Real magic vs SR magic Options

[krishcane]

Just a quick question for those of you who practice magic IRL... I've been practicing for a number of years, and I've never experienced anything like the SR concept of Drain when I'm conjuring or energy-moving. If anything, I feel invigorated after my work. The only time I've felt tired is after engaging some kind of negative energy or entity -- which is more akin to SR banishing, cleansing, or astral combat.

Does this mesh with others' experiences, or do you any of you experience a basis for Drain the way SR handles it?

--K

[John Campbell]

I am so going to laugh my ass off if the Awakening actually happens and you don't really get any majyckyl powyrz.

[Siege]

Now now, be nice -- just because you don't believe in his(?) faith is no reason to ridicule it.

Although I must admit, it's never stopped me from heckling the Catholics...

-Siege

Edit: And while I don't practice such faith personally, it's a common theme in fiction and most RPG systems that casting spells runs the risk of taxing a user's energy.

[Austere Emancipa...]

[krishcane]

Who are they?

--K

[Tziluthi]

Drain is a game mechanic, just like recoil, distance modifiers and street index, that limits the power of characters. That said, you can probably be sure that none of the game designers have actually performed magic, if indeed there is such a thing beyond the realm of fiction, so it is unlikely that they have anything to base these mechanics on.

[John Campbell]

[Siege]

To be clear, Krish didn't make any claims that readily lend themselves to being proven or disproven in my opinion. Kinda like Christians and their prayers, I suppose.

In fact, I likened his statements to the bulldrek of a pseudo-pagan-esque freak I have the misfortune to know who routinely makes vague allusions to his "powers as a magus". It only goes downhill from there.

But he (the freak) likens his claims of powers to a religious faith -- not unlike voodoo or Santaria. He knows (more or less) what I think of him and it's not an issue raised in discussion.

So, to summarize the reason for my initial post -- regardless of my opinion on the subject, I was trying to avoid the potential this thread had to erupt into a fireball.

-Siege

[Raptor1033]

well when i first starting reading this thread i thought it was a joke, but now.... siege, don't stop interfere! you and i both know how hilarious this would turn out if allowed to explode :evil:

[Siege]

Yeah well, I'm trying not to give the Admins any more headaches.

I remember the detonation of the Lounge and wasn't terribly amused.

Sorry to sound sanctimonious -- my head is killing me.

-Siege

Edit: :nyah:

[John Campbell]

The thing is, Shadowrun magic is readily objectively verifiable. My PC can levitate himself and other things, can hurl lightning from his hands, can kill people just by looking at them, and he's quite capable of demonstrating this, with fair reliability, to any skeptic that might require proof.

That being the case, if krishcane's original post does not constitute a claim to be able to do some things that are readily objectively verifiable, then what he's talking about is not particularly comparable to Shadowrun magic. Comparing them, therefore, is pretty pointless.

And if it does constitute a claim to be able to do some things that are objectively verifiable, I, for one, want to see the objective verification.

(And I'm trying to be reasonable and not break out the flamethrower... though I'll admit that my initial comment was a little on the inflammatory side. You should see some of the comments that I've typed but didn't post. I'd also have trouble believing that krishcane didn't see this coming.)

[Siege]

Woah...deja vu.

Fabu, glad that's settled.

-Siege

[Glyph]

Shadowrun magic is very explicitly NOT based on any real-world religions, probably precisely so they could avoid that kind of controversy. Now, various religions with a tradition of "magic" have meshed their belief systems in with magic as it works after the awakening, but you also have people who take a rationalist approach to it, or follow their own ideosyncritic belief systems, and they can cast spells too.

Any kind of belief system can be used as a basis for magic in Shadowrun - it is the belief, not what the belief is in, that lets the awakened character tap into the magic. So, I don't look for any real similarities between Shadowrun magic and anything in the real world - despite the gritty cyberpunk setting, it is high-fantasy magic: tossing fireballs, flying through the air, creating magical force fields, etc.

[Pathwalker]

Only would get tired doing something that would take away from ones own energy. Focusing ones energy would raise it, were as just calling out for any spirits in the area to come help you wouldn't take much if any.

[RedmondLarry]

[John Campbell]

Come to think of it, I've driven on water...

I didn't take any Drain, either.

[Diesel]

I broke my arm walking on water. That's physical drain there, boys and girls.

[Austere Emancipa...]

[Siege]

Yep -- Raistlin being a singular entity, as opposed to the "they".

Unless he's referring to the hordes of posers copying the name.

-Siege

[Austere Emancipa...]

I am referring exactly to that particular horde. I am certain a significant portion of them also believe they cough up blood when they toss fireballs.

[Siege]

Ahhhh.

-Siege

[Raptor1033]

hehe i know someone out of said horde. he bleached his hair, originally black, and got specially made gold-colored contacts with an hour-glass shaped pupil. he looked reaaaaaally funny cause the bleach job wasn't particularly well done, plus he had a wide head, and seeing a guy looking like that working in the grill of a mcdonald's is almost thought-provoking :)

[Siege]

Yeah, the thought being..."How hungry am I?"

Followed rapidly by, "The nearest exit is..."

That's an image I'm going to have a hard time shaking.

-Siege

[Zazen]

[Crimson Jack]

What exactly is meant by energy-moving?