Skeptomancy 2.0

[Paul C Duggan]

Greg has my idea rtight on the money in his reply to Ian. My concept also
was hey: here's a paradox: an adept whose taboo is using magic.

See below for some more fleshed out stuff. Some spells probably need work,
and may be straying from skeptomancer territory. I tried "clever" spell
names to keep me on track. See what you think.

Seems there is some overlap with cliomancers.

Skeptomancy:
Beliefs are powerful. Other peoples beliefs especially so. If you can
get someone to change their deeply held beliefs about the order of
things, you can use that to your own ends. James Randi and his ilk
charge themselves up by debunking the charlatans. 

Minor charge: fake a supernatural event so that one person believes
something unnatural occurred. Or, convince someone that a supernatural
event has a scientific explanation by presenting at least four pieces of
compelling evidence per point of unnatural hardening. (Someone with no
hardening only takes two pieces of evidence). One minor charge is
generated per point of hardening (minimum of one charge). 

Significant charge: fake a supernatural event so that a small audience
(10+ people) believes something unnatural occurred. Alternatively,
therapeutically or otherwise remove a failed unnatural check by
convincing someone what he believes has a rational explanation (possibly
by demonstrating a faked equivalent). Provide a scientist with faked
evidence he needs to prove his theory.

Major charge: fake a supernatural event so that a large audience (1000+)
is convinced something unnatural occurred. Alternatively, convince an
adept of the rational explanation for his powers. Prove the Naked
Goddess tape is a fake. Convince a clergyman that God doesn't exist.

Taboo: using magic. Any time you spend charges, all other charges you
have are immediately lost.

Random Magickal domain: personal beliefs and those about the order of
the universe.

Potential methods of faking and convincing: badgering, humor, argument,
hypnosis, psychological warfare, administering psychotropic drugs.
Brainwashing techniques (sleep deprivation, isolation, etc). Personal
crises (death in the family) also may predispose someone to reevaluate
their core beleifs.

Minor Formula Spells

Cold Reading
Charges: 3 minor charges

Effect: Learn any 5 things you want to know about a person that you are
engaged in oral conversation with. Age, health, politics, sexual
history, religious persuasion. Doesn't work on people you know well or
who know you well.
	
Interference
Charges: 1-10 minor charges

Effect: Minor charges spent within Soul stat feet have no effect 20% of
the time per charge spent. No unnatural phenomenon will occur if the
minor charges do work. Additional charges may be spent by the interferee
to increase their chances of it working by 20%.

Placebo Effect
Charges: 2 minor charges

Effect: give someone a pill or device and when he takes or uses it it
will do what you told him it will do. The effect will only be one that
might naturally be expected to occur, and one that is desirable to the
recipient: healing, removing a failed check, improving gas mileage,
enhanced sexual performance. It won't regenerate lost limbs or allow
walking on water.

Peer Review
Charges: 1 minor or significant charge 

Effect: A Skeptomancer can use this spell to share resources with other
skeptomancers. After casting this spell, other skeptomancers within soul
stat feet of the adept may add their charges to whatever effect is being
attempted. Significant spells may only be cast if a significant charge
is used for Peer Review. It may be better to think of this as a special
ability of skeptomancers rather than a spell, since using this is not
considered breaking the skeptomancer taboo. 

Significant Formula Spells

Cry Wolf
Charges: 2 significant charges

Effect: Makes the claims of an authority figure to be demonstrably
false. If a scientist claims oat bran will prevent cancer, the next
study will really find that it causes it. A mayor claims the economy
will improve, it will actually worsen. This only applies to questions
about tendencies or future predictions. If someone claims the Eiffel
tower exists, it won't cease to. If they claim it is structurally sound,
it will start falling apart.
 
Counterspell
Charges: 1 significant charge

Effect: nullify a significant blast, formula spell, or artifact. It has
no effect

Monster from the Id
Charges: 3 significant charges

Effect: Causes the target to experience his most frightening beliefs
coming true. This should be something related to their most failed
madness meter, and only effecting them personally. If they fear AIDS,
they get it. If they fear nuclear war it doesn't happen.

Other spell names: (haven't thought of anything specific on these)
Double Blind
The Truth is Out There
Karma chasing Dogma
The Big Lie
Wish	
Sike!



"I am an impure thinker. I am hurt, swayed, shaken, |  paul           + | +
elated, disillusioned, shocked, comforted, and I    |                 --|--
have to transmit my mental experiences lest I die." |                 + | +
                     --  Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy    |  pduggan at world.std.com