From:	Mongoose m0ng005e@*********.com
Subject:	Astral Space
Date:	Wed, 17 Mar 1999 20:20:26 -0600

:I don't know if this has occurred to anyone else or has been discussed
but I
:just realized another change in the Magic system the other day...

You are not the first to notice this... or post about it...

:A person can detect an astral form moving through them via a perception
:test. In SR2, moving through living objects was not possible.
:So, in SR3, I take it that living bacteria (FAB-32?) and other natural
:defenses like ferns and vines that were used to keep astral forms out no
:longer has an effect? So we astral projecting mages don't have to worry
:about being trapped by these systems (also the FAB netgun). I assume that
:megacorps just use wards and such to protect their property? I guess
that's
:what a Wage Mage Slave does now, 40 hours a week traveling from office to
:office maintaining wards...


Yes, if using only SR's basic rules, wards are the primary method of
preventing astral movement and incursion. Astral patrol (by spirits,
mages, or dual para-critters) is the other.
Note that wards can be made permanent (by karma expenditure), and that
their creator is aware when they are attacked and can provide them defense
(spell defense) and karma dice (they may have their own, if permanent).
MITS will cover more esoteric forms of astral security, but it seems
clear from SR3 that only dual natured plants / bacteria / et al would act
as a "barrier" in astral space. Since grounding is no longer a risk, this
is not such a big deal...

Mongoose