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Old 10-06-2017, 07:32 AM   #1
Ransom
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Default Casting Continual Light On Living Targets

Is it allowed?
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Last edited by Ransom; 03-20-2018 at 05:06 PM.
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Old 10-06-2017, 08:01 AM   #2
malloyd
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Default Re: Casting Continual Light On Living Targets

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Originally Posted by Ransom View Post
For reasons that aren't important here, one of my players wants to cast Continual Light targeting part of a person's body, calling this "a small part of a larger object". The target would prefer this didn't happen. Is it valid to target a living being with this spell, and if so, does an unwilling target get to resist in any way? I am interested in both what the rules actually state as well as suggested house rulings.
My personal ruling would be the same as for any spell that targets an "object" - if it has a Will score, it isn't one and the spell automatically fails.

Spells that are supposed to work on both objects and living targets are usually worded as affecting a "subject", and often distinguish by giving living or animate ones resistance rolls, something I'd extend to just about any spell that failed to mention it as well - spells you can cast on an unwilling target automatically are no more common than attacks you can launch that have no defense rolls. That costs extra, a *lot* extra, if it's possible at all. But I don't think the rules actually ever say explicitly either way.
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Old 10-06-2017, 09:09 AM   #3
Stormcrow
 
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Default Re: Casting Continual Light On Living Targets

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Originally Posted by malloyd View Post
But I don't think the rules actually ever say explicitly either way.
They don't. Sense Emotion, for example, is not a Resisted spell, and isn't even an Information spell. Any wizard who also knows Sense Foes can cast it with no other prerequisites. There is apparently no defense against it except Counterspell, Dispel Magic, and Hide Thoughts.
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Old 10-06-2017, 09:20 AM   #4
Kromm
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Default Re: Casting Continual Light On Living Targets

"Object" means what it usually means in GURPS. It's used as an antonym of nouns like "being," "creature," "entity," "individual," and "person" in the context of spells. All of the above – and more – can mean "subject" in that context, but "object" means an inanimate artifact, article, item, or thing. Continual Light cannot be cast on living targets.
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Old 10-06-2017, 09:53 AM   #5
malloyd
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Default Re: Casting Continual Light On Living Targets

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They don't. Sense Emotion, for example, is not a Resisted spell, and isn't even an Information spell. Any wizard who also knows Sense Foes can cast it with no other prerequisites. There is apparently no defense against it except Counterspell, Dispel Magic, and Hide Thoughts.
That's more of an edge case though. It's arguable that Sense Emotion isn't cast on a target at all but on the caster - emotions are one of those things GURPS metaphysics apparently assumes are displayed in you aura, which is a potentially visible objective phenomenon. The rules aren't terribly consistent about this sort of thing, probably because there is no reality to reality check, but a spell or power for sensing emotions is arguably no more acting on "you" than Darkvision is when it allows the caster to see you in the dark.
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Old 10-06-2017, 11:11 AM   #6
David Johnston2
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Default Re: Casting Continual Light On Living Targets

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Originally Posted by Kromm View Post
"Object" means what it usually means in GURPS. It's used as an antonym of nouns like "being," "creature," "entity," "individual," and "person" in the context of spells. All of the above – and more – can mean "subject" in that context, but "object" means an inanimate artifact, article, item, or thing. Continual Light cannot be cast on living targets.
Casting it on someone's nightvision goggles is hilarious, though.
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Old 10-06-2017, 12:26 PM   #7
Polkageist
 
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Default Re: Casting Continual Light On Living Targets

I am highly disappointed at the inability to make glowing toads.
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Old 10-06-2017, 12:45 PM   #8
Anthony
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Default Re: Casting Continual Light On Living Targets

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I am highly disappointed at the inability to make glowing toads.
You can make glowing toads. Just not with this spell. I'm pretty sure Bio-tech has spells that will do the job.
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Old 10-06-2017, 12:53 PM   #9
Stormcrow
 
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Default Re: Casting Continual Light On Living Targets

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That's more of an edge case though. It's arguable that Sense Emotion isn't cast on a target at all but on the caster
Then it would be an Information spell. It's a Regular spell, and you have to choose a subject and apply range penalties.

But if Kromm says that the term object excludes living beings, go with that. It's mostly supported by Chapter 5 of the Basic Set, with one exception: the Apportation spell "lets the caster move physical objects without touching them," but among the "objects" you can move are living beings, who can resist with Will.
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Old 10-06-2017, 01:09 PM   #10
Stormcrow
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Default Re: Casting Continual Light On Living Targets

Now I'm gonna make a robot toad wizard who casts Continual Light on one of its own spare parts and then installs that part. :P
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