Post:Empathic shock and arc light - 12/9/2008 - 15:07:53

Re: Empathic shock and arc light · on 12/9/2008 3:07:53 PM	1281
>>I can't see how this spell is offensive as it doesn't cause any physical harm to the target. It simply disorientates the target and gives them a loss to balance and position. It's important to clear up some basic concepts, first. Any spell that is detrimental to the recipient is (or should be -- there's still some exceptions we have not fixed yet) offensive. We do this because it drastically changes how the spell is handled and contested. A spell that is not flagged offensive ignores many checks that are vital for properly handling contesting a result between two characters or the caster and a creature. That part is non-negotiable. Any spell that meets the criteria I laid out is, or will be turned into, an offensive spell. Without the Empath context, the GM you spoke to was completely correct: it's an offensive spell because it screws with the target. >>I think it's wrong to classify this spell as offensive for empaths because not only if the mental attack, if present, so minute that it shouldn't count towards causing empathic shock. It was my understanding that empaths can't attack to cause physical harm, i.e., wound people, but I can't see any wounds being caused by this spell. Earlier this year I made some additions to the magic system to, more or less, divorce Empathic Shock and the offensive flag. This is why you can cast Hypnotize (that's an offensive spell too) without frying yourself. Spells can now be set to avoid or deliver Empathic Shock regardless of that setting. Unfortunately, that setting is binary at the moment, and cannot take into account all the permutations I'd like. For example, I currently cannot set a TM spell to "Shock only if it hits." This comes up in Arc Light because, as people have pointed out, it can be used to light people on fire. If that feature is removed from Arc Light, or I get the time to make the Shock check more refined (unlikely in the near future), I have no problem with seeing it flipped into an Empath friendly spell. For now, though? No, you do not get to personally set people on fire and keep your powers. -Armifer
This message was originally posted in The Empaths (23) \ Healing Systems (18), by DR-ARMIFER on the play.net forums.