Energy Field Questions

Diabolists, Techno-Wizards & Psionicists, Oh my! All things that are Magics and Psionics in all Palladium Games.

Moderators: Immortals, Supreme Beings, Old Ones

User avatar
beatobur
D-Bee
Posts: 23
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:42 pm

Energy Field Questions

Unread post by beatobur »

Due to the vague nature of the description of the energy field spell, I am curious if the field is mobile. I've always felt that it was immobile, since one of it's applications was to protect a room.

Opinions? Definitive statements from the brilliant minds out there?

All appreciated.
You... you killed me trying to heal me, this is the best campaign ever.

Image
User avatar
PerroMalo
D-Bee
Posts: 37
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:30 pm
Comment: The Dark Lord of pbprpg.org
Location: Chicago, IL
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by PerroMalo »

(If I may chime in to clarify a bit, being the player in question)
This would be an energy field cast around an object.
User avatar
Nekira Sudacne
Monk
Posts: 15517
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2003 7:22 pm
Comment: The Munchkin Fairy
Location: 2nd Degree Black Belt of Post Fu
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by Nekira Sudacne »

beatobur wrote:Due to the vague nature of the description of the energy field spell, I am curious if the field is mobile. I've always felt that it was immobile, since one of it's applications was to protect a room.

Opinions? Definitive statements from the brilliant minds out there?

All appreciated.


Immobile.
Sometimes, you're like a beacon of light in the darkness, giving me some hope for humankind. ~ Killer Cyborg

You can have something done good, fast and cheap. If you want it done good and fast, it's not going to be cheap. If you want it done fast and cheap it won't be good. If you want something done good and cheap it won't be done fast. ~ Dark Brandon
User avatar
drewkitty ~..~
Monk
Posts: 17782
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2000 1:01 am
Location: Eastvale, calif
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by drewkitty ~..~ »

Nekira Sudacne wrote:
beatobur wrote:Due to the vague nature of the description of the energy field spell, I am curious if the field is mobile. I've always felt that it was immobile, since one of it's applications was to protect a room.

Opinions? Definitive statements from the brilliant minds out there?

All appreciated.


Immobile.

it doesn't move once cast, relative to the surroundings.
May you be blessed with the ability to change course when you are off the mark.
Each question should be give the canon answer 1st, then you can proclaim your house rules.
Reading and writing (literacy) is how people on BBS interact.
User avatar
Nekira Sudacne
Monk
Posts: 15517
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2003 7:22 pm
Comment: The Munchkin Fairy
Location: 2nd Degree Black Belt of Post Fu
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by Nekira Sudacne »

drewkitty ~..~ wrote:
Nekira Sudacne wrote:
beatobur wrote:Due to the vague nature of the description of the energy field spell, I am curious if the field is mobile. I've always felt that it was immobile, since one of it's applications was to protect a room.

Opinions? Definitive statements from the brilliant minds out there?

All appreciated.


Immobile.

it doesn't move once cast, relative to the surroundings.


I beleive I said that?
Sometimes, you're like a beacon of light in the darkness, giving me some hope for humankind. ~ Killer Cyborg

You can have something done good, fast and cheap. If you want it done good and fast, it's not going to be cheap. If you want it done fast and cheap it won't be good. If you want something done good and cheap it won't be done fast. ~ Dark Brandon
User avatar
drewkitty ~..~
Monk
Posts: 17782
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2000 1:01 am
Location: Eastvale, calif
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by drewkitty ~..~ »

Nekira Sudacne wrote:
drewkitty ~..~ wrote:
Nekira Sudacne wrote:
beatobur wrote:Due to the vague nature of the description of the energy field spell, I am curious if the field is mobile. I've always felt that it was immobile, since one of it's applications was to protect a room.

Opinions? Definitive statements from the brilliant minds out there?

All appreciated.


Immobile.

it doesn't move once cast, relative to the surroundings.


I beleive I said that?


so why I can't say the same thing? so you can be the only font of knowledge?

But then again, I didn't say exactly the same thing. :P
May you be blessed with the ability to change course when you are off the mark.
Each question should be give the canon answer 1st, then you can proclaim your house rules.
Reading and writing (literacy) is how people on BBS interact.
User avatar
beatobur
D-Bee
Posts: 23
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:42 pm

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by beatobur »

SamtheDagger wrote:If it was mobile, the spell would say so. As a general rule, you don't apply a property (e.g. mobility) to a spell effect unless the spell description specifically says to.


Well other then the fact that armor tends to move with a person the armor spells don't necessarily state their mobility. It's why I thought it was a very fair question to ask, since so many things in palladium are so vague.

But I thank you all for your input, I'm going to stick with my gut and call it immobile.
You... you killed me trying to heal me, this is the best campaign ever.

Image
User avatar
Nekira Sudacne
Monk
Posts: 15517
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2003 7:22 pm
Comment: The Munchkin Fairy
Location: 2nd Degree Black Belt of Post Fu
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by Nekira Sudacne »

SamtheDagger wrote:If a spell is placed on a movable object or person, it should be common sense that the spell moves with the object or person unless otherwise indicated (like a spell designed to anchor someone to the ground such as magic net). The energy field spell doesn't target an object or person, it targets an area. Therein lies the distinction.


The problem is, Energy Feild can't be anchored to anything. it has set length, width, and hight. You can place it so it's over something to protect something, but you can't cast energy feild "on" anything.
Sometimes, you're like a beacon of light in the darkness, giving me some hope for humankind. ~ Killer Cyborg

You can have something done good, fast and cheap. If you want it done good and fast, it's not going to be cheap. If you want it done fast and cheap it won't be good. If you want something done good and cheap it won't be done fast. ~ Dark Brandon
User avatar
drewkitty ~..~
Monk
Posts: 17782
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2000 1:01 am
Location: Eastvale, calif
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by drewkitty ~..~ »

Nekira Sudacne wrote:
SamtheDagger wrote:If a spell is placed on a movable object or person, it should be common sense that the spell moves with the object or person unless otherwise indicated (like a spell designed to anchor someone to the ground such as magic net). The energy field spell doesn't target an object or person, it targets an area. Therein lies the distinction.


The problem is, Energy Field can't be anchored to anything. it has set length, width, and hight. You can place it so it's over something to protect something, but you can't cast energy field "on" anything.


Sam-the-Dagger, I think you should of separated your sentences. It looks like NS though you were saying something else.

I'm thinking it should of looked like the below.

"If a spell is placed on a movable object or person, it should be common sense that the spell moves with the object or person unless otherwise indicated (like a spell designed to anchor someone to the ground such as magic net).

The energy field spell doesn't target an object or person, it targets an area. Therein lies the distinction"


Notice I didn't change the words. Just giving them some physical separation so the reader has to pay attention to the changing of the train of though between the two.
Yep I hate it when people just type and type and type w/o giving a break at the changing of ideas in their typing.

Is the son of a teacher so I do comment on the writing formats and grammar. :P
May you be blessed with the ability to change course when you are off the mark.
Each question should be give the canon answer 1st, then you can proclaim your house rules.
Reading and writing (literacy) is how people on BBS interact.
User avatar
mobuttu
Megaversal® Ambassador
Posts: 1368
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:33 pm
Comment: Palladium fan from overseas
Location: Girona (Catalonia) - Spain
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by mobuttu »

drewkitty ~..~ wrote:Is the son of a teacher so I do comment on the writing formats and grammar. :P


Me, as a reader with poor English skills, I'm very grateful for this (seriously). :-)
- Un blog de Rifts. My blog about our game.
- Maqui Ed. My RPG company.

I received a *Nekira Seal of Approval*...Once! :P
"always remember; the Splugorth can do anything" - everloss
Sorry for my bad English! :o
User avatar
Nekira Sudacne
Monk
Posts: 15517
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2003 7:22 pm
Comment: The Munchkin Fairy
Location: 2nd Degree Black Belt of Post Fu
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by Nekira Sudacne »

Shaidar976 wrote:Here is the text verbatim.

Energy Field
Range: Self or others up to 60 ft. away
Duration: 1 Minute per level or until destroyed
Saving Throw: None.
PPE: 10

The magic creates a protective field of energy that can be placed around the mage, others or an object. The maximum area of protection is about 8 ft., which means it can protect a small room full of people (about 6-8 individuals).

I'd say that if it was created on an object that was 8 ft above the ground suspended by nothing then the field and the object could be moved. Any people inside could move it like a gerbil ball.

If it was cast on a person then some of the 16 ft diameter sphere would be under ground there by anchoring it in place.



Geometry when combined with a dash of imagination can be dangerous, and very exciting.


Unless ofcourse the sphere is immobile, which is the case.
Sometimes, you're like a beacon of light in the darkness, giving me some hope for humankind. ~ Killer Cyborg

You can have something done good, fast and cheap. If you want it done good and fast, it's not going to be cheap. If you want it done fast and cheap it won't be good. If you want something done good and cheap it won't be done fast. ~ Dark Brandon
User avatar
drewkitty ~..~
Monk
Posts: 17782
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2000 1:01 am
Location: Eastvale, calif
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by drewkitty ~..~ »

The text says "8 foot area", not "8 foot radius".

As per the normal interpretation when they say "area" they are talking about, if circular in nature, the diameter.

The diameter is the normal interpretation because to interpret it directly would give the spell ether "8 square feet" or "8 cubic feet".
However, the "8 foot diameter" fits the descriptive text.
May you be blessed with the ability to change course when you are off the mark.
Each question should be give the canon answer 1st, then you can proclaim your house rules.
Reading and writing (literacy) is how people on BBS interact.
User avatar
drewkitty ~..~
Monk
Posts: 17782
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2000 1:01 am
Location: Eastvale, calif
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by drewkitty ~..~ »

SamtheDagger wrote:
drewkitty ~..~ wrote:The text says "8 foot area", not "8 foot radius"...


And as I said earlier, any spell with an "area" is fixed in space.

So if you cast it 40 feet above ground, that's where it stays. No "gerbil ball" effect. Very useful for preventing someone from falling too hard or trapping an enemy SAMAS in flight.


I was replying to the 16 foot part of Shaidar976's post.
As I said earlier, the spell is immobile relative to their surroundings. Thus, if they cast the spell inside a plane, the spell stays still relative to the plane, and doesn't shred the plane to bits.
If it is cast outside said plane, then it would be left behind.
May you be blessed with the ability to change course when you are off the mark.
Each question should be give the canon answer 1st, then you can proclaim your house rules.
Reading and writing (literacy) is how people on BBS interact.
User avatar
drewkitty ~..~
Monk
Posts: 17782
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2000 1:01 am
Location: Eastvale, calif
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by drewkitty ~..~ »

SamtheDagger wrote:I know what you were referring to drewkitty, I was just using your quote to help me make a point. Although it appears we have a different interpretation of what an area effect spell does. On page 187 of RUE it says "In most cases, once the [area effect] spell is cast and the area of effect established, it can NOT be moved."

I interpret that to be: unless the spell description says otherwise, the area of effect can not be moved. But I am willing to concede that the phrase "[i]n most cases" is somewhat unclear.

I do not disagree with you.
However, magic has a subjective component to it. Which is the reason I brought up the relativity aspect into the discussion.
May you be blessed with the ability to change course when you are off the mark.
Each question should be give the canon answer 1st, then you can proclaim your house rules.
Reading and writing (literacy) is how people on BBS interact.
User avatar
drewkitty ~..~
Monk
Posts: 17782
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2000 1:01 am
Location: Eastvale, calif
Contact:

Re: Energy Field Questions

Unread post by drewkitty ~..~ »

New to the Invented Spells Topic.

drewkitty ~..~ wrote:Air Mines (lesser)
Level 5
Range: special
Duration: 10 min
Saving Throw: none
PPE: 12 (special)
"Have you while taking a flight on your wing board minding your own business not hurting anybody, attracted the attention of some sort of annoying SAMAS or Bugs or Flying Dinosaur? Then I have the spell for you...."
Developed by a mage sick of having to out run or out fly pesky SAMAS trying to shoot him down this spell derived for the the Energy Field spell because of the energy field's immobility.
The spell creates small transparent spheres about a foot apart in a plane 10 meters behind whatever flying device the mage is using. The area covered is 10'+10'/Level squared. Each sphere has only One MDC, but that is usually enough to stop (bringing their speed to 0 kph) anything flying into the mines, doing ramming damage to themselves. Missiles flying through the Field have a 25% chance ( 5 or less on a D20 ) of running into one of the mines.
If the mage wishes to cover more area of the plane, then with expending 12 PPE more, he is able to make a second pattern of mines . However, none of the patterns can overlap.

Air Mines (greater)(just listing the differences)
Level 6, PPE: 14, The mage is able to make the field from anywhere. the Tangental distance to the farthest plane can be no grater then 10 meters. Different patterns can over lap if made in different planes. Can make 1 plane of mines per 2 levels at the same time.
May you be blessed with the ability to change course when you are off the mark.
Each question should be give the canon answer 1st, then you can proclaim your house rules.
Reading and writing (literacy) is how people on BBS interact.
Locked

Return to “Guild of Magic & Psionics”