Disarming a character from powers?

[Mort]

With that in mind, there will likely be a lot of "home remedies vs. magic"; the aforementioned cold iron, salt and running water to defuse magic, etc.

You have to be somewhat careful here though. If a ring of salt, running water, cold iron etc. all make magic not function/function differently - why isn't it everywhere?

Why don't most buildings have salt mixed in with other building materials (or cold iron or whatever) - castles with moats (that have some kind of system to keep the water flowing) take on an additional meaning - stuff like that.

Also do these things work on only the arcane power source or all power sources - if only the arcane what, if anything, blocks divine and martial sources?

Just pointing out you have to be careful not causing more questions than you've answered.

 

[drjones]

I think it depends on the folks holding the prisoners. Wealthy cultists or the city guard of a moderate sized burg would be well prepared for standard tricks (You fey step and find yourself standing in a dark obsidian box somewhere in the feywild. You hear growling nearby. Want to go back?)

About components for spells, I hate to go all broken record on ya but I think there will be overarching rules for casting all spells/using abilities in the rules for spell casting rather than having each spell say what that one needs. We are still looking through a keyhole even with the crunchy previews recently.

 

[Rechan]

You have to be somewhat careful here though. If a ring of salt, running water, cold iron etc. all make magic not function/function differently - why isn't it everywhere?

Many reasons. One could be simple availability.

Another is functionality. Salt for instance keeps out the dead - but just mixing it in with the masonry just means that the dead can't pass through the wall. It isn't going to do jack against them strolling through the door. This is why it's much easier to just have a line of salt ringing the town, then covering everything inside the town in salt.

Same with Running water: a moat isn't going to do the job. Not only is the water not running, but running water has to be in contact with either the mage or the magic in question to diffuse it.

A good example of running water in action: in a favorite book series of mine, the main character, a wizard, was captured and chained underneath a water pipe that continually spilled water down on top of him. The running water ground out the magic, preventing him from casting. However, in the same series later on, it took about two minutes for a fire sprinkler system to dissolve a spell in action. On occasions where magic was used while it rained, the magic was just weakened and dampened, but not completely removed.

 

[Mort]

Your response just talks about degrees of effectiveness - the "remedies" are still prevelant.

The point is, introducing low cost effective magic countermeasures means people will definately use those measures to the best degree they are able and the use of magic is affected accordingly.

Many reasons. One could be simple availability.

Another is functionality. Salt for instance keeps out the dead - but just mixing it in with the masonry just means that the dead can't pass through the wall. It isn't going to do jack against them strolling through the door. This is why it's much easier to just have a line of salt ringing the town, then covering everything inside the town in salt.

Same with Running water: a moat isn't going to do the job. Not only is the water not running, but running water has to be in contact with either the mage or the magic in question to diffuse it.

A good example of running water in action: in a favorite book series of mine, the main character, a wizard, was captured and chained underneath a water pipe that continually spilled water down on top of him. The running water ground out the magic, preventing him from casting. However, in the same series later on, it took about two minutes for a fire sprinkler system to dissolve a spell in action. On occasions where magic was used while it rained, the magic was just weakened and dampened, but not completely removed.

 

[JohnSnow]

A good example of running water in action: in a favorite book series of mine, the main character, a wizard, was captured and chained underneath a water pipe that continually spilled water down on top of him. The running water ground out the magic, preventing him from casting. However, in the same series later on, it took about two minutes for a fire sprinkler system to dissolve a spell in action. On occasions where magic was used while it rained, the magic was just weakened and dampened, but not completely removed.

Yup. I like that series too. The author also has his main character make extensive use of circle magic, implements, and a number of other things that fit in VERY well with the way arcane magic works in 4E.

And the countermeasures only work to the extent that someone invests will and emotional energy into the counter in question. And preventing a wizard from teleporting through a locked cell is no more, nor less, fair than preventing a fighter from walking through it. I believe, in some cases, the main character in that series will blast a door down rather than bypassing it because it's "easier" for him to do. However, for that kind of magic, he usually needs an implement.

The author is also, I believe, a D&D player from way back.

 

[Mort]

Yup. I like that series too. The author also has his main character make extensive use of circle magic, implements, and a number of other things that fit in VERY well with the way arcane magic works in 4E.

The author is also, I believe, a D&D player from way back.

Who'se the author and what's the series?

 

[Thyrwyn]

In the last latest book in that series, said character also talks about the difficulties of using magic while on a boat (ie when surrounded by water and out of contact with the earth). Very well constructed world with a consistent sense of "what magic is".

 

[Michael Silverbane]

Who'se the author and what's the series?

The author is Jim Butcher. The series is The Dresden Files.

Later
silver

 

[JohnSnow]

Who'se the author and what's the series?

Jim Butcher - The Dresden Files

Book one is Storm Front. The latest release, which I was going to pick up today is Small Favor (Book 10).

It's a terrific series of modern fantasy where the main character is a private investigator and the only practicing wizard listed in the greater Chicago phonebook. Great series. Lots of fun. There was a TV show on the Sci-Fi Channel for a while, and it was, IMO, a great show that was cancelled far too soon, but it wasn't as good as the novels.

 

[Mort]

Jim Butcher - The Dresden Files

Book one is Storm Front. The latest release, which I was going to pick up today is Small Favor (Book 10).

It's a terrific series of modern fantasy where the main character is a private investigator and the only practicing wizard listed in the greater Chicago phonebook. Great series. Lots of fun. There was a TV show on the Sci-Fi Channel for a while, and it was, IMO, a great show that was cancelled far too soon, but it wasn't as good as the novels.

Thanks, knew it sounded familiar - I keep meening to read these books.