| From: | Wagemage wagemage@**.rr.com |
|---|---|
| Subject: | What to do: PC Mage w/spirit posse |
| Date: | Mon, 16 Oct 2000 20:33:54 -0400 |
>elementals at all times. One round into combat he starts calling them in
>and sending them out to attack targets.
>
>What weaknesses are to this strategy that a GM could take advantage of?
I'll weigh in cause I think I've been in this game before. Before I
provide any suggestions and hopefully before you clamp down on the player
over this you need to be careful. This person sounds like a rules lawyer. I
could be wrong but I've played with 'em (haven't we all) and I was the
resident munchkin on call. Keep in mind you are about to enter a serious
power struggle. If they determine that you are using one particular tactic
to control the elemental use, they will either find a way around it or
change tactics. Let's just hope the new tactic is not worse than the first.
Ok haing said that I have a few ideas. Basically is comes down to playing
the NPCs intelligently. I tend to run low magic games where there isn't a
mage on call at every corp building. However in light of this ALL security
is trained to recognize and deal with mages, trained BY mages that is.
1. Run away. Yep. Get the hell out of dodge. No corp goon is gonna stand up
like an idiot against a 8 foot wall of flame. Screw that man. Also note that
by fire code all buildings must have fire extiguishers within about 30' of
any point in the building. The guards know where these are. of course this
is a fire only tactic, but hey it's an idea.
2. Shoot the mage! Who is that? The guy WITHOUT a MMG. Yep. Mages have a
penchant for wearing nifty identifying marks. Fetishes, runes in the
clothing, things like that. I forget the details of teh rule but there is a
roll a normal can make to detect magic use. Once you've pegged the mage, PEG
the mage.
3. LOS or lack thereof. A good comment. Goes hand in hand with run away.
Check out the Shadowrun military site
(http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Lair/6866/index.html) for ideas on
small unit tatics and use them.
4. This may not work with the party but it's a house rule I use. Whenever a
spirit or elemental is summoned (not called upon, but sumMoned) I roll a D6
behind the screen.
6: Spirit is just thrilled to be here today. "What can I do for you oh
wizened master?"
5: Cordial - "What can I do for you?"
4-3: Indifferent - "Yes?"
2: Not particularly happy about it, but not disloyal. Might have a
little fun.. Loose interpretations of the orders. -"Oh great. What do YOU
want?"
1; Hostile - Spirit hates this guy. Will go out of his way to
misinterpret, twist, and corrupt any orders given to it. - "I DID conceal
you. I was standing right in front of you, there's no way that guard could
have seen you through that 7 foot wall of flames."
Careful with this one, at this point it could sound like a cop out.
