From:	Dennis Steinmeijer dv8@********.nl
Subject:	Background count (was: Improved Reflexes, Adepts, and truly inane questions.)
Date:	Tue, 3 Aug 1999 11:27:19 +0200

<El Snipperrino Physical Barier Question>
>
<El Sniperrino Hardening Answer>
>
> Try this one - next time he casts the spell and more or less makes
> himself invulnerable (because the other side has no magic), tell him
> that he's actually casting it in an area with a background count
> (temporary or otherwise - maybe someone was murdered in that alley just
> a few hours ago or something). Chances are good that he'll knock
> himself out - or even just harsh himself severely. He'll probably learn
> quickly that such a powerful spell isn't always a good thing to use.

What's up with this background count? Does it have something to do with a
disruption of the astral realm like the rift that was created at the
assassination of Dunkelzahn? I know that when something is knifed in an
alley it's not that serious...but I can't think of anything else you would
mean by "background count". Are there rules for it?

Dennis

"Abashed the Devil stood,...and felt how awful Goodness is..."