From: Andrew J. Weill (aweill@netcom.com)
Date: Wed 09 Feb 1994 - 09:38:30 EET
On Tue, 8 Feb 1994, Jim DeGon wrote:
>> It's the ganging up
> > that I question. I think that this "multispirit" power is an intriguing
> > idea for a super tough shaman of some specialized school. As a general
> > power, it doesn't work.
> >
> The issue here should not be whether many spirits can attack one target
> just because it's "not fair". The issue should be considered from the
> point of how reasonable it is for them to be able to attack en-masse and
> then design your rules from there.
>
> It seems intuitive that ganging up of some sort is possible when spirit
> combat is considered as some sort of analogue to physical combat. Likewise,
> multiple attacks should be possible and "stronger" than one-on-one attacks,
> but the current "free shot" system is what makes it unfair.
>
> Some alternate solutions: The defender could defend with their full
> magic points (or POW?) against each spirit, however each additional
> attacker adds, say two or three to the strength of it's attack.
> ex. One defender, two attackers each get +3 to strength of attack
> One defender, three attackers each get +6
> This would be somewhat consistent to getting bonuses for attacking
> "surprised" or "helpless" opponents in physical combat.
>
> Alternatively, the defender can split his "parry" by defending with less
> current magic points. Depending on whether the GM judges that it is possible
> to judge the strength of each attacking spirit, the splitting could be
> specified, or just automatically divided in even portions with the odd points
> assigned randomly.
> ex. One defender, splits defense 6 and 3 against two obviously differing
> strengthed spirits, or, as the GM judges that the defender has no spirit
> sight or spirit lore, he spilts evenly.
>
> It is important to realize that it won't be an easy task for the shaman to
> conveniently have all the spirits he desires, and that the life of the shaman
> is dangerous even when he stays at home. He could be attacked from the
> spirit plane at any time. I imagine that previously bound or summoned
> spirits might likely be gunning for him at his weakest times, provided they
> possess INT.
>
> I say the above because the two types of magic are basically incomparable.
> It is "fair" to give the defender a better shot against multiple spirits, but
> it isn't "fair" to the shaman to make spirit combat one-on-one with this as
> the only justification...
>
I certainly agree that "fairness" is not the issue. I'm not convinced
that spirit combat is in any way analogous to physical combat, at least
when dealing with disembodied spirits. And especially when a shaman
looses multiple spirits at an enemy, I don't think it should be so simple
for the attacks to be coordinated.
Here are a few ideas:
1. Temple defender spirits and the like could be coordinated in their
defense. This could make small temples somewhat daunting to raiders, and
perhaps they should be.
2. I think that there should be some mechanism whereby the coordination
3. I'm not sure about splitting MP's ... I don't think most characters
of spirit attacks by a shaman is not authomatic. Either there could be a
"multispirit" skill for the shaman, or perhaps there could be a special
skill or magic spell available to defend against such potent attacks and
force the spirits to attack singly.
will stand a chance, unless they have disproportionate POW.
Bottom line, I agree that a powerful shaman (the type I like to use as
villains) will be able to link the spirits. I just don't see the typical
apprentice in Prax being able to do it.
---Andy Weill
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