QUOTE (crizh @ Sep 17 2008, 10:00 AM)

It does not mention anywhere that this is an un-interruptible un-fake-able command conduit between Mage and Ward/Spirit/Spell/etc.
I never claimed there was. I said this "link" is probably how they do it, as the book never describes it. Must the same as the link between caster and spell is most likely the way the control the spell.
QUOTE (crizh @ Sep 17 2008, 10:00 AM)

Spirits explicitly have a Mental link to their Summoner. A link that is explicitly interruptible.
And spirits are intelligent, as opposed to wards/spells.
QUOTE (crizh @ Sep 17 2008, 10:00 AM)

The Astral Link mentioned above between Spirit and Summoner is not interruptible. Ergo they are different, distinct, separate links.
Not really, they're still an astral link. It just happens you can communicate with a spirit, because its intelligent.
QUOTE (crizh @ Sep 17 2008, 10:00 AM)

Without explicit text describing such a Command Link for Wards you are making it up.
Making up a description for how they control their ward? Yes. Making up a link? No.
QUOTE (crizh @ Sep 17 2008, 10:00 AM)

Making it up, quite reasonably, to try to get the fluff to conform to the way we think the rules ought to be, but making it up nonetheless.
I tend to view Wards as a cross between your soap bubble (although they are three rather than two dimensional as I understand) model and one of those kids toy that you hammer the shapes through the appropriate hole.
Fluff is pointless in the arguement, so don't worry about the link anymore. Its a descriptior of how I think the mage controls the ward.
QUOTE (crizh @ Sep 17 2008, 10:00 AM)

The Ward has one shape that it will always let through, it's creator's aura acts like a key almost, which when activated allows other keys to be created, permanently or temporarily, as shaped holes in it's surface. None of those keys, however, turn the second 'tumbler' that the first one does, allowing the Ward to be re-configured.
I disagree on the shape analogy. All the info we get from the text is that it never inhibits the creator, and that the creator can change who it inhibits. If you use masking, you can impersonate the creator, and be inhibited the same way. That is all. You can make up whatever reason you want for why this happens (because none is given) but thats how ti works.
QUOTE (crizh @ Sep 17 2008, 10:00 AM)

My point, as always, is that if the Ward has a two way ranged communication link with it's creator then the idea of using his Aura to slip through is absurd. The Ward merely needs to be designed to ping that link and deny access if no reply is received.
Wards don't have 2 way communication. The creator is alerted when they are broken through/destroyed. And the creator can change who is allowed through. Does it matter how this is done? No, it just is.
(My fluff explanation would be breaking through causes a link to flicker, while destroying the ward destroys the link. Attacking it would cause the link to become weaker. Is this in the books anywhere? No, but its my reasoning for how it works).
QUOTE (crizh @ Sep 17 2008, 10:00 AM)

This is a trivial alteration to the 'programming' of a Ward compared to, for instance, a Trap Ward.
It all depends on how you interpret the "two way" communication. I don't think it works, for reasons I just explained. The ward can't ping and ask permisison, its a stupid entity. No intelligence.
QUOTE (crizh @ Sep 17 2008, 10:00 AM)

My original post was endeavouring to point out that, by the fluff, Masking was sufficient to completely own a Ward.
The intent of the rules is clear. Extended Masking is intended for this role. The RAW and the fluff do not support this interpretation, however.
Masking is sufficient to pass through a ward, that is all. You can not change who is allowed, nor can you bring other auras through with you. That is clear by RAW. Extended masking hides the auras of spells/foci on you, which would then let those come through also, that is also clear by RAW.
If you could quote RAW more and explain why you think this isn't the case, it'd help me to understand your position better.