A Lesson for Mages

[Kublai]

I was reading nebulousmenace's account of his latest exploits and decided to share my own experiences.

When a sorcerer wakes up in the morning, there really should be no reason why he wouldn't put up his sustained spells: The Sense, TAB, and Eldritch Shield. First, such a rigorous regime of sustaining will increase your Will in the long run so that keeping these spells up becomes routine. Second, a wizard should never be taken by surprise. It's part of their idiom. They should be prepared at any moment to react to and deal with any threats. Since you can still move, act and speak - and work - while you are sustaining a spell, I ask you, "Why not?"

Now, true there are some times you might consider not having the spells up - like if you were trying to sneak up on a sorcery-detecting foe. But even then, there's a chance such a foe could still detect your Trait or magic items, so I think the point of going in with "shields down" is a waste.

Thoughts?

[Durgil]

It kind of sounds like you're discribing the typical Jedi Knight from Star Wars.

[luke]

kublai is overlooking one point.
mage's must retest for Tax when sustaining spells. Usually this means a spell can only be sustained for an hour or two before it starts to Tax you.

As a GM, I rarely worry about this in the overall gameplay of our sessions, but neither do my players abuse the priviledge of being able to sustain indefinitely. In fact, I have one polite mage who, despite his formidable constitution, is always willing to either recast the spell as needed or even say that he didn't have the spell up at all because he was conserving himself.

[Kublai]

mage's must retest for Tax when sustaining spells. Usually this means a spell can only be sustained for an hour or two before it starts to Tax you.

Though I didn't mention it, I considered it part of the rigorous regime. As a GM, I would consider this practice time towards their Forte or Will.

[Mad Hatter]

The mage in question has an instinct to always raise an Eldritch Sheild upon waking each day. Due to this, as a GM I assume it is up for the character at all times and I don't make him test his tax all the time. Should he decide to add a bunch more to his regimen, I would begin to be a bit meaner about it, I think.

Up to now, of course, he's been paranoid about magical enemies. They are still the ones he is most afraid of, I'm sure.

[nebulousmenace]

It seems that Brennan and I are pretty much in agreement on this one. He lets me have the one spell, and I don't push it.

Idle thought- should I have to make two Tax rolls before any encounter to represent how I'm dealing with the day's stress and strain? My Forte would go up in a hurry. And I'd take a lot more battlefield naps.

Another thing: The Sense, to me, seems like a TV movie acid trip. NOTHING seems normal, everything's got portents, and you are looking at auras and meanings instead of gopher holes and weapon hands. I wouldn't keep it up all the time.

[rainman of gaming]
So, lessee, if you've got a 5 Will and three spells up, you've got an effective 2 Will, and TAB has Ob 3. Therefore, You can't keep three spells up if one of them is Turn Aside the Blade. Even if you have a 6 Will you'd be testing three spells EVERY HOUR, with difficulties of 2 ,3, and whatever The Sight is. Forty-eight tests a day. That's boring, annoying, and Not Fun.

I figure with the one spell up, I'm making four or five tests a day against a difficulty of 2, which is not completely unreasonable.

[/rainman of gaming]

[eruditus]

Two notes on this...

One, for a great take on The Sense check out the newest issue of Artesia Afire (no. 3). The main character has a version of it and there is a really cool scene about what she sees looking over a crowded war room filled with soldiers and commanders, the spirit they have bound and the glamours that adorn armor, weapons and talisman. Very cool.

Secondly, I find it kinda funny that a mage becomes more and more of an asshole the more spells he has sustained. I am definately going to have my mages roleplay this out... you know "I have three spells maintained and my 5 Will drops to a 2 Will."

"He's awefully cranky this morning."
"Yeah, he's been wandering about muttering to himself, doesn't look at you when your talking to him and snaps at everyone... its as if he has something else on his mind."

[eruditus]

Although I am certain it is useful in many circumstances I think it funny that Wisdom of the Ancients becomes "one free sustained spell."