>Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that (in
>LRG/FASA Barsaive) only Adepts actually perform magic... and
>that Adepts aren't really all that common.

No, you're correct. My point was that a Barsaivan has a very different attitude about magic than many people. The attitude that I have, for instance, about electricity is pretty blase; I come home, flip on a switch, and there is power for my computer. Can I create electricity? Not without a generator. But my opinion of electricity is that it's commonplace.

Such is the same with magic in Barsaive, and in Earthdawn in general. Mundane magic items can be found wherever there are people. The use of magic is everywhere. People are pretty accepting and unsurprised by magic use, in whatever form it takes. This not to say that they aren't impressed by displays of it; I find power plants (to carry the electricity metaphor further) pretty impressive works of technology. But they accept them as part of everyday life.

>If anything, I think Barsaivian magic would take longer to learn than
>certain other styles in UF... it's very regimented, and all that
>mucking around with spell matrices is a pain in the ass. ;)

You don't have to use matrices. You can cast raw magic, if you really want to. I mean, who needs their sanity? It just gets in the way. And that whole head exploding thing is just an exaggeration. The Horrors are just big, fuzzy, affectionate guys. Verjigorm? Peach of a dude; split his last beer with you. :)

Ebony the Black Dragon
aka Draco Draconis Ebenium
known to FASA as Aaron F. Johnson,
Senior Editor, Living Room Games
http://www.lrgames.com