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10-23-2013, 10:20 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Magic questions - Vertical distance theme.
If a mage is 100 yards above the intended target of a regular spell, are they 100 yards away or in the same hex?
If a mage is 1000 yards above the ground and recharging a power stone, does their stone compete with someone standing on the ground right under them? If a mage casts mystic mist while sitting in a flying ship a mile off the ground, does the mist form around the boat or on the ground? How deep (height) is the mist? Is it a rectangular block or sphere or hemisphere (if on the ground)? What are the effects of other area spells when cast on a flying carpet or something similar (like the aforementioned flying boat)? Is there a way to use the staff spell or something like it to extend the reach of a mage's spell (negating range modifiers for regular spells) cast upon a rope that is extended toward your target? These and many other question plague my campaign. |
10-23-2013, 10:22 PM | #2 |
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ellicott City, MD
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Re: Magic questions - Vertical distance theme.
Vertical distance matters.
Anything that normally centers on the mage or a specific target is still centered on that target. It may require a variant of the Staff spell, but I guess a rope could be enchanted in a similar manner. |
10-23-2013, 10:26 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Oregon
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Re: Magic questions - Vertical distance theme.
As discussed by Kromm in this post, a hex is 4 yards tall for the purpose of Area effects, though some spells make exceptions to this. For the purpose of range to target however I'd use the actual range in yards, not the number of hexes away.
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10-24-2013, 03:03 AM | #5 | |
Join Date: May 2009
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Re: Magic questions - Vertical distance theme.
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The rule that spells are 4 yards tall will prevent a few GM decisions in the future.
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Maxwell Kensington "Snotkins" Von Smacksalot III |
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10-24-2013, 06:09 AM | #6 | ||||
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cambridge, MA
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Re: Magic questions - Vertical distance theme.
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10-31-2013, 11:30 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Re: Magic questions - Vertical distance theme.
OK
Then how about a mana pool? Suppose you have multiple mages trying to use the same mana pool who are different distances from the "ground". In fact, the pool is surrounded by a very very large tower AND it can be passed over by flying ships. AND there are different levels above (in the tower) and below (tunnels or deep levels under the tower) the normal "ground" level. In my world, I am making mana come about as the result of interactions between emissions from the sun (Neutrinos) and special 'mana geodes' located deep below the surface. Directly above the mana geodes are these mana pools. Mana is not a direct line of sight emission from the sun through the geode, but instead an energy field produced by the geode because of the neutrino interaction. The geodes 'resonate' producing mana. The area directly above the geode is a mana pool because these geodes DO form direct line of sight energy waves with the CORE at the center of the planet. And this feeds back to the surface through the geode. The geodes naturally migrate to depths where this resonance is strongest. Earth Elementals are able to move the geodes (with a collective effort) around under the surface of the planet. This is why mana levels and mana pools will remain stationary for 1000's of years and then shift one day. I was thinking of making the geodes themselves be actual great living earth elemental like beasts that wake up every once in a while and wander around trying to find a more comfortable place to sleep. (Apparently wizards making use of the mana pools for long periods of time set up distortions in the waves that irritate and wake up the elemental geode beasts.) I was thinking of making the pool itself a very tall rounded and tapered cylinder or splinter representing the "point" where the wave breaks the surface. Or maybe it would make more sense to have 'nodes' or points regularly spaced vertically above the geode where components of the wave constructively interfere. Then you would have many circles of mages using multiple 'pools' of mana within the same "hex". Again, all this is well outside the basic rules provided in GURPS. So I can do whatever I want and call it fun. But I would like some general input from GMs who have tackled similar problems in past campaigns. Thanks for your time. |
10-31-2013, 01:08 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Caxias do Sul, Brazil
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Re: Magic questions - Vertical distance theme.
The 4y tall hex is just to have a ceiling high enough to don't disturb gameplay.
If we had a 1 hex height it would be a problem, frex: I jump on the table, now, the spell won't affect me. The ground has an inclination of 30º, if the radius is 5y, the guy on the top wouldn't be affected by the power. People would simply jump through a wall of fire 3' tall The smoking gas? no problem, I'm 5'9", the smoking gas has a reach is 3'.
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