tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120457452312005091.post9118174809546357924..comments2022-04-02T21:06:12.808-07:00Comments on Northwoods Gunslinger: First (real) Post: Gaming, Guns, and MagicSiegehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04745434959272272759noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120457452312005091.post-26007242215332755282013-11-01T15:57:26.889-07:002013-11-01T15:57:26.889-07:00True, but grenades aren't exactly common usual...True, but grenades aren't exactly common usually. Reading the spell, grenades thrown at the hex they're on would also work (though pitching one straight at them like a baseball would reveal the shield's existence).<br /><br />If the mage is unsupported it would be a fairly effective thing to just close the distance and haul out a melee weapon of some kind (assuming you survived the discovery that they had a reverse missile shield, and the mage didn't just wreck you with spells while you tried to close). That would support my strong encouragement of my players to have at least some kind of melee skill, which I like. <br /><br />Still, the ease of getting missile shield and reverse missile with even just Magery 1 makes me suspicious of them for balance purposes. It's the sort of thing that almost any mage would always have ready to go when guns are common if they even remotely think they might be shot at, so it's almost pointless to ever shoot at a mage (except as a surprise attack to prevent the Reflex spell from triggering). <br /><br />Right now I'm leaning towards a technology-using spell amplifier, that only works for certain spells, and gives a damage boost or cast speed boost per point sufficient to balance it vs guns, for high TL mages who want a more direct, flashy approach to show those mundanes and their boomsticks how it's done.Siegehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04745434959272272759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120457452312005091.post-58147517289384419332013-11-01T04:24:26.480-07:002013-11-01T04:24:26.480-07:00Oh, if you're a mundane and facing a mage who ...Oh, if you're a mundane and facing a mage who has reverse missiles or missile shield up. Two words. Rifle Grenade.<br /><br />Drop the round in an adjacent hex and while the fragments won't hurt him, the concussion is unaffected by the spell.<br /><br />Can you tell I've been chewing at this problem since 1986?Angus McThaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09295013525738248801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120457452312005091.post-73130725862154718472013-10-31T11:39:57.626-07:002013-10-31T11:39:57.626-07:00I've seen those spells, but I'm thinking i...I've seen those spells, but I'm thinking in terms of what I expect players to want, and one of the things I expect a mage player to want; if they've done any sword and sorcery, they'll most likely want to be able to whip wibbly wobbly magic stuff all over the place and at least keep up with the mundanes in DPS, if not outdo them on the short term. <br />I'm also just a bit suspicious of the balance of "I am immune to all ranged attacks, and maybe they even kill you for trying" in a setting where ranged attacks are often the norm, and are able to potentially kill in one go. I want mages to still carry guns and whatnot for backup or keeping a low (such as it is) profile, but I want offensive magic to still be worthwhile.<br /><br />I'll definitely take a look at technomancer though, seems like it'll be setting appropriate. Siegehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04745434959272272759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7120457452312005091.post-31723257366830302602013-10-30T20:23:54.024-07:002013-10-30T20:23:54.024-07:00Missile Shield. Then take your time casting and l...Missile Shield. Then take your time casting and laugh as he impotently wastes ammunition.<br /><br />Reverse Missile. Let him do the work and pay for the ammo.<br /><br />Track down a copy of GURPS: Technomancer (I think you can still buy it direct as a pdf) for ideas on blending tech and magic.<br /><br />The magic rules were definitely balanced for a TL2-4 fantasy game not 5+.<br /><br />The main change is that Mages are not offensive firepower anymore. But there's still lots they can get done and I've used them successfully in TL9 settings.Angus McThaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09295013525738248801noreply@blogger.com