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 Meet my ally spirit...a motorcycle? |
 Jun 17 2006, 08:13 PM
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#51
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ghostrider  Group: Retired Admins Posts: 4,196 Joined: 16-May 04 Member No.: 6,333  |
There are some awesome cgi's out there that feature stuff like that. There's also some pilot/precursor/can't think of the right word videos of an "Optimus Prime" type semi transforming back and forth. Awesome. (I think there's a movie coming up.)
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Jun 17 2006, 11:41 PM
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#52
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 902 Joined: 5-September 03 From: Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia Member No.: 5,585 |
Yeah, I've showed that one to non-fan coworkers and they were, "Oh, wow. That was so goddammed COOL.... Let's see it again."
I'm sure that there another one, admittedly less polished than the Optimus one, having a Mac truck suddenly transform and kick a trade-waste bin (Skip bin?) into a speeding getaway car.... That was REALLY well done, fast, funny and sudden. -Tir |
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Jun 18 2006, 12:50 AM
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#53
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,430 Joined: 10-January 05 From: Fort Worth, Texas Member No.: 6,957 |
It's just downright mean to rave about them and not give some links. :(
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Jun 18 2006, 01:56 AM
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#54
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Canon Companion Group: Members Posts: 8,021 Joined: 2-March 03 From: The Morgue, Singapore LTG Member No.: 4,187 |
For all those guys that say that the novels do not conform to canon rules/RAW, I would say this: Whenever I read the novels and find that the author has broken some rules, a small voice in my head tells me,"Cos the GM said so."
I treat it as a House Rule that the GM/author has put in and move on. The key is that I enjoy the novel and I certain have fun reading it. |
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Jun 18 2006, 02:30 AM
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#55
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,430 Joined: 10-January 05 From: Fort Worth, Texas Member No.: 6,957 |
Yeah, it's hard enough to write something as it is. Trying to make something meaningful that doesn't infringe on canon is even harder. Then trying to make sure nothing slips through a rules crack is even worse. The last one isn't really worth it IMO. A novel is not a game book, and shouldn't have to be.
Besides, the rules don't cover every possbile permutation of magic or technology. Just because something isn't in the rulebooks doesn't mean it isn't canon, or not possible. |
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Jun 18 2006, 02:34 AM
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#56
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 355 Joined: 24-August 02 From: Magna, Ute Nation Member No.: 3,166 |
Ok, now I feel better. |
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Jun 18 2006, 09:49 AM
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#57
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Grand Master of Run-Fu Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 6,840 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 178 |
First of all, can you crush the primer of a cartridge hard enough to make it go off? With your earlobe? Remember, the ally *does* have a strength attribute. Second, guns and inanimate objects most definitely *do* have physical stats. Vehicles, for example, have a Body rating. Other objects have Barrier ratings, and Object Resistance values. Spirits have Body ratings, but they don't get any of the rest. Since they can't actually take on the attributes of the object (barrier rating and so on) they can't get any special properties. Third, exactly how close do you think a spirit's "physical form" is to what it's imitating? If I have one in the form of a Fairlight Excalibur, does that mean I can use it to surf the matrix? If I have one in the form of an MP laser, can it blast away all day? Or, best of all: I get one in the form of an Ebony credstick, use it to buy a small South Pacific island, and retire. See what I mean? Just because it *looks* like something, doesn't mean it can *act* like it. For example, the rules are pretty clear that if you give an ally the form of a troll, it still doesn't get Reach bonuses in combat. Rationalize this all you like, but it's not getting any benefits from its form.
Move, yes. Does that mean I can implant cyberware into it? Perform first aid? What about surgery?
Let's not restrict this to allies, then. A Hearth spirit can also appear in the form of a grandfather clock. Sure, it can show whatever time it likes on it's face, since it *looks* just like a grandfather clock. Now, does that mean I can take it apart with a screwdriver? You said it's "mechanically identical". If my ally is in the form of a gun, what happens when I field-strip it?
The magician designs the ally's form, but that doesn't mean that it gets all the properties of that form. If you put a spirit into the form of an eagle, it still cannot fly on it's own wing power, it doesn't get any vision bonuses, or anything else of that nature. And what happens if the mage misses something anatomical? In the book, they give the example of an eagle, but they don't say anywhere that the shaman had to make a zoology roll to design its anatomy properly. The magician doesn't need to know anything about internal organs, either; all he has to do is describe the outward shape, because that's all he's really going to get. If you want to specifically define they physical properties of an ally, above and beyond what it gets normally, then you can easily enchant whatever you want into an inhabiting focus. If someone enchanted a howitzer to serve as a homoniculi, that'd be fine, although it'd get a mite tricky bringing you ally into restaurants with you. But by default, you can't get the amazing ally who can duplicate anything. You'll have to work it out on your own. |
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 12th April 2022 - 07:15 PM |
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