Comparison between Insubstantiality and Astral Projection

Bill_in_IN · 02-09-2023, 09:33 AM

I'm going to set the spells out here and see if a discussion of what situations would warrant the use of one over the other. The biggest thing would be the lack of movement with and coverage area for Insubstantiality.

Astral Projection (S) is an IQ 15 spell on ITL, page 28. Cost 10 ST and lasts 1 hour.

Insubstantiality (T) is an IQ 17 spell on ITL, page 31. Costs 4 ST +2 to maintain.

I can't see where Insubstantiality is more powerful than Astral Projection to warranty it being an IQ 17 spell. The fact that one is a Special spell and the other is a Thrown spell creates a tactical difference. Even so, it still seems that Insubstantiality is far too expensive for what it delivers as opposed to Astral Projection.

In my Classic TFT days. I saw both used. Insubstantiality did seem to lend itself to more tactical use during battle. Astral Projection must be cast by a character that is far away from the battle because the body is a sitting duck if he has no body guards.

What do you all think?

I do suspect that Astral Projection may have been present in some of my more recent Legacy TFT sessions as a player.

02-09-2023, 09:33 AM	#1
Bill_in_IN Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Indiana	Comparison between Insubstantiality and Astral Projection I'm going to set the spells out here and see if a discussion of what situations would warrant the use of one over the other. The biggest thing would be the lack of movement with and coverage area for Insubstantiality. Astral Projection (S) is an IQ 15 spell on ITL, page 28. Cost 10 ST and lasts 1 hour. Insubstantiality (T) is an IQ 17 spell on ITL, page 31. Costs 4 ST +2 to maintain. I can't see where Insubstantiality is more powerful than Astral Projection to warranty it being an IQ 17 spell. The fact that one is a Special spell and the other is a Thrown spell creates a tactical difference. Even so, it still seems that Insubstantiality is far too expensive for what it delivers as opposed to Astral Projection. In my Classic TFT days. I saw both used. Insubstantiality did seem to lend itself to more tactical use during battle. Astral Projection must be cast by a character that is far away from the battle because the body is a sitting duck if he has no body guards. What do you all think? I do suspect that Astral Projection may have been present in some of my more recent Legacy TFT sessions as a player. Last edited by Bill_in_IN; 02-09-2023 at 09:38 AM.