Re: matrix gems

["Sean L. McLane" <zodo@laf.cioe.com>]

<my comments included below...>

> From fooboy@laf.cioe.com  Mon Feb 28 12:27:16 2000
> Subject: matrix gems
>
> 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?
>

Do you think that this should apply only to anyone doing incants in the future,
or should it also be grandfathered to include existing incants that have been
boosted by this method.

Also, when making an incant with the Matrix gem, does the gem have to be held
through the duration of making the incant, or just touched once at some point
during the making. This would be a significant question for those who are
nomads as a secondary background, not primary.

-Sean

> 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     -
>  -*********************************-
>