== Curse afflictions that remove character points ==
	(a discussion topic)
	by John Eure

* What this is about *

Under the old curse system, we occasionally had curse afflictions that
removed character points.  For example, one of Mike's Major Curse
afflictions for Rannash was "lose 3 weapons points".  While we were in the
process of hammering out guidelines for the old curse system, we decided
that a Minor Curse (3rd level) should generally remove 3 character points,
and that a Major Curse (6th level) should generally remove 6 character
points.  Now, however, we've got a single 5th level Curse spell.  So the
three big questions we need to answer are:

Should we have afflictions that remove character points?

If we do, how many character points should they remove?

If we do, where should the character points come from?


* Should we? *

I think we should.  It's not an effect we get from any other spell, so 
it'd help keep curses unique and interesting.  And it'd provide more 
different types of curses for casters to choose from.

The opposing viewpoint, as I understand it, is that removing character
points is boring and bland.  (My general response is that if you don't
like them, you don't have to pick them or cast them...)


* How many character points? *

The trick here is that it's not just the number of points, but also where
they come from.  6 points removed from Weapons Skill will usually be more
harmful than 6 points removed from Alchemy.  And 6 points removed from
anywhere the caster chooses will almost always be more harmful than 6
points removed from anywhere the target chooses.

So even though we're dealing with a 5th level spell instead of a 6th level 
spell, I still think we can come up with some balanced effects, if we also 
take into consideration where the points come from.


* Where should the character points come from? *

Weapons Skill and all 3 types of Magic are the natural targets.  Awareness 
is also a good place to aim for.

Reducing or removing Status is bad, because it's too tied into character
concepts, and would be too hard to represent properly.  Wealth is bad for
the same reasons.  Reducing Stealth is bad, because there's no quick way
to give someone a Stealth card with a lower number.  (Removing all Stealth
entirely would be possible, but it might be too powerful.  Then again,
they have to see you to cast it on you...  ;)  Removing Initiations would
be like removing all Magic (and would probably be too powerful).

Will is possible.  But because it's such an integral component of spell 
casting, it needs to be examined VERY carefully, because it could have a 
big effect.

And most other stuff is fairly weak, and so should be coupled with high 
numbers or greater choice.


* What we need to do *

Decide whether we want them.  If so, we should come up with afflictions
for Weapons Skill, Magic, and Awareness, to provide a basis from which to 
judge other point-removal afflictions.