill, so can't use Quickening
or Dispelling. I can't think of any reason to disallow Shielding, except
that both it and spell defense seem somewhat alien to concept of the
character, so I wouldn't allow an enchanter to use either of them.
Enchanters probably could use centering to offset penalties, but they can't
spell cast and don't take drain, so other uses of centering are pointless
for them. I'd say they could definately mask, provided you buy the idea
that they have full astral access. Achoring is sort of a weird area, as on
the one hand they cannot cast spells, but on the other it seems like
Anchoring is what an enchanter should be good at. I would allow an
enchanter to perform all of the non-spellcasting duties for an anchoring.

Wordman