RE: Backfire Question

["Michael" <vancrown@attbi.com>]

 I agree with RT on this but would also point out that the original intent
of the designers clearly allowed for the creation of new colleges.  Perhaps
this (somewhat ambiguous) phrase about magical healing was a way for them
to leave the door open.

Just a thought . . .

M. Andre Vancrown

  Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 10:36:00 -0400 (GMT)
   From: Rodger Thorm <dqn@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: Re: Backfire Question

"I've always felt that this one was unclear, as well.

I disagree with Bruce, though.  I think the intent is that magical healing
*does* cure these backfire effects.

Some of them clearly state that they can be cured "either by magic or the
arts of a Rank 2 healer," "until cured by magic or the arts of a healer,"
and so forth.  I believe the intent was that either a healer or a magical
healing spell would be able to counteract the effects of a backfire, and
they just wrote things differently in order not to be too repetitive.  There
are some cases where a specific level of Healer is needed, but otherwise, my
read on it is that any healing magic will suffice for the cure.

I think the variability that this brings can also be an issue for campaign
flavor, though.  If you hold to a more restrictive view, then magic gets a
little scarier, because the backfire effects are more dire.  If you take the
wider view, then backfires are a bit less daunting.

  --Rodger Thorm"