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Casting magic in areas with both high and low background count can be often challenging and dangerous, the more so the more the mana level deviates from the standard.<ref>Street Magic p. 118</ref> Notable exceptions are the areas known as [[manalines and power sites]], where despite the generally high background count, casting magic is often easier than normal.<ref>Source:Magic in the Shadows, page 84</ref> Using mana can also be easier in some specific [[domain]]s, which can be created artificailly through the use of [[geomancy]].<ref>Street Magic p. 118-119</ref>
 
Casting magic in areas with both high and low background count can be often challenging and dangerous, the more so the more the mana level deviates from the standard.<ref>Street Magic p. 118</ref> Notable exceptions are the areas known as [[manalines and power sites]], where despite the generally high background count, casting magic is often easier than normal.<ref>Source:Magic in the Shadows, page 84</ref> Using mana can also be easier in some specific [[domain]]s, which can be created artificailly through the use of [[geomancy]].<ref>Street Magic p. 118-119</ref>
   
Background count is usually recorded on an ordinal scale, with 0 considered normal mana level.<ref>Source:Street Grimoire, page 30</ref> The background scale has been revised over time. In the 2060s the scale used to divide the locations on a scale of 1 to 10, with the 6-10 areas being described as [[mana warps]].<ref>Source:Magic in the Shadows, page 83-86</ref> In 2070 the scale was described as a range from -12 to 12, with the neative numbers used for describing areas of [[mana ebb]]s and [[mana void]]s, and postiive, for [[domain]]s and [[mana warp]]s.<ref>Shadowrun: Street Magic, p. 122</ref>. In 2075 rhe scale was described as ranging from -24 to +24.<ref>Source:Street Grimoire, page 30-31</ref>
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Background count is usually recorded on an ordinal scale, with 0 considered normal mana level.<ref>Source:Street Grimoire, page 30</ref> The background scale has been revised over time. In the 2060s the scale used to divide the locations on a scale of 1 to 10, with the 6-10 areas being described as [[mana warps]].<ref>Source:Magic in the Shadows, page 83-86</ref> In 2070 the scale<ref>The scale is was indirectly identified as the Metzger-Typhus scale of power in Parageology 5</ref> was described as a range from -12 to 12, with the neative numbers used for describing areas of [[mana ebb]]s and [[mana void]]s, and postiive, for [[domain]]s and [[mana warp]]s.<ref>Shadowrun: Street Magic, p. 122</ref>. In 2075 rhe scale was described as ranging from -24 to +24.<ref>Source:Street Grimoire, page 30-31</ref>
   
 
Below is the background count scale used in the year 2070.<ref>Shadowrun: Street Magic, p. 119</ref>
 
Below is the background count scale used in the year 2070.<ref>Shadowrun: Street Magic, p. 119</ref>

Revision as of 09:46, 6 July 2020

Background count refers to a measure of mana in a given area.

Mana is created from emotions and life. Areas with a heavy emotional impact like a concert hall or a sight of a mass murder often have excess mana from the heightened emotions associated with that location. This creates a positive background count in the form of domains, which often makes casting spells more difficult.[1] On the extreme end of excess mana that are mana warps.[2]

On the opposite spectrum areas devoid of life, such as outer space, often have a negative background count as there isn't enough life to create ambient mana. Beginning with mana ebbs, the extreme end of a lack of mana is known as a mana void, where casting spells inflict more drain at lesser effects as there is just not enough mana to create spells.[3] Background count also affects Awakened beings, many of which dislike or are hurt by areas with very high or very low background counts.[4] Background count also affects astral visibility, making perceiving in astral more difficult.[5]

Casting magic in areas with both high and low background count can be often challenging and dangerous, the more so the more the mana level deviates from the standard.[6] Notable exceptions are the areas known as manalines and power sites, where despite the generally high background count, casting magic is often easier than normal.[7] Using mana can also be easier in some specific domains, which can be created artificailly through the use of geomancy.[8]

Background count is usually recorded on an ordinal scale, with 0 considered normal mana level.[9] The background scale has been revised over time. In the 2060s the scale used to divide the locations on a scale of 1 to 10, with the 6-10 areas being described as mana warps.[10] In 2070 the scale[11] was described as a range from -12 to 12, with the neative numbers used for describing areas of mana ebbs and mana voids, and postiive, for domains and mana warps.[12]. In 2075 rhe scale was described as ranging from -24 to +24.[13]

Below is the background count scale used in the year 2070.[14]

-12 -11 -10  -9  -8  -7  -6  -5  -4  -3  -2  -1   0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12
 |____________________|   |___________________|   |   |___________________|   |______________________|
     Mana void                  Mana ebb                     Domain                Mana warp

References

  1. Street Magic p. 118
  2. Source:Magic in the Shadows, page 83-84
  3. Source:Street Grimoire, page 30
  4. Street Magic p. 118
  5. Street Magic p. 118
  6. Street Magic p. 118
  7. Source:Magic in the Shadows, page 84
  8. Street Magic p. 118-119
  9. Source:Street Grimoire, page 30
  10. Source:Magic in the Shadows, page 83-86
  11. The scale is was indirectly identified as the Metzger-Typhus scale of power in Parageology 5
  12. Shadowrun: Street Magic, p. 122
  13. Source:Street Grimoire, page 30-31
  14. Shadowrun: Street Magic, p. 119