From:	Michael & Linda Frankl mlfrankl@*****.msn.com
Subject:	Desperate Pathetic Magic Question
Date:	Thu, 15 Jul 1999 17:59:39 -0400

Manx queried:
>One of the players in my game (who was our
>_former_ SR2 GM) insists that his street sam
>with thermo cybereyes can see me when I cast
>Improved Invisibility on myself. He claims that
>this spell effects only visible light and as such
>that thermographic vision does not utilise the
>normal spectrum of human vision. As it stands
>every dumb turd with thermo can see me
>when I use the spell. It defeats the purpose.


As I read the spell, the improved invisibility works against technological
sensing devices. That's a pretty broad description and should give enough
lattitude to say that you cannot use Thermo/Ultrasound. If he really bitches
then whack him over the head with the SOTA concept (magic improves just like
technology) and point out that if such spells were so easily overcome then
new versions of the spell would be made that did work. After all if they can
make a spell that enhances cybered attributes then they surely can make one
that beats thermo/ultrasound.

The basic invisibility just affects visible light. Tell the metal monster
that there wouldn't be two spells if the effect were the same.

Secondly, magic does not have to conform to the laws of physics. They should
have some reason or personal logic behind them, but not quantum theory.

Finally, invoke the "spirit of the rule" and point out that the spell is
meant to have a desired effect within certain guidelines and create balance
between character abilities and powers.

Personally, I wouldn't whine if I were him. I played a Street Samurai whose
waxed three invisible magic users over the years. If your boy is built right
he should be able to smell or sense the guy without visual aid and still put
a round through him (smell/hearing related sensing should not be covered by
invisibility otherwise no one would have come up with the silence spell).

Mike, aka Smilin' Jack
-------------------------------
<<<Bang>>> "Invisible, not invulnerable.", Smilin' Jack.