Visible Horizon
 

Well, here's an interesting fact…

On a nominally flat surface like the ocean, the distance to the visible horizon is a function of one's elevation above the water:

h=√(e/0.5736)

…where e is the elevation (in feet) of one's eyes above the water, and h is the distance (in miles) of the visible horizon.

So for someone standing on the deck of a ship, with their eyes only 9 feet above the water, the visible horizon is ~4 miles. But for someone sitting 52 feet up the mast in the crow's nest, the visible horizon is ~9.5 miles.

Okay, so it's probably not especially useful in any circumstances other than exactly these, but there it is. I'm filing it away in my collection of 'Obscure Mathematical Formulae for Weird (but Potentially Useful) Trivia'.

Re: Visible Horizon
 

Turn one, Wally the average wizard casts Flight, ST is now 10(7).

Turn two, Wally maintains his spell, moves half of MA 12 and is at half-speed(?) for a vertical climb. Altitude is three yards, ST 10(6)

Turns three through seven he climbs six yards per turn, then looks around at altitude 33 yards plus two for his height is 35 yards, 105 feet, horizon 13.5 miles, ST 10(1).

Turn eight he doesn't continue the spell and so lands gently and on turn nine he can move normally on the ground.

Re: Visible Horizon
 

I always forget about chea—err, exploiting things with Magic. It's like a mental block, or something…

EDIT: It occurs to me that if Wally started from that crow's nest, his maximum viewing altitude would be 157 feet, for a visible horizon of ~16.5 miles.

That's quite an advantage, if you're playing Cat & Mouse with an enemy ship that does not have a similarly talented lookout.

Re: Visible Horizon
 

Wally also needs really good vision, a telescope, the Far Vision Spell, and/or a lack of blocking terrain and weather...

Re: Visible Horizon
 

Depends what he's doing, Skarg. If all Wally needs to do is spot a ship on an otherwise empty sea, it's just a matter of looking for anything at all that breaks the line of the horizon; seeing details may not be necessary.

Re: Visible Horizon
 

Quite true. That was mainly for hcobb's Flight trick...

Maybe the Flight spell should have a max altitude of some sort.

Re: Visible Horizon
 

Self powered Flight and Fresh Air items and we're off to explore the moons of Cidri.

Re: Visible Horizon
 

Why not craft a new spell, Summon Albatross.

Re: Visible Horizon
 

Bat on page 20.

Or better yet image of an Air Elemental.

Re: Visible Horizon
 

definitely bat.