She hates you. She hates you all!

To be honest, that sounds like a special visual and touch-mechanic effect for a basic touch range damaging combat spell to me. Take something like "death touch" and give it the bonus effect that the mage effectively gains +1 reach when using it, describe it with some cool visual effects, and there yah go.

That way you have no new balance issues because every time you hit with it, its a new spellcasting roll & drain resistance test. Might even not change the drain compared to death touch; spell gains some extra drain for the reach, but looses some drain for having the obvious visual effect (which alerts the target), so call it a wash. Keeps it consistent with other spells. (Reach isn't much of a bonus in SR4.)
Of course, this does mean the spell can't affect non living targets (assuming it is mana based combat spell- a physical spell could hurt them just fine, but won't work in astal space). Again, that just makes it consistent with other spells...

OK. I'm not giving up on Vorpal, but I would like to try this spell in a future mission. Pete, you've been warned.

This post has been edited by Bombastic 451: Nov 11 2010, 12:40 AM

That's something to consider. I'll need to think it over though. I'm not sure if it would completely, work. My impression is that your saying the caster must first resist drain for forming the sword. Then again every time he makes an attack. Could help with balance, but sounds like a new mechanic, that concern would still remain. If I was going to make it a combat spell, I would have it as a Physical, Indirect. This spell is not intended for astral combat. As the spell is, a free spirit could pop onto the astral and avoid a potential attack, pop back in out of reach of the caster, then hit him with a ranged spell.

This post has been edited by Bombastic 451: Nov 11 2010, 12:57 AM

My bad again, checked my notebook. It WAS hits and not net hits over the threshold. Net hits would make the spell far too ineffective as a common bullet would still have an OR of 2.

Besides having the OR outright effect the spell besides whether or not it even takes place is a break from typical mechanics IIRC.

[shameless_display name='self-interest']
This just gets better and better. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif) At least keep the OR!
[/shameless_display]

I'll consider it. On the other hand, maybe I'll just make it up to you by allowing free spirits with a guarding spirit history to take the Mystic Armour adept power at same cost when you create your next character. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Oh yeah? Oh yeah? Bring it on, big guy! I can take anything you can dish out! I can ....

... oh, shit ...

Awesome suggestion. Note that reach would give you (effectively) a one die bonus, while a touch spell gives a 2 die bonus on hitting at all.

You could easily have a few spells like this: stun or real damage, mana or physical, elemental auras. With the special effect idea all that would happen is that the vorpal blade would change its looks, become ghostly, fade in and out of reality, or sparkle ominously as you change what you are doing with it

It also means that it is fully consistent with the rest of the spell casting system, which while it has problems, isn't bad

Not a bad thought. Kind of cool actually.



Sometimes, not always mind you, but sometimes, it's good to run against the grain. Why be a conformist? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Seriously, a simple retexture of the Elemental Aura spell makes vastly more sense. I mean, first off, it's already an established spell. Secondly, it makes more sense that this blade that is extended from yourself out of pure mana feels like a natural extention of yourself - hence the Unarmed Skill.

Well, it would feel decidedly unnatural if my arm suddenly grew a 3 foot long pointy bit after punching for years with the working end being my fist.

What does Elemental Aura and unarmed skill have to do with each other?

Max, using the Elemental Aura spell without a weapon (or using the spell itself like a weapon) would use the Unarmed Combat skill.

I don't know, if the spell creates a vaguely sword shaped cone of energy then it makes much more sense to me that it would use sword skill or maybe clubs, but definedly not unarmed.

I think you're getting confused with actual mechanics and visible display. I can have my armor spell look like a shimmery set of full plate from A Knight's Tale but that doesn't mean it gives me more than 2 armor if that's how many successes I get.

[Element] Aura is a generic and adaptable spell that affects melee combat no matter what form it takes. if the combatant is using a weapon, his weapon is enhanced. If not, his fists are.