Talent/Spell of the Week: Silent Movement (Spell)

[Shostak]

This IQ 11 Thrown spell renders its subject able to move without any sound whatsoever at any speed. As written, this spell outclasses the Silent Movement talent (to be covered in its own thread), which requires a slower speed, has limits on armor, and does not evade the those with Acute Hearing and actively listening from within about 8 hexes. But that difference in performance comes at a price; the Silent Movement spell will cost 1 ST per turn to enjoy its benefits, so any extended silent activity is going to tax the caster dearly.

In my experience stretching back to the 1980s when Advanced Wizard was released, the Silent Movement spell has seldom been chosen by characters, but I have given it to many adversary NPCs. The maintenance cost makes this an expensive spell, which might be a reason why so few players have picked it for their characters. That said, as a buff spell cast on a companion, Silent Movement has great potential, especially in situations where visibility is limited.

Conversation Starters

• How often do players choose this spell for their characters in your games?
• If you use a house rule version, how does it differ from RAW?
• Does Silent Movement offer any synergies with other spells or talents that might be exploited?
• To what creatures (RAW or homebrewed) would Silent Movement would render one undetectable?
• If you have any memorable uses of Silent Movement from your games, please share!

[hcobb]

Note that "spell" is added at ITL 59 every time a spell is required so the "Wizardly thief" "job" requires the Silent Movement talent. (But not Streetwise.)

[TippetsTX]

The scope of this spell always struck me as uncharacteristically specific. Out of necessity, many TFT spells are designed w/ multiple applications in mind, but not this one. Thus, I find the value in this choice very limited. Better to replace it w/ a spell that suppresses all sound.

TBH, I think the ST cost is almost in line w/ such an effect.

[Steve Plambeck]

I actually had to peek back at Advanced Wizard because I have no recollection of the spell existing back then. I'm certain I've never seen it used, or learned by any character, ever. I can say that for a few other spells that made their debut in Advanced Wizard.

Some spells like this one just don't do enough to be useful for a short duration, and are too expensive at 1 ST every turn to run for a long duration.

[Bill_in_IN]

This spell, like so many others, is noticed as a wizard is being built but doesn't make the final cut due to the cost.

It would be interesting if an Unarmed Combatist learned it but Silent Movement Talent is much cheaper at 2 IQ points and no ST cost instead of 3 IQ points and 1ST/turn.

Now, getting silent movement in a ring/item would be a cool. Per the table in ITL, page 150, it's $2000. Not cheap unless you through money around like candy as a GM. Even then, it will still cost 1 ST/turn unless you spend at least 10 times that for self-powered.

It's still an expensive spell no matter how you access it but it would be a bit of a game changer. Sort of like an unexpected use of Mage Sight.

I can see some NPCs getting this ability in the future. Thanks for the reminder @Shostak.

[Axly Suregrip]

I enjoy TFT with a group of players and characters. Silent Movement really fits an individual thief and not a group. The situations where one play goes off alone are limited (scout ahead, break into a place, thieving, assassination) mostly because being alone in TFT is very risky. The uses exist, but does the wizard or thief want to spend the IQ to own this spell or talent?

Both the Silent Movement talent and spell suffer from being something that is good for an individual but not for a group. The talent is limited to an individual as that is what talents are, but the spell in theory could be used on others if it was not so expensive. That is, your wizard is not casting Silent Movement on more than 1 person (self or friend) for a sneaking job.

For player characters I only saw this spell taken to fit a job requirement on the career table. I have seen players try silence to send a scout ahead but eventually this end poorly and it is dropped. It depend on the GM finding situations for its use.