Annihilation by POW loss

[PhilHibbs]

Is it possible to have all your characteristic POW drained away? This has always traditionally been a way to meet a bad end in RQ, but with Dedicated POW, I think it's already been ruled that the DP can't be tapped.

 

[Exubae]

I assume it can happen - if you look at Vampires from the monster book:

If the vampire feeds on souls, even POW dedicated to a Pact is consumed; and, in fact, this is consumed first. Thus, a soul-feeding vampire can effectively break the link a victim has with a god.

 

[PhilHibbs]

If the vampire feeds on souls, even POW dedicated to a Pact is consumed; and, in fact, this is consumed first. Thus, a soul-feeding vampire can effectively break the link a victim has with a god.

I should have thought to look up vampires. Ouch, that's nasty - so you start losing divine magic as soon as you get drained? Owwww! Send in the hordes of lay members with pitchforks and torches!

 

[Exubae]

It pushes the old vampire up a peg or two in the power stakes
...old Boldanga from a certain Pavis episode just got tougher.

Vamps are a bit odd their POW doesn't drop below their POW before becoming Vamps, I kind of liked the old idea they where slowly bleeding the souls out in to the empty void.

OT: Why is it no one ever does a very satisfying cult for old Vivamort? The Necro book was a bit skiny on background and flavour

 

[gran_orco]

but with Dedicated POW, I think it's already been ruled that the DP can't be tapped.

Where have you seen that rule? I thought that anybody could lose POW and lose dedicated pow (so losing the acces to spells).

 

[PhilHibbs]

Where have you seen that rule? I thought that anybody could lose POW and lose dedicated pow (so losing the acces to spells).

Here. I think I might houserule that dedicated POW can be tapped or drained, but it always goes last, and you don't lose your connection to the god (but the god loses the dedicated POW, and will not be happy with whoever drained it)

 

[hector]

Vampires are a very specific exception, as it states specifically that they can drain dedicated POW, and in fact drain that first specifically to sever the link between the victim and their god. That it specifies that it drains dedicated POW would also suggest that it is otherwise untouchable.

 

[gran_orco]

Pow is untappable, but Tap is a spell. There could be another ways to lose dedicated pow. Untappable does not mean that dedicated pow cannot be lost. Or am I wrong? Loz, Pete?

 

[Exubae]

It might be the chaotic nature of the vampires curse and Vivamort's bargain with Wakboth that allows his 'descendants' to drain POW and break the bond between God and worshipper.

Tap, may not have this Chaotic taint so can't effect the link between god and worshipper, though in the third age material it was suggested the spell was chaotic in nature (or at least viewed so by several Sorcerous orders).

Is there any way to restore POW drained by vampires or Tap?
As the 'Restore health' spells don't seem to exist anymore for CON let alone POW, is it a case of amassing improvement point?

 

[PhilHibbs]

Is there any way to restore POW drained by vampires or Tap?
As the 'Restore health' spells don't seem to exist anymore for CON let alone POW, is it a case of amassing improvement point?

There's a sorcery spell that restores lost characteristics. Xemelites and Esvulari (Aeolians) have it.

 

[simonh]

It might be the chaotic nature of the vampires curse and Vivamort's bargain with Wakboth that allows his 'descendants' to drain POW and break the bond between God and worshipper.]

He was a guardian of Death in the underworld before it came to Humakt, and has some nasty Severing powers as a result. His ability to sever a religious link like this might be a horrible perversion of the process of illumination. True illuminates stranscend the mortal/divine distinction, but Vivamort's crude attempt to achieve the effect results ina brutal severing.

Tap, may not have this Chaotic taint so can't effect the link between god and worshipper, though in the third age material it was suggested the spell was chaotic in nature (or at least viewed so by several Sorcerous orders).

I think it's just that Vivamort is a god (IMHO, I've not read the new writeup) and so has a handle on the mortal/divine relationship. tap comes from a radicaly materialist view of the world that just treats it as raw stuff with no intrinsic value. Tap POW won't work because it isn't characetristic POW in the same way, it's a different thing. You might be able to develop a Tap Dedicated POW spell though.

Is there any way to restore POW drained by vampires or Tap?
As the 'Restore health' spells don't seem to exist anymore for CON let alone POW, is it a case of amassing improvement point?

No, there's no way to restore it IMHO. It's gone. Tap consumes the targeted resource, breaking it down into raw energy and sucking it away.

Simon Hibbs

 

[PhilHibbs]

No, there's no way to restore it IMHO. It's gone. Tap consumes the targeted resource, breaking it down into raw energy and sucking it away.

I'd be inclined to agree, and also for loss to chaos, but...

Restoration
Concentration
One of the few methods known of healing Characteristic damage,
such as that caused by the Tap spell,...

This is where my "endless enchantments" idea came from - TAP your own STR, use the MPs to make an enchantment, and then Restore your STR back again.
Note: I'm not suggesting this because I think it's a good idea, or because I want to do it, I'm just looking at the system with a "how breakable is it" playtester POV.

Heh heh, you could even try casting Tap STR and Restore STR combined for some free MPs. And to wind up your GM.

 

[Mongoose Pete]

Restoration
Concentration
One of the few methods known of healing Characteristic damage,
such as that caused by the Tap spell,...

Note: I'm not suggesting this because I think it's a good idea, or because I want to do it, I'm just looking at the system with a "how breakable is it" playtester POV.

Just an observation, but I included Restoration to support alternate game world settings. It doesn't have to be used in a Gloranthan game if the GM doesn't want it.

Personally I wouldn't allow any cult/grimoire which taught Tap to also have access to Restoration. They are intended to be the antithesis of each other. But YGMV.

In addition the whole concept of Dedicated POW also depends on the campaign setting. Whereas the POW might be well and truly mortgaged in an Elric game, somehow 'insulated' from destruction by the Lord of Law or Chaos to which it is promised, in Glorantha it could be very different.

The dedicated POW mechanics were loosened so that you don't actually have to hive off a part of your soul. Its still there part of you (only evil sorcerers actually cut out parts of their soul and place them in enchanted objects), used in skill bonuses and the like. Instead you simply re-direct the magic points it generates directly to your god, feeding it mana if you like.

Likewise, if you loose faith with your deity/deities you can break your bond with the god and reclaim that part of your POW, perhaps converting to a new faith and re-dedicating it to some other being.

A vampire or Tap casting wizard can still access that part of you - if you want them to be able to in your game. Just decide if there's a metaphysical reason why dedicated POW is protected against Chaos or Undeath. In Glorantha I'd say there wasn't, but that's just my opinion. The rules can be used either way.