matrix gems

[Foo <fooboy@laf.cioe.com>]

Ok, I'm about to point out an enormous inconsistency in the rules (or at
least the way people have been interpreting them).  

Matrix gems multiply some of the skills/abilities of individual
backgrounds by 1.5.  IE, a mage has 1.5 times his normal number of spell
units when holding a matrix gem.  If he drops the gem, his total number of
spell units goes back to the normal total.  The same holds true across the
board. For warriors, your combat mod is multiplied by 1.5.  If a warrior
drops his matrix gem, it goes back to its normal total.  Ditto for augers,
marines, and priests.   Nomads work a little differently.

Typically, a Nomad holding a Nomadic matrix gem should have all his
incants increased by two ranks.  However, players have been using nomadic
matrix gems (be it their own or someone elses) during the creation of an
incant to add two ranks to the total ranking of the incant on a PERMANENT
BASIS.  This is flat out wrong.  Once the incantor lets go of the matrix
gem, the incant should go back to it's normal ranking.  This is exactly
the way mage/priest/warrior/auger/chromatic matrix gems function.  Now,
correct me if I'm wrong here Dan, but isn't AQ pretty much based on the
fact that you have to give something to get something?  Expend exp for
skills, expend exp for magic items, expend exp for spells, and expend exp
for incants.  The way people have been using the nomadic matrix gems has
been giving them something for nothing, and it's inconsistent with the way
the rest of the system works.  

Any questions?

If it's ok with everyone, I would like to announce this at the next gaming
session to make this official.    

 -*********************************-
-  Joel Gunderson                   -         
-  fooboy@laf.cioe.com              -
-  The only completely consistent   -
-  people are the dead.             -
-              -- Aldous Huxley     -
 -*********************************-