Talk:98.6 Degrees

98.6 Degrees

Keith: I am not okay with the one to one sympathy...now if you linked to a heat source, sympathized with the human for temperature regulation, then we are talking. Using a person for a full exchange of body heat would put the human in hypothermia. You could put the blood on multiple people, etc. Using this ritual on a pint of blood would do no harm, only temporarily chill the linked person. I could feasibly see a token (necklace, ring, brooch, etc.) fashioned with the casters blood inside that would create the sympathetic link to the human for use as a regulator as long as they are wearing it. (Intelligence + Crafts, difficulty 10-Occult rating). Linking with a heat source would be smearing one point of blood on the heat source (heater, stove, etc) or burning a drop of blood in a fire or flame on a candle. As long as the fire/heat is generated from a homogeneous source (the same candle, a fire that always burns, a brazier that never goes out) etc. Questions?

Bruce: Yes, I have questions. But first a couple of thoughts, the first being its a first level ritual. It simply doesn't have the power to give a mortal hypothermia. Second, the ritual is drawing a fraction of the mortal's body heat, yes it would be enough to make the mortal pretty cold, but hypothermia suggests the ritual is intended to freeze the mortal and that simply isn't so. Thirdly, the level one ritual called: Dominoe of Life permits this function for the expenditure of one mortal blood point and this effect is just one of several options that ritual allows for such a pittance. Lastly, Dominoe of Life guarantees the caster normal body temperature for the entire night, not per successes. In conclusion, every effort was made to make this a balanced ritual with significant limitations.

Keith: Okay, having now read Dominoe of Life, I see your point. Basis for my thought on hypothermia is that a drop of 5 degrees puts a human in hypothermia. That is a fraction, (less than 1/20th)of their body temp. Because the canon volume set this up (not saying I totally agree),I can see your basis of theory and accede to the ritual as written. I should have read the other ritual before saying anything.

Bruce: I also, as a fellow storyteller understand that we all have a certain level of suspension of disbelief, as well as our own views upon what is logical. Essentially, I hope its apparent that my goal is to create a few interesting rituals, not break the game. Unfortunately, the game makes little room for scientific principle such as heat dynamics or the laws of thermodynamics, if it did, we might be playing characters under the Technocracy; not that there is anything wrong with a Technocracy based game...just a thought.

Keith: Keith: The book "Naming of the Wind", and "A Wise Man's Fear has a profound affect on how I look at sympathetic magic. I really like the logical way the author set it up. That was my basis. I have no doubt you have no intention of breaking the game. I have too much respect for you to think that. I agree with your thoughts on the games lack of scientific principals.