[PnP] pnp Digest, Vol 137, Issue 3

Sun Mar 12 17:00:24 CET 2017

The EL of the spell (the power) is determined by stats.  These cap out eventually.  The MEL, however, keeps going.  Also, the innate magics cast faster than do normal spells.  

I think that most beings would need to use gestures of some sort to focus their attention on their gift and the target of it, if the magic used is external of ones self.  The magics that affect only the caster shouldn't require any gestures at all.

That being said, I also think that the higher the MEL, the less needed are the gestures.  Do the gods need to gesture to invoke their (essentially innate) power?  I consider them to be over MEL 30.  

So...the higher the MEL, the more they could do in addition to casting their innate magic.  If they can cast the spell in less than one phase, allow them some additional action.  Think of the Jedi fighting the robots...they could use the Force (like innate magic) to push away the robots while thy fight.  My limit on this would be that if they require more than one phase to cast, they can't do anything else the entire time it takes to cast the spell.

I also think, though, that innate magics for players wouldn't need gestures if the play if the player did nothing else.  For instance, if tied up, they would have the time to calm themselves and concentrate on their control and target.  Blindfolding them would make hitting their targets much more difficult.

Finally, innate magics might not need verbal components, but there might be times when they are. That would be at the GM's discretion.  Again, maybe MEL would determine.

Sent from my iPad

> On Mar 12, 2017, at 4:00 AM, pnp-request at list.powersandperils.org wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. Innate Magics (Scott Adams)
>   2. Re: Innate Magics ( Thomas O. Magann Jr.)
>   3. Re: Innate Magics ( Thomas O. Magann Jr.)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2017 21:55:57 -0500
> From: Scott Adams <longshotgm at comcast.net>
> To: pnp at list.powersandperils.org
> Subject: [PnP] Innate Magics
> Message-ID: <mailman.2.1489316401.21810.pnp at list.powersandperils.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
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> 
> So MUs can't move and cast OR chew gum and rub stomach at same time.
> 
> Do Innates suffer this same fate?
> Since most agree Innate is through thought.
> I've not thought of this before.
> I suspect they can move.
> Since creatures can move/cast.  
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2017 19:05:58 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
> From: " Thomas O. Magann Jr." <tmagann at earthlink.net>
> To: The Powers and Perils Mailing List <pnp at list.powersandperils.org>,
>    pnp at list.powersandperils.org
> Subject: Re: [PnP] Innate Magics
> Message-ID:
>    <8218623.10156.1489287958572 at elwamui-huard.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> 
> Can they? Probably. Should they? I would think there is a bit of tunnel vision involved, much like texting while driving or some such. Doing two things at once, and doing both well are very different things.
> 
> I'd say to be careful in dense wood about bumping into trees, and to walk alongside cliff sides very slowly and carefully until the innate magic was done being cast.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Scott Adams <longshotgm at comcast.net>
>> Sent: Mar 11, 2017 6:55 PM
>> To: pnp at list.powersandperils.org
>> Subject: [PnP] Innate Magics
>> 
>> 
>> So MUs can't move and cast OR chew gum and rub stomach at same time.
>> 
>> Do Innates suffer this same fate?
>> Since most agree Innate is through thought.
>> I've not thought of this before.
>> I suspect they can move.
>> Since creatures can move/cast.  
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> pnp mailing list
>> pnp at list.powersandperils.org
>> http://www.powersandperils.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pnp
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2017 20:34:19 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
> From: " Thomas O. Magann Jr." <tmagann at earthlink.net>
> To: " Thomas O. Magann Jr." <tmagann at earthlink.net>,  The Powers and
>    Perils Mailing List <pnp at list.powersandperils.org>,  The Powers and
>    Perils Mailing List <pnp at list.powersandperils.org>,
>    pnp at list.powersandperils.org
> Subject: Re: [PnP] Innate Magics
> Message-ID:
>    <33090515.10705.1489293259528 at elwamui-huard.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> 
> After giving my opinion, I sat and thought a bit about the mechanics behind my answer.
> 
> This is based on V1, which is what I use.
> 
> MEL for innates is based on experience, while EL is based on stats. This can make for a a bit of a disparity compared to a mage with one MEL for many spells, each of which boosts his MEL. An Innate gets Experience form just tone one spell, although his expertise gains also go towards MEL. Still, if he doesn't use it much but has high stats, he can have a highg EL and, hence, spend a few phases getting the Energy together to trigger it.
> 
> My assumption is that there's going to be some level of distraction during this time period. Also that high EL (hence, stronger) spells will require more attention.
> 
> So, I'd say use the EL of the innate spell as a perception penalty. That calls for perception rolls, of course.
> 
> A few exist. It would be a penalty to setting an ambush, and  abonus to the ambush someone has set against you. You'd give them a bonus to avoid, or take a penalty to avoid yourself. Each of these rolls happens once, and only of the ambush is triggered during the casting time.
> 
> Apply the EL as a penalty to any Tracking or Trailing, and roll each phase of spell casting. If you fail the trail is lost and you can reacquire when the spell is done, including canceling the casting to reacquire immediately. Standard track/trail rules apply to reacquire.
> 
> And, basically, that just leaves bumping into things. 
> 
> Set a BL of 10, modified by the local terrain. A glass smooth desert with no obstacles, including other beings, would likely be a BL20. A dungeon death trap/obstacle course could be a BL0.
> 
> Make the roll, adding the EL of the spell to the roll. Roll each phase. Allow for partial success.
> 
> -A Success is fine, you didn't bump into anything or anyone. 
> 
> -A Partial Success means you noticed in time to stop yourself, but may have lost concentration on the spell. Roll on the same BL, but this time instead of adding the spell EL, subtract your Will Bonus. 
> 
> -A Failure means you bumped into something and lost the spell. That is likely all it means, unless there is something specific about the terrain that might be more dangerous, like if you are alone in a field of prickly cacti. If so, the GM will need to determine damage based on circumstance.
> 
> -An Abyssal Failure means you really stepped int he wrong place: Tripped over a root, found the lone gopher hole or animal burrow in a empty field, etc. Assume a trip-and-fall and 1d6 damage (negated only by some sort of acrobatics skill, if any, but NOT Climbing), again, unless the GMdetermines that the terrain is more hazardous. If so, whatever the terrain would do on a failure plus the 1d6, at minimum.
> 
> That's what I came up with, anyhow.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: " Thomas O. Magann Jr." <tmagann at earthlink.net>
> 
>> Can they? Probably. Should they? I would think there is a bit of tunnel vision involved, much like texting while driving or some such. Doing two things at once, and doing both well are very different things.
>> 
>> I'd say to be careful in dense wood about bumping into trees, and to walk alongside cliff sides very slowly and carefully until the innate magic was done being cast.
> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Scott Adams <longshotgm at comcast.net>
> 
>>> So MUs can't move and cast OR chew gum and rub stomach at same time.
>>> 
>>> Do Innates suffer this same fate?
>>> Since most agree Innate is through thought.
>>> I've not thought of this before.
>>> I suspect they can move.
>>> Since creatures can move/cast.  
>>> 
>>> 
> 
> 
> 
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> End of pnp Digest, Vol 137, Issue 3
> ***********************************