...why allow it? In the 1e, it was one of those little nice restrictions on Arcana, which didn't look as that much (after all, you aren't casting Indefinite every day), but which did wonders to setting. It explained nicely why mages go to such lengths to achieve immortality. It disallowed permanent buffs. You had to recharge your sanctum and hallow defenses, and many other things. It gave the sense that mages are powerful, but not all-powerful. Was it a design decision, or what?
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Because even with indefinite Duration, a Prime spell to dispel it or a Sleeper in the right place to Dissonance it away can ruin a spell.
The game design does indeed go away from hard-cap restrictions that outright forbid certain actions. Instead, it gives you soft restrictions that you can easily break but brings you more consequences, usually in the form of Reach-induced Paradox.
This results in a setting where mages are frighteningly powerful but must avoid falling into Hubris, lest the world come crashing down on them.
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Yes, it was. I believe the devs took some inspiration from the common curse of turning a victim into a frog and decided they should e able to play out that common fantasy trope.
No Mages are not all powerful just because they can make spells Indefinite.
And no you didn't have to recharge your sanctum and hallow defenses in 1e, those aren't alive and were frequently targets of permanent buffs.
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Originally posted by 21C Hermit View PostSleeper in the right place to Dissonance it away can ruin a spell.Last edited by Dark Archon; 03-03-2017, 07:30 AM.
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Originally posted by Dark Archon View PostNot if he can't understand what he is seening, and not if he has a low Integrity.
And hey, if the mage is making sure that any of his long-sustained spells are subtle enough for Sleepers to pass, then that qualifies for the narrative of the wise master. And if the mage is making sure that any Sleeper around him has too low of a self-image and mental stability to do anything, then that qualifies for the narrative of the evil sorceror. Works either way.
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Originally posted by Dark Archon View Post...why allow it? In the 1e, it was one of those little nice restrictions on Arcana, which didn't look as that much (after all, you aren't casting Indefinite every day), but which did wonders to setting. It explained nicely why mages go to such lengths to achieve immortality. It disallowed permanent buffs. You had to recharge your sanctum and hallow defenses, and many other things. It gave the sense that mages are powerful, but not all-powerful. Was it a design decision, or what?
Another upside is the idea that long lasting spells warp and mutate if left to their own devices long enough if not released using the more costly method of doing so. You'd be surprised how quickly people can forget about such things, and then a few months later, right when they least expect it and when it would be most inconvenient, BAM!
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Edit: Nevermind
Bloodline: The Stygians
Ordo Dracul Mystery: Coil of Smoke
Mage The Awakening: Spell Quick Reference (single page and landscape for computer screens)
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Originally posted by 2ptTakrill View PostIf I cast an indefinite spell on a Sleeper turning him into a frog, even releasing it safely, doesn't his own Dissonance eventually unravel it?
Resident Sanguinary Analyst
Currently Consuming: Changeling: the Lost 1e
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Originally posted by 2ptTakrill View PostIf I cast an indefinite spell on a Sleeper turning him into a frog, even releasing it safely, doesn't his own Dissonance eventually unravel it?
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Originally posted by Satchel View PostEventually, yes, but Shapechanging is a Duration-primary four-dot spell. Every point of extra Potency beyond that necessary to beat the target's Stamina is another exceptional success the target needs to roll.
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