User blog:Le Rottweiler/How do these 2 powerups function?

It is facile to explain how one utilises some powerups in the Quake series. Equipping a Ring is obvious. Suits and armours: also obvious (except for the celerity). Instantly applying a medkit and receiving its benefits is nonsensical from a realist point of view, but does make some sense in its own way. There are two items whose utilization is less apparent:


 * 1) The Quad Damage (Q1) is, presumably, a magic rune. Perhaps that classification is technically incorrect, but I don’t know a superior one for it. How exactly does one ‘equip’ this? Does the player simply hold onto it? Does the player absorb it? (Interestingly, this powerup is one of the few certain connexions that exist between Quake & Quake II, only Stroggos, as far as I know, carries no other evidence of magic afoot, which makes this powerup even more confusing.)
 * 2) And identically, we have a Pentagram of Protection, which could be held (even though it is grand), or simply absorbed. Perhaps there exists another option of which I am unaware. How does somebody ‘use’ these supposed runes simply by contacting them? I don’t believe that any of the Quake documents supplied an explanation, because the designers were principally concerned with delivering satisfying gameplay, not the lore or innermost workings of the setting. But surely those who innocently care about these matters are entitled to some type of explanation, aren’t they?