Elric Rune Magic -Touch

[DamonJynx]

Currently, the only way for a sorcerer to affect a target at range with a Rune is to:

• A.) Inscribe the Rune(s) on a missile weapons ammunition and shoot the target (hopefully).
  B.) Stack the Rune(s) with the Rune of Touch.

Using option B is not particularly viable in combat because the range is only 1 metre per MP invested in the Touch Rune. If an average sorcerer only has 10MP after Pact dedications and so forth, he may, if he is extremely lucky, be able to cast twice at a target 3metres away (3MP for Touch, 1 for the Rune and possibly one other for the defining Rune, Man etc). Each casting would also require 5 uninterrupted CA. Which makes offensive use of Runes in combat a dodgy proposition at best.

I think the range should be something like POW (after Pact dedications) in metres, or perhaps 10% of the Rune (Touch) skill per MP invested.

Thoughts?

 

[Loz]

The reason there are no ranged effects for runes is because they're not found in the Elric saga. Throughout the stories runes and incantations are inscribed and local; they're not used for ranged effects. Whenever a sorcerer wants to affect something from a distance, it involves a summoning.

By all means design your own house rules for ranged use of runes, but they weren't designed that way originally for a very specific reason. You may also find that making them ranged effects will seriously overbalance magic - again, this was a deliberate design decision Pete and I made when building the Elric magic rules.

 

[DamonJynx]

You may also find that making them ranged effects will seriously overbalance magic - again, this was a deliberate design decision Pete and I made when building the Elric magic rules.

Thanks for the reply Loz.

Yeah, I must admit I kind of wondered about that. It makes sense now that you mention it. And I remember now that there are no 'adventuring' sorcerers as such (apart from Elric of course) in the saga. The closest is probably Drjin Barga or whatever his name is from the Flamebringers story.

I'll have a bit more of a think about it before I make a final decision. I've put the question to my group so we'll see what their response is. I'll just have to come up with interesting and devious ways for sorcerer enemies to harass the PC's.

Perhaps a swarm of small insectiod demons with the droning ability...