[Torg] Grid Resolutions of Magically Enhanced Attributes

[Jerry S Fisk]

      Well, since I started this whole magic and tech strings I have 
decided to write up the TK mage and do some solo runs through the 
Grid/Net.  I cant find any players around here so this is a fall back 
plan of mine.  Unless some people here would like to do a Torg game 
over a VOIP program like SKYPE.  IF you do let me know.  If you want 
to learn more about SKYPE go to skype.com .  You will need a fast 
Internet connection for this program though.

      I digress.  So where to start?  How about character stats.

Name:  Gerrold Kerr
Home Cosm:  Tharkhold (Transformed)

Dex  9
Str  7
Tou  9(15)  +6 Interdermal Armor
Per  12
Min  12
Cha  7
Spi  10

      Character Spells and Skill that will pertain to this discussion:

Dodge  Dex  +2  11
Energy Weapons  Dex  +2  11
Stealth  Dex  +1  10
Alteration Magic  Per  +4  16
Cyberdeck Operations  Per  +4  16
Find  Per  +1  13
Apportation Magic  Min  +2  14
Conjuration Magic  Min  +1  13

Ritual of Mind Preparation  -  Pixaud's pg 68
Ritual of Perception Preparation - Pixaud's pg 68
Improved Dexterity  -  Pixaud's pg  46

Randomly Rolled Cyberdeck

Response  3
Stealth  2
Processor  7
Storage  13

Net Attack = Best Attack Skill (Energy Weapons)  12  +  Cyberdeck 
Ops  4  +  Response 3  + Attack Program
Net Defense = Best Defense Skill (Dodge) 11 + Cyberdeck Ops 4  + 
Response 3 + Defense Program
Net Find = Find Skill  13  +  Cyberdeck Ops 4 + Find Programs
Net Manipulation = Cyberdeck Ops  16  +  Response 3  +  Manipulation Program
Net Stealth  =  Stealth Skill  10  +  Cyberdeck Ops  4  +  Stealth 
Rating  2  +  Stealth program
Net Track  =  Tracking Skill or Per  12 (Per)  +  Cyberdeck 
Ops  4  +  Response 3  +  Tracking program

      Net Attributes are all mental and are different as follows:

Str  12  (Min)
Dex  12  (Per)
Tou  12  (Min)
Per  12
Min  12
Cha  7
Spi  10

      With all that data lets get to upping Gerrold's Stats just 
before a Grid Run.  Let's see if I am interpreting all the rules 
right or not.

      Lets start with the main stat boosters.  Using the Rituals from 
Pixaud's Gerrold would cast these when he woke up every morning.  I 
am using these spells since they have a duration of 24 hours.  After 
all if you're going to cast a ritual for an hour it should last 
longer than an hour.  But hey that is my opinion.  Plus it gives a 
better effect value in the end.

      With both of these spells you roll the die and generate a 
bonus.  Lets say I rolled a 13 for a bonus of +1 for the first spell, 
Perception Preparation.  With a total casting skill of 17 = Alt Mag 
16 + 1.  I successfully beat the difficulty 7 and backlash 16.  Next 
I add my bonus +1 to the effect value 18.  Giving me a 19 which I 
then compare that to my mind 12 and read the results on the Power 
Push table giving me a + 3.  And adding this to the already +7 in the 
spell.  I get a +11 to my Per.  Giving me a Per of 23 for the day.

      Lets use the same example above for the second spell of Mind 
prep.  Only now my Per is a 23 giving me an Alt Magic total of 
27.  So, I would have a total casting skill of 24 = Alt Magic  23 + 1 
(bonus).  Again beating the difficulty 7 and backlash of 16.  Etc......

      You see where this is going.  I would end up with a Mind of 23 
and a Perception of 23 for 24 hours.  I do not know where that +7 in 
the base spell comes from.  But it is there.  In the TRB and TREB the 
extra +7 is not there and the duration is only an hour.  Yes I could 
just delete the extra +7 and keep the duration but it is listed in 
the spell description.  Can any one tell me why there is a 
difference?  I checked the Aysle's Pixaud's and only found the ritual 
of Perception with the same write up as in the TRB with the exception 
of the duration.  The duration was 24 hours.

      Next Gerrold would cast the Improved Dexterity Spell to help 
his attack within the Grid.  For simplicity sake we will continue 
with a roll of 13 for a bonus of +1.  So I would still beat the 
difficulty of 10 and Backlash of 16 with a total Alteration casting 
skill of 28.  This spell has an effect value of 15 which I add the +1 
getting a 16 total.  Comparing this to my Dex score (9) it gives me 7 
result points on the power push table for a +3.  Adding this +3 to 
the built in +3 of the spell I make my Dex go from a 9 to a 15.

      As you see the Improved Dexterity spell also has a built in +3 
modifier.  The Strength (pg 69) spell uses the same system as the 
Rituals and this Dex spell.  It too has a +7 built into the 
spell.  However the Improved Magical Strength (pg 47) spell does not 
and it has a cap of 21.  The cap includes possibilities and 
cards.  Now I know there must have been a discussion on this subject 
at one time, but I don't remember it.  And there probably was a 
addendum for Pixaud's that I don't have.  So I will continue with 
what I do have.

      Lets recap real quick.  My new Stats would be:

Min  23
Per  23
Dex 15

      How I perceive these new stat would translate into the grid:

Net Attack = Best Attack Skill (Energy Weapons)  17(11)  +  Cyberdeck 
Ops adds 4  +  Response 3  + Attack Program.  It would be 17 for the 
duration of the Dexterity Spell which is 10 mins.
Net Defense = Best Defense Skill (Dodge) 17(11) + Cyberdeck Ops adds 
4  + Response 3 + Defense Program.  See above for explanation
Net Find = Find Skill  28  +  Cyberdeck Ops adds 4 + Find Programs
Net Manipulation = Cyberdeck Ops  27  +  Response 3  +  Manipulation Program
Net Stealth  =  Stealth Skill  16(10)  +  Cyberdeck Ops 
adds  4  +  Stealth Rating  2  +  Stealth program.  See Net Attack.
Net Track  =  Tracking Skill or Per  23 (Per)  +  Cyberdeck 
Ops  4  +  Response 3  +  Tracking program

      Net Attributes are all mental and are different as follows:

Str  12  (Min)     23
Dex  12  (Per)    23
Tou  12  (Min)    23
Per  12              23
Min  12              23
Cha  7                 7
Spi  10               10

      This all sounds super human to me.  But is that not what magic 
is supposed to be used for?  I don't remember reading anywhere that 
magic could not raise your attributes above your cosm limits.  So if 
there is a rule out there please let me know.  Either way I may write 
a short story about Gerrold's solo run.  It is what I used to do when 
I was actually playing.

Thanks again and everyone have a happy and safe holiday.  :)