NWO query

[kingandy]

On a note entirely unrelated to my previous post, I have been wondering this about NWO: Was there at any point in the system a single offensive^[1] Imaginem spell? It's just that I went through two events as hammad with an Iron Parma vs Imaginem and couldn't for the life of me think of a good reason.

[1] 'Offensive' is a word that is here used to mean cast on another with undesirable results, ie, which one would choose to resist with one's Parma Magica.

Comments

[kingandy]

I mean, makes sense for the characters (shrewd and incisive), rather than making sense per se.

[ed-fortune.livejournal.com]

That was my take on it. Grounded in reality sort of thing. I mean honestly, did you cast many spells?

[kingandy]

Three. All of them from my character sheet. Oh, technically I suppose I kept a Wizard's Sidestep up, standard practice, and I did consider a Strength Of The Bear or whatever it was at one point (when the pope was invading), but they never got invoked so they don't really count I don't think. I almost cast some healing but other people were faster and better.

I'm still curious. I rather get the feeling they wanted to hand out some technically impressive advantages without actually giving much of an in-game benefit...

[ed-fortune.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's not as if they were all equal. If a skill helped underline and helps the player 'set' the role better, why not?

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Not all spells / abilities were going to be used in game - they were there to define characters.

However, spells and parma had nothing to do with impact upon the game.

The second weakest magus by stats was a little blue man.

[kingandy]

That's about what I suspected, hence the phrasing of the question. A curiosity rather than any sort of complaint...

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Understood.

Mondragone's Arch Mage spell allowed him to create a chess opponant of equal skill to himself so that he'd never be without a challenging partner when he wanted a game. :-)

[kingandy]

Heh, cool.

Something else I've been meaning to ask. Whenever you put Jarane's robe on, you stood about a foot taller. How did you manage that?

[delvy.livejournal.com]

Cadamon's Archmage spell allowed him to analyze items in quicker time and in greater detail - but only in his laboratory. So much of the stating was about the story, not about the mechanics.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

The big red one?

It was so heavy, I couldn't slouch in it at all - if I did so, it would turn me into a hunchback. So I had to stand up straight.

[renniek.livejournal.com]

;-)
Ditto with me and the plate armour. Forces correct posture -> suddenly I appear (and feel) at least several inches taller

[kneeshooter]

Mondragone was never particularly focussed on his magic though - more his politics.

What-would-have-been-Divis' was much more fun.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Yes.

It would almost certainly have given the game an 18 certificate though.

[kingandy]

... I dread to think.

[wulfboy.livejournal.com]

The real twist on that spell though was that it always played to the best of its ability - without regard for the situation, or for anything else that might be on your mind. Thus, it was *really* designed as a teaching aid - focus on what is in front of you.

[kingandy]

I am, tangentially, reminded of THE RAY comic book, in which Ray used his programming skills and light-manipulation abilities to create a holographic training program. Following an encounter with a godlike being, the program (which Ray, being a nerd, named DEATH MASQUE) took on a life of its own, conquered a small nation, endangered the lives of millions ... all in order to teach Ray to be a better hero. Because that's what it had been programmed to do...