Re: matrix gems

["Steven E. Ames" <steve@virtual-voodoo.com>]

Joel, whack me if I'm wrong here....

Your suggesting that matrix gems only come into play when you _USE_ the
incant, not when your creating it? i.e. A nomad who uses an incant while
holding a nomadic (or chromatic) matrix gem has that incant act as if
its two ratings hire than it really is?

That seems more consistent, just not sure how to bundle that up into a
magi-physical rationale.

As for Sean's question on creating them... gots to be holding it the
whole time. A quick touch is just lame and I doubt any intelligent GM
would let that fly. The matrix gem doesn't just bestow power at a
touch... its used to distill energy.

-Steve

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sean L. McLane" <zodo@laf.cioe.com>
To: <gmlist@cioe.com>
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2000 12:33 PM
Subject: Re: matrix gems


> <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     -
> >  -*********************************-
> >
>