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Dumpshock Forums _ Shadowrun _ Bioware Magic Reduction

Posted by: DrJest Nov 6 2004, 11:36 AM

Okay, so this has changed since 2nd Ed, but I'm not sure I follow quite how it works now. According to Man and Machine, it causes a virtual Magic Reduction. Okay, now I'm confused, because it goes on to say that the reduced Magic Rating is used for - well, pretty much everything, as far as I can tell, but that the Magic Rating isn't actually reduced. Say what? Anyone want to enlighten me? Maybe it's just because I'm ill right now, but it makes no sense to me.

Posted by: Austere Emancipator Nov 6 2004, 11:48 AM

QUOTE (Man and Machine Errata v 2.0 @ http://srrpg.com/resources/errata_mm.shtml)

p. 78 Bioware and the Awakened [4]
Replace the third, fourth and fifth paragraphs with the following:

In game terms, bioware reduces an Awakened character's Magic rating in a way similar to Essence loss. Magic is reduced by the character's Bio Index divided by 2 (round down).

The effects of Bio Index and Essence reduction on Magic are cumulative, so the two should be combined before determining how Magic is affected. Magic has a starting value equal to the character's Essence minus (Bio Index ÷ 2), rounded down. So a starting magician with Essence 5.8 and a Bio Index of 1 begins with a Magic rating of 5 (5.8 - 0.5 = 5.3, rounded down to 5). Further increases in Bio Index (or reductions in Essence) may also affect the Magic rating whenever the total falls beneath a whole number. If the same magician later acquires more bioware, raising his Bio Index to 2, he will lose an additional point of Magic (5.8 - 1 = 4.8, rounded to 4).

Magic reduction from bioware functions like other forms of Magic loss-adepts lose some of their powers, for example. Geasa can be used to counteract magic loss from bioware and a character can still initiate to raise his Magic rating.

Posted by: DrJest Nov 6 2004, 11:57 AM

Ahh, cheers mate.

Posted by: OurTeam Nov 6 2004, 01:43 PM

The FAQ, however, still refers to the Virtual Reduction, even though the latest printing of Man and Machine has done away with that. Ignore this part of the FAQ.

Posted by: Edward Nov 6 2004, 03:26 PM

I believe the intent of the earlier versions was that if the biowear was removed the bioindex and thus magic “loss” would go away.

dose the new version change this

was I wrong in the first place.

Edward

Posted by: Cochise Nov 6 2004, 04:04 PM

QUOTE (Edward)

I believe the intent of the earlier versions was that if the biowear was removed the bioindex and thus magic ?loss? would go away.

The existance of the surgical option "Bioindex Slot" indicates that your belief is wrong ...

Posted by: Edward Nov 6 2004, 05:56 PM

QUOTE (Cochise)

QUOTE (Edward)

I believe the intent of the earlier versions was that if the biowear was removed the bioindex and thus magic ?loss? would go away.

The existance of the surgical option "Bioindex Slot" indicates that your belief is wrong ...

Ill pay that.

Guess that’s what I get for deciding reading the surgery rules is not a high priority.

Edward

Posted by: Doctor Funkenstein Nov 6 2004, 06:07 PM

Don't feel too bad, Edward. A lot of people around here made the same assumption. It wasn't until a few heated threads in the past pointed that out to them that they realized the so-called "Virtual Magic Loss" was anything but virtual. (And even then they were stubborn. Damn hippies.)

Posted by: Eyeless Blond Nov 6 2004, 06:52 PM

Yes, silly them for thinking that this virtual magic loss is *any* different from actual magic loss, especially considering that the writers put such emphasis on it not being real Magic Loss. Meh, I'm still not really content with that interpretation.

Posted by: Doctor Funkenstein Nov 6 2004, 06:57 PM

Well, since you could hit a negative Magic Attribute with it, it was technically only a virtual loss... virtual in that it doesn't actually cause you to lose magic, it just permanently lowered it.

Posted by: Wounded Ronin Nov 6 2004, 07:01 PM

A negative magic attribute? Does that mean that you suck in magic like a black hole, being your own lil background count?

Posted by: Doctor Funkenstein Nov 6 2004, 07:05 PM

Nope. Just means you can't use any magic until you initiate (you couldn't geas bioware then, either -- freakin' game designers) high enough to hit the positive numbers again.

Posted by: ES_Riddle Nov 6 2004, 09:43 PM

I was under the impression that even if you hit 0 or lower with "virtual" loss you still could use magic but it all did physical drain. A much better option than burning out, though I prefer the simpler 1/2 bioindex is real magic loss way.