Continuing Alchemical Items and no Mana zones

[mlangsdorf]

Some alchemical potions have ongoing effects such as flight or invisibility. By the rules, the effects aren't in operation while the subject is in a no-mana zone. Do they resume when the subject leaves the no-mana zone?

[Sunrunners_Fire]

Originally Posted by mlangsdorf

Some alchemical potions have ongoing effects such as flight or invisibility. By the rules, the effects aren't in operation while the subject is in a no-mana zone. Do they resume when the subject leaves the no-mana zone?

By the rules? It doesn't say.

In my games? It depends on how I set up the metaphysics for that campaign.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by mlangsdorf

Some alchemical potions have ongoing effects such as flight or invisibility. By the rules, the effects aren't in operation while the subject is in a no-mana zone. Do they resume when the subject leaves the no-mana zone?

Well spells do (for durations and such) and since most elixirs are (essentially) spells in a material form I'd say yes.

Ghostdancer

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

Well spells do (for durations and such) and since most elixirs are (essentially) spells in a material form I'd say yes.

That's not entirely correct; spells susceptible to Dispel Magic are gone for good when the subject enters a No Mana Zone.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by jeff_wilson

That's not entirely correct; spells susceptible to Dispel Magic are gone for good when the subject enters a No Mana Zone.

Are elixers subject to Dispel Magic? That seems like the acid test.

Undrank elixers in bottles I presume are like magic items, and would not be destroyed by moving through a no mana area - just temporarily nulified.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by jeff_wilson

That's not entirely correct; spells susceptible to Dispel Magic are gone for good when the subject enters a No Mana Zone.

Huh. Where does it say that at? My eyes must have glazed over at the reference.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Are elixers subject to Dispel Magic? That seems like the acid test.

Undrank elixers in bottles I presume are like magic items, and would not be destroyed by moving through a no mana area - just temporarily nulified.

That's a exceedingly valid point and I have to wonder if in fact they are turned into mere expensive water when dispel magic hits them...I don't have the answer mind you. I wonder if someone should invoke a higher power here.

Its never actually come up in any game I ran which is really odd because two of my Players love playing the Alchemist types.

Ghostdancer

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

Huh. Where does it say that at? My eyes must have glazed over at the reference.

I think jeff means the Inset - Mana, on p6 of Magic. It's talking about "dispelling", rather than "Dispel Magic", though.

Personally, I kind of like the idea of treating the user/victim of an elixir as being under a limited type of Enchantment, so that NMZs suspend the effect (except for the Instant ones), but if you come out before the duration has expired, it picks up. If I were to guess, though, I'd say that the idea is probably to treat the effects as though they were spells with the listed type of Duration.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Are elixers subject to Dispel Magic? That seems like the acid test.

Undrank elixers in bottles I presume are like magic items, and would not be destroyed by moving through a no mana area - just temporarily nulified.

I think that's a good analogy, esp with consumable items like scrolls. It also allows cool stuff like bootlegging elixirs across non-magical worlds.

That Other Game certainly considers potions to be magic items and IIRC Anti-Magic Shells only suppress, not dispel them, even when they are in effect. I'm inclined to say NMZ for GURPS elixirs ought to do the same, as the reaction is an ongoing continuing process rather than a single casting.

And it's neat for alchemists to squat in their NMZ/emergency eye wash station wondering if it is safe to come out yet after a lab mishap.

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Are elixers subject to Dispel Magic? That seems like the acid test.

It occurs to me that the interaction of Magic Resistance and elixirs might be a clue. From the description, the subject resists any elixir as though it were a spell being cast upon him. This seems to lend support to the idea that the effects of elixirs should be treated as though they were spells for the purpose of Dispel Magic, NMZs, and so on.

[Delcar]

Originally Posted by jeff_wilson

And it's neat for alchemists to squat in their NMZ/emergency eye wash station wondering if it is safe to come out yet after a lab mishap.

...neatly tucked away behind a short brick wall.

FWIW, I do handle the entry as suspending the effect, but here's an odd thought - is it unfair to count the time in the NMZ against the duration?

1. IF alchemy is an accelerated chemical process of some sort, THEN it should still run its course; say that potion that makes you run faster magically gives you a shot of magic adrenaline, then you should still be temporarily changed, and yes, the time count against it.
2. IF the potion is a pure magical effect, then would a NMZ be more akin to a simple pause, where the duration is also suspended?

I can see #2 being used tactically, and to PCs' benefit, which as a GM, I'm morally against.