Levitate movement rate., I (idiot) don't get it. Options

[jacklind]

I’ve only just begun reading about spellcasting, so please bare with me!

I’m a mage with spellcasting 5 and magic 5. With equipment I weigh about 100 kg. I want to levitate myself and I don’t want physical drain, so I choose a force 4 levitate.

In the book is says: “The caster must achieve a threshold on the Spellcasting Test equal to 1 per 200 kg of the subject’s mass.”

So I use 10 dice and I just need to get 1 hit for the spell to work, right?

Let’s say I’m unlucky I only get the one hit and now I want to know how fast I’m moving.

In the book is says: “The subject of the spell can be moved anywhere in the caster’s line of sight at a Movement rate equal to the spell’s Magic x net Spellcasting hits in meters per turn.”

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t get it. Is “the spell’s Magic” the spells force ((4) x something) or is it my magic ((5) x something)? And the “net Spellcasting hits” are the hits that exceed the hit(s) I need for the spell to work, right? If so the spell works with 1 hit, but I move nowhere coz my movement rate is 0 net hits x something = 0 meters.

I’ve got the feeling I misunderstood something major here. I hope you can help. :)

[Feshy]

No, that's how I read it too.

At least, 1 hit will keep you from falling to a horrible, horrible death when the catwalk over the twinkie cream vat you are sneaking along gives way. "Zero" movement is still "not falling" :P

[Lilt]

It's calculated on your magic. If you get 1 success on a threshold 1 spell then you can thus move the object at a rate of 0.

Sound useless? A rate of 0 can still have its uses, like for stopping yourself when falling or holding a heavy weight to stop it from crushing someone further (or holding a heavy object in ambush ready to crush someone).

[edit]Dammn you feshy-the-quick! Dammn you and your little dog too![/edit]

[jacklind]

Now now, you were both very quick. ;)

Thanks both of you for the quick reply. I did almost get it after all. :)

I didn't think of the uses you actually could have from at 0 movement rate levitate spell. Thanks for adding those suggestions.

[jacklind]

BTW wasn't the movement rate of levitate a lot higher in SR3 or is it just me!?

[Jaid]

iirc, in SR3 the movement rate was magic*force, which is the maximum possible in SR4, i believe.

so, generally speaking, yes SR4 allowed faster movement.

[blakkie]

[evil1i]

[blakkie]

Thanks for a partial demonstration of why i wouldn't want it to be like that. :P The other part being the time [lost] trying to figure out the weight of our intrepid flyboy w/gear instead of "over 200kg or under 200kg?"

[Feshy]

[TonkaTuff]

[jacklind]

I think I'm going for the "over 200kg or under 200kg" rule. :) The other way make sense though, but too time consuming.

If you wanted to go really fast, you could always summon a spirit and have it use it's movement power. (Spirit force x movement rate)= bloody fast if you've got magic 14 and 11 spellcasting dice :D

And if you are a normal spellcaster it not unlikely you get 2-3 net hits. So that could be something like (5 (magic) x 3 (net hits) = 15 meters/turn) X say a force 3 spirit= 45 meters/turn (54 km). With luck (5x5= 25 m/t) x 5) = 125 m/t (almost 150 km), right!?

[Cold-Dragon]

Just to tickle the speed barrier bubble...doesn't edge or the magic section say that dice limits on ability are negated when using edge?

As in if you cast a low force powerbolt with edge, you can exceed your limited number of hits allowed?

force 2 powerbolt = 2 or less hits (period)
force 2 powerbolt w/ edge = priceless, like mastercard

I know I read something like that, or close to it anyways...fun for speed or other things like barriers that need a power boost.

[Feshy]

[Akimbo]

Objects (especially people) look funny flying into things at very high velocities. Your magic using friend would look especially appealing as a grease stain on a wall.

[blakkie]

[blakkie]

[Rotbart van Dain...]

[RunnerPaul]

[apollo124]

[RunnerPaul]

Knowing the story behind Raggot the gerbil, it's more of an ASSault cannon spell.

[Cold-Dragon]

Well, despite the potential mayhem of the gerbilizer, keep in mind that this only works out well if you have a high edge to begin with.

if you have the minimal 1 or 2, you are a one shot wonder as far as fast acting rodents get you.Otherwise it's a good finishing move on a prime runner or annoying Johnson if you aim upward for a round or two.

However, if you have the higher edge of 5 or more, that's quite a few rounds you have.
Fortunately, the break value of this trick is limited by the very nature of edge: do you really want to risk the stuff that can save your life repeated in a day, just so you can get some easy kills or laughter and then be out of lady luck for several more days?

That'd be even worse if your GM has stricter recharge rules....I don't want to know what happens if you somehow glitch or critical glitch on such a thing.

[blakkie]

[Feshy]

[blakkie]