Re: Mundane Superman versus Magical Superman

From: Philippe Krait <philippe.krait_at_...-csf.com>
Date: Thu, 06 Jul 2000 17:07:51 +0100

> From: philip.hibbs_at_...
>
> >Thus, even though you train everyday and raise only
> >your "run" skill (which would be stupid), you will
> >never be able to outrun the horse as you are only human.
>
> I strongly disagree. Horses have a higher "run" ability, because they are
> faster. They are faster, because they have a higher "run" ability.

This is not my sentiment. They have a high "run" ability because it's something that they do well (for a while anyway). But I would still apply very high improvisational modifiers to a human and a horse depending on the circumstances because of what they are.

For example (following the discussions on this list), I would say that for a sprint, the human would get (at least) -20, whereas the horse would get -10 for really long distance (over a few days).

> Abilities are not "relative to the species norm", with an inexperienced
> horse having a base ability of 6 in "run", and a basic funnel web spider
> having an ability of 6 in "kill with poison". If I have a "run" ability
> better than a horse, I can outrun it.

Personnaly I wouldn't allow it without magic as it just seems to much. HW clearly differentiates mundane and magical abilities, and to me outrunnning a horse clearly falls in the second category.

> What does Anaxial's Rooster say a horse's "run" ability is? I'd expect it
> to be about 5W2.

I don't know about that as I don't have my Narrator's book here, but I'll check this evening (horses are described there, IIRC).

Philippe