From georgeh@axpmit2.mit.edu  Sun Jun  4 12:40:16 1995
Subject: [Christopher Earley: Alternate Summoning]


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Umm, April Fools.  Yeah, that's right, I screwed up on purpose.

Let's try that again:
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Alternate Demon Summoning mechanics:

The quick fix--

	At the least, add twice Familiarity to the formula
given under "The Command" on page 82 of the Maleficium.  No
major change, but it helps.

The intended method--

[This won't make much sense to those unfamiliar with the
text on pages 82 to 85 of MAL.]

- - Based on profiles and other lore, the diabolist already
knows a common magnitude for the demon she wishes to summon.
She may even have a range of likely magnitudes to choose from
if legitimate yet differing sources hint at different possible
magnitudes for the demon depending on astrology and timing.
The magnitude the summoner is aiming for is the termed the 
Target Magnitude.  What the demon tries to accomplish in the
summoning tunnel is termed its Attempted Magnitude/Might.

- -  A Contact spell for the demon must be known also.  With
that requisite alone, the summoning of the demon WILL occur.
It is guaranteed if the Summoning Ritual takes place.

THE PROCEDURE

Demon's Attempted Might = Target Magnitude x stress die

[ 1-4 = sheds power; 5 = no change; 6-? = gains power ]
[ Upper Might limit:  Vis pawns in body x ten; or, twenty
  if demon has too little vis. ]

Goetist's Base Might Adjustment = Summon Total + stress die

Base Might Adjustment is added to or subtracted from the
Attempted Might, as appropriate to get the demon's Might
more in line with the Target Might [Target Mag x 5].  If
the Adjustment is too large, ignore the excess--the Might
becomes exactly what the goetist desired.

If the diabolist gambled on "reining" the demon in:

	Subtract Perdo [or Hierarchy] from the Might that
was calculated in the last step, even if it reduces the
demon below its Target Might.

If "whipping" was chosen:

	Add Creo [or Hierarchy] to Might.  Same deal in
reverse.

The absolute amount of difference between the Target Might
and the final achieved Might is subtracted from the first
Advantage roll in the Contest of Wills.  This represents
how much the diabolist was thrown off balance by the fickle
results oof the summoning.

NOTES

- - No summoning is ever denied because the diabolist lacks
the ability to pull it off.  The Contact spell is the key.
Devils love pouncing on those who overreach...

- - Greater danger is inherent in greater demonic subjects,
and this can never be fully offset with experience & skill.

- - That Warding Circle suddenly doesn't feel so invulnerable,
does it?

NOTA BENA

- - Testing the Summoning, p. 85:  Guessing actual Might after
the summoning was meant to be Per + Hierarchy vs. an Ease of
25, not vs. Might.  Otherwise, Might estimates are wildly
off with even 9th echelon demons, no matter how good you are.
A ballpark estimate is crucial to other mechanics.  The diab
is unplayable with terrible estimates, and furthermore those
unrealistic estimates won't fool the player for a minute, and
what's the fun in that?


	And now I wait breathlessly as people tell me why these
mechanics won't work either.  Hell, just roll dice behind the
gamescreen and make something up!  Whyja think I made up that
Principle of Uncertainty anyway?

tilnext,
Chris Earley


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From georgeh@axpmit2.mit.edu  Sun Jun  4 12:40:33 1995
Subject: [Christopher Earley: Dang Demons]

Second of two.

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Folks,

	I ain't got much time for typin' so I'll be brief.
Geoff thinks my Alternate Demon Summoning rules were too
variable.  This was intentional on my part, but I can see
how a good number of people would want less risk and more
predictability.  Geoff had a fix that I like, so I'll put
it to the list:

	Replace the "Target Magnitude x stress die" might
acquisition with:

	Die:		Might:
	Botch		Target Mag x 2
	1		Target Mag x 3
	2-3		Target Mag x 4
	4-6		Target Mag x 5
	7-8		Target Mag x 6
	9-12		Target Mag x 7

	+4		T-mag x (7 + 1 per 4)

	Again, this is the safer version, which means the
extra power of these summoning rules in comparison to the
published onces isn't balanced out with increased risk, so
bear this in mind.  

	If it works, more power to y'all.

tilnext,
Chris Earley

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