08-17-2014, 03:11 AM | #1 | |
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Florence, Italy
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Being creative with Phantom Flame
Hallo,
I'm trying to create a illusionist with some "firepower" (also if it's just a illusion ). It seems that Phantom Flame could add some of dynamism to the illusionist grimoire in the sense that can trick victim into believe that some damage has been inflicted. The problem is that i cannot translate the following spell description into something that's "usable" Quote:
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08-17-2014, 02:52 PM | #2 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Re: Being creative with Phantom Flame
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I think the 'damage' is best treated as apparent to the senses only, as it fades so quickly. It's probably safe to roll and have it cause shock as normal. |
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08-17-2014, 04:22 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Florence, Italy
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Re: Being creative with Phantom Flame
It makes sense, only temporary shock damage, but it's not too expensive the energy cost? Energy spent is equal to number of hexes affected so if I want to have a illusionary flame barrier I would spend six fatigue points for ... only illusionary shock damage.
I understand that this magic can be very useful against low IQ enemies e.g. animals but quite useless against intelligent adversaries. |
08-17-2014, 06:06 PM | #4 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Re: Being creative with Phantom Flame
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I suspect the intended function of this spell is to provide an illusionary fire which is convincing at close range, the way purely audiovisual illusions wouldn't be. Not to provide a way of giving people real burns with fake fire.
__________________
I don't know any 3e, so there is no chance that I am talking about 3e rules by accident. |
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08-17-2014, 06:38 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Re: Being creative with Phantom Flame
Indeed, you wind up with sort of an ontological problem if your magic produces real burns, yet you want to call it an illusion. If it acts just like "real" fire in all ways, what makes it not real fire? GURPS is mostly about effects, and lets you supply the fluff text, so this mage might as well just take Create Fire and say that it's it's actually illusionary -- just a really good illusion.
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08-17-2014, 06:52 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Re: Being creative with Phantom Flame
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Illusory magic that produces real results regardless, yeah, has a bit of a definitional issue.
__________________
I don't know any 3e, so there is no chance that I am talking about 3e rules by accident. |
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08-17-2014, 06:54 PM | #7 | |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Being creative with Phantom Flame
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08-18-2014, 09:56 AM | #8 | |
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Re: Being creative with Phantom Flame
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Rules for magical illusions often make no sense. A magical "illusion" with real physical effects isn't at all out of idiom. But sure, if it works the same way, just rename the Create Fire spell, change its prerequisite to Phantom Flame or Perfect Illusion and call it done.
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-- MA Lloyd |
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08-18-2014, 05:34 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Re: Being creative with Phantom Flame
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Curiously, despite the prereq tree allowing for its purchase after Simple Illusion, Phantom Flame was not treated as part of the Illusion College in my old 2E copy of Magic. |
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08-18-2014, 10:07 PM | #10 | |
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: America
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Re: Being creative with Phantom Flame
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There are ways to make it easy, such as saying illusions are purely mental (thus the illusionary light only illuminates other illusions, you can feel heat but will still freeze to death, and can feel both hot and cold at the same time [probably causing severe pain or stunning due to confusing the brain], as it is all in the subjects head), but that is not how GURPS assumes illusions work at base. You could also assume illusions are physical constructs, but limit what they are made of. In example GURPS: Powers uses constructs of light and sound, basically holograms. Light/Sound constructs would not be able to make Phantom Flame (because it cannot create heat) though. Could combine them - constructs of light and sound, while touch is purely mental...but it is then getting complicated again, as how much force can you apply before realizing your hand is going through the wall, or you are falling off the bridge?
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The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. Last edited by Lia Valenth; 08-18-2014 at 10:10 PM. Reason: reread GURPS: Powers |
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burning, illusion, magic |
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