Summoned Weapons, Not As Far Off As You'd Think Options

[Neraph]

The Limits of Sorcery

Though spells can create many amazing effects, the power of sorcery in the Sixth World does have its limits. Some of these limitations may be inherent in the nature of magic; others may simply be conditions magical theorists have yet to find a way around.

Currently, sorcery obeys the following limitations:

.....

Sorcery Cannot Create Complex Things

Though spellcraft can transform energy, spark elemental forces, and even provide nutrition, no magicians have yet determined a way for sorcery to create complex items (such as a gun or even a hammer) from mana alone - despite the best efforts of research corps to date. Sorcery can be used to fix and sometimes transmute complex items, but the days of summoning weapons from nowhere have not yet arrived.

Well, after some experimentation of my own, I've decided that this information finally be let out into the 'trix. I'm also posting this on a few other major nodes such as Jackpoint and ShadowSea.

While it's true that people are still incapable of forming complex items permanently from pure mana alone there has been considerable progress in using magic to form weapons - an interesting variant of the spell form known colloquially as Elemental Aura has been known to look remarkably like any number of melee weapons, most notably blades, similar to those of the classic comic character Psylocke and the Matrix game character the Protoss Zealot from the popular Spacecraft Z-10: Zerg Rising VRMMO. Interestingly, regardless of form, the spell seems to only function well in the "hands" of a martial artist - no formal weapons skills seem to work with the spell (at least to my personal experience - although I've heard rumors that others have had limited success with this).

[ Spoiler ]

The spell is a variant of Element Aura, with the following changes: the target is the caster only, Drain Value is (F/2), the spell does not cause an elemental backlash against attackers, and the spell only affects the target's Unarmed Attacks.

In addition, there have been reports that I can verify that there exist certain free spirits with the ability to materialize into perfectly functional melee weapons of all different types. The weapons can take on sometimes peculiar forms or be completely indestinguishable from others of their type - it seems to be up to the personality of the particular spirit.

There have been rumors of some particularly powerful free spirits banishing some of their subjects from their metaplanes and binding them into the forms of weapons, and indeed I am in the possession of a few of these weapons. It seems the spirits spend this time in a sort of metatative contimplation over the event(s) that lead them to this particular exile. I'm currently unsure whether or not this exile is limited to a certain amount of time or until they've reached a higher level of enlightenment, but the spirits that I've met have been resistant to the idea of being released.

I've also heard a rumor of at least one mage in particular who apparently is incapable of summoning normal spirits. Instead, all the spirits he summons appear as different weapons and, most remarkably, armor. I've been searching myself for this individual but he seems to not want to be found. If any of you chummers have any leads, please drop me a line.

[ Spoiler ]

Free spirits that can be Called (per Running Wild) who all have the Realistic Form power. The spirits in Realistic Form would deal damage exactly as whatever weapon they Materialized as, although since they are Dual Natured they would overcome Immunity (Normal Weapons). If a particular spirit has an Energy Aura, the DV of the weapon form itself would gain a +4 DV bonus and have that element's standard elemental effects.

For example, a F1 and a F6 spirit that both used Realistic Form to become a kris would both deal damage of (Str/2) + 1P. If either of them had Elemental Aura (Fire), the damage would be (Str/2) + 5P with an AP modifier of -1/2 Impact, and Fire Protection would add to the resistance dice.

Only basic, non-mechanical weapons could be Realistically Formed in this matter - no spirit stun batons or spirit vibro blades. At least, none that function off a normal charge. A spirit that takes the form of a stun baton and has a Elemental Aura (Electricity) could certainly work.

The spirits can still function independantly through the use of their own spirit powers (and casting spells, if they know any). This makes higher force spirits still viable.

Of course, the GM has the final say as to what exactly such spirits would want as compensation, and they can still be bound exactly as Street Magic states.

[Yerameyahu]

So… That's not making weapons. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) It's an aura spell or a spirit. Neraph, you so crazy.

[Ragewind]

So… That's not making weapons. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) It's an aura spell or a spirit. Neraph, you so crazy.

Strangely enough he does end up with a magic weapon, so regardless of semantics the end result is the same.

[Yerameyahu]

No, that's my point: the rule says, '*sorcery* can't'.

[Karoline]

Those crazy mages, always coming up with new ways to look cool. Still as for effectiveness... well, we know what happens to those zealots when facing a zerg swarm. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Hagga]

Countdown to lightsaber spirits with Light Aura in three, two..

[Udoshi]

You know, a mage could do this with an Ally Spirit fairly cheaply. All ally spirits come with Realistic Form, and may be given alternate forms for 2 karma each - such as a sword.

A mage doing such a trick could, indeed, mix up the energy types by giving the spirit the Element Aura power multiple times, for different elements they have access too.

A basic force 1 Ally Sword will do the trick just fine, though, for when you need to hammerspace a flaming mallet from the middle of nowhere. All for about the same cost as Quickening a spell. Not bad at all.

[Yerameyahu]

I think it's still up in the air whether a spirit in sword form using Element Aura gets the bonus, because *it* isn't attacking. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Christian Lafay]

Can you hold it and order it to swing it's self?

[Yerameyahu]

Dunno. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Not very 'Realistic Form' for a sword, but who knows?

[Udoshi]

Can you hold it and order it to swing it's self?

If it has the flight skill, yes.

Its only possession spirits that are limited to their hosts forms, and ally spirits can't be possession.

A low-force, ah, flying sword, however.... won't be very good at it.


On the other hand, now i have a mental image of giving such an ally spirit Psychokinesis, and letting it fly a bunch of other, plainer weapons around.
... and now i've got a mental image of a mage with such a spirit, who happens to be an avid golfer. Trouble happens? Well, hey...always armed.

[Ragewind]

I think it's still up in the air whether a spirit in sword form using Element Aura gets the bonus, because *it* isn't attacking. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

When you come into contact with a entity with Elemental Aura you take its force in damage and are subject to the elemental effect secondary attack (electrocution, catch on fire etc)
So if it is a force 6 spirit with 4 elemental powers, in the form of a Mono sword you will deal X+24(+Effects), where X is the damage you get from swinging the sword. On the plus side it is a Dual Natured entity and as such can easily damage creatures with Immunity to Normal Weapons.

[Seth]

in the form of a Mono sword you will deal X+24(+Effects), where X is the damage you get from swinging the sword

Just checking...you mean X+4(+effects) I think...if its +24 sign me up now!

I think this is correct, I have been searching the rule books to confirm this, but I haven't found much either way yet.

[Karoline]

Just checking...you mean X+4(+effects) I think...if its +24 sign me up now!

I think this is correct, I have been searching the rule books to confirm this, but I haven't found much either way yet.

No, ragewind means 24 because ragewind is using the fact that it has access to 4 elements to mean that it has 4 elemental auras up and so they would all activate. Thus each of the 4 auras does 6 damage, giving you 24 damage and 4 elemental effects.

[Makki]

you'd probable resist 6DV 4 times

[Seth]

This reminds me of a case where a player wanted a claw hand with 4 daggers on it, and wanted all the daggers to count. "Each dagger does str/2. so 4 daggers must do 2*str". I think you get +4 damage and all the elemental effects: this makes it like the firewater spell, and is compatible with the rules on spell casting.

Note also that the energy aura does not add force to damage...its adds 4

[Yerameyahu]

Ragewind, I think you'll find that's wrong. The text actually says that it applies to melee attacks by the subject, and to anyone making a melee attack against it. This is the case for Energy Aura (critter power) and [Element] Aura spell (there's no 'Element[al] Aura' power).

[Straight Razor]

I have a rigger that can cast summon weapon.
Well actually its a cell phone set up as a spotting transmitter, and remote firing key for a missile that i leave hot in the van.
Hit redial, drop phone, run like hell.

[Karoline]

I have a rigger that can cast summon weapon.
Well actually its a cell phone set up as a spotting transmitter, and remote firing key for a missile that i leave hot in the van.
Hit redial, drop phone, run like hell.

I have a rigger that can cast summon weapon.
She sends out a command on her cellphone and her dozen armed drones show up to protect her.
Take that mages (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[pbangarth]

Its only possession spirits that are limited to their hosts forms, and ally spirits can't be possession.

The errata for Street Magic, page 103 allow for Inhabitation, Materialization or Possession type.

[Umidori]

Okay, question.

There's no way to create a complex object like a gun entirely out of mana. Is there a way to "summon" an already existing gun from a sort of "hammerspace" instead?

~Umidori

[Zyerne]

For a Great Dragon, sure.

[Karoline]

Okay, question.

There's no way to create a complex object like a gun entirely out of mana. Is there a way to "summon" an already existing gun from a sort of "hammerspace" instead?

~Umidori

No, one of the rules of sorcery is also that you can't teleport stuff.

[Seth]

Probably the best way to have a gun appear is to have a gun shrunken, or concealed by a spell. Both will be obvious to astral sight, but to mundanes will appear like "a summoned weapon"

[Christian Lafay]

Can we get a "Return From Goo" spell? Walk around with a lot of snot in your pocket and then the snot is a gun?