From: [cg 108 fai] at [icogsci1.ucsd.edu] (Steerpike)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Re: SRUN: New Archetype Ideas
Date: 8 May 92 22:25:22 GMT

In article <purdue.edu> [h--lm--s] at [mentor.cc.purdue.edu] (Keith) writes:

>  The Catalyst          (A Priority Two kind of guy)

>  1.  They cannot use Sorcery to cast spells
>  2.  They cannot Conjure spirits or elementals
>  3.  They cannot use Astral Perception of Projection

>  They can however do the following-
>
>  1.  They can Enchant objects of all known magical types 

Whoa, stop right here. Given what you have right here -- no sorcery,
no conjuring, no Astral Perception, but Enchanting ability -- you
have already defined an Enchanter Adept, which is already Priority
Three. Adding much more than just this will require Priority Four.
In either case, priority two is WAY TOO LOW.

>  2.  They can give a power similiar to an Ally, that of Aid Sorcery/Power
>  3.  They can give a DRASTIC increase in power when working in concert with
>     others (ie. Ritual Magic)
>  4.  They can interfere with the magical talents of others (ie. Spell 
>     Defense)

[a portion of the other powers]

>   Add the [magic] attribute of the Catalyst to the magic pool [or
>    [conjuring skill] of the other magician.
>   For the Drain Resistance test, add the willpower of the
>    Catalyst to that of the originating magician. 
>   When encorporated into the effects of Ritual Magic, the attribute of
>    the Catalyst acts as a number of Automatic Successes that are figured
>    into the magic of the Ritual.  
>   If a Catalyst does study the skill of Sorcery or Conjuring (but NOT
>    [he can add those dice to another magician's success test]

This character is WAY, WAY, WAY OVERPOWERED. I'd require Priority 8,
at least. Come on. Since this guy will have a Magic of 6, if he gets
Spellcasting at 6, he can add 12 DICE TO ANOTHER MAGICIAN'S SPELLS!
In other words, a typical magician (Sorcery 6) can throw a force
two spell and, if assisted by the Catalyst, roll 20 DICE!!! And
resist drain for a spell of Force 2. IMO, don't let this archetype
idea within fifty miles of ANY non-munchkin campaign.

[s--r--e] at [ucsd.edu]