From: "S. John Ross" To: "GURPSnet" Subject: Sacrificial Magic Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 22:58:24 -0500 In response to the thread on sacrifice: Yep, I have some values for this in my house rules. Here they are, with the parts that relate to the Black Magic rules cleverly cut out. ;) Adapt and mutilate as desired: -------------------------------------- Basic Sacrificial Values in ST points -------------------------------------- Sacrifice Potency Small Wild Animal 5 Valuable Game (fur-bearers, etc) 10 Domestic Fowl 15 Small Domestic Animals (pets) 20 Livestock 30 Aging, Intelligent Creature 50 Adult, Intelligent Creature 80 Child, Intelligent Creature 100 The distinction between domestic and wild is *love.* If nobody owns a stray dog, then it's a Small Wild Animal, and worth 5. If a little boy owns a pet mongoose, then it counts as a Small Domestic Animal. The table is based on how *important* the life is; it is presumed that the souls of the sacrificed are more valuable to Hell if they are valued and cared for. In most societies, the values of sacrifices are increased by 50% for a female victim. If the victim is of an intelligent race (male or female), double value for virginity. TIME: The ceremony for the sacrifice itself may either be woven into a spell ceremony (adding 2x Potency, in minutes, to the ceremony's duration), or performed for it's own sake, to lower the Tally of the mages present (who can divide it in whatever way they agree upon). If everybody that can be reduced to zero Tally IS, the excess energy is lost unless used immediately in the ceremonial casting. If the sacrifice is a stand-alone energy-grab, the energy is simply lost. -------------------------------------- If you don't use Umana: Ignore the bit about Tally. -------------------------------------- This entire letter is 1997 S. John Ross. All rights reserved, yadda yadda. For personal use only. I'll put it up on the Web soon, if it's wanted. Don't swipe it; I'm poor. S. John Ross sjohn@io.com http://www.cybercity.com/blueroom/blue.htm "It is easier to find a score of men wise enough to discover the truth than to find one intrepid enough, in the face of opposition, to stand up for it." -- A.A. Hodge