Floaters
Floaters are objects that float around the user to block incoming attacks.
Contents
Mechanics
While the floater is floating around the person, each attack against that person will cause a deficit of action points and a check to see if the floater will block. If you succeed the check, the attack will be completely absorbed. Another check will be made once it has blocked to see if it remains floating or if it falls to the floor.
The odds of blocking is proportional to the user's magic.spells.defensive bonus and inversely proportional to the floater's weight. Thus, light objects will block more.
The odds of an object staying in orbit after a hit is proportional to the user's magic.spells.defensive bonus and proportional to the floater's weight. Thus heavy objects will fall less often.
Normal attacks that bypass the floater will not normally be defended against by dodge, parry or block, but they will be checked against layers below it.
However, even with a floater there is a possibility of somehow avoiding the attacks despite not being able to defend, the same as when out of AP to defend, that gets more likely with a huge bonus in the active defense method.
Floating
The odds of floating a given object is proportional to the user's magic.methods.physical.binding bonus and inversely proportional to the floater's weight. Thus light objects are easier to float.
Only some objects will float, the kind of object being dictated by the spell used:
- For wizards and scroll users, the spell Endorphin's Floating Friend can be used to float shields. Some research data is available.
- For witches, the spell Grammer Scorbic's Household Guard can be used to float utensils.
Falling
Floaters can be brought down either by combat attacks or by spells that disrupt them.
- For wizards and scroll users, the spell Frygellhan's Fiendish Orbit Disruptor can be used with an iron chain to bring down floaters.
- For witches, the spell Mother Brynda's Call of Gravity also brings down floaters but with a willow withe. This spell also brings down the person targeted should they be floating (from Finneblaugh's Thaumic Float).