 Foci and Drain, SR4A you confuse me. |
  |
 Dec 8 2009, 11:29 PM
Post
#26
|
|
|
Prime Runner Ascendant  Group: Members Posts: 17,568 Joined: 26-March 09 From: Aurora, Colorado Member No.: 17,022  |
QUOTE (Trigger @ Dec 8 2009, 03:00 AM)  As for the spirit part, that confuses me too, as in no point in either SR4 or SR4A does the section on Spirit services state that they can aid someone with Drain. Probably a holdover memory from previous editions... Keep the Faith |
 |
 
|
|
Dec 8 2009, 11:32 PM
Post
#27
|
|
|
Prime Runner Ascendant Group: Members Posts: 17,568 Joined: 26-March 09 From: Aurora, Colorado Member No.: 17,022 |
QUOTE (pbangarth @ Dec 8 2009, 11:54 AM) Well. That settles that, then. For a character who enters the world designed by an omniscient creator interested in min-maxing, you may be right. For a character who enters an imperfect and variably supplied world, in the context of local needs and priorities, you may be mistaken. To a Zoroastrian mage, whose Mentor Spirit is Damoish Upamana (one whose purpose is ride at the side of Ahura Mazda and blast evil demons by the power of his words), a Banishing Focus might be the be-all and end-all. Thank You... Keeps me from havign to state the Obvious as well... Keep the Faith |
|
|
|
|
Dec 9 2009, 12:06 AM
Post
#28
|
|
|
Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 7,089 Joined: 4-October 05 Member No.: 7,813 |
there are actually legitimate (crunch-based) situations where a spellcasting focus might be more desireable.
i will agree that they're not particularly appealing to the average character however. |
|
|
|
|
Dec 9 2009, 12:12 AM
Post
#29
|
|
|
Prime Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,507 Joined: 11-November 08 Member No.: 16,582 |
QUOTE (Jaid @ Dec 9 2009, 01:06 AM) there are actually legitimate (crunch-based) situations where a spellcasting focus might be more desireable. Enlighten me please.i will agree that they're not particularly appealing to the average character however. |
|
|
|
|
Dec 9 2009, 12:25 AM
Post
#30
|
|
|
Immortal Elf Group: Members Posts: 10,289 Joined: 2-October 08 Member No.: 16,392 |
QUOTE (Trigger @ Dec 8 2009, 05:00 AM) As for the spirit part, that confuses me too, as in no point in either SR4 or SR4A does the section on Spirit services state that they can aid someone with Drain. QUOTE (Runners Companion, page 108) Possible Spirit Pacts
The gamemaster should consider game balance carefully before introducing any spirit pact into her game or allowing a character to take the Spirit Pact quality (see p. 26). The following are some examples of spirit pacts; gamemasters should also feel free to create their own. Drain Pact: The spirit ties its own magical essence to the character, allowing him to use magic more easily. For as long as the pact is maintained, the magician gains a positive dice pool modifier on all Drain Resistance Tests equal to the spirit’s Edge. Using magic in this way is addictive, however, and unlike most pacts the spirit can cut the magician off at any time. The spirit may demand Karma from the magician to continue supplying mana to the magician. |
|
|
|
|
Dec 9 2009, 12:50 AM
Post
#31
|
|
|
Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 7,089 Joined: 4-October 05 Member No.: 7,813 |
QUOTE (Dakka Dakka @ Dec 8 2009, 07:12 PM) Enlighten me please. aspected magicians who actually intend to focus on their one school of magic/one type of spirit, for example. a dedicated illusionist (say, someone who works/worked in the special effects department of a simsense company) does not need a power focus when a simple spellcasting (illusion) focus is cheaper in cash and karma, and easier to find. for example, such a character may simply want a maxed-out illusion spellcasting pool, with little regard for other spells. is that the standard? nope. most people want to grab spells from all over the place. but some people simply want to focus on one thing well. you can have a rating 5 spellcasting focus at chargen with the right quality (vs rating 4 power focus) or rating 3 (vs rating 2). if obtained after chargen, or using karmagen, this is especially true; the karma cost is substantially cheaper for the spellcasting focus. certainly, it is not the most common way to design a character. but it certainly isn't unthinkable, either. just because you or I may not be planning such a character does not mean that it isn't a viable one. |
|
|
|
|
Dec 9 2009, 01:00 AM
Post
#32
|
|
|
Prime Runner Ascendant Group: Members Posts: 17,568 Joined: 26-March 09 From: Aurora, Colorado Member No.: 17,022 |
QUOTE (Jaid @ Dec 8 2009, 05:50 PM) aspected magicians who actually intend to focus on their one school of magic/one type of spirit, for example. a dedicated illusionist (say, someone who works/worked in the special effects department of a simsense company) does not need a power focus when a simple spellcasting (illusion) focus is cheaper in cash and karma, and easier to find. for example, such a character may simply want a maxed-out illusion spellcasting pool, with little regard for other spells. is that the standard? nope. most people want to grab spells from all over the place. but some people simply want to focus on one thing well. you can have a rating 5 spellcasting focus at chargen with the right quality (vs rating 4 power focus) or rating 3 (vs rating 2). if obtained after chargen, or using karmagen, this is especially true; the karma cost is substantially cheaper for the spellcasting focus. certainly, it is not the most common way to design a character. but it certainly isn't unthinkable, either. just because you or I may not be planning such a character does not mean that it isn't a viable one. My Manipulation Mage uses this exact philosophy... has a ton of Manipulation spells with just a smattering of other spells from the remaining categories (And absolutely no Combat Spells)... the Spellcasting Focus (Manipulation) is definitely the way to go with the concept in my opinion... he is an awesome character... Keep the Faith |
|
|
|
|
Dec 9 2009, 08:44 AM
Post
#33
|
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 175 Joined: 19-October 09 Member No.: 17,767 |
To pbangarth & Tymeaus: okay, point taken. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
It's interesting to see that you chose the least useful focus (Banishing focus) as your example. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rollin.gif) In my opinion though, the developers should have created (mechanically) worthwhile foci, particularly in Street Magic. |
|
|
|
|
Dec 9 2009, 04:07 PM
Post
#34
|
|
|
Old Man of the North Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 10,206 Joined: 14-August 03 From: Just north of the Centre of the Universe Member No.: 5,463 |
QUOTE (Axl @ Dec 9 2009, 01:44 AM) It's interesting to see that you chose the least useful focus (Banishing focus) as your example. Everybody picks on Banishing, so I thought that would be the best example.QUOTE In my opinion though, the developers should have created (mechanically) worthwhile foci, particularly in Street Magic. As near as I can tell, there is a focus for each specific magical function, as well as a couple for general ones, Power Focus for the casting/summoning end, and Centering Focus for the Drain end.What else would you do? Remember that SR allows the player to develop her own foci. |
|
|
|
|
Dec 9 2009, 05:12 PM
Post
#35
|
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 175 Joined: 19-October 09 Member No.: 17,767 |
I don't object to the multiplicity of available foci. However foci (and indeed all items) should be appropriately priced for their utility. Banishing foci should be much cheaper (both in nuyen and karma).
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 9 2009, 05:17 PM
Post
#36
|
|
|
Prime Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,507 Joined: 11-November 08 Member No.: 16,582 |
Also there shouldn't be as much discrepancy in the cost whether you acquire the focus during character generation or afterwards.
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 9 2009, 06:33 PM
Post
#37
|
|
|
Old Man of the North Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 10,206 Joined: 14-August 03 From: Just north of the Centre of the Universe Member No.: 5,463 |
QUOTE (Dakka Dakka @ Dec 9 2009, 10:17 AM) Also there shouldn't be as much discrepancy in the cost whether you acquire the focus during character generation or afterwards. Especially the Karma/BP cost. It is way cheaper to bond foci at chargen than afterward. Well, not in the Karmagen system, but in the regular BP system, anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 17th May 2025 - 05:08 AM |
Topps, Inc has sole ownership of the names, logo, artwork, marks, photographs, sounds, audio, video and/or any proprietary material used in connection with the game Shadowrun. Topps, Inc has granted permission to the Dumpshock Forums to use such names, logos, artwork, marks and/or any proprietary materials for promotional and informational purposes on its website but does not endorse, and is not affiliated with the Dumpshock Forums in any official capacity whatsoever.