Astral Maw spell clarification

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freid78
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Astral Maw spell clarification

Postby freid78 » Sat Oct 17, 2015 3:13 pm

P.334, a sixth circle nether spell.

You need 2 threads to summon a big mouth to chew targets. If I understand the spell correctly, you need 3 successes on it's attack test to swallow a target, and then you deal damage. What happens if you don't have 3 successes? Nothing? Do you need 3 successes on the same attack test? If not, can someone attack the tentacles to free the target (or reduce the number of successes)? Can someone avoid these tentacles with skills or talents? Can the nethermancer use karma on that attack test? And what about desparate spell, can it work for the maw attack test? Finally, is the maw targetting physical defense or mystical defense?

Can this "mouth" be attacked? Or it's just dispelled (either by duration or forcefully)? The strength test (12) means there's some physical aspect to the spell, so can someone help the target get out of it?

Going further, someone swallowed by this mouth is sent to astral space? If the spell ends while someone is inside, does it leave him into astral space? This can get uglier. Can we use this mouth like a portal to the astral space? It would be a dangerous one, but still a pretty cool way to enter astral space! If not, whats the deal with dead body inside the maw? If a target is killed by the maw, but the spell is dispelled before the end, does the body pops back into the physical realm?

The effect of the spell is Nether circle +10/physical. Bone shatter bellow is Will+6/mystical. For the same threads, but half the range, I get the feeling the maw is pretty weak. You need 3 successes with 16 attack step, to deal 16 damage step against armor. Usually around 10 points of damage per round for 6 rounds if your lucky. 16 step to attack a 10 physical defense target will not wield an easy 3 successes, especially of the target can avoid these attacks. The potential 60pts of damage is an illusion. The Bone shatter will do bare minimum at circle 6 only 1 attack (but most likely 2) at 18 damage step against mystical armor, usually 16-17points (or 32-34points) of damage resulting most likely with a prone target. If you cast this spell twice, it seems you get better results for the same duration using the Bone Shatter.

Anyhow, thanks for you replies in advance.

Baravakar
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Re: Astral Maw spell clarification

Postby Baravakar » Sat Oct 24, 2015 9:28 pm

Looks like the left out half of the rules when they added this spell to the fourth edition. I'm not even going to attempt to address these issues. This is going to need official errata to fix.

I don't think that all of your issues were address with the ED3 version of this spell either.
It did not mention what happens to a swallowed person, if the spell ends.

The attacking issues were better addressed:
In ED3, the Astral Maw had stats. Physical and Spell (Mystic) Defense equal to the casters. It also had a Death Rating the same as the caster. The attack and damage steps were different. It appears to be an attack against Physical Defense, so avoid blow could be used. The damage effect was WIL+10/Physical in ED3.

It could be both killed and dispelled. It also required the caster's concentration each round or the spell ends.

Here is a question to add to your list.
Since the spell "summons a huge mouth from astral space", can Banish Talent be used to force the maw "back to its native astral environment"?

Razan_GM
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Re: Astral Maw spell clarification

Postby Razan_GM » Thu Dec 17, 2015 10:01 am

Got a bit carried away so no more of that.

Astral Maw is not a Spirit so it cant be banished.
Last edited by Razan_GM on Mon Dec 21, 2015 11:02 pm, edited 2 times in total.

ukhata
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Re: Astral Maw spell clarification

Postby ukhata » Mon Dec 21, 2015 4:07 am

which is why only dead things can go to the astral plane in that way, otherwise its almost an instant win button :)

Razan_GM
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Re: Astral Maw spell clarification

Postby Razan_GM » Mon Dec 21, 2015 10:40 pm

Well I got little carried away :P
As it can be cast at Circle 6 and with 2 additional threads it have Effect at step 20 it would be like atom bomb.

The question is if Astral Mouth swallow phisical object like chair will it end it Astral Space?


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