GURPS 4e Magic Silence vs GURPS Explosions

[Eric Funk]

Greetings Brain Trust!

In GURPS, Black Powder is TL3, and works by causing a pressure wave (HT184), essentially a loud sound.

https://www.ifatactical.com/blog/how-gunpowder-works/

For this purpose let's say a keg of gunpowder is involved, from p. HT184 it is listed at 6d x14 cr ex damage. (Explosions on B414 suggest a cr ex explosion will start secondary fires and such an iron-bound oak keg might add [1d] "incidental fragmentation".)


Now bring in MAGIC 4e, p. 171: Silence (Area)*. "Creates an area of quiet. No one within this area can hear anything, and nothing that happens in this area makes any sound." I would assume this would protect against the Concussion spell (p.M26).

A few related cases can occur as the wizard casts the spell:
A) just over the keg. The wizard is standing next to it when it goes off...
B) just over himself standing next to the keg.
C) Both in the area of effect
D) An area of effect between the two.

If the magic slows down the waves so they are no longer harmful it would not hurt anyone directly with the event horizon of the explosion but could still set fires and propel fragments from the initial blast...

Your thoughts?


Thanks!


* and Wall of Silence M172