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!