11-11-2018, 01:39 PM | #11 | |
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Central Texas, north of Austin
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Re: Picking the nits: More DFRPG questions!
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Was this actually the intent, is it usually played this way, how are the complications that I presented addressed? I know it's "magic," but I would at least welcome a bit of rigor on the physics of it. There are two issues to be addressed. 1. Is it too powerful that a simple area effect can penetrate a two foot thick iron wall enclosing a volatile substance as easily as something less invasive such as flowing around an obstacle on an open field. 2. What are the physics (and playability) of protecting gear, potions, and the inside of your skull when engulfed in an area effect if a two foot iron barrier is negligible. What density of matter is considered low enough for displacement by the area of effect: air but not liquid or grey matter? Are biological barriers magically resistant? It can't bypass my stomach or chest? Does the effect only manifest within certain sizes of enclosure precluding flasks and scroll cases? Things powered by GURPS are usually known for exploring these questions. ~~~ I haven't checked my 5th edition rules, but earlier versions of D&D had a rationale for their area effects. If I recall correctly, their magical area effects initiated at a singular point and emanated outward by flowing around obstacles. This provides a degree of "physics" that allows you to reason about the issues I presented. ~~~ P.S. I am using a public computer right now. Mysteriously my AT&T internet has been completely down since Friday, Nov. 9 at about 9:30 AM (over 48 hours now). I have heard that larger areas have been affected. Most surprising is the lack of news and information that I have been able to glean about this across the internet and news sources. Obviously, my consistency here will be impacted until a resolution is forthcoming. |
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11-11-2018, 02:06 PM | #12 | ||||||||
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 100 hurricane swamp
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Re: Picking the nits: More DFRPG questions!
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I know it's "magic," but I would at least welcome a bit of rigor on the physics of it. There are two issues to be addressed. Quote:
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Basically, thin hallways? Fill with area effect. Chest, pouches, containers? Do not. Maybe the magic knows the difference between a Fairy's crawlway and scroll cubby hole. Quote:
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It usually boils down to 'what do you and your Players think is fun". Quote:
And your Smoke cloud doesn't back pressure and then flow back down the corridor and engulf your own party! I'm looking at you GM!* * My GM does this with spells sometimes, but it's spells cast from a Psionicist's enchanted staff, so weirdness. |
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11-12-2018, 10:43 PM | #13 | ||
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Central Texas, north of Austin
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Re: Picking the nits: More DFRPG questions!
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If density is of no consequence and the effect exists simultaneously with physical matter, then what's to keep it from existing simultaneously with all matter in the area. That means that not only would a flame cloud exist simultaneously with your epidermis causing damage, it would exist simultaneously with your brain, your potions, your lantern fuel, the inside of closed sarcophagi as well as the sarcophagi themselves . . . I guess you could try to reason that the effect only co-exists with the traditional element of air; although, that probably doesn't leave much of your lungs intact and doesn't satisfy my rigor for more modern settings where density is a more relevant distinguishing property. P.S. I finally got my internet back today around 6 P.M. after an area outage that lasted around 80 hours. |
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11-13-2018, 04:11 AM | #14 | |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 100 hurricane swamp
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Re: Picking the nits: More DFRPG questions!
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* Which doesn't mean "not modern" but rather "breaks the laws of physics and 'modern sensibilities'". I mean you're already ignoring thermodynamics... |
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02-18-2022, 07:10 PM | #15 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Re: Picking the nits: More DFRPG questions!
I'm resurrecting this thread to answer one of my questions:
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The answer to the question would seem to be "yes, the cost to cast is fixed and the caster would know it." Let me know if that's again a misunderstanding. With that, I command the spirit of this thread to slumber anew.
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