Hi,
I base my answer on the 3rd edition Magic Rules, page 15.
The rules state that someone can only reduce the energy brought into
the ceremony by the *spectators*, who have to actively do something
positively for the ceremony. Except the enemy ceremonial mage group
there are 60 men who seem to shield the mage group from the target
group. I think there are the following interpretations:
(1) The 60 men are still spectators to the ceremony. They know of the
ceremony and they chant for it/believe in the ritual. In this case they
would
contribute/generate 60 additional energy points for the ritual.
The player group would reduce that by 5 points per person, but the energy
contributed by the enemy mages is untouchable by that. If the mages need
the 60 points of their men-at-arms, they might be in trouble.
As the men-at-arms are spectators, the player group can see and hear
them pray/chant and so will not onky know about the ceremony but also
have sight contact to the place of ceremony.
(2) The 60 men are no spectators in the ceremony and do not contribute.
The enemy cerenomy cannot opposed. Try mundane artillery to achieve a random
hit in the ceremonial circle to disturb the ceremony.
About the range/distance question. As a GM I would say that, as you can only
disturb the ceremony regarding the spectator's contribution, the sight
of the
ceremony OR the sight of at least one spectator AND the knowledge about the
ritual is necessary, but also enough to allow to oppose the ceremony,
regardless
of distance.
So, when the group is 1 mile away from the ceremony and knows about it,
no way. When the ceremony involves a 1-mile-long chain of people who are
working as spectators and the players can see at least one of the spectator
and know about the ritual, they can oppose it.
Having said this, I wonder if someone has to know certain details about a
ceremony and to believe in the magic workings of the ritual to be able to
oppose it. The spectators have to, so the opposers might have to, too?
Good bye,
Oliver Schönwald
[EMAIL PROTECTED] schrieb:
Hi Guys,
I figured I'd hit you with a fantasy question and see what your
responses are <g>.
Suppose you are the GM of a game involving mages, and you are using the
ceremonial magic rules from GURPS MAGIC. Someone says "Ok, they're going
to cast ceremonial magic at us?!!! I want that ritual to FAIL big time!
Can I oppose the ceremony from where I am?"
The situation: Enemy mages are about to cast a spell at a small group of
victims while on the Battlefield. Range to the targets will be
approximately 20 yards. Between the ceremonial casters and the targets
however, are a group of 60 men, arranged in a group of 15 men wide by 4
men deep - ie, a screen of men that is approximately 22 yards wide
blocking the vision of the targeted victims.
Therein lies the question. Can a group of people who can't see the
ceremonial magic in operation, oppose the ceremony despite not knowing
where it is or being able to see it?
Can a group of people who can see it, but are 20 yards away, affect it?
What about 80 yards? 100 yards? What is the maximum effective range that
a non-participant of a ceremony can affect its result?
Curious mind(s) wanna know...
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