Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)
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Message-ID: <3A189054.E881D3D5@white-wolf.com>
From: Jess Heinig <j...@white-wolf.com>
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Subject: Re: Questions about Resonance
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The three forms of Resonance tie into the magely concept of the
metaphysic
trinity -- the idea that the universe moves according to the forces of
Dynamism,
Entropy and Stasis. Resonance reflects these three different processes
of the
universe.
Typically, a mage will have one or more sorts of Resonance tying to
these
forces. A particularly destructive and explosive mage probably has
Entropic
Resonance; a mage who involves in a lot of teaching and organization
has Static
Resonance; a mage involved in change, innovation or chaos likely
possesses
Dynamic Resonance.
Resonance dots modify your ability to cast certain effects (see the
effect
modifier chart); if you have a Resonance appropriate to what you're
doing (for
instance, tearing something down when you have a high Entropic
Resonance) you
gain a difficulty break, while an opposed Resonance makes the effect
harder. As
a result, mages tend to specialize in certain types of spells that fit
their
personal natures.
Also, Resonance can be detected with certain other magics (most
notably
Prime). You can usually recognize a type of Resonance that you've
sensed before.
You might, for instance, recognize that an item was enchanted by your
former
mentor (because it carries his Resonance) or you may tell that an
effect was
cast by your arch-nemesis (recognizing his particular Resonance). With
Prime
magic you can "tweak" or remove Resonance from your magic, but this
increases
its difficulty significantly. Still, you might well implicate another
mage in
something by making an effect seem to have his Resonance instead of
yours.
Jess Heinig
----
[end quote]
All right, to be fair, Jess Heinig, the rule-author of Resonance, seems
to have had a clear idea of what he wanted. It seems he was trying to
get the stories of individual mages to simulate fantasy stories of the
type where wizards' spells always have special effects that remind the
reader of the wizards' personality. That's fair enough, but it does
not explain anything about how Resonance works outside individual
personalities.
Which resonances are opposed? For example, if you have a sexy Toreador
vampire who drains life-force from a mortal who had expected sexual
seduction, is it resonant with Love? Is Love opposed to Anger? Is
Love the same as Hate, just in a different direction? If an alienated
teenager vandalizes corporate property, is his Resonance hatred against
civilization or love for humanity?
I can hear the arguments already. "Don't you see that what I'm doing
has philosophy resonance? I'm a Socrates gadfly, dispelling the
Darkness of ignorance and bringing the Light of truth!"
"The only light you're bringing is the cheery glow of burning
buildings. You've got Sociopathic resonance."
I hear that the "Fallen Tower" city book for Las Vegas has Resonance
rules, but are they detailed enough to overcome the tremendous
ambiguities and vague points of the essential design?
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Message-ID: <3A189054.E881D3D5@white-wolf.com>
From: Jess Heinig <j...@white-wolf.com>
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Subject: Re: Questions about Resonance
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The three forms of Resonance tie into the magely concept of the
metaphysic
trinity -- the idea that the universe moves according to the forces of
Dynamism,
Entropy and Stasis. Resonance reflects these three different processes
of the
universe.
Typically, a mage will have one or more sorts of Resonance tying to
these
forces. A particularly destructive and explosive mage probably has
Entropic
Resonance; a mage who involves in a lot of teaching and organization
has Static
Resonance; a mage involved in change, innovation or chaos likely
possesses
Dynamic Resonance.
Resonance dots modify your ability to cast certain effects (see the
effect
modifier chart); if you have a Resonance appropriate to what you're
doing (for
instance, tearing something down when you have a high Entropic
Resonance) you
gain a difficulty break, while an opposed Resonance makes the effect
harder. As
a result, mages tend to specialize in certain types of spells that fit
their
personal natures.
Also, Resonance can be detected with certain other magics (most
notably
Prime). You can usually recognize a type of Resonance that you've
sensed before.
You might, for instance, recognize that an item was enchanted by your
former
mentor (because it carries his Resonance) or you may tell that an
effect was
cast by your arch-nemesis (recognizing his particular Resonance). With
Prime
magic you can "tweak" or remove Resonance from your magic, but this
increases
its difficulty significantly. Still, you might well implicate another
mage in
something by making an effect seem to have his Resonance instead of
yours.
Jess Heinig
----
[end quote]
All right, to be fair, Jess Heinig, the rule-author of Resonance, seems
to have had a clear idea of what he wanted. It seems he was trying to
get the stories of individual mages to simulate fantasy stories of the
type where wizards' spells always have special effects that remind the
reader of the wizards' personality. That's fair enough, but it does
not explain anything about how Resonance works outside individual
personalities.
Which resonances are opposed? For example, if you have a sexy Toreador
vampire who drains life-force from a mortal who had expected sexual
seduction, is it resonant with Love? Is Love opposed to Anger? Is
Love the same as Hate, just in a different direction? If an alienated
teenager vandalizes corporate property, is his Resonance hatred against
civilization or love for humanity?
I can hear the arguments already. "Don't you see that what I'm doing
has philosophy resonance? I'm a Socrates gadfly, dispelling the
Darkness of ignorance and bringing the Light of truth!"
"The only light you're bringing is the cheery glow of burning
buildings. You've got Sociopathic resonance."
I hear that the "Fallen Tower" city book for Las Vegas has Resonance
rules, but are they detailed enough to overcome the tremendous
ambiguities and vague points of the essential design?
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