defiling in a dungeon - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

defiling in a dungeon

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
maddog0714
Jun 02, 2011 7:01:36 I'm curious, if use use defiling magic say in a dungeon underground or above ground, what happens to the walls around you? since there is no vegatation to wither, what happens? Also what if you are in the middle of a sand desert? if there is no vegatation to wither, what happens to the sand? does it harden or does the defiling even work in these type of areas?
#2
mach4
Jun 02, 2011 13:30:17 You would be hard pressed to find a region that actually has zero plant-like life, even if there doesn't appear to be anything at first. Sand dunes tend to have sub-surface plants, dungeons have molds and lichens in cracks and crevases. Even the arctic has algae-like organisms in the ice. If you use a system for defiling that has radius scaling, then consider these types of regions has pretty damn hard to gather arcane energy from.

Also, if you cannot use defiling in the region, then neither can preserve. They both have the same methodology and requirement of there being nearby simple life to draw energy from. Defiling simply kills the plant-life nearby but all forms of arcana need that drawing of energy to fuction.

The only terrain ever specified as impossible to cast arcane spells in if I recall were the Deadlands since no plant-life could sustain itself in that region.
#3
maddog0714
Jun 02, 2011 20:36:02 Yea I'm using 3.5 rules (I guess I should have noted that) but I wondered if in the middle of a massive sand dune (That must have been defiled in the past) then what happens when arcane magic is cast using the defiling effect if no vegatation is around. (I've seen deserts where no plant life is around and I'm sure Anthas is the same) but does the defiling effect even need vegatation, or would it still defile the land with no "Visable" effects?
#4
mach4
Jun 02, 2011 21:56:23 Short answer: Casting arcane spells requires vegetation regardless of defiling or preserving. The only region ever listed as being completely devoid of plant-life are the Deadlands.

Longer answer: There aren't many regions in even the harshest deserts where there is zero vegetation. A stretch here and there, but most sandy dune regions will be far more akin to upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fc/S... than upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8... Even in the more barren shot, there are still traces of grasses. Under the dune surfaces are typically semi dormant root clusters waiting for opportune conditions. Just because you don't see it easily doesn't mean it isn't there. I've gone on several treks out here in Arizona and while it can seem pretty empty, there is no shortage of plants or animals. Sandy dune regions on Athas are probably the results of desertification from the loss of hardier forests due to defiling and less "In this 200 x 200 mile region, every square inch of land had a defiling spell cast on it killing every bit of plant life."

As for the effects, increase the effected radius appropriately, creating small spots of light ash here and there. The visible effects may just be considerably more subtle. Maybe someone steps into an ash pile just under the surface where a dormant cacti now lies withered and drained.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 maddog0714 Jun 02, 2011 7:01:36	I'm curious, if use use defiling magic say in a dungeon underground or above ground, what happens to the walls around you? since there is no vegatation to wither, what happens? Also what if you are in the middle of a sand desert? if there is no vegatation to wither, what happens to the sand? does it harden or does the defiling even work in these type of areas?
#2 mach4 Jun 02, 2011 13:30:17	You would be hard pressed to find a region that actually has zero plant-like life, even if there doesn't appear to be anything at first. Sand dunes tend to have sub-surface plants, dungeons have molds and lichens in cracks and crevases. Even the arctic has algae-like organisms in the ice. If you use a system for defiling that has radius scaling, then consider these types of regions has pretty damn hard to gather arcane energy from. Also, if you cannot use defiling in the region, then neither can preserve. They both have the same methodology and requirement of there being nearby simple life to draw energy from. Defiling simply kills the plant-life nearby but all forms of arcana need that drawing of energy to fuction. The only terrain ever specified as impossible to cast arcane spells in if I recall were the Deadlands since no plant-life could sustain itself in that region.
#3 maddog0714 Jun 02, 2011 20:36:02	Yea I'm using 3.5 rules (I guess I should have noted that) but I wondered if in the middle of a massive sand dune (That must have been defiled in the past) then what happens when arcane magic is cast using the defiling effect if no vegatation is around. (I've seen deserts where no plant life is around and I'm sure Anthas is the same) but does the defiling effect even need vegatation, or would it still defile the land with no "Visable" effects?
#4 mach4 Jun 02, 2011 21:56:23	Short answer: Casting arcane spells requires vegetation regardless of defiling or preserving. The only region ever listed as being completely devoid of plant-life are the Deadlands. Longer answer: There aren't many regions in even the harshest deserts where there is zero vegetation. A stretch here and there, but most sandy dune regions will be far more akin to upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fc/S... than upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8... Even in the more barren shot, there are still traces of grasses. Under the dune surfaces are typically semi dormant root clusters waiting for opportune conditions. Just because you don't see it easily doesn't mean it isn't there. I've gone on several treks out here in Arizona and while it can seem pretty empty, there is no shortage of plants or animals. Sandy dune regions on Athas are probably the results of desertification from the loss of hardier forests due to defiling and less "In this 200 x 200 mile region, every square inch of land had a defiling spell cast on it killing every bit of plant life." As for the effects, increase the effected radius appropriately, creating small spots of light ash here and there. The visible effects may just be considerably more subtle. Maybe someone steps into an ash pile just under the surface where a dormant cacti now lies withered and drained.