[Rq-rules] Re: Clive's Questions

[Nikk Effingham]

> Next question: 2pts or 3pts for the following rune spell:
>
> PIN VAMPIRE
>
> 2pts, ranged, nonstackable, reusable
>
> The caster must overcome the vampire in a MPvsMP roll, if
> successful then for the duration of the spell the vampire
> is unable to transform into any of the alternative shapes available to it eg:
> bat, rat, wolf, cloud of mist etc
>
> If already in one of these forms it is unable to return to humanoid form.

Nice spell. I'd say one point, not two or three. My thinking is this; a sever
spirit is a three point spell that kills anything (except, notably, vampires
and undead, but that's by the by). So a spell that kills a single specie (such
as Kill Horse) should weigh in at two points. This spell doesn't achieve that,
it affects only one type of creature, and doesn't kill them, it only stops them
from using one of their many innate magical powers. Sure, Pinning the vampire
would prevent him from turning to mist, meaning that he could be killed in
corporeal form with less hassle than normal BUT you'd still have to (a) _do_
that, killing vampires is a hard, hard business and (b) presumably the vampire
would know it had been Pinned, and so will try and do a runner. So Pinning it
will be a minor inconvenience unless you're pretty hard and have cornered the
bastard so it can't do a runner. I'm taking it that the spell comes from a new
subcult or hero cult or something, so won't be vastly easily to get hold of; so
I'd say one point sounds about right. Most rune spells should be one point
IMHO.

I reckon you could have spells worth more than three; but by Orlanth they'd
better be powerful and difficult to get hold of.

Nikk