Topic: Creative, but not necessarily allowed spell use

[Skaran]

I was going through some of my old game notes when I came across one about that Magus Spell Great Command, you know the one where the magus can speak a 5 word command to a target. Quite powerful really.

The command was : You shall never be afraid. This was cast on someone who routinely failed fear checks. Sadly the spell failed and was not recast so no decision on whether this would work was made. What do people think?

Another variation on this, locally termed the "Master option" from Dr Who Fans in the group was : You will obey only me" This one did work but had some unexpected side effects when a noble gave the poor recipient of this command an order to get out of the way. Naturally the poor person refused as the noble was not the spell caster. The final consequences had a veil drawn over them.

I was wondering about others experiences with players using spells creatively.

[Marc R]

I suspect the first would result in "Terrible Fearlessness" ala the old RM2 BGO. Perhaps worse.
"A thousand Orcs? I charge!" only works if you're Groo, sometimes fear is good.


Hmm, creative?

Take an acorn, walk up to the castle wall, stick acorn in crevice, cast the higher level plant growth on it to get a "Fully mature" Oak Tree. . .watch as the questing roots and weight of wood tear a nice breach in the wall.

A recent suggestion from another thread: Purchase a giant steak or any other dense food material, use shrink. . .feed to foes. . .cancel spell duration. . .they should be at least discomforted, likely injured, perhaps killed.

[smug]

Boil liquid wouldn't work on blood (because it's not considered inanimate) but what about a pint of water someone just drank and which is still in their stomach?

[Skaran]

Boil liquid applied to a targets canteen or water bag. Wait till it boils, the canteen ruptures spraying boiling water and steam then liberally apply steam critical. I would allow the target a perception roll to see if they noticed that canteen hanging from their belt was getting "warm".

[Arioch]

Fireball on your artificier friend with a backpack full of explosives... No, wait!  maybe this is not proprerly "creative" but it still keep happening in my games... 

[Ecthelion]

The Forum Archives contain a thread Misuse of spells on the same topic.

[Skaran]

Rule of thumb

Don't fumble a spell in the centre of an Earth Node if you have an evil GM

Tried to light a campfire, blew the top of a neighbouring hill off!

Alternate heat solid and cool solid on metal doors then hit with heavy object.

[Justin]

how about just particularly evil?
my first rm game, the party mage, who was an archmage, was being charged by a big fighter type in plate AT. First, he Cracks Call'ed the ground underneath and the guy fell in. Then he Heat Solid'ed(probably the very hot one) the armour. Then he did a spell that generated a bunch of sand, if I remember right, burying the poor guy.
*shudder*

[Balhirath]

From time to time I cast invisibility on doors, when sneaking around. That way you can se whats on the other side and if the bad guys charge me, there's have a pretty solid door they can run into, while I get away
In general Rolemaster have a lot of very usefull low-level spells that can be used in many ways and I love it when I or my players find a new way to use a spell.

 

[thrud]

Yeah, that's a popular use for unseen. Low level spell and you can make enough invisible to peak through.

[TomOBedlam]

The command was : You shall never be afraid. This was cast on someone who routinely failed fear checks.
...
What do people think?

What if he gave him the command "You shall know advanced algebra", would he?
If he commanded him "You shall be able to fly"?
"You can kill gods with your thumb" (This one clearly would not work since it's more than 5 words)

The command means that the target will try to obey, but it does not magically give him new powers. It can not make him immune to fear, make him stop bleeding and so forth. What it may be able to do is to make the recipient believe that he has the ability. The target will think he is immune to fear. He will boldly go into the haunted house. But when the ghosts fear aura hit him he will be running for mommy just like last time.

[Marc R]

Is possible you'd end up with "Conflicting spell resolution"

i.e. Command Level vs Fear level RR contest.

Command wins, no Fear.

Fear wins, Fear.

It is a permenant effect, much like a charm.

A cruel GM might just combust you. (The conflicting unnatural impulses of fear/no fear. . .roll an E stress critical.)

[yammahoper]

I think TomOBedlam has the right take on it.  A friendly GM may give a RR bonus to represent the "enhanced mindset" of the target, and of course, once the fear wears off, the target would deny he had ever been afraid ("I did not run!  I was achieveing a tactically superior position you fool!).


Then the GM should combust him, lol.

lynn

[metallion]

A Mentallist in a game I was GMing cast a Door spell onto the torso of a brass golem.  Then they opened the door, and the golem overbalanced.