[Magic] No Mana Zones between caster and subject.

[Jerander]

Is there an "official" ruling somewhere on how No Mana Zones interact with spells when between caster and subject? Three ways I can see it working, depending on the definition of mana.

1) Spells move in straight lines between caster and subject. Any NMZ that transects (Is that the right word) that straight line will block the spell. Allows subjects to hide behind, say, 1-hex NMZs and be protected from spells.

2) Spells move along the shortest path between caster and subject as long as they can get there without going through a NMZ. Which means, in order for a subject to be protected from spells by an NMZ, they'd need to be totally englobed in a NMZ. NMZ 360-deg and over and below. The interior of the "globe" can still have a Low mana level or higher.

3) Spells don't move through 3D Euclidean space. As long as both caster and subject are not in a NMZ, the spell will get to the subject. In which case, in order to be protected by a NMZ, the subject must be in a NMZ.

Any thoughts?

[Stone Dog]

From what I remember it all depends on where the effect of the spell originates.

Basic and Area effects originate at the target, so if the target is IN a NMZ it fizzles. Somebody in a NMZ isn't too concerned by Deathtouch, but an explosive fireball blowing up at the edge of the zone might be a worry.

Missile effects originate at the caster and can quite happily be lobbed into a NMZ at full potency. Somebody in a NMZ is quite at risk of being skewered by an ice dagger.

Other than that, it is just range penalties. If you are in a normal mana zone, don't think that a NMZ acts like a wall.

[Jerander]

Originally Posted by Stone Dog

From what I remember it all depends on where the effect of the spell originates.

Basic and Area effects originate at the target, so if the target is IN a NMZ it fizzles. Somebody in a NMZ isn't too concerned by Deathtouch, but an explosive fireball blowing up at the edge of the zone might be a worry.

Missile effects originate at the caster and can quite happily be lobbed into a NMZ at full potency. Somebody in a NMZ is quite at risk of being skewered by an ice dagger.

Other than that, it is just range penalties. If you are in a normal mana zone, don't think that a NMZ acts like a wall.

Do you have a book page number so I can look it up?

Thanks,
Jerander.

[Captain-Captain]

Originally Posted by Jerander

Is there an "official" ruling somewhere on how No Mana Zones interact with spells when between caster and subject? Three ways I can see it working, depending on the definition of mana.

1) Spells move in straight lines between caster and subject. Any NMZ that transects (Is that the right word) that straight line will block the spell. Allows subjects to hide behind, say, 1-hex NMZs and be protected from spells.

2) Spells move along the shortest path between caster and subject as long as they can get there without going through a NMZ. Which means, in order for a subject to be protected from spells by an NMZ, they'd need to be totally englobed in a NMZ. NMZ 360-deg and over and below. The interior of the "globe" can still have a Low mana level or higher.

3) Spells don't move through 3D Euclidean space. As long as both caster and subject are not in a NMZ, the spell will get to the subject. In which case, in order to be protected by a NMZ, the subject must be in a NMZ.

Any thoughts?

IIRC the Q&A column in Roleplayer answered this question. Technically this is a 3e answer. Lemme see if I can dig it up.

[Anthony]

I believe the Words of Kromm went with #2, but not sure it's ever been stated officially.

[Captain-Captain]

With a repeat of the "Thi is 3rd edition" caveat, though 4th edition standard Magic is rather unchanged from 3rd...

http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/Rolepla...#anchor1158242

Originally Posted by Roleplayer #20

GURPS Q&A
What happens to spells that cross the boundaries of mana areas? For instance, what happens to an Explosive Fireball entering a no-mana area? Can a person using the Great Voice spell be heard 200 yards away by a person in a no-mana zone? What is the effective skill of a mage in a normal-mana zone casting a Lend Language spell on someone in a no-mana zone?


-- Rick Malavasic
A missile spell would continue across the boundary into a no-mana zone. No other spell or spell effect would cross into a no-mana zone.

When a spell is cast between different zones, both of which contain mana, calculate penalties as for the lower of the two zones. Thus, if either the caster or the subject is in a low-mana zone, the roll will be at -5. In the case of a spell like Great Voice, in which the "target" of the spell is the speaker, the location of the listener(s) doesn't affect the spell, as long as they are not in a no-mana zone.
A caster in a zone of very high mana has the benefit of fatigue-free casting (if he's a mage) and the problem that any failure will be very dangerous, regardless of where his subject is standing.



-- Steve Jackson

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by Jerander

Is there an "official" ruling somewhere on how No Mana Zones interact with spells when between caster and subject? Three ways I can see it working, depending on the definition of mana.
[...]
2) Spells move along the shortest path between caster and subject as long as they can get there without going through a NMZ. Which means, in order for a subject to be protected from spells by an NMZ, they'd need to be totally englobed in a NMZ. NMZ 360-deg and over and below. The interior of the "globe" can still have a Low mana level or higher.

Found it here:

Originally Posted by Krommnotes

"Q: About divining across mana levels: Would this count across intervening zones of mana? I want to cast a divination from Allah’s, across Caithness to target something in the dwarven kingdom [Zarak ...] Would that be at -5 or normal? If it is at -5, could that be avoided by making the spell take a longer route around (or under or above) the LMZ?

Basically, you can choose whatever path you want for the spell: Unless you're in a plane of existence with a weird metric, a straight line is normally preferable, because it produces minimum distance modifiers; however, if that line crosses a zone of lower (or no) mana, it may be to your benefit to trace a less-direct route through regions of higher mana level. The same would apply to Teleport, I suppose.

[starslayer]

Side note; no manna zone does not stop a fireball in flight; fireballs (and most missile spells) are 'real' balls of fast moving material once created. They are stopped by force walls/domes, and pass effortlessly through pentagrams and no manna zones delivering full effect.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by starslayer

Side note; no manna zone does not stop a fireball in flight; fireballs (and most missile spells) are 'real' balls of fast moving material once created. They are stopped by force walls/domes, and pass effortlessly through pentagrams and no manna zones delivering full effect.

Maybe not the full effect; an Explosive Fireball is still hot, but the magical faux-explosive effect shouldn't still function inside a NMZ, and a Pentagram ought to resist it.

An argument can be made that since weather is an elemental phenomenon, Weather Dome will also stop elemental missile spells. It stops the most severe weather possible (Lightning is lightning, Concussion is thunder, Ice Daggers and Ice Spheres are hail), even Fortean weather like rains of frogs (Stone Missiles are a rain of stones, Fireballs and Explosive Fireballs are rains of fire).

[Jerander]

Originally Posted by starslayer

Side note; no manna zone does not stop a fireball in flight; fireballs (and most missile spells) are 'real' balls of fast moving material once created. They are stopped by force walls/domes, and pass effortlessly through pentagrams and no manna zones delivering full effect.

I'd question whether most of these are "real" balls. Fireball, in particular, is problematic. What holds it in shape? What does it burn? Even Stone Missile turns to dust upon impact, which seems to indicate there's some magic involved after release.