L^: mu1	-	R#: (1")*	-	D^: (1 segment)*
C^: v.m	-	CT: 1/10 segment	-	S^: None
A^: S	-	psionic encounter: 25%	-	-

Effect: When this spell is CAST, the creature(s) or objects affected immediately assumes the mass of a feathery piece of down.

Rate of falling is thus instantly changed to a mere constant 2' per second or 12' per segment,
and no damage is incurred when landing when the spell is in effect.
However, when the spell duration ceases, normal rate of fall occurs.
The spell can be cast upon the magic-user
or some other creature or object up to the maximum rarge of 1" per level of experience of the spell caster.
It lasts for 1 segment for each level of the magic-user.
The feather fall affects an area of 1 cubic inch,
and the maximum weight of creatures and/or objects cannot exceed
a combined total equal to a base 2,000 gold pieces weight plus 2,000 gold pieces weight per level of the spell caster.
The spell works only upon free-falling or propelled obiects.
It will not affect a sword blow or a charging creature, but it will affect a missile.

MC: A small feather or a piece of down somewhere on the person of the spell caster.

Effect.example: A 2nd level magic-user has a range of 2", a duration of 2 segments, a weight maximum of 6,000 gold pieces (600
pounds) when employing the spell.

Handy Haversack wrote:
Hi Gary,

I have an AD&D question for you that I hope is not too annoying. The MU spell feather fall has a casting time of 1/10 of a segment. Since it is the only spell with a casting time so short, my feeling is that you wrote it that way so that the MU could cast it in an emergency, even after having declared casting another spell that round or perhaps after having cast another spell, depending on when the necessity of casting feather fall is made clear. Is this what you intended? That is, could an MU declare he was casting magic missile or sleep or fireball or something, see that an ally is thrown into a pit (or something), and change to feather fall, perhaps also sacrificing the spell he had already declared as he interrupts the casting? Or could the same MU, after having cast another spell, see the sudden falling danger and just rip out the feather fall in time to make a difference?

Just wondering what the intention was behind the casting time.

Thanks a lot.

Michael

Whoa!

Never should an M-U be allowed to change from one announced spell to another, nor to cast two spells in the same round.

The very short casting time for feather fall spell is to allow the M-U to cast it when plummeting downwards from mischance--into a pit trap or otherwise deadly depression, or in escaping by precipitating himself from some high place.

Cheers,
Gary

Zudrak wrote:
In our campaign, the spell is automatically triggered when the caster utters the somatic component, "Oh, sh...!"

Gotta love it!

Gary
 

Handy Haversack wrote:
Well, there it is. Thanks for that. I'm just gonna have all the MUs in my party stuff their clothes with Charmin, though, to be on the safe side.

Personally, I like the image of PCs swathed in bubble wrap...

Gary

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Fuckup, teef = Fizban, DL2
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