The Dresden Files > DFRPG
Lawbreaker Questions
Deadmanwalking:
--- Quote from: KOFFEYKID on April 14, 2010, 10:54:46 AM ---Hmm, the way I see it, is White Court Vamps are already mucking with the laws of magic when they use their instill emotion ability, thats Psychometry, and the fact that you can addict humans to it means you can make thralls with it. A White Court Virgin would probably get a Lawbreaker for killing with magic, but a White Court Vamp already lost his/her humanity when they had their first Killing Feed.
--- End quote ---
No, that's not how it works. It's the Demon, the non-human part, doing the work. The human can will it into action but they don't have to believe the way you do with a spell. Using the demon to manipulate a mind is no more a Law violation than beating a man to death with your bare hands. You did it, and you can feel it, but you didn't truly believe in it the way you need to for magic.
It goes back to that nature of power question. The demon part isn't human, never was, and isn't bound by human rules like the Laws. But if a White Court Vampire learned human magics, they'd need to use their human will to power and shape them, the demon isn't capable.
Korwin:
I would (er, will) divore it from the setting,
If the PC uses the Evocation or Thaumaturgic (or the lesser versions [inkluding Sponsored Magic]) Powers and they violate the Laws of Magic they get the Lawbreaker Power.
If they use other Supernatural Powers like Incite Emotion they dont get the Lawbreaker Power.
Its not an In-Game explanation, but those have to much wiggle room (for my taste).
Deadmanwalking:
--- Quote from: Korwin on April 14, 2010, 12:17:29 PM ---I would (er, will) divore it from the setting,
If the PC uses the Evocation or Thaumaturgic (or the lesser versions [inkluding Sponsored Magic]) Powers and they violate the Laws of Magic they get the Lawbreaker Power.
If they use other Supernatural Powers like Incite Emotion they dont get the Lawbreaker Power.
Its not an In-Game explanation, but those have to much wiggle room (for my taste).
--- End quote ---
That's actually mentioned explicitly in the Laws of Magic section, with the excuse that the Lawbreaker style costs are pre-paid for things like Domination and Incite Emotions. See p. 241 for the reasoning. It's specific to the Fourth Law, but it's mechanically sound as a general principle (though I can't think of any Powers that break any other Laws).
Korwin:
Hmm, oh. Did'nt read that.
I suppose the first law (thats the one against killing, right?) could be brocken by many of the supernatural powers.
Deadmanwalking:
--- Quote from: Korwin on April 14, 2010, 12:29:35 PM ---Hmm, oh. Did'nt read that.
I suppose the first law (thats the one against killing, right?) could be brocken by many of the supernatural powers.
--- End quote ---
Nah. Punching or stabbing someone to death doesn't violate it, why would clawing them with your super-strength? Breath Weapon is debatable, I guess, but even that is a natural weapon more than anything else. None of it is magic in the lawbreaking sense, from a mechanical perspective.
From a philosophical/setting perspective I'll just reiterate: Magic requires a level of belief and intent that causes the changes Lawbreaker entails. You can murder dozens or even hundreds of people without commiting yourself as fully to murder and being a murderer (or at least, killing and being a killer) as you do by killing one person with magic.
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