Ask a simple question: Fallen World edition

[21C Hermit]

So, one can increase one's physical stats with Life Perfecting, that's pretty clear. What's not so clear is being able to do the same with other Arcana. I think it is pretty that Forces can increase a subject's Strength, but I don't think that extends to Dexterity since that's more about flexibility and precise movements. So, can Space increase Dexterity?

Could a spell Forces Shielding prevent a subject from moving? The idea would be that it impedes the force generated by a body that is required in order to move.

I suspect non-Life Arcana boost Physical actions, not Attributes.

The latter case feels like Fraying.

[Tessie]

I suspect non-Life Arcana boost Physical actions, not Attributes.

The latter case feels like Fraying.

Agreed. Forces to increase the force you impart with your body would be represented as bonus dice on Strength based rolls.

Could a spell Forces Shielding prevent a subject from moving? The idea would be that it impedes the force generated by a body that is required in order to move.

Shielding is conceptually based on protecting the subject. As such, you can't really do anything with Shielding that primarily hinders the subject. That said, most ideas for effects to "Shield" a subject from something beneficial could probably be replicated with Fraying or Unravelling.

[Cauthon]

If you turn the interior of a snowglobe / Lego castle / Tchotchke building sculpture into a Secret Room large enough to be the real thing, is the inside buffered against movement at all? Like, if you were camping out in said room, and someone picked it up, would you be jostled? I assume flipping it upside down would still have the normal effect, unless you applied Alter Direction, but the effect of spacial compression/expansion on contact vibration is kinda outside my normal wheelhouse.

[KaiserAfini]

If you turn the interior of a snowglobe / Lego castle / Tchotchke building sculpture into a Secret Room large enough to be the real thing, is the inside buffered against movement at all? Like, if you were camping out in said room, and someone picked it up, would you be jostled? I assume flipping it upside down would still have the normal effect, unless you applied Alter Direction, but the effect of spacial compression/expansion on contact vibration is kinda outside my normal wheelhouse.

I think I would rule it based on intent. Its generally useful enough as a mobile base, but someone actually trying to mess with the contents could. That way you can have things like a top secret Mysterium research Sanctum hidden inside the tooth filling of its guardian (werewolf, combat trained mage, etc), but still allow anyone who seizes it to try to lure the people inside out of their fortifications.

[KaiserAfini]

What happens if someone returns from Temporal Stutter when someone of the same size is there, do they both become Knocked Down, does it only affect the person who was not stuttered ?

[Satchel]

What happens if someone returns from Temporal Stutter when someone of the same size is there, do they both become Knocked Down, does it only affect the person who was not stuttered ?

Use the method of determination that works for your game, whether that's comparing Gnosis and Arcanum ratings, comparing Physical Traits, contested Wits + Composure/Dexterity + Wits/Dexterity + Composure rolls, mutual knockdown, or something else.

[Kaimuund]

Okay soo I'm a bit confused.

If I cast a spell with touch and throw it via aimed spell at a foe, I roll gnosis plus skill vs defense, assuming I don't have the speed shot merit.

If I have Space 4 or the reach and increase scale to an area effect but leave it at touch, so still an aimed spell, how does the resulting attack work?

If there are 3 people in the area, 2 foes and an ally, do I roll to hit each one inside the area, or so I just roll to hit the area and then affect everyone inside?



Can they make a check to jump out of the way?

Been trying to find an answer or help online and am coming up short on my googlefu.

[Cauthon]

Okay soo I'm a bit confused.

If I cast a spell with touch and throw it via aimed spell at a foe, I roll gnosis plus skill vs defense, assuming I don't have the speed shot merit.

If I have Space 4 or the reach and increase scale to an area effect but leave it at touch, so still an aimed spell, how does the resulting attack work?

If there are 3 people in the area, 2 foes and an ally, do I roll to hit each one inside the area, or so I just roll to hit the area and then affect everyone inside?



Can they make a check to jump out of the way?

Been trying to find an answer or help online and am coming up short on my googlefu.

Advanced Scale (or just buying up Scale) but leaving the spell at Touch range means one of two things. Either you're:
a) Casting on a large object, since the maximum size you can affect is based on Scale

Or

b) have physical contact with all the targets.

For the mass-area cast question, as far as I can see, you would roll to check if you hit the intended target. If it hits, everything within that area is affected - aiming a spell that has no jumps in Scale would affect what it hit, plus targets in the armspan-area around it.

[KaiserAfini]

Okay soo I'm a bit confused.

If I cast a spell with touch and throw it via aimed spell at a foe, I roll gnosis plus skill vs defense, assuming I don't have the speed shot merit.

If I have Space 4 or the reach and increase scale to an area effect but leave it at touch, so still an aimed spell, how does the resulting attack work?

If there are 3 people in the area, 2 foes and an ally, do I roll to hit each one inside the area, or so I just roll to hit the area and then affect everyone inside?



Can they make a check to jump out of the way?

Been trying to find an answer or help online and am coming up short on my googlefu.

By default, spells are always cast at either touch/self or as aimed spells.

If cast at touch/self, the spell can be either utilize normal scale (individual targets) or AoE (everything inside the area). When attempting to touch an unwilling target, roll Dex + Brawl or Dex + Weaponry minus the opponent's Defense (more information on page 219).

When fired as an aimed spell (see page 115), its always cast as an AoE. Roll Gnosis + [highest of Athletics or Firearms] minus the target's Defense. Cover still applies, and there are shooting ranges as well. Lastly, aimed spells are never subtle, they are a bolt of magical energy flying at someone, which is what allows opponents to try to avoid them.

[Satchel]

Okay soo I'm a bit confused.

If I cast a spell with touch and throw it via aimed spell at a foe, I roll gnosis plus skill vs defense, assuming I don't have the speed shot merit.

If I have Space 4 or the reach and increase scale to an area effect but leave it at touch, so still an aimed spell, how does the resulting attack work?

If there are 3 people in the area, 2 foes and an ally, do I roll to hit each one inside the area, or so I just roll to hit the area and then affect everyone inside?

If I understand your question correctly, the issue is as follows:

1. Aimed spells necessarily use the Area Scale.
2. The roll to hit a target with an Aimed spell is necessarily a resisted roll by default.
3. Unless all the targets in the spell's Area are Dodging, the usual "resolve this roll against multiple targets" method of contested rolls does not apply.
4. How is this resolved?

And my understanding is that you would make the Aiming roll against whichever primary target you were aiming for, or make it unresisted if you just aimed for a stationary point.

The heightened potential for unintended consequences is part of the reason Aimed spells use Area Scale to begin with, and methods exist for prospective targets to preempt the spell, get out of the way, or stave off its effects.

In the meantime you have to contend with the fact that you just tossed an AoE the size of a large building likely no more than 400 yards away, where it's affecting not only your intended targets, but any other valid subjects who are in the area while the spell's Duration is active.

[TempleBuilder]

So, a Force Field is (usually) a science fiction concept that impedes or halts motion. Usually it acts like a projected surface, where stuff either reflects or is a bit smushed after being stopped. Would you model this with Forces Fraying or Unraveling, as per the the previous problem where I inquired on how to impede motion?

Would a Forces spell to prevent combustion be a Fraying spell? Could one use that to prevent a gun from firing? Actually, catching on fire is usually considered harmful, could that potentially be a Shielding spell?

[21C Hermit]

So, a Force Field is (usually) a science fiction concept that impedes or halts motion. Usually it acts like a projected surface, where stuff either reflects or is a bit smushed after being stopped. Would you model this with Forces Fraying or Unraveling, as per the the previous problem where I inquired on how to impede motion?

Would a Forces spell to prevent combustion be a Fraying spell? Could one use that to prevent a gun from firing? Actually, catching on fire is usually considered harmful, could that potentially be a Shielding spell?

Forcefields: Depends on how you word how it functions, I guess? Plain Shielding ought to work for the iconic “erect wall here; bonk anything coming through” types. Something closer to a ‘stasis field’, where a “no movey movey here” effect is assigned to an area, is likely Fraying or Unraveling.

Middle finger to gunpowder: I feel that stopping combustion could be Ruling. Robbing something of its flammability / combustibility would be Fraying or Weaving (not sure). Shielding ought to protect someone or something from gunfire or explosions, instead of stopping them.

[ArcaneArts]

So, a Force Field is (usually) a science fiction concept that impedes or halts motion. Usually it acts like a projected surface, where stuff either reflects or is a bit smushed after being stopped. Would you model this with Forces Fraying or Unraveling, as per the the previous problem where I inquired on how to impede motion?

I mean, most situations I would model it off the Forces Mage Armor, which I suppose drops the general level down around Fraying.

[Isator Levi]

If I have Space 4 or the reach and increase scale to an area effect but leave it at touch, so still an aimed spell, how does the resulting attack work?

Two things.

One, you don't actually need to Reach to use area for your scale factor; basic scale can either be based on number of targets or on area, it's just that the area is small. Reaching means that your basic area scale becomes as big as a house, and can move up to the size of multiple city blocks.

The other is that you are, in fact, obligated to use area as your scale for an Aimed Spell. It becomes centred on whatever your target for throwing is.

You only need to aim the spell at one person, and the rest will be affected by it if they're within the area (assuming its Potency overcomes their Withstand).

[orathaic]

Two things.

One, you don't actually need to Reach to use area for your scale factor; basic scale can either be based on number of targets or on area, it's just that the area is small. Reaching means that your basic area scale becomes as big as a house, and can move up to the size of multiple city blocks.

The other is that you are, in fact, obligated to use area as your scale for an Aimed Spell. It becomes centred on whatever your target for throwing is.

You only need to aim the spell at one person, and the rest will be affected by it if they're within the area (assuming its Potency overcomes their Withstand).

Also, if you are using advanced scale you can touch the edge of the area instead of worrying about throwing it. Maybe project a cone of spell effect in front of you, or touch a building and affect everything inside.

The shape is left very vague, mostly because it can be pretty much anything... Though i would tend to limit it to the symbolic/simple like: 'this building' or 'the left half of this room'