 Stupid Mage Tricks, I know you have them, bring them on |
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 Apr 12 2004, 08:29 AM
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#1
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Moving Target  Group: Members Posts: 128 Joined: 6-January 03 From: In front of my laptop Member No.: 3,860  |
I had a request for this in a different thread so I thought I would start this one. put down your best stupid mage tricks example
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Apr 12 2004, 08:34 AM
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#2
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,458 Joined: 22-March 03 From: I am a figment of my own imagination. Member No.: 4,302 |
Cast Mind Probe on a poster to wonder why they re-hash oft done topics?
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Apr 12 2004, 08:39 AM
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#3
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 128 Joined: 6-January 03 From: In front of my laptop Member No.: 3,860 |
I know it has been done over and over, but its fun and a new to mages person asked for it. don't want to be a part of it don't click it. |
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Apr 12 2004, 02:09 PM
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#4
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 138 Joined: 5-August 03 Member No.: 5,252 |
stupid trick: cast a force 1 invisibility, what will happen? people will need umptiten successes to see you
The stupid way to fix it: let it be like that The smart way to fix it: limit max successes with invisibility spells and the like to force, TADAH! |
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Apr 12 2004, 02:17 PM
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#5
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,222 Joined: 11-October 02 From: Netherlands and Belgium Member No.: 3,437 |
That "smart way" will only work if you don't let people roll unless they have a reason to. Ie: footprints appearing in the snow. Personally, I think the "stupid way" is the smart way. Invis is Invis. It's not suppose to be easy to see. Sphynx |
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Apr 12 2004, 02:56 PM
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#6
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 376 Joined: 14-July 03 Member No.: 4,928 |
That's the one thing with illusion spells, no limits on successes compared to force, so 6 successes on a force 1 imp. invis. is just as "good" as 6 successes on a force 6 - damn few npcs have 6 int, so they never see through it, which is cheesy. In my games, I house rules that the max number of successes for illusion spells =1/2 the casters magic (round down) + the force of the spell. So magic 6, and force 1 imp. invisibility gives you a max of four successes. Any extra success are recorded for purposes of dispelling only. One trick I like - Magic Fingers to pull pins on grenades bad guys have on their gear. :D Cast invisibility on a grenade before throwing - bad guys can't see it to pick up and throw back, and don't know what direction to dodge. Add Stealth to the grenade, and they don't even know it's there when it lands. |
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Apr 12 2004, 03:07 PM
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#7
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,616 Joined: 15-March 04 Member No.: 6,158 |
The rule certain spells have on the maximum number of successes equally the Force of the spell should be a standard rule with exceptions, not the other way around. I'll never figure out why they didn't do that to begin with, nor why they didn't do the whole "+1d6 per two successes" Increased Reflexes spell.
On one hand it eliminates "problems" with things like low-force Invisibility spells, while on the other it gives magicians a good reason beyond dispelling to take most spells at a higher Force. Needless to say, it's a standard rule in our house rules. :) |
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Apr 12 2004, 03:11 PM
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#8
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Technomancer Group: Retired Admins Posts: 4,638 Joined: 2-October 02 From: Champaign, IL Member No.: 3,374 |
A few I like all have to do with ally spirits. Get an ally spirit and then learn a bunch of touch based physical spells for it (fling and cripple limb are two of my favs). Then, you can instruct your ally spirit to go astral, move up behind the bad guys, go physical and fling their guns or cripple their legs, whatever you want, really. Good for trickster shamans because these things would even be in line with their Totem!
A little used but potentially valuable spell is Poltergeist. Especially in an office room or someplace with a lot of loose paper. Cast the spell and everyone in it gets a +2 to vision modifiers. Not the best if you have to fight through it, but not too bad if you're just trying to get away. |
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Apr 12 2004, 03:17 PM
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#9
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Target Group: Members Posts: 66 Joined: 22-January 04 Member No.: 6,005 |
My all-time favourite is using 'shape earth' as an area of affect offensive spell.
force 5 shape earth vs troll = toothpaste effect. Can't top it. |
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Apr 12 2004, 05:11 PM
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#10
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,685 Joined: 17-August 02 Member No.: 3,123 |
I like to encase magical opponents in an astral barrier. They're pretty much stuck unless they want to turn off all thier foci and go mundane, and it'll probably take more than one turn for them to break out. Magic through the barrier is hindered considerably, and if you trap them out in the open they can become a sitting duck for the sam. If they're not percieving they might not even notice the barrier, which can ruin his day if he's counting on sustained spells and foci.
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Apr 12 2004, 06:27 PM
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#11
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 515 Joined: 10-April 04 From: Chicago, IL...Ich vermisse Deutschland. Member No.: 6,230 |
Mana barriers in front of Lone Star/pursuit vehicles. It's useful but a gruesome way to go.
Don |
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Apr 12 2004, 07:00 PM
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#12
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Target Group: Members Posts: 88 Joined: 13-January 04 Member No.: 5,975 |
I had a shaman try to cast an Acid Stream from INSIDE the escape van!!!! I quote.
"I raise my finger and call forth the keen of the mouse, unleashing a stream of acid at the Lone Star Patrol Car." It streamed for onto the windshield, dash, O...lets not forget the driver and from seat passenger, and everything else in the front 25% of the van.. They did manage to escape...but that was the last escape for the mouse shaman.. |
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Apr 12 2004, 07:03 PM
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#13
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Target Group: Members Posts: 88 Joined: 13-January 04 Member No.: 5,975 |
I have seen PCs almost walk out in protest after being caught in an elevator after most of the pins were pulled....Loved it! |
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Apr 12 2004, 07:44 PM
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#14
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Ain Soph Aur Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,477 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 600 |
It's not because you CAN use deadly tricks that, as a GM, you should. I believe at least one player (doesn't matter which one) should see death coming, and the victim should have a chance of avoiding it, besides rolling Body. |
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Apr 12 2004, 07:58 PM
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#15
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Senior GM Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 1,406 Joined: 12-April 03 From: Redmond, WA Member No.: 4,442 |
Our team doesn't play with Mana Barriers, since they were dropped from the third edition book, but we agree a PC could "invent" the spell.
If it were invented in our campaign world, we would use the 2nd edition description which says that "Passengers inside a closed vehicle are not affected by a mana barrier." (SR2.158) |
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Apr 12 2004, 08:20 PM
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#16
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,632 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Portland Oregon, USA Member No.: 1,304 |
Even if you use a mana barrier, it only works against motor cycle cops anyway. Guys in a car are within the cars "aura" and aren't effected.
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Apr 12 2004, 08:25 PM
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#17
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Traumatizing players since 1992 Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,282 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Las Vegas, NV Member No.: 220 |
Our Team bet me to it. Mana barrier is only good against motorcycles.
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Apr 12 2004, 08:36 PM
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#18
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Dragon Group: Members Posts: 4,718 Joined: 14-September 02 Member No.: 3,263 |
There is an -excellent- reason for this. Look closely at the damage code. As it is spell Force only affects the power of the drain. By having it as separate spells it allows the scaling up to Deadly without non-standard definition of the damage code. Also note that it is +3(D) for that Improved Reflexes 3. What other spell uses +3 for power. It already has built in the drain for a higher force spell, and for the price you are still vulnerable to easy dispelling. |
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Apr 12 2004, 08:40 PM
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#19
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 344 Joined: 28-July 03 Member No.: 5,133 |
Using trid phatasm to "road runner" the bad guys.
You are being chased by the evil bad guys in their armored van of doom! You are whipping down the road on your skateboard and you turn the corner step into the 5 foot deep niche and cast a little phantasm action... They'll see that it's an alley going down and easily wide enough for their van... they'll start taking the turn and see the hapless monkey shaman skating down the alley at top speed but oooh! There's a tall fence there and he's trapped! STEP ON IT!! Reality check. The mage as ducked into a doorway, there's no alley, no fence... just you, your van and this wall you just drove into at high speeds... Buckle up campers! Kong |
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Apr 12 2004, 09:28 PM
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#20
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 376 Joined: 14-July 03 Member No.: 4,928 |
That's why its a good idea to have quick-release covers over grenades - mages have to do two things (two Quickness related tests: remove cover and pull pin) in order to succeed. PCs have the chance to notice the cover opening (sight and sound) before the pin comes off. |
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Apr 12 2004, 09:36 PM
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#21
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,616 Joined: 15-March 04 Member No.: 6,158 |
Or they could just be smart in general and keep the damn things out of sight. Kind of hard for a mage to use a LOS spell on something they don't have LOS of.
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Apr 12 2004, 09:53 PM
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#22
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Target Group: Members Posts: 88 Joined: 13-January 04 Member No.: 5,975 |
I agree...BUT I have a real issue with stupied NPCs. If a mage has an INT of 6 then he is basicly as smart or smarter than everyone here. So its not unreasonable to lash out in that way. You are right though, its not a GMs right to blast a party to bits... This particular run was a military guarded installation....in the Tir.... There was little room for mercy..LOL The Troll, one Sam and the Mage all stayed concious. The decker was a shattered ball of meat and the rigger and a sam were just unconcious.... |
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Apr 12 2004, 09:55 PM
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#23
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Target Group: Members Posts: 88 Joined: 13-January 04 Member No.: 5,975 |
Thats true...I have a veteran group os runners( 7+ years) so there really is not excuse...not to mention they have used this tactic on multiple occastions.. Mostly after X2 was released....Magneto Rulez! |
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Apr 12 2004, 10:56 PM
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#24
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Target Group: Members Posts: 5 Joined: 9-April 04 Member No.: 6,226 |
My old mage character got his eyes gouged out while in an alleyway fight with some Sammies, so I had him cast a fireball spell at force of 8 deadly using all of his magic pool dice along with his sorcery, 10/8 respectively and threw it on himself and engulfed EVERY single Sammie there killing each of them and my mage in the process. It was worth it thought. =)
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Apr 12 2004, 11:32 PM
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#25
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 334 Joined: 17-November 03 From: Texas Member No.: 5,828 |
Is it a common house rule that grenades in 2063 still have pins? From the description in the BBB, I get no indication that the pin / spoon combination is still in operation. The trigger seems to be electronic, eleminating the need for a release spoon and hammer to start the fuse.
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