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Old 02-13-2013, 12:03 AM   #1
Sunrunners_Fire
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Default Somatic and Verbal Components

I'm evidently blind and my search-fu has failed me. And so I ask the hivemind:

In Magic or Fantasy or something like that, there is a limitation that produces the same requirement of a standard-magic-system that a mage must sing a little song (verbal components) and do a little dance (somatic components) which can be mitigated by high skill. I recall them priced at around -10%, but I can't seem to find them in the books.

Anyone happen to have the book/page where I can find them?
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Old 02-13-2013, 12:05 AM   #2
Christopher R. Rice
 
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portsmouth, VA, USA
Default Re: Somatic and Verbal Components

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunrunners_Fire View Post
I'm evidently blind and my search-fu has failed me. And so I ask the hivemind:

In Magic or Fantasy or something like that, there is a limitation that produces the same requirement of a standard-magic-system that a mage must sing a little song (verbal components) and do a little dance (somatic components) which can be mitigated by high skill. I recall them priced at around -10%, but I can't seem to find them in the books.

Anyone happen to have the book/page where I can find them?
It's under Unified Metaphysical Theories / Magical Psi p. 181 of Powers
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Old 02-13-2013, 12:12 AM   #3
Sunrunners_Fire
 
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Default Re: Somatic and Verbal Components

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Originally Posted by Ghostdancer View Post
It's under Unified Metaphysical Theories / Magical Psi p. 181 of Powers
Thanks! Much appreciated.
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Old 02-13-2013, 08:41 AM   #4
munin
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Vermont, USA
Default Re: Somatic and Verbal Components

The limitation on P181 can't be mitigated with high skill. You'd have to combine it with Hard to Use in an Either/Or limitation for that (effectively removing it as a point break).

There's also the "Requires Gestures" (which could be dancing), and "Requires Magic Words" (which could be singing) on p. P116. Same problem.
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Old 02-13-2013, 09:34 AM   #5
Jerander
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Rochester, MN
Default Re: Somatic and Verbal Components

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Originally Posted by munin View Post
The limitation on P181 can't be mitigated with high skill. You'd have to combine it with Hard to Use in an Either/Or limitation for that (effectively removing it as a point break).

There's also the "Requires Gestures" (which could be dancing), and "Requires Magic Words" (which could be singing) on p. P116. Same problem.
Could you set up a Technique that could eliminate the penalties?
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Old 02-13-2013, 10:05 AM   #6
trooper6
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Medford, MA
Default Re: Somatic and Verbal Components

Wait. Isn't just how magic works out of the box? Magic p. 8 describes what sort of ritual you must do at what skill level. 9 or less it is elaborate gestures and sounds. 10-14 it is less elaborate Somatic and Verbal. 15-19 a small somatic or verbal gesture, but not both. 20+ no somatic or verbal needed.

So...it seems what the OP wants is already how magic works.
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Old 02-13-2013, 10:06 AM   #7
Jerander
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Default Re: Somatic and Verbal Components

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Originally Posted by trooper6 View Post
Wait. Isn't just how magic works out of the box? Magic p. 8 describes what sort of ritual you must do at what skill level. 9 or less it is elaborate gestures and sounds. 10-14 it is less elaborate Somatic and Verbal. 15-19 a small somatic or verbal gesture, but not both. 20+ no somatic or verbal needed.

So...it seems what the OP wants is already how magic works.
I suspect the OP is asking about limitations for "Magical, -10%" abilities, rather than spells.
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Old 02-13-2013, 10:10 AM   #8
Proteus
 
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Default Re: Somatic and Verbal Components

Wouldn't "high skill" consist of buying off the limitation?
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Old 02-13-2013, 02:50 PM   #9
Genesis
 
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Default Re: Somatic and Verbal Components

Unless it's a "skills for everyone" situation where the ability has a cost (possibly including the Requires Skill Roll -10% limitation) and an associated skill.

I'm working with something similar for a everybody-is-magic game I'm running now - I realized that piling on Magic -10%, Requires Skill Roll -10%, Requires Incantations -10%, Requires Gestures -10%, Requires Wand -10% is a little crazy. I combined a bunch of stuff and make techniques for removing things using Psionic Powers as a guideline for what can be done with Techniques and how difficult they should be to remove a given limitation. It's not RAW, but it keep the limitation abuse to a minimum...
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Old 02-13-2013, 09:35 PM   #10
munin
 
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Default Re: Somatic and Verbal Components

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... Requires Wand -10% ...
-10% might be reasonable if they can use almost anything wandlike as a wand (chopsticks, chair leg, etc.), and amounts mostly to "Enemies can deprive you of this necessary material component".

If they can only use a special wand that they've attuned to, then you're into gadget limitations, and GURPS Fantasy has a gadgets write-up for a wand valued at -65% (p. F26), or -50% if it can be repaired.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Genesis View Post
... is a little crazy.
Not really. Every limitation you've listed is valid for a very reasonable and common concept, and legitimately limits the player in how they can use their ability (at least, if the GM remembers to give them challenging situations).
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