Demon Abilities

[DamonJynx]

Hey, I created a demon on the fly last Saturday. A flying aquatic predator (something like you've done before John, but not a Ghan or whatever they're called) with 6MP; 4 for stats and 2 for abilities. One of the abilities I rolled was absorption which I thought was cool as one of the PC's always puts up a Rune of Reflection. The thing attacked him and hit, then the excrement flew!

I ruled that that the absorption ability drained his reflection rune and then the bite went through. He argued, quite vehemently I might add, that the attack while draining the rune was still reflected first so the "shark" bit itself. I went with the players to avoid unnecessary arguments. Unfortunately, the combat didn't last overly long at this point (I was rolling particularly badly). Now mind you, the shark had already had a couple of attacks and missed.

What are your thoughts?

 

[danskmacabre]

To me the Absorbing ability says:
"All Runes it comes into contact with are drained by 1D8 MP each Combat Action and are added as temporary Characteristic or Attribute points;"

The rune of reflection says:
"The Rune of Reflection reflects any physical blow upon the sorcerer, so that the attacker effectively strikes at themselves."

I would personally rule that the Absorbing take precedence over the Rune in this case, as it automatically absorbs the rune and the absorb isn't an attack, so the shark attacks, hits, it makes physical contact with the rune, assuming it drains ALL the MPs of the reflection (as each MP allows a reflection) then the rune is taken out and the bite goes through with no reflection.

I CAN see how someone might see it the other way, but I think the above interpretation is correct.

 

[Loz]

I CAN see how someone might see it the other way, but I think the above interpretation is correct.

I concur. That's why its in there.

 

[DamonJynx]

Thanks guys. That's what I thought as well. I s'pose I need to harden up as a GM :wink:

It's amazing how attached some people get to their PC's and don't like having them injured!

 

[Vortigern]

It sounds to me as if he is over reliant upon the Reflection Rune. Using it and reaping the rewards are fine. But I lump both that and Protection together in a category of 'over-use = death'. They are awesome as long as no one has something to counter them with. But the second you are caught out with them, relying on and expecting them to work... you are more than a little screwed.

 

[DamonJynx]

Yes he is a bit. His predominant tactic, time allowed, is to vocalise the Rune of Reflection investing it with 5MP, cast Rune of Reflection with 3 MP and then wade into melee with his plate armour, spear and shield. Essentially negating 5 attacks and those that do hit, have to to do more than 9 points of damage or whatever. He has killed many a foe, by just standing there...

...he will be (if his character survives long enough) one of the first victims of my Rune of Water attack as per my PP. (Insert maniacal laughter)

 

[Vortigern]

That was rather what I suspected.

They make a decisive edge, but relying on them to the point where you are -willing- to just stand there and completely depend on them is asking to learn the hard way why that is a bad idea.

And he doesn't really have to 'die' to learn that lesson. But a real beating at the very least is likely to come his way. If he has killed that many people, using the same tactics repetitively, then I would expect he would develop a reputation for said powers. And/or his enemies would be able to learn of said rumors/reputation.

When someone has such a fearsome reputation, and enemies, said enemies become much less willing to face you in a straight-up fight. They look for ways to deal with said person that mitigate their advantages and minimize their exposure.

I would give him a few situations as such that show that his blatant use of such potent defensive sorcery is getting attention and the people that don't like him are -planning- to be able to deal with him.

 

[DamonJynx]

One of the key "constraints" of the Rune, is that you must be aware of the attack to mitigate it. In the heat of a melee, it would be all but impossible to be aware of every movement of every combatant...a knife in the back or a an arrow fired from the shadows...

The Rune of Leeching would work in a similar fashion if inscribed on a weapon or shield would it not?

 

[Vortigern]

A Rune of Leeching inscribed on an arrow or blade I would think would immediately eat away at the magic points invested into the Reflection effect. Even if it wasn't enough to completely mitigate it, it would reduce it by the value of the Leeching effect every time the two crossed paths IMO.

Then you would also have to adjudicate the effects of the Reflection effect being drained away and instead being manifested by the enemy via the Leeching Rune.

If he normally spends 5 MP into the Reflection and the enemy Sorcerer even spends say 3 MP into a Leeching inscribed on his Sword, then after the first attack the Reflection on your PC will have dropped to 2 pts, and the enemy he is facing will then have a lvl 3 reflection on himself. He could put a stop to it very quickly by dropping his Reflection effect, and thus denying the enemy the use of his magic, but also having to do without it himself.

Same thing for the Protection effect he normally uses however. The first swing that connects would start draining that away, and transfering it to his aggressor.

 

[DamonJynx]

If he normally spends 5 MP into the Reflection and the enemy Sorcerer even spends say 3 MP into a Leeching inscribed on his Sword, then after the first attack the Reflection on your PC will have dropped to 2 pts, and the enemy he is facing will then have a lvl 3 reflection on himself. He could put a stop to it very quickly by dropping his Reflection effect, and thus denying the enemy the use of his magic, but also having to do without it himself.

Same thing for the Protection effect he normally uses however. The first swing that connects would start draining that away, and transfering it to his aggressor.

That's pretty damn nasty...I like Rune Magic!