From:	Sven De Herdt Sven.DeHerdt@***********.be
Subject:	Magic Barriers (spell)
Date:	Fri, 26 Mar 1999 12:07:17 +0100

> Keldon Mor [SMTP:Keldon@********.net] wrote:
>
>> >> Another question that's been bugging me. How do any of you
handle
>> >>Barriers (especially the Barrier Spell)? The spell states that if
the
>> >>Barrier is penetrated, it drops. Does this mean you can't fire
through
>> >>it and can only fire to bring it down?
>> [Sven's reply:]
>> >Yes, at least that is the way I use it in my game sessions.
>>
>> The description of the spell does say "Attacks directed through a
barrier
>have a Visibility Modifier of +1," which implies that attacks *can* be
>directed through a Barrier spell. (If you're using a house rule, then
that's
>of course different.) Everyone on the other side of the Barrier would
>effectively add the Barrier's Rating to any appropriate Armor Rating
when
>determining the Power of the incoming attack.

Agreed, if an astral barrier was cast. I think it would be impossible
to fire through a physical barrier with just the visibility modifier
applied. The physical barrier is created to stop bullets, knives,
swords, etc... BTW the spell description says to treat this like normal
barrier rules and for firearms this would mean that the power has to be
at least equal to twice the barrier rating. This would make it quite
though to "just" fire through.

>On manipulation spells, what does a force 8 Flamethrower do to a force
6
>barrier spell? And does it matter what the damage level is? Do you only
pit
>force Vs force? In astral space a spell Vs. barrier reduces the force 1
>point per damage level i.e.. 1,2,3,4 for L,M,S,D.

My point exactly. You can toss a force 8 D elemental spell, which I
would consider quite powerful, and still just bounce of on a barrier
rating of 9, (IIRC) which isn't such an abnormal barrier. It just
doesn't make much sense that a 8 L elemental spell would bounce of with
the same ease!?

Sven ;-)