Resisting surprise magic?

From: bethexton_at_...
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 15:28:38 -0000


I have a question about magical defenses in a surprise situation. That is, when you are attacked by magic, the most appropriate response is a magical defense, ideally one appropriate to the attack, and if you don't have anything specific you default to something like piety or initiate of your god. But how much choice do you have in the matter when you are attacked by surprise? Of course, there are differing levels of surprise, so I'll provide some examples courtesy of the unfortunate hero band Braggi's Braggarts, all of whom are initiates or devotees of various "fighting storm" cults. Braggi himself is a devotee of Yavor Lightning.

Example 1:
The Braggarts are conducting a pre-dawn cattle raid against the hated Black Turnip clan. Unfortunately on the way there they offended a talking fox. Never offend the talking fox. The fox has notified the Black Turnip clan of the raid, and the Braggarts are soon seeing hot action. The first response from the Turnips was a wave of skirmishers, who kept the Braggarts busy while more fearsome brawlers got to the scene. So under the brightening sky dome, just before Elmal's fire comes through the dawn gates, the Braggarts are in full combat mode, fighting, alert, various magical defenses active. Then, a just arrived Elmal devotee, up until then unseen in the dim light, uses his blinding flash attack on Braggi and one of his companions, an initiate of Tatouth the path-finder named Beveren.

Although they were generally ready for anything, they were not prepared for that specific attack, or for that attacker in general. It would seem that Braggi's "Lightning" affinity would make a reasonable defense with only a small improve penalty (he's used to bright flashes in dark conditions, so isn't easily blinded by them). But the attack happens unexpectedly, where he has no chance to call upon that magic. Does the magic protect him automatically? And what about Beveren? He has nothing more appropriate than "Initiate of Orlanth" at a substantial penalty. Assuming this is better than a default 14, can he use it—Orlanth is already watching over him since he's been calling on Orlanth's magic during the battle? Or does he have to be aware enough of the attack to call on Orlanth's protection?

Example 2:
Later, Braggi is driving a cart loaded with his wounded along a narrow track through the woods. It is wild country with who knows what dangers, so he is generally aware. His "first magic" is one of his wind feats, to deflect any incoming missiles, but he doesn't have any other magic up, both so as not to attract too much attention and because he doesn't have any feats that would be particularly useful as general defenses. Unfortunately for him, he passes under the arboral hiding place of a hungry rebel who happens to be a devotee of Yinkin. The ambusher uses his "leap from hiding" feat to jump down on Braggi from behind just after the cart has passed his hiding spot.

Braggi is not totally surprised by the attack in that he knew an ambush was possible, but he has no awareness type magic to anticipate it, nor any active magic to interfere with it. What magic defense can he use? His wind blast would be a weak defense (not apt to stop a downward leaping body), plus he wouldn't even be calling on it without knowing the attack was happening. His other feats have the same objections that he wouldn't use them without knowing of the attack, plus they are not his "first magic." He's not been calling on Orlanth's aid, and would have no reason to do so until the moment he's knocked from his seat. Does he have any magical defenses?

Now, if Beveren had been driving, presumably he could have used his path finding affinity as a defense, since it would be an appropriate defense against this sort of attack, and would seem to be a reasonably "passive" response. Or would he have had to have it already active in some way (first magic, have called upon it—but remember he is an initiate, so probably wouldn't have been using it actively).

Example 3:
After further misadventures, the Braggarts have fled far, far away. They've set up camp in the shelter of a crumbling stone wall. Unfortunately the camp is just off a trail used as a short cut between church and fields by some of the local men. Braggi is keeping watch, and sees the men coming. He doesn't want them to spot the camp, or to draw attention by killing or capturing them. The day is already heavy with cloud and the promise of rain, so thinking quickly he uses his storm magic to call up a sudden squall, hoping the men will be so focused on fighting the wind and rain and staying on the muddy path they won't look around them much, and the rain will help block their vision, so they will miss seeing the camp.

The farmers don't even know they are being attacked. The sudden cloud burst seems consistent with the day, so they aren't even suspicious. The storm isn't hurting them directly, just attacking their perceptions, so they aren't actively calling upon magical defenses (and they don't have any magical perceptions to tell them that this is magic). However, they are just coming from church where they received the "resist heathen spell" blessing. What do they resist with: The base 14 plus the bonus from the blessing, their piety with the bonus from the blessing, or the value of the blessing itself?

Thanks for any help in sorting this out! (and if we make any sense out of this I'll gather it up, summarize, and send it in for the FAQ or something like that)

Regards;

Bryan

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