Wings of the Soaring Wind

From Project: Redcap
Revision as of 01:18, 27 June 2013 by 46.20.165.81 (talk)

Wings Of The Soaring Wind is a canonical CrAu level 30 spell introduced in ArM5, p. 126.

R: Touch, D: Conc, T: Ind

By virtue of being the only flying spell in the core book, this is by default the standard Hermetic means of flying. It seems quite uncomfortable, however, and as a Creo Rego Auram level 30 effect is also difficult to achieve. The need for concentration means that this effect is better invested in magical items, that would be able to reliably maintain concentration. Since the effect directs air currents rather than the magus directly, a variant may plausibly push a small sailing boat or a small group of people.

Since the spell affects wind and not the caster, the wind might arguably need to penetrate the caster's own Magic Resistance. That would be problematic, since it would be very difficult under Fifth Edition rules to suppress one's Parma Magica[1] while maintaining concentration][2] on the spell. This may be an editorial oversight, as it would significantly weaken the spell. An easy way to work around that problem is through an ad hoc house rule that this particular spell doesn't need to penetrate.

Note that using the Fifth Edition spell guidelines, a Rego Corpus level 25 (or 20, at range Personal: Base 5, +2 magnitudes for speed, +1 for duration) spell would move the magus directly, allowing him to fly. This is both a lower-level and a two-arts spell (with no requisite), so it is plausibly a much better candidate for the Order's standard flying spell. The flight speed given by such a spell would have to be adjudicated by each troupe. Although, based both on standard magnitudes rules and ReCo teleport guidelines, going with 1*10*10 paces per round seems a safe bet, this would make it faster than Wings of the Soaring Wind, which some troupes may dislike.

References

  1. Ars Magica Fifth Edition, p. 66, "Parma Magica"
  2. Ars Magica Fifth Edition, p. 82, "Concentration Table" (inset)