Part of the problem with the "Magic Resistance 14" rule is deciding when to apply it ("duh! Rory, What do you think we've been discussing?").
And part of the problem is the same as we run into with overly broad Ability
Names (See page 19). "Orlanth's Strength" is a very broad magical ability,
"Leap over Trees" is pretty specific. ("Leap over the old apple tree in the
corner of the steadyard" is more specific than you might want to go :-) ).
Specific magic gets the 14 resistance when it is used "correctly" - When leaping over trees, or throwing a javelin a long distance (I'm in the "A mile is a general term for kinda far away'", and 'Mile Throw Javelin' can be used as a ranged attack for people farther taway than a normal spearcast" camp, personally), or running over water, or whatever. Broad magic doesn't get that 14, because there is no specific circumstance for it. "Run Fast" I view as a broad magic, as is "Jump High" or "Throw Far". I'd be willing to knock something off the resistance for using magic, but not give the 14 (unless the resitance was relatively low in the first place - leaping over a tree that is only 4w tall I might give a -10 mod for using magic - it would depend on the situation when it came up).
So a footrace between "Run Fast" mundanely and "Run Fast" Magically is a
straight contest between abilities. Racing back to town to get help using
"Run Fast" Magic is a contest between the road (Distance, road conditions,
etc). and the magic, while a magical "Run Fast on Roads" is a contest
between the ability and 14, with some fudge factor for how much quicker the
players wants the trip to be. A race along the road between Mundane "Run
Fast", Magical "Run Fast" and magical "Run Fast on Roads" I would probably
run as three seperate contests againt the road, *not* against each other.
Finally, there are some magics that sound specific, but are nearly always
opposed by something other than the basic 14. "Arm Wrestling", 'Sever Head"
"Entice to bed" (Okay, when used against a typical guy, that's probably not
resisted at all, but against a happily married and faithful guy, there's the
Relationship with his partner to consider...). As stand-alone activities,
they allow you to *try* to armwrestle, sever heads or entice against an
active resistance. But they can also be used as augmentors to other
abilities (or be augmented by...)
RR
It is by my order and for the good of the state that the bearer of this has
done what he has done.
- Richelieu
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