"Involuntary Target" spell design option, reasonable addition or not? |
"Involuntary Target" spell design option, reasonable addition or not? |
Jul 19 2004, 11:19 PM
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#1
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,049 Joined: 24-March 03 Member No.: 4,323 |
Pretty simple question, really: Would it be reasonable to allow that a spell be designed such that it would only affect *unwilling* targets?
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Jul 19 2004, 11:25 PM
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#2
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 515 Joined: 10-April 04 From: Chicago, IL...Ich vermisse Deutschland. Member No.: 6,230 |
Yes, it's possible, but I'd hope you can convince someone that you healing them is really a bad thing.
You still have to check if the modifier is pertinent to the spell category (it's already assumed in the combat and most of the manipulation spells). Don |
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Jul 19 2004, 11:34 PM
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#3
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Traumatizing players since 1992 Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,282 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Las Vegas, NV Member No.: 220 |
Just to clarify you want a spell that cannot effect willing targets? Can I get an example of where you're going with this, because from the description I think it's paradoxical to what is a valid target. |
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Jul 19 2004, 11:38 PM
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#4
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Senior GM Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 1,406 Joined: 12-April 03 From: Redmond, WA Member No.: 4,442 |
I would not allow such a spell.
Consider a fireball/manaball in a narrow cooridor into a wild melee. With "unwilling targets only", and everyone on your team says "I'm a willing target!" Only the opposition would get geeked. No way. |
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Jul 19 2004, 11:40 PM
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#5
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,049 Joined: 24-March 03 Member No.: 4,323 |
If a potential target agrees to accept the spell or, for whatever reason, decides to not resist the effects of the spell, a spell with the "involuntary target" modification could then not affect that target.
refusing to resist the spell would negate the effects of the spell. Example: mage designs an "involuntary only" stunball. levitating invisibly above a battle involving some goons and his teammates, mage informs his teammates (via radio or whatever) that he will be casting this spell, and to not resist it. They do not make their resistance checks, and so it does not affect them, only affecting the goons who *do* resist the spell. edit: my example, and ourteam's objection, represent what is, perhaps, the most ridiculous use of the modifier. however, note that a possible answer is that the involuntary target modifer can not be used on spells that cause damage. I'm not looking for an all or nothing sort of answer, necessarily; just a general assessment of the reasonablenss of the modifier |
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Jul 19 2004, 11:45 PM
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#6
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 865 Joined: 31-December 03 From: Shadows of Britain Member No.: 5,944 |
Perhaps the mage could craft some talismans that denote the wearer as a `willing ` target for the spell and there by it would ignore them? Instead of people just accepting the Stun Ball. A mystical IFF trabnsponder in effect. Incidently can you actually be a willing target for a spell that does physical damage to you? or would your body automatically attempt to resist it, like taking a bullet?...
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Jul 20 2004, 12:32 AM
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#7
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Free Spirit Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,944 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Bloomington, IN UCAS Member No.: 1,920 |
Just expect the enemy mage to come up with a voluntary version and kill everyone on the team as they get no resistance check..
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Jul 20 2004, 02:03 AM
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#8
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,066 Joined: 5-February 03 Member No.: 4,017 |
Hmm.... IFF foci.
An IFF focus can classify a subject as a non-target for combatative spells cast by the person who bonded the focus. It can only nullify the effects of spells at or below the force of the focus. They are considered "active" for any turn that they prevent,or attempt to prevent, a spell but do not count any worse for attempting to prevent multiple spells. As for the numbers, lets set costs to be the same as specific spell foci. 1 karma per force for non-initial bonding and all that. It'll really help when you choose to manaball the melee around the group's troll, but you really risk magic loss if you have too many friends in the area of effect. |
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Jul 20 2004, 02:05 AM
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#9
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Traumatizing players since 1992 Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,282 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Las Vegas, NV Member No.: 220 |
lol, and every time a spell is cast they get asked "do you resist"? without metagaming they would absolutely get massacred if an enemy mage cast in the same pass.
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Jul 20 2004, 04:10 AM
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#10
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,685 Joined: 17-August 02 Member No.: 3,123 |
Let me get this straight. If you want the spell, you can't have it affect you. Ok, so far so good.
Now, what if you know about the particular limitations on the spell? Then if you really wanted the spell, you'd purposely try not to want it. Thus if you know about its limitations and you still want the spell, then you really don't want the spell. If you don't want the spell, you really want it. :| I don't think this is really playable. |
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Jul 20 2004, 04:17 AM
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#11
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Manus Celer Dei Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 17,006 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Boston Member No.: 3,802 |
Zazen, the way you describe it it's entirely playable :)
Who'd you think of, Ray?" "I couldn't help it! He just popped in there!" "Who is it, Ray?!" ~J |
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Jul 20 2004, 04:47 AM
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#12
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,685 Joined: 17-August 02 Member No.: 3,123 |
Maybe after a couple joints :P The guy who wants it for real has to not want it, but if he doesn't want it then he really wants it, which means he's not going to get affected. So that guy has to not want it all over again, but harder this time. But he still really does want it, unless maybe he has the mental control to forget that he wanted it in the first place so that he doesn't want it for real. So now he doesn't want it for real. He has to want it, but if he wants it then he really doesn't want it, which means he's going to get affected. So that guy has to want it all over again, but harder this time. But he still really doesn't want it, unless maybe he has the mental control to forget that he didn't want it in the first place so that he wants it for real. "He's casting a spell. Roll your doublethink skill, TN 6." :S |
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Jul 20 2004, 05:09 AM
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#13
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 214 Joined: 8-June 03 Member No.: 4,696 |
Man, shades of Unknown Armies, where doublethink actually is a skill.
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Jul 20 2004, 05:12 AM
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#14
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Manus Celer Dei Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 17,006 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Boston Member No.: 3,802 |
Paranoia/Shadowrun crossover, anyone?
~J |
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Jul 20 2004, 05:15 AM
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#15
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,685 Joined: 17-August 02 Member No.: 3,123 |
No shit? Now that's fuckin' cool. |
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Jul 20 2004, 02:54 PM
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#16
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 527 Joined: 30-January 04 Member No.: 6,043 |
It's like this in Earthdawn. You can voluntarily lower the TN for spells to affect you, but it lasts for an entire turn, meaning any incoming spells have a real easy time pasting you. |
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