From:	Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject:	Re: MY Take (Binder's Look on Enchanting)
Date:	Sat, 16 May 1998 22:47:49 +0100

Ereskanti said on 10:42/16 May 98...

> > You're confused. You can *only* cast physical spells through a focus.
> > It don't matter what type of spell happens to be sustained by a spell
> > lock (which is considered a rating 1 focus for grounding purposes).
> > --
> Really Craig, where does the limit of Physical Only through a Focus exist?
>
> Gurth, oh great Wise and Mystically Knowledgable Guru that your
> reputation claims you...please help out...I know I don't have all of
> these rules memorized simply because spell locks were proven so
> dangerous so long ago here that NO ONE will use them anymore.

Any spell can be cast at a focus, however only physical spells will ground
out to an area-effect (if they are area-effect spells, of course). All
other spells only affect the focus (or whatever else the dual-natured
target is), if and when they manage to ground through.

This is in SRII on page 149: "A mana spell thrown at a target with such a
dual profile, physical and astral, will only affect that target, even if
it is an area-effect spell. [bit snipped] A physical spell thrown by an
astral caster at a dual-natured target /will ground out through the
target's physical component/."

A few examples:

* Mana Bolt cast at an active focus will damage the focus, but nothing
else.

* Mana Bolt cast at a dual-natured critter will damage the critter.

* Manaball cast at an active focus will damage the focus, but nothing
else.

* Manaball cast at a dual-natured critter will damage the critter, but
nobody who happens to be nearby.

* Power Bolt cast at an active focus will damage the focus and the focus'
user.

* Power Bolt cast at a dual-natured critter will damage the critter.

* Powerball cast at an active focus will damage the focus, the focus'
user, and anyone in the area of effect.

* Powerball cast at a dual-natured critter will damage the critter and
anyone in the area of effect.

Note that this only applies to non-manipulation spells. Manipulation
spells can't be ground through dual-natured targets because they travel to
the target through the physical plane as well as the astral one.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html - UIN5044116
Now it's my time.
-> NERPS Project Leader * ShadowRN GridSec * Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
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