Casefile: Neutral Grounds

[Peteman]

That's more "room for growth" and "slots for potions".

Probably could have used a line to mention that 

[iago]

Probably could have used a line to mention that 

Enh. We don't stat out every bit of refinement on every NPC in the game, but you have a point.

Anyway, the author's reviewing Maria.

[Sanctaphrax]

I quite like most things about this adventure, but there are a few things that bother me.

First, Eric's name is spelled Erick in the label for his picture. Second, the benefits of Sponsored Magic (Leyline) aren't made clear. It looks like Eric has an extra specialization and two extra minor consequences, but I'm not sure that that's all. Third, the description of Eric's spirit attack rote says that he rolls Discipline at +7, but my count says +8. Fourth, the Rock Demon's Vise Grip stunt treats grappling as a non-attack trapping. Given the existence of the Wrestler stunt in YS and the attack-like nature of grappling, I don't think that this is appropriate.

I also don't like mental attacks with spellcasting or the skill list of Damocles Ravenborn, but that's more personal opinion than anything else.

PS: Who is Russel?

[iago]

I quite like most things about this adventure, but there are a few things that bother me.

First, Eric's name is spelled Erick in the label for his picture. Second, the benefits of Sponsored Magic (Leyline) aren't made clear. It looks like Eric has an extra specialization and two extra minor consequences, but I'm not sure that that's all. Third, the description of Eric's spirit attack rote says that he rolls Discipline at +7, but my count says +8. Fourth, the Rock Demon's Vise Grip stunt treats grappling as a non-attack trapping. Given the existence of the Wrestler stunt in YS and the attack-like nature of grappling, I don't think that this is appropriate.

I also don't like mental attacks with spellcasting or the skill list of Damocles Ravenborn, but that's more personal opinion than anything else.

PS: Who is Russel?

This is set in Baltimore, which is detailed in the last chapter of Your Story. Russell and the ley line are both covered in there. Damocles' character sheet is a straight lift from that chapter.

I'll point the eggheads at the rest of your comments.

[Sanctaphrax]

Oh, I realized that Damocles was in there. I disliked it there, too.

But I totally missed Russell and the stats for the leyline. In fact, I still can't find leyline stats.

Thanks for the tip.

[iago]

But I totally missed Russell and the stats for the leyline. In fact, I still can't find leyline stats.

Don't have the book with me but I recall it as being in a text box somewhere in the Baltimore chapter. I'll research.

[iago]

YS391 and YS292 are the things to look at, assuming I didn't forget the page numbers in the time between finding them and writing this.

[ClarkValentine]

Hey Sanctaphrax,

Thanks for the feedback!

I'm batting this around behind the scenes.

- Clark

[ClarkValentine]

And now for the nitpicking... (sorry!)

Don't apologize, this is good feedback. Thanks for posting!

[bibliophile20]

Toturi, no offense, but can we avoid turning this into another "Toturi's gaming group and gaming philosophy are idiosyncratic" thread?  There's enough of those back on Dumpshock. 

As for the Casefile:

Another one for Maria and Zack:  there's been a debate on the forum previously on whether or not you can craft focus items for spells if you only have Channeling/Evocation, when crafting is part of Ritual/Thaumaturgy, and the debate more or less concluded that you need Ritual/Thaumaturgy to be able to craft foci.  However, Maria has a focus-ring and Zack has a focus-staff and both have only Channeling.

[toturi]

Toturi, no offense, but can we avoid turning this into another "Toturi's gaming group and gaming philosophy are idiosyncratic" thread?  There's enough of those back on Dumpshock.  

How is wanting a level playing field for both NPCs and PCs idiosyncratic?

Focus items: Would the character be able to use focus items that were given to them (that they did not craft themselves)?

[iago]

Another one for Maria and Zack:  there's been a debate on the forum previously on whether or not you can craft focus items for spells if you only have Channeling/Evocation, when crafting is part of Ritual/Thaumaturgy, and the debate more or less concluded that you need Ritual/Thaumaturgy to be able to craft foci.  However, Maria has a focus-ring and Zack has a focus-staff and both have only Channeling.

YS, IIRC, stipulates that Channeling/Evocation allows you to have focus items. Ergo, it's possible to have a focus item, no? That's not connecting A to B, that's A to A. I'm not sure I'd allow you to change it once you establish it, tho. Regardless, the point is, with the item slot comes the item, as it were. No point in getting you a slot that you can't ever fill.

[bibliophile20]

YS, IIRC, stipulates that Channeling/Evocation allows you to have focus items. Ergo, it's possible to have a focus item, no? That's not connecting A to B, that's A to A. I'm not sure I'd allow you to change it once you establish it, tho. Regardless, the point is, with the item slot comes the item, as it were. No point in getting you a slot that you can't ever fill.

Awesome!  I'll just link this message to the debate in question... (and thank goodness I didn't print up my pregenerated PCs for this weekend's con yet!  I now need to give the geomancer some kind of foci)

[sinker]

On a related note there has been some discussion as to whether they (channelers) can create enchanted items too. A quick Yea/nay?

[iago]

On a related note there has been some discussion as to whether they (channelers) can create enchanted items too. A quick Yea/nay?

I would go with nay on those, unless a good concept is advanced that seems to play inside the bailiwick of their focused spell work, and even then that's a real outlier. But a, so to speak, "natural" focus item doesn't feel so off.