| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Austin the Archmage |
Posted - 25 Dec 2014 : 03:15:38
The description for Silver Fire in the 3rd edition campaign book says "Alternately, the silver fire can be unleashed in a 70-foot cone, dealing no damage but permanently restorying dead magic zones within the cone to normal and dispelling (as a greater dispelling spell) any antimagic field effects that contact the cone. This cone effect is draining on the Weave, and Mystra discourages its use except for emergencies."
Why? Shouldn't Mystra want her Chosen to repair damaged areas of the Weave? And how does repairing the Weave drain the Weave? How does that work? |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Arcanus |
Posted - 27 Dec 2014 : 17:50:28
Oh markus, lighten up :-) |
| Markustay |
Posted - 27 Dec 2014 : 05:46:50
This site has taken a decidedly 'low-brow' turn as of late. |
| Arcanus |
Posted - 27 Dec 2014 : 01:45:39
Lmao |
| Eilserus |
Posted - 27 Dec 2014 : 00:10:12
Well, that's a different way of looking at the silver fire. |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 26 Dec 2014 : 21:39:43
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
The way I look at is The Weave is like a balloon... a magical balloon. Over the years it has developed 'weak spots' - places where so much magic has been cast that that section of The Weave has become 'thin'. This is dangerous - thin spots can break, and take the whole thing down with it (see Elminster in Hell). This could also possibly be related to 'Weave Taps' used by Paul Kemp in his novels (they are able to tap into the power of The Weave, but the damage is mitigated by their construction, and spread over a wider area, thus not drawing the attention of Mystra's Chosen... in theory).
So wherever magic draws heavily upon The Weave you get these dangerous 'thin spots' - normally this happens over a very long period of time. The Weave is also able to naturally heal itself (through the worship of Mystra?), so under normal conditions these fluctuations work themselves out. Occasionally you have 'magical empires' (Imaskar, Netheril) that risk over-taxing The Weave locally, but in the end circumstances cause matters to right themselves (psuedo-Dead magic zones appeared over parts of Netheril, caused by the Phaerimm... once again, probably related and having to do with the Phaerimm 'eating' magic in the area).
Now, Silver Fire is akin to knocking the cap off a fire hydrant. The Chosen acts as a conduit (a living 'hole') in The Weave and allows that energy to pour forth. If left unchecked, such a heavy-handed usage draws Weave-energy from the surrounding area, creating a thin spot very quickly - one The Weave has trouble compensating for. Where The Weave 'thins out' you can have ruptures (tears in the space-time continuum), which will create a cascading effect and collapse the entire Weave.
And thats why Mystra doesn't want that kind of usage - it causes the 'balloon' to become thin and perhaps even burst. Alll IMO, of course.
And all of that just made me realize something - if it IS a balloon, then its keeping something IN, not OUT. 
Not sure if it is just a bad analogy, or if I am on to something.
You're close... but the weave is more like a magic condom. There are these thin spots in them, and if you shoot too much "silver fire" at them, they burst, which leaks silver fire throughout the multiverse and impregnates new primordials. |
| hashimashadoo |
Posted - 26 Dec 2014 : 18:28:00
quote:
Originally posted by Austin the Archmage
quote:
Originally posted by hashimashadoo
It's actually mentioned that using silver fire in such a way weakens the Weave as a whole.
Have they ever said why? Or is that just metaphysical stuff that'd be hard to explain?
I'd say it's less metaphysical and more a design feature to make sure that the Chosen don't just go around fixing damage that can be used for plot hooks and increasing encounter Challenge Ratings.
I do however really like Markustay's ideas on the subject. |
| Austin the Archmage |
Posted - 26 Dec 2014 : 03:55:28
quote:
Originally posted by The Arcanamach
quote:
And all of that just made me realize something - if it IS a balloon, then its keeping something IN, not OUT.
Not sure if it is just a bad analogy, or if I am on to something.
Now that's a question for Ed!
Ed sounds like an unreliable divination spell. On a roll of 1-50, you get an actual answer. On a roll of 51-100, you get "NDA". |
| The Arcanamach |
Posted - 25 Dec 2014 : 17:49:49
quote:
And all of that just made me realize something - if it IS a balloon, then its keeping something IN, not OUT.
Not sure if it is just a bad analogy, or if I am on to something.
Now that's a question for Ed! |
| Markustay |
Posted - 25 Dec 2014 : 16:19:20
The way I look at is The Weave is like a balloon... a magical balloon. Over the years it has developed 'weak spots' - places where so much magic has been cast that that section of The Weave has become 'thin'. This is dangerous - thin spots can break, and take the whole thing down with it (see Elminster in Hell). This could also possibly be related to 'Weave Taps' used by Paul Kemp in his novels (they are able to tap into the power of The Weave, but the damage is mitigated by their construction, and spread over a wider area, thus not drawing the attention of Mystra's Chosen... in theory).
So wherever magic draws heavily upon The Weave you get these dangerous 'thin spots' - normally this happens over a very long period of time. The Weave is also able to naturally heal itself (through the worship of Mystra?), so under normal conditions these fluctuations work themselves out. Occasionally you have 'magical empires' (Imaskar, Netheril) that risk over-taxing The Weave locally, but in the end circumstances cause matters to right themselves (psuedo-Dead magic zones appeared over parts of Netheril, caused by the Phaerimm... once again, probably related and having to do with the Phaerimm 'eating' magic in the area).
Now, Silver Fire is akin to knocking the cap off a fire hydrant. The Chosen acts as a conduit (a living 'hole') in The Weave and allows that energy to pour forth. If left unchecked, such a heavy-handed usage draws Weave-energy from the surrounding area, creating a thin spot very quickly - one The Weave has trouble compensating for. Where The Weave 'thins out' you can have ruptures (tears in the space-time continuum), which will create a cascading effect and collapse the entire Weave.
And thats why Mystra doesn't want that kind of usage - it causes the 'balloon' to become thin and perhaps even burst. Alll IMO, of course.
And all of that just made me realize something - if it IS a balloon, then its keeping something IN, not OUT.
Not sure if it is just a bad analogy, or if I am on to something. |
| Austin the Archmage |
Posted - 25 Dec 2014 : 14:09:20
quote:
Originally posted by hashimashadoo
It's actually mentioned that using silver fire in such a way weakens the Weave as a whole.
Have they ever said why? Or is that just metaphysical stuff that'd be hard to explain? |
| hashimashadoo |
Posted - 25 Dec 2014 : 13:19:28
It's actually mentioned that using silver fire in such a way weakens the Weave as a whole. Mystra obviously preferred a few dead magic zones to threatening the power of the entire Weave. |
| The Arcanamach |
Posted - 25 Dec 2014 : 07:26:00
Just speculating, but either A) using silver fire to repair the Weave in this manner is more of a quick patch as opposed to a solid repair or B) use of silver fire as a tendency to destabilize the wielder and thus it's use is frowned upon (this has actually been confirmed before). In this case, however, I would lean toward option A or a similar explanation. |
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