The "Common Sense" parma (with story caveats)

The Rules for Magical Resistance

Any spell that automatically and directly affects the magus requires the effect to penetrate resistance.

There are some spells that do not affect the magus directly (e.g. creating a pit in the Earth). These environmental spells require a targeting roll to place them (e.g. above or below the Magus). The victim always gets a defence roll to deflect / dodge / avoid such indirect attacks.

A 'mundane' object can always penetrate Parma. If there is a spell effect upon a ‘mundane’ object, then the effect is suppressed unless it penetrates magical resistance.

Entities with a Might score - or that are created using momentary rituals - have physical attacks which count as 'mundane'.

Creo spells:
Some magical creations count as 'mundane' for the purposes of magical resistance. Whether an object counts as 'mundane' is determined by the troupe when the spell is designed; judgements should follow these guidelines.

If a Creo Animal or Corpus is used to enhance the characteristics of a 'mundane' object (within +5 of the average) - then the object still counts as 'mundane'. The troupe may decide similar enhancements for Herbam or Terram crafted items to also remain 'mundane'.

Animal: If the beast created is 'typical for its variety' then it counts as a 'mundane' object. A rule of thumb would be the bestiary - if the animal does not deviate from the normal limits for the creature's statistics, then it counts as 'mundane'. Note: animals are always created on the ground (or in water for fish) - only animals that can fly can be created in the air.

Corpus: A person created or changed by magic must be within normal limits of human statistics to qualify as 'mundane'.

Herbam and Terram: 'Mundane' versions of these objects will be found in weapon lists or are agreed (by the troupe) to exist in nature (e.g. a tree or a rock). These items are created upon the ground or in the hand. If they are physically picked up and wielded, then they count as 'mundane'.

Ignem, Aquam and Auram:
Whilst these things exist in nature, magical versions of them are never considered 'mundane'.
(Note: with ignem it is possible to use magic to ignite something that is naturally flammable. Once lit, the flames are perfectly natural - therefore mundane)

Imaginem: Imaginem species are always considered 'mundane' - however spells that are placed upon a Magus need to penetrate Magical Resistance.

Mentem and Vim: These effects have no mundane form and are always suppressed by magical resistance.

Intellego Spells:
Always suppressed.

Muto Spells:
(note: this is definitely where the problem lies - and some sort of compromise will inevitably have to be made about these effects)
A spell effect may be expelled, suppressed, or leave the item 'mundane' depending on a troupe decision when the spell is designed; judgements should use the Creo definitions of 'mundane' and follow these guidelines.

The object is transformed to a 'mundane' one: The object is treated as ‘mundane’. (e.g. a boulder turned into a 'mundane' stone - strikes as a stone when thrown)

The object is transformed to one that is not 'mundane':
The spell is suppressed. (e.g. a fire which has damage increased by +1 has the +1 effect suppressed - not the fire).

In cases where a harmful object is disguised as harmless: As the person brings their body close (within the Parma - assuming it resists) they sense the change momentarily - before the spell is suppressed – they automatically detect this change and have a choice about continuing their action. (e.g. the poison to milk spell - the magus automatically smells or sees the change in the liquid as it gets close to his mouth)

In the case where an object is shrunk and used as a missile The force, therefore the damage, with which it impacts is equivalent to the object that was physically thrown. (e.g. with the boulder to 'unnatural' stone spell, the force with which it hits [and therefore the damage] is equivalent to the stone – see Rego and lack of momentum).

If a person consumes a 'mundane' object that has been transformed: The Parma Magica automatically expels the object as it reaches the end of its duration. e.g. a boulder turned into a stone is coughed up before the spell ends. The magus receives no penalty for a resisted effect being expelled. (i.e. even if someone finds a way around previous rules then the object is simply removed, and no harm is caused)

Perdo Spells:
Always suppressed by Parma.

Rego spells:
If the spell effect upon the mundane object is one to make it move and strike a Magus then, assuming the spell effect is resisted, the damage associated with the object is negated. The object has no momentum and strikes with no force, because the Rego spell to move it has been suppressed. (note: this has ramifications for Strike of the Angered Branch type spells – the Rego requisite means they are resisted. However, Leap of Fire still works - because it is not the momentum of the fire that causes damage, but the proximity of the flames. Note though, that created fire is never 'mundane')

Finally:
A Magus can automatically overcome his Parma when he wants to physically interact with a magical object.

edit: changed the last section, so that magi can choose to interact with magical objects. Added Simon's suggestion that Creo spells to boost characteristics keep the animal 'mundane'. Also added AM5 canon rule whereby creatures with a Might score, or created by momentary rituals are not affected by Parma.

Edited by: Badger101 at: 2/2/06 15:45

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