Shadowrun

Shadowrun Play => Gamemasters' Lounge => Topic started by: Shango on <12-25-12/1905:50>

Title: Mana Armor?
Post by: Shango on <12-25-12/1905:50>
One of the player's in my group has asked about a mana equivalent of ballistic / impact armor.
Basically she wants something besides her raw willpower to protect her from magic attacks.
I told her that I didn't think that anything like that existed, but that I would check on the boards to verify.

Does any such thing exist or is this a deliberate game balance thing, like no teleporting?

Thanks

-Erich
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: raggedhalo on <12-25-12/2100:11>
Get a friend with Counterspelling. Otherwise you're out of luck!
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: The Wyrm Ouroboros on <12-26-12/0308:31>
... well, since there's Barrier and Mana Barrier ... I don't see why there couldn't be some sort of Mana Armor.  Design the spell ...
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: blackangel on <12-26-12/0430:29>
Like an aura mana barrier. It could be nice... And what about an aura offensive mana barrier.
The other advantage would be the protection against spirits.
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: Novocrane on <12-26-12/0727:39>
A Fomori / Fomoraig infected character would have something like that, between Arcane Arrester and Magical Guard., and being a regenerating troll.
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: Mirikon on <12-26-12/1024:17>
There's the Astral Armor spell, which protects you from astral attacks...
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: Xzylvador on <12-26-12/1749:47>
Couldn't biofiber (SR4A 264) theoretically be grown into the shape which could be worn?
After growing it over a biodegradable mold or something, it might be possible to harvest it and wear it as a magic armor vest/cloak...
The plant is difficult to maintain even when planted and needs lots of maintenance, so it certainly couldn't live very long when used this way. Maybe degrade 1 rating every hour or so, as well as lowering its rating whenever taking physical or magical damage.
Process, skill and effort required for growth and delicate harvesting procedure as well as an in-built source of nutrient for the plant would mean high availability and put a nice price tag on it.

Note: Not RAW, but explain it to your GM and he might houserule something. It certainly shouldn't be common-place or used very often, but when preparing for a special mission, maybe the GM likes this kind of planning ahead.
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: RythmnSylver on <12-26-12/2214:33>
An idea i had for a new spell was using mana to "harden" certain elements in a form of armor. you'd need a spell for each element of course but still some examples being::
Hardened Flames :: provides force /2 Ballistic/Impact "permanent" each point of Armor piercing degrades both by their amount permanently, adds full armor to fire resistance tests. + Force/2 to low light and normal visibility + Force*2 to Thermographic visibility   Drain Force/2+5

Hardened Blast :: provides rating =  force /2 Ballistic/Impact "permanent" each point of Armor piercing degrades both by their amount permanently. Degrades Blast damage by rating. Drain = force/2+5 Defending against a Blast attack ('Nade, weapon, breath attack) disables armor on next IP.
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: Inconnu on <12-27-12/1835:54>
This touches on something that's been nagging me. Could someone with no or 0(it's different) magic use Counterspelling? I could kind of integrate in my head there being things you can do to disrupt magic w/o needing it(superstition anyone?)
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: Xzylvador on <12-27-12/1848:36>
This touches on something that's been nagging me. Could someone with no or 0(it's different) magic use Counterspelling? I could kind of integrate in my head there being things you can do to disrupt magic w/o needing it(superstition anyone?)

The answer is no.
And actually, having 0 magic or no magic is pretty much the same:
Quote from: SR4A, emphasis mine.
If a character’s Magic is ever reduced to 0, she can no longer perform any kind of magic.
The magician has “burned out,” losing all magical ability and becoming a mundane forever.
She retains all magical skills and knowledge, but lacks the ability to use them. Active skills become Knowledge skills.
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: RythmnSylver on <12-28-12/1319:39>
the closest a non awakened character can get to using counterspelling is if a Mage in the back is gaurding you.. then you add their counterspelling to your defence rolls..
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: blackangel on <12-28-12/1442:05>
the closest a non awakened character can get to using counterspelling is if a Mage in the back is gaurding you.. then you add their counterspelling to your defence rolls..

An "aura" / spheric / personnal mana barrier sustained by said mage will provide the same without the problem of line of sight. In fact it could be better because it could go over 6 as it would match the net hits of the casting up to the force.
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: Inconnu on <12-28-12/1921:38>
A person with - magic can BECOME magic. A person with 0 cannot. Ergo, different.
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: Shango on <12-28-12/1943:16>

An "aura" / spheric / personnal mana barrier sustained by said mage will provide the same without the problem of line of sight. In fact it could be better because it could go over 6 as it would match the net hits of the casting up to the force.

Couldn't this cause an issue with other mages tracking the astral connection back to the caster?

-Erich
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: Mirikon on <12-28-12/2117:39>
It also is going to call in all the site's magical responses as your barrier has to force its way through any wards in the building.
Title: Re: Mana Armor?
Post by: blackangel on <12-29-12/0222:30>

An "aura" / spheric / personnal mana barrier sustained by said mage will provide the same without the problem of line of sight. In fact it could be better because it could go over 6 as it would match the net hits of the casting up to the force.

Couldn't this cause an issue with other mages tracking the astral connection back to the caster?

-Erich

Yes, the connection can be tracked

It also is going to call in all the site's magical responses as your barrier has to force its way through any wards in the building.

The question was not if you will be stealthy but if you can find a way to have a kind of armor against spells. As said in another post, if you enter a building with a milspec armor and no autorisation, you will have same issues (not magical but physical).
In a mercenary setting or where subtility is not an issue it could be great.

I can see a few more advantages for something like this. let's say you have a man spirit cast this kind of spell upon you, no one can tell at first glance if you are awakened or not (except following the link to your spirit and comeback to you). You still have counterspelling. You could avoid or delay the acquisition of masking and extended masking meta. It will prevent assensing on you but not yours upon others.