Re: Shaman question

From: KYER, JEFFREY <jeff.kyer_at_...>
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 11:57:48 -0400

Salvatore Greco wrote:
>
> Hi all
>
> I am a newbie here, having been introduced to the rules two weeks ago. I have
> decided to jump into the game with both feet and play a Shaman follower of
> Kolat and I'm a Heortling tribe member.

Welcome aboard.  

> I know that the difficulty is 10w3 to overcome the Spirit World Barrier, and I
> use my Travel Spirit World (17), aided by my Fetch (might of 5w) means that I
> have a combined power of 2w2 to breach the Spirit World (am I correct here ?).

I think that there was a discussion on this earlier which Roderick can probably reprise.  

> Please help :)

Several things can help you get onto the Spirit Plane (which is a damned dangerous place, btw) such as having assistants (provides the ritual bonus), finding a Place of Power or 'thin spot' tothe Spirit plane -- hard to find and usually has a shaman there who's going to be grumpy about interlopers.

A few other tricks of the trade:
- Augmenting with one's tradition lore
- Having specific spirits which can act as icebrakers in the same way your fetch does.

Also, one has to have a shamanic circle drawn properly. And, of course, if its a tough proposition or important to game play, your narrator could let you conduct an extended contest with the barrier...

Below is Roderick-The-Editor's comments on Shaman and Spirit Talkers getting into the Spirit Plane.

Jeff


> OK, despite reading all the bits I can find that relate to it, I still
> have a problem figuring how a Shaman gets through that 10W3 barrier to
> the Spirit Plane. I figure thus:

Use Rituals to get various boni (Page 237 has the basic numbers). A Ritual
performed on a spirit's High Holy Day, in it's sanctuary, with a unique item, will get you +60.

> Ritual Circle created - use Draw Summoning Circle ability (with
> bonuses from ritual?).

Yes.

 Is this a simple Ability Check, or is there a
> Resistance?

Usually its just an Ability Check. Trying to draw with sand on a windy day
might have a resistance...

Is the circle permanent, or must it be done new every
> time?

Draw a new one each time, usually.

I know there's a duration chart, but that just makes it more
> difficult to succeed. And how does it help Spirit World Travel?

It doesn't. Circles don't need a duration - they usually fade away if the
shaman leaves the circle into the spirit world or after the ceremony is done. Using the Duration chart would create a circle that doesn't fade away
immediately.

> Anyone advise me how to beat a 10W3?

As is, she has a base 10w2 (SWT + Fetch) chance to breach the barrier. Four
people (spirits don't count!) give a +4 bonus (up to 14w2) at Extraordinary
support. All she needs is another 6 points from rituals to have a crappy chance (1w3 vrs 10w3), 16 points to have an even chance (10w3 vrs 10w3 plus
her ability to use HP to bump rolls gives her a *big* advantage). Her spirits can (possibly) lend AP to her, unless one happens to be a "SpiritWorld travel" spirit, in which case she can use both it's might *and*
it's AP.

RR

> All these things add up, but getting to the spirit plane is a
> non-trivial thing, it would seem.

It is *meant* to be non-trivial! Also note that the Spirit world is the *easiest* of the otherworlds to get to (the other Otherworlds have various
"layers" to go through, each 3 masteries more than the one before).

>Apparently, one cna get spirits
> for
> fetishes without going to the spirit plane (or so it seems to me)
> espeically if they know the name of the spirit involved.

Fetishes are "filled" by shamans, not by every-day-run-of-the-mill tribesmen. The shaman must make a circle, go to the Spirit world, fight a
spirit and force it into the fetish - there is a lot of "behind the scenes"
involved in that simple task. Which means that shamans are going to be really protected from physical peril at all times - if a family loses its
shaman, it is screwed!

RR

> That's my main problem. Is the Circle a help, or just a necessary
> minimum requirement?

It's not even a minimum requirement - if you are a good enough shaman you
can open a path to the spirit world without a circle, but you are at the mercy of whatever happens to be around on the other side. The circle is a
Protective magic that keeps those within it safe. (See "Peeking Past the Shamanic Circle", HW pg 204 and "The Spirit World" NB pg 25).

RR

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