What is your favorite spell for Urban magic?

[innerdude]

The answer to the question of "The Most Useful Spell" is now, and always will be, Fireball.

Don't argue with me, just accept it.

"Hey, we need to get through this locked door in the 4th level apartment building--"

"I cast Fireball."

"No wait---!!"

** BOOM **


"Hey, we need to convince that cop that he should just leave us alone."

"I cast Fireball at the cop's police car."

"No wait---!!"

** BOOM **


"Hey, we need to convince the mayor of London that we really can be trusted to work with MI-5 to find the terrorists."

"I drive to the political headquarters of the mayor's closest political rival and cast Fireball into their network data center, making sure that there's no one inside first."

"No wait---!!"

** BOOM **

 

[Committed Hero]

Shadowrun 1st ed Turn to Goo

 

[The Soloist]

In Modern AGE, the Animate spell of the Machine Arcana is always fun to use as a means to distract enemies or escape. It only requires concentration thus the caster can remain unknown.

Once, a thug was trying to run over a PC with his motorcycle. The player cast the Animate Machine spell and applied the brakes hard. The thug went flying overhead. Lots of laughs around the table.

(edit: this makes me want to solo Modern AGE next. I have two characters waiting to continue their adventures.)

 

[uzirath]

In a recent GURPS Monster Hunters session, the witch cast a spell called "Hall of Records" from GURPS Thaumatology: Ritual Path Magic. It's pricy (55 energy), but gives the caster access to the fabled Akashic Hall of Records where they can research almost any topic. (The Akashic Records effectively store the knowledge of everyone who has existed, exists now, or will exist in the future.) The caster falls into a coma while doing the research, which can last hours, during which time the rest of the party has to protect the body. It was a lot of fun at our table, and very flavorful.

Another spell they have used to great effect is "Conjure Credentials," a ritual that shows the viewer what they expect to see when they request particular credentials from the caster (e.g., driver's license, passport, police badge, warrant, etc.).

 

[RenleyRenfield]

That feels almost like Martix kinda style "I need to know king fu" ...

 

[John Dallman]

Monster Hunters witches are quite capable. They aren't all that great at combat, unless they've had a couple of days of preparation time with some idea of what they'll be fighting, but their abilities at finding things out are excellent.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

It's Hero System. So the spells are all bespoke.

I love doing magic spells in HERO, but rarely get to do them in modern settings.

I wanted to do one called “Finger Guns”, but never had the opportunity.

 

[DrunkonDuty]

I'd call that one: Continuous EB or RKA. Gestures (maybe?) Incantations as you make the "pew pew" noise.

Linked to an Aid to PRES. Because aint noting cooler than finger guns.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'd call that one: Continuous EB or RKA. Gestures (maybe?) Incantations as you make the "pew pew" noise.

Linked to an Aid to PRES. Because aint noting cooler than finger guns.

Pretty much! But with my RKA, you had to make the sound and simulate recoil with each shot. No verbal, no somatic, no zap.

I like the Presence link, though- hadn’t thought of that. Hell…it might be fundamental to ALL of the character’s magic!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I liked Door’s power from Neverwhere and similar effects from The Librarians.

And the various items from The Lost Room, Warehouse 13 and Friday the 13th: The Series were pretty cool in general.