Although I don't have a full understanding of Channeling (since I'm still mired in 2nd Ed primarily) one thing I think should bear consideration is this: from the sound of it, Channeling is not the nicest thing to do to a spirit, so doing it to your Ally spirit should count as abusive; this, in turn, makes the spirit more likely to have it away on its insubstantial toes at the first opportunity (the mage taking deadly damage, as I recall, being a prime example).

dikoting your rounds won't help against hardened armor, either the spirit power or the mundane version. dikote does not have any extra effect on armor, only barriers.

Lets ignore what has been said about the specific wording of the power for a moment (dont worry, those rules should still apply to all summoned spirits). Now that we're in non-ruleslawyer mode for a moment... would it be possible to channel an unbound free spirit if that spirit specifically offered or agreed to be channeled?

I would say no. Not through current metahuman chaneling metamagic.
I would not say that it couldn't happen.
An upgraded verson of channeling for powerhouse free spirits.
I may be tempted to do it for a good plot twist, or to keep an enemy alive.

---------------------------------------
Red & White, twin gnome mages from Irland
"No! I am more powerfull you idiot."

A willing free spirit would have to at least bind itself in some way to the channeler for the option to even be worthy of discussion. The nature of this binding is debateable (does it impart knowledge of a true name? can it be recalled at will?), but that is the only option by the text.

If you want a free spirit to help a mortal escape, give it possession, astral gateway (don't remember if this is neccessary for voluntary possession), and a person it actually values for some reason.

Well... after long debate, I went strait t the source and sent an e-mail to the head honchos asking for a ruling here is the e-mail and yes according to their ruling I was wrong. :

You can't channel a watcher. They can't handle it. They can't even materialize on the physical plane.

For now, the channeling metamagic can only be used with spirits that owe services, so you can't do it with Ally spirits or bound (formerly Free) Spirits. Though we may come out with an expansion of the rules at some future time.

You can, of course, make house rules that work in your campaign if you want some other outcome.

Good luck.

Signed,
ShadowFaq

PS. You may want to check out the WinterWar convention, in February, in Champaign IL. Its a gaming convention held every February for over 30 years. winterwar.prairienet.org


I hope this clears it up for everyone.

So I guess Channeling your Astrally Projecting Initiate buddy is out of the question then?

So what would be the most evil use of channelling? Aztech channelling a Blood Spirit? Bug shaman channeling his queen?

Really evil thought: any way possible for some sort of twisted way shaman to control/bind a shedim? Channeled Master Shedim could be really scary...

No, the most twisted use of channeling is a cyberzombie channeling a blood spirit as they complete the ritual, because then, technically, the spirit would be permanently trapped.... and the cyberzombie could raise his or her essence above zero.....

I think we can all see where this is going, especially since the only thing prohibiting a cyberzombie from using magic is their below zero ess, supposedly, and the definition of a burn-out relates to essence.....

won't work. M&M page 55: "the magical and surgical elements are part of the same operation".

you don't have to be unconscious for the surgery, I'd imagine. It'd just probably be more likely to preserve your sanity.... I think it's theoretically possible. it certainly made a great villain.

But it isn't truely a requirement. An epidural to block voluntary muscle movement in the required area, and some of the pain if the doc is in a nice mood , is all that is required. It is actually more common than not for women to be conscious for cesections and that is fullout abdominal surgery.

An upside is that epidurals usually are easier on the patient physically than general anethisa. Given that creating a cyberzombie is pretty taxing on the subject, it might actually be a real advantage to keeping them conscious.

EDIT: Google to the rescue: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3146837.stm

There is only one Canon way as yet to overcome burnout-ness and that requires a Free Spirit. But I think I can use the presently available game mechanics to do enable a cyberzombie to Channel.

OK, here it is.