Magicians in SR4 |
Magicians in SR4 |
Nov 30 2009, 06:50 AM
Post
#1
|
|
Target Group: Members Posts: 5 Joined: 4-August 09 Member No.: 17,468 |
Hey all,
Our playing group started playing a SR4 campaign a while back and we've been struggling with some questions regarding Magicians and most notably when they are able to cast which spells, so I'm coming here for some insight from other players/GMs. When a mage is active on the physical plane, it's a no-brainer. He can cast both M(ana) and P(hysical) spells at any physical target he can see. When that mage is still active on the physical plane, but using Astral Perception, it seems he can cast only M spells at targets he can see and affect on the astral plane (but has a chance to be alerted to anything happening on the physical plane around his body). Then, when the mage is actually leaving his body behind on the physical plane and using Astral projection, we think he can again only cast M spells at targets he can see and affect on the astral plane. But, and here is our real puzzle, what happens when that astrally projecting mage is Manifesting itself from the astral plane into the physical plane. Which spells can he cast then (on targets in the physical plane) ? Our opinions vary from all spells to none at all. Several of us have scanned the rulebook over and over, but we've been unable to come up with hard rules on this. May I ask for your opinions and the way this is handled in your playing groups ? Thanks in advance for any feedback you can give ! - P - |
|
|
Nov 30 2009, 06:55 AM
Post
#2
|
|
Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,537 Joined: 27-August 06 From: Albuquerque NM Member No.: 9,234 |
When you are astrally perceiving you are dual natured and can target (and be targeted from) both the astral and physical. When you are astrally projecting you are ONLY on the astral. Manifesting doesn't change this, you are still on the astral and can only attack and be attacked from the astral.
Only something that has the power of materialization can appear on the physical from the astral. And then it's not projecting, it's astrally traveling. |
|
|
Nov 30 2009, 06:55 AM
Post
#3
|
|
panda! Group: Members Posts: 10,331 Joined: 8-March 02 From: north of central europe Member No.: 2,242 |
manifestation is not the same as materialization, the power spirits use to become a physical being.
iirc, a manifesting magican cant even be picked up by cameras or other technological gear, as its a purely psychic effect. think of it as a kind of magical "hologram". heh, ninja-ed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) |
|
|
Nov 30 2009, 07:13 AM
Post
#4
|
|
Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,086 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 364 |
|
|
|
Nov 30 2009, 07:57 AM
Post
#5
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 118 Joined: 9-February 09 From: F.R.F.Z. C.A.S. Sector Member No.: 16,861 |
Oi Chums,
PG. 193 4th Ed A is the paragraph on Manifesting. PG. 184 BBB if you don't have Aniversery. It says that unlike the Materialization Powers of pirits manifesting does not create a physical form. So you can't do squat except make scary ghost sounds and float around. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rotate.gif) |
|
|
Nov 30 2009, 02:03 PM
Post
#6
|
|
Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,245 Joined: 27-April 07 From: Running the streets of Southeast Virginia Member No.: 11,548 |
Here's a chart of how spells interact with the Physical & Astral.
Enjoy. Physical: - Cast Mana spells on Physical Targets - Cast Physical spells on Physical Targets Astral Perception: - Cast Mana spells on Physical Targets - Cast Mana spells on Astral Targets - Cast Physical spells on Physical Targets Astral Projection: - Cast Mana spells on Astral Targets |
|
|
Nov 30 2009, 05:31 PM
Post
#7
|
|
Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,086 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 364 |
It says that unlike the Manifestation Powers of pirits No it does not say that. Go read it again. "Unlike the Materialization power of spirits" (bolding added for emphasis) Materialization is the power spirits use to have a solid presence in meatspace. Manifestation is what spirits and astral projecting beings use if they want to communicate with a living being in meatspace without actually being there. These are two different concepts, with two different names that happen to share the same first two letters. Take care when reading about them or talking about them, because if you mix the two up, confusion reigns. (However, everything else in your post about astrally projecting mages not being able to do squat in meatspace is an accurate description of any being using Manifestation.) |
|
|
Nov 30 2009, 09:29 PM
Post
#8
|
|
panda! Group: Members Posts: 10,331 Joined: 8-March 02 From: north of central europe Member No.: 2,242 |
i do wonder if those two words walk into the trap of having the same first and last letter, and so triggers much the same function as what makes us able to read a word even when all but first and last letter are in scrambled positions...
|
|
|
Dec 1 2009, 12:53 AM
Post
#9
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 118 Joined: 9-February 09 From: F.R.F.Z. C.A.S. Sector Member No.: 16,861 |
Oi Chums,
I did put down the wrong word. Sorry will check my posts more thouroughly next time. |
|
|
Dec 1 2009, 09:55 PM
Post
#10
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 175 Joined: 5-May 08 From: Matt, GA Member No.: 15,959 |
This came up in my game, and I did all the research exhaustively, and came to the same conclusion. Manifesting gains an astrally projecting mage NOTHING. People on the Physical Plane can see and hear you now. That's it, period. I like the "Magic Hologram" idea, it sums it up perfectly!
CONCEPT STOLEN FOR MY PLAYERS! |
|
|
Dec 2 2009, 02:01 AM
Post
#11
|
|
Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 983 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 326 |
This came up in my game, and I did all the research exhaustively, and came to the same conclusion. Manifesting gains an astrally projecting mage NOTHING. People on the Physical Plane can see and hear you now. That's it, period. That's how it's always been, unless I've been running it wrong. SR2 might be a partial exception if manifestation allows for "grounding." |
|
|
Dec 2 2009, 03:43 AM
Post
#12
|
|
Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,849 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Melbourne, Australia Member No.: 872 |
I wish there was a freakin sidebar to clarify this in SR4A.
Maybe next reprint... ? - J. |
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 29th March 2024 - 07:18 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.