Defense spells

[Finalsora811]

Are there any spells in RAW that allow a Mage to parry using a spell skill instead of his own parry or allow him to block attacks with a spell or something similar to those?

[Refplace]

Iron Arm in the Protection and warning College.

[Finalsora811]

Originally Posted by Refplace

Iron Arm in the Protection and warning College.

Ok that's parry. Is there a Shield thingy version?

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by Finalsora811

Ok that's parry. Is there a Shield thingy version?

Not really. There is Shield (p167) and Block but that boost the DB of you shield and don't allow you to block without a shield. Using them as guidelines it would be reasonable to make one though.

[Finalsora811]

Originally Posted by Refplace

Not really. There is Shield (p167) and Block but that boost the DB of you shield and don't allow you to block without a shield. Using them as guidelines it would be reasonable to make one though.

I feel like Shield is kind of contradicting itself. It conjures an invisible shield, but doesn't allow you to block without a shield.

[Finalsora811]

Also, is Blink the only dodging spell?

[vierasmarius]

Originally Posted by Finalsora811

I feel like Shield is kind of contradicting itself. It conjures an invisible shield, but doesn't allow you to block without a shield.

Yeah, there are two changes I'd make to Shield: it lets you Block without a physical shield; and the DB it provides is not cumulative with an equipped shield's DB. Likewise with the Block spell.

It's interesting to me that most Blocking spells, though they function effectively as Active Defenses, don't suffer the usual penalty of Skill/2+3. For instance, Blink gets to roll full skill to Dodge, and Iron Arm gets full skill to Parry. If those are available, there's no point every using the Block spell itself.

[Maz]

Originally Posted by vierasmarius

It's interesting to me that most Blocking spells, though they function effectively as Active Defenses, don't suffer the usual penalty of Skill/2+3.

Thats because, unlike all other Active Parries you may only ever use one Blocking spell per turn. So if hit by more than one attack, you need to find other ways to defend.

[Gnome]

Originally Posted by Finalsora811

Also, is Blink the only dodging spell?

Although it's not listed as a type of dodge, Phase can defend against almost any attack. Deflect Missile and Return Missile work well against missile attacks. Fumble and Command are nice if you want to mess up your opponent while defending, but they're risky (the enemy might resist, at which point you've used up your defense, so you're getting hit unless you took an AoD: two defenses).

As far as the Shield spell, I don't have a problem with it being unable to block. I imagine that it just floats in the air in front of you, outside of your direct control but still helping to deflect some attacks on its own.

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by Gnome

As far as the Shield spell, I don't have a problem with it being unable to block. I imagine that it just floats in the air in front of you, outside of your direct control but still helping to deflect some attacks on its own.

I am of the same mind, though an actual Block spell would be a reasonable addition to the list. I would have gone with Force Dome as the Preq but the whole Protection and Warning college is an odd bird.