 Question on the Down Cycle... |
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 Aug 26 2007, 02:22 PM
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#1
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Running Target  Group: Members Posts: 1,245 Joined: 27-April 07 From: Running the streets of Southeast Virginia Member No.: 11,548  |
*****WARNING: Lots of rambling questions*****
We all know that magic runs in a ~5000 year cycle. What is the rating of the world during the Down Cycle? We already know that Space has a -10 to -12 background count. Does the Earth have a background count during the down cycle? If so, couldn't a sufficiently powerful enough mage still cast spells and summon spirits? This would also imply that if one could generate enough of a positive background count to negate an Ebb or Warp that one could perform magic during that time frame. Things like All Hallow's Eve, Equinoxes, Solstices, etc. Or does background count fade to nothing during the down cycle due to magic not being present? IOW, is magic present during the down cycle to a sufficiently powerful enough mage? If it is, does that mean the down cycle turns then entire Earth into a mana warp for the duration? This also raises the question of what happens to the mages on space stations when the Down Cycle comes back? Can they still cast? Is the Down Cycle universe wide or only applicable to Earth? I suppose a way to represent this would be Magic being the +Voltage half while Down Cycle is the -Voltage half of an Sine Wave. My question really revolves around does the midpoint of the cycle (halfway between the positive and negative peaks; the zero point of a sine wave) turn Magic off or does the Down Cycle sit on a standing level of mana and the mana level just fluctuates (in a sinusoidal manner) between LOTS 'O MANA and LOTS LESS MANA. Another way to describe the above paragraph would be: Does Magic fluctuate between +5 and -5 or between +20 and +10? It's a magnitude 10 sine wave in both examples. |
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Aug 26 2007, 02:28 PM
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#2
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 |
More or less. As Bull likes to point out on occaision, it might vary considerably. The exact mana level during the downcycle varies depending on time and place. There are indications of spikes and plateaus responsible for some paranormal phenomena-including the expression of elves, dwarfs, orks, and trolls in some cases (the so-called Spike Babies). IEs have shown that performing magic during the downcycle (spellcasting, at least) is possible, though difficult and rather costly. As far as exact numbers go, however, can't help you. |
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Aug 26 2007, 02:37 PM
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#3
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,245 Joined: 27-April 07 From: Running the streets of Southeast Virginia Member No.: 11,548 |
AH, that implies strongly that Magic is active and available to those who know how to find it during the Down Cycle, just not readily accessible to the average joe mage like it is during the Up Cycle.
Cycles can vary. That's why I went with ~5000. It's a nice round and approximate number. :D Thanks! |
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Aug 26 2007, 03:07 PM
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#4
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Exactly. :) |
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Aug 26 2007, 10:45 PM
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#5
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 609 Joined: 13-August 07 Member No.: 12,615 |
The impression I get is that the average location during a down cycle would be a rating 6 mana ebb. But that's just a guess.
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