Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 phelf_der_zemit Feb 08, 2009 17:45:33	In my journey through Forgotten Realms lore (i.e. many a novel) I've had the pleasure to see many a main character get transported via magic across the entirety of fauren itself, from Evermeet to Eversaka, from Waterdeep to Keep Zhentil, from one side of Menzo to the other, etc. etc... But to me it seems that each and everytime we the readers read a description concern teleportation in a differenet manner. Here are some excerpts from various books concernt the topic, each with a slight twist. Forsaken House wrote:
#2 faraer Feb 08, 2009 18:20:15	The experience of magical translocation is consistent in all Ed's Realms writing. In most cases, it's just other authors not doing proper research.
#3 phelf_der_zemit Feb 08, 2009 18:27:07	I have noticed that.. But that asside. Chalking it up to authors lacking backround knowledge is so... unimaginitvie. If that is the general concensis then it will be the end of the topic on my side but.. I don't know. Seems so half-a**.
#4 faraer Feb 08, 2009 18:36:19	What's half-*** is to write for a world with such wonderfully developed magical workings -- see the first post here for a description of how translocation magic works, and thus why the 'blue falling' sensation -- and ignore them.
#5 Therise Feb 08, 2009 18:47:53	Why not think of the differences as having to do with the spell itself? - these might not be exactly the same spells, though the transport effect is the same. Spell researchers and learning centers in Thay might pen their spells differently than those in the heartlands or in Elvish lands. - in different areas of Faerun, or due to different arcano-magical fields with subtle differences, the experience may be slightly different. Much of the underdark has an influence on teleportation magic, after all, so other regions may also. - experience of the caster, and the nature of the working, may impart some small part of the different "feel" from time to time.
#6 phelf_der_zemit Feb 08, 2009 19:00:35	But as it says in the thread, many people (writers, designers, etc.) inturpret the world differently so there is no harm in finding different ways around teleporting. So if we are to embrase the thought that everybody has a say in our realms then what would you choose, why would you or other authors choose this, and what is you favorite description? To only allow for one possibility is so.. un-realsm :D . Why not think of the differences as having to do with the spell itself? I've thought this too. I can't imagine every single spell that has basicly the same effect but is so generic (i.e. fireballs and lightening bolts along with teleporting) can't all be taught exactly alike. You'd think that they could have slight differences from culture to culture and even vary through the sands of time themselves. As is always true, there is more than one way to get to the same place.
#7 kerym_ammath Feb 08, 2009 19:06:57	As has been previously stated elsewhere there have always been ways of using magic independent of the weave in the FR, even prior to 4th edition. That being said, and assuming this is not the only explanation there are several interesting possibilities I can think of off the cuff: 1) There are minor variations in the visualization and use of these types of spells, perhaps even down to naming certain wizards for certain styles, almost an arcane mark built into the spell. 2) Each and every mage while learning the same spells inevitably learn to visualize, memorize, cast, spells differently. Every person is unique and while certain constants exist every spell is still to a degree an adaptation or understanding of a greater truth unique to the caster. 3) Different environmental effects could possibly affect the use of the spell, and the visual effects of it. 4) Literary license pure and simple, personally I like the other three much better.
#8 lord_karsus Feb 08, 2009 22:06:01	-Just like people react differently to, say, different foods, or different stimuli (vertigo, heights, water, open space, closed space, etc.), so too would people react differently to teleporting and other translocational magics. In my own game, I describe Dimension Door as simply walking through a magical blue doorway, with no other 'effects'. Teleportation gets the "jolt" like when you suddenly wake from a dream.
#9 rauric Feb 09, 2009 8:21:57	If some people can alter a common spell (making fireballs look like skulls in 3E folks) then I do not understand why teleportaion magic cannot be viewed the same way. Another way to look at it is magic is a chaotic force by it nature, so spells can have different effects by different casters. Perhaps they weretrained in a different manner than El. In the end it is just creative license. It is like multiple Star Wars or Star Trek writers describing Hyperspance or Warp Speed differently in each book. Most fans will not notice of even care most of the time.
#10 quale1 Feb 09, 2009 10:06:51	I like different descriptions of spells, attribute it to numerous magical traditions it's a part of our rules
#11 Another_Gnome Feb 09, 2009 15:59:32	Magic of Faerûn states that each caster senses their spells in a unique fashion (and the examples given are rather drastically different at that). Going from there, training and experience probably plays a factor too; more experienced casters have grown numb to the feel of their magic or a given spell, while the first time of casting anything could be quite jarring or even painful. (Obviously not just the feeling of casting a spell but receiving one as well. Given a choice of a healing spell, most people would probably prefer one cast by an Ilmateri cleric to a Loviatan... mostly.)
#12 lord_karsus Feb 09, 2009 20:35:05	(Obviously not just the feeling of casting a spell but receiving one as well. Given a choice of a healing spell, most people would probably prefer one cast by an Ilmateri cleric to a Loviatan... mostly.) -Yeah, that's another thing I've always described differently. Healing spells cast by a "good" deity feel all warm and tingly and nice. Healing spells cast be a "bad" deity are cold, and numb the pain away.
#13 squidyak Feb 10, 2009 14:30:59	As far as I'm concerned, identical spells cast by different casters do not appear identical. Statistically the effects are the same, but if a player wants character's fireballs to be hot pink what do I care? Ooh, I just got a character concept.
#14 crossroads_wanderer Feb 10, 2009 15:04:46	As far as I'm concerned, identical spells cast by different casters do not appear identical. Statistically the effects are the same, but if a player wants character's fireballs to be hot pink what do I care? Ooh, I just got a character concept. I hope I never play in a game with your character. :P *shudder* *inches away*
#15 sarig_the_genie Feb 12, 2009 10:39:55	In my last campaign, I was the party teleporter, and I had lots of fun describing it different each time, often with big showers of sparks on arrival and whatnot. Then there was those times when she had to teleport in the middle of combat, and there were no effects, indicating that she was conciously adding them for fun when she had the time...
#16 blackmasque Feb 18, 2009 23:02:38	I like that it all feels differently.