Magic: Laser Spells

Magic: Laser Spells

In high-tech games missile spells usually are very ineffective compared to the available firearms. Let's expand the selection of Light & Darkness missile spells with lasers, taking inspiration from GURPS Ultra-Tech. Note that these spells should only be available in high TL games.

Blue-Green Laser

Missile

Fire a blue-green laser beam from one hand. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 400, Max 1,200, Acc 1. Laser eye injuries are especially dangerous. If an eye takes enough laser damage to cripple it, the result is always permanent crippling.

A blue-green laser’s underwater range depends on the water’s clarity. The maximum Range can never exceed 150 yards in crystal-clear water, 60 yards in average water, or 15 yards in murky water. It is possible to fire into or out of water (out to normal ranges) as long as the maximum range through the water is not exceeded.

Rain, fog, smoke, snow, and similar weather or atmospheric conditions interfere with all high-energy lasers, adding extra DR to the target equal to the vision penalty (per yard). Thus, if a yard of smoke would be -10 to vision, then each yard gives DR 10; if every 100 yards of haze gives -1 to vision, then 1,000 yards provides DR 10. A high-energy laser beam can pass through material transparent to its particular frequency of light, which includes most glass, plastic canopies, etc. Increase the laser’s armor divisor to (10) when it strikes glasses, visors, windows, etc. unless the material was specifically designed to be laser-resistant.

Cost: Any amount up to twice your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The ray does 1d-1(2) tight-beam burning damage per 2 energy points.

Time to cast: 1 to 3 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 1, Sunbolt, Colors.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 1,500. Usable only by mages.

Blue-Green Laser Sword

Regular

Creates a blue-green laser blade in the caster’s hand. The sword inflicts burning damage, has a (2) armor divisor and Reach 1. Use Force Sword to wield.

Duration: 10 seconds.

Cost: Any amount up to your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The sword does 1d(2) burning damage per energy point.

Time to Cast: 2 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 1, Blue-Green Laser.

   

Blue-Green Pulse Laser

Missile

Fire a wide pulse of high-energy coherent blue-green light from one hand. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 800, Max 2,400, Acc 1.

A blue-green laser’s underwater range depends on the water’s clarity. The maximum Range can never exceed 300 yards in crystal-clear water, 120 yards in average water, or 30 yards in murky water. It is possible to fire into or out of water (out to normal ranges) as long as the maximum range through the water is not exceeded.

Rain, fog, smoke, snow, and similar weather or atmospheric conditions interfere with all high-energy lasers, adding extra DR to the target equal to the vision penalty (per yard). Thus, if a yard of smoke would be -10 to vision, then each yard gives DR 10; if every 100 yards of haze gives -1 to vision, then 1,000 yards provides DR 10. A high-energy laser beam can pass through material transparent to its particular frequency of light, which includes most glass, plastic canopies, etc. Increase the laser’s armor divisor to (10) when it strikes glasses, visors, windows, etc. unless the material was specifically designed to be laser-resistant.

Cost: Any amount up to twice your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The ray does 1d-1 crushing explosive damage per 2 energy points.

Time to cast: 1 to 3 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 1, Sunbolt, Colors.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 1,500. Usable only by mages.

Electrolaser

Missile; Resisted by HT-4

Fire an ultraviolet laser beam from one hand that transmits an electric charge. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 40, Max 80, Acc 1. The laser beam inflicts 1d-3 burn damage. It needn’t penetrate to carry the charge. Smoke, fog, rain, or clouds give extra DR equal to the visibility penalty. For example, if rain gives a penalty of -1 per 100 yards, a target 200 yards away gets an extra DR 2.

An electrolaser’s shock is a HT-based affliction attack with a (2) armor divisor (each 2 DR on the location struck provides +1 to HT). Add +3 past 1/2D range. If the victim fails to resist with HT-4, the shock stuns him. He may roll against HT every turn at the same penalty (but without the DR bonus) to recover. Electrolasers also affect machines that are Electrical.

Electrolaser produces a “zap” sound, no louder than a silenced pistol, and the beam is visible. The spell is most effective in dry climates. In humid conditions it is less accurate; the electrical bolt jumps off the laser path to paths of lower resistance. This gives a -2 to hit in moist, humid environments, and a -6 to hit in rain, drizzle, or heavy fog. In a vacuum or trace atmosphere, there is no air to ionize; the electrolaser only inflicts 1d-3 burn damage from the laser, with no additional linked effect.

Cost: 3.

Time to cast: 2 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 1, Lightning, Ultraviolet Laser.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 1,200. Usable only by mages.

Gamma-Ray Laser (VH)

Missile

Fire a gamma-ray laser beam from one hand. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 10 mi, Max 30 mi, Acc 1 in vacuum. Range drops to 70/200 yards in a standard atmosphere. (For thinner or thicker atmospheres, divide this range by the relative air pressure.) Gamma-ray lasers have no range underwater. Laser eye injuries are especially dangerous. If an eye takes enough laser damage to cripple it, the result is always permanent crippling. Gamma-ray laser beams are silent and invisible, but in dusty air, there will be a slight glow from incinerated dust particles.

Rain, fog, smoke, snow, and similar weather or atmospheric conditions interfere with all high-energy lasers, adding extra DR to the target equal to the vision penalty (per yard). Thus, if a yard of smoke would be -10 to vision, then each yard gives DR 10; if every 100 yards of haze gives -1 to vision, then 1,000 yards provides DR 10. A high-energy laser beam can pass through material transparent to its particular frequency of light, which includes most glass, plastic canopies, etc. Increase the laser’s armor divisor to (10) when it strikes glasses, visors, windows, etc. unless the material was specifically designed to be laser-resistant.

Cost: Any amount up to twice your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The ray does 1d(10) tight-beam burning surge damage per 2 energy points.

Time to cast: 1 to 3 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 3, X-Ray Laser.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 2,400. Usable only by mages.

  

Gamma-Ray Laser Sword

Regular

Creates a gamma-ray laser blade in the caster’s hand. The sword inflicts burning damage with the surge modifier, has a (10) armor divisor and Reach 1. This spell does not work underwater. The sword is silent and invisible, but in dusty air, there will be a slight glow from incinerated dust particles. Use Force Sword to wield.

Duration: 10 seconds.

Cost: Any amount up twice to your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The sword does 1d+1(10) burning surge damage per 2 energy points.

Time to Cast: 2 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 3, Gamma-Ray Laser.

Gamma-Ray Pulse Laser (VH)

Missile

Fire a wide pulse of high-energy coherent gamma-ray light from one hand. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 20 mi, Max 60 mi, Acc 1 in vacuum. Range drops to 140/400 yards in a standard atmosphere. (For thinner or thicker atmospheres, divide this range by the relative air pressure.) Gamma-ray lasers have no range underwater. Gamma-ray laser beams are silent and invisible, but in dusty air, there will be a slight glow from incinerated dust particles.

Rain, fog, smoke, snow, and similar weather or atmospheric conditions interfere with all high-energy lasers, adding extra DR to the target equal to the vision penalty (per yard). Thus, if a yard of smoke would be -10 to vision, then each yard gives DR 10; if every 100 yards of haze gives -1 to vision, then 1,000 yards provides DR 10. A high-energy laser beam can pass through material transparent to its particular frequency of light, which includes most glass, plastic canopies, etc. Increase the laser’s armor divisor to (10) when it strikes glasses, visors, windows, etc. unless the material was specifically designed to be laser-resistant.

Cost: Any amount up to twice your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The ray does 1d(5) crushing explosive damage per 2 energy points.

Time to cast: 1 to 3 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 3, X-Ray Laser.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 2,400. Usable only by mages.

  

Infrared Laser

Missile

Fire an infrared laser beam from one hand. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 200, Max 600, Acc 1. Laser eye injuries are especially dangerous. If an eye takes enough laser damage to cripple it, the result is always permanent crippling. Infrared laser beams are silent and invisible, but in dusty air, there will be a slight glow from incinerated dust particles. Infrared laser beams cannot penetrate more than a few inches of water, which reduces their underwater Range to 0/1.

Rain, fog, smoke, snow, and similar weather or atmospheric conditions interfere with all high-energy lasers, adding extra DR to the target equal to the vision penalty (per yard). Thus, if a yard of smoke would be -10 to vision, then each yard gives DR 10; if every 100 yards of haze gives -1 to vision, then 1,000 yards provides DR 10. A high-energy laser beam can pass through material transparent to its particular frequency of light, which includes most glass, plastic canopies, etc. Increase the laser’s armor divisor to (10) when it strikes glasses, visors, windows, etc. unless the material was specifically designed to be laser-resistant.

Cost: Any amount up to your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The ray does 1d-1(2) tight-beam burning damage per energy point.

Time to cast: 1 to 3 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 1, Sunbolt.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 1,100. Usable only by mages.

Infrared Laser Sword

Regular

Creates an infrared laser blade in the caster’s hand. The sword inflicts burning damage, has a (2) armor divisor and Reach 1 (Reach C while underwater). The sword is silent and invisible, but in dusty air, there will be a slight glow from incinerated dust particles. Use Force Sword to wield.

Duration: 10 seconds.

Cost: Any amount up to your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The sword does 1d(2) burning damage per energy point.

Time to Cast: 2 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 1, Infrared Laser.

  

Infrared Pulse Laser

Missile

Fire a wide pulse of high-energy coherent infrared light from one hand. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 400, Max 1,200, Acc 1. Infrared laser beams are silent and invisible, but in dusty air, there will be a slight glow from incinerated dust particles. Infrared laser beams cannot penetrate more than a few inches of water, which reduces their underwater Range to 0/1.

Rain, fog, smoke, snow, and similar weather or atmospheric conditions interfere with all high-energy lasers, adding extra DR to the target equal to the vision penalty (per yard). Thus, if a yard of smoke would be -10 to vision, then each yard gives DR 10; if every 100 yards of haze gives -1 to vision, then 1,000 yards provides DR 10. A high-energy laser beam can pass through material transparent to its particular frequency of light, which includes most glass, plastic canopies, etc. Increase the laser’s armor divisor to (10) when it strikes glasses, visors, windows, etc. unless the material was specifically designed to be laser-resistant.

Cost: Any amount up to your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The ray does 1d-1 crushing explosive damage per energy point.

Time to cast: 1 to 3 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 1, Sunbolt.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 1,100. Usable only by mages.

Laser Sight

Regular

This spell lets the caster project a low-powered eye-safe laser beam out of his eyes, placing a laser spot at the point where the gaze attack will hit. This spell gives a +1 to skill when used out to the attack’s 1/2D range, provided the dot is visible to the caster. This bonus only works for attacks that use the Innate Attack (Gaze) skill.

Duration: 10 minutes.

Cost: 2 to cast. 1 to maintain.

Prerequisites: Light Jet.

Item

Goggles; always on. Energy cost to create: 200.

  

Lethal Electrolaser

Missile; Resisted by HT-4

Fire an ultraviolet laser beam from one hand that transmits a potentially deadly electric charge. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 40, Max 80, Acc 1. The laser beam inflicts 1d-3 burn damage. It needn’t penetrate to carry the charge. Smoke, fog, rain, or clouds give extra DR equal to the visibility penalty. For example, if rain gives a penalty of -1 per 100 yards, a target 200 yards away gets an extra DR 2.

An electrolaser’s shock is a HT-based affliction attack with a (2) armor divisor (each 2 DR on the location struck provides +1 to HT). Add +3 past 1/2D range. If the victim fails to resist with HT-4, the shock stuns him. He may roll against HT every turn at the same penalty (but without the DR bonus) to recover. Electrolasers also affect machines that are Electrical. If the resistance roll fails by 5 or more, it triggers the Heart Attack mortal condition (p. B428). For electrical machines, a “heart attack” results in the target’s electrical systems burning out until repaired.

Electrolaser produces a “zap” sound, no louder than a silenced pistol, and the beam is visible. The spell is most effective in dry climates. In humid conditions it is less accurate; the electrical bolt jumps off the laser path to paths of lower resistance. This gives a -2 to hit in moist, humid environments, and a -6 to hit in rain, drizzle, or heavy fog. In a vacuum or trace atmosphere, there is no air to ionize; the electrolaser only inflicts 1d-3 burn damage from the laser, with no additional linked effect.

Cost: 8.

Time to cast: 2 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 3, Lethal Lightning, Electrolaser.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 1,200. Usable only by mages.

  

Rainbow Laser (VH)

Missile

Fire a polychromatic laser beam from one hand. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 600, Max 1,800, Acc 1. Laser eye injuries are especially dangerous. If an eye takes enough laser damage to cripple it, the result is always permanent crippling. A rainbow laser beam appears as a needle-thin line of blue-white light.

It is effective in atmospheres with a density ranging from very thin through superdense. In vacuum or trace atmospheres, the laser defocuses. Its range is divided by 10, and its damage loses its armor divisor. Rainbow lasers have an underwater range of only two yards.

Rain, fog, smoke, snow, and similar weather or atmospheric conditions interfere with all high-energy lasers, adding extra DR to the target equal to the vision penalty (per yard). Thus, if a yard of smoke would be -10 to vision, then each yard gives DR 10; if every 100 yards of haze gives -1 to vision, then 1,000 yards provides DR 10. A high-energy laser beam can pass through material transparent to its particular frequency of light, which includes most glass, plastic canopies, etc. Increase the laser’s armor divisor to (10) when it strikes glasses, visors, windows, etc. unless the material was specifically designed to be laser-resistant.

Cost: Any amount up to twice your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The ray does 1d(3) tight-beam burning damage per 2 energy points.

Time to cast: 1 to 3 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 2, Blue-Green Laser, Infrared Laser, Ultraviolet Laser.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 2,000. Usable only by mages.

Rainbow Laser Sword

Regular

Creates a polychromatic laser blade in the caster’s hand. It looks like a thin line of blue-white light. The sword inflicts burning damage, has a (3) armor divisor and Reach 1. Use Force Sword to wield.

Duration: 10 seconds.

Cost: Any amount up to twice your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The sword does 1d+1(3) burning damage per 2 energy points.

Time to Cast: 2 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 2, Rainbow Laser.

  

Ultraviolet Laser

Missile

Fire an ultraviolet laser beam from one hand. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 600, Max 1,800, Acc 1. Laser eye injuries are especially dangerous. If an eye takes enough laser damage to cripple it, the result is always permanent crippling. Ultraviolet laser beams are silent and invisible, but in dusty air, there will be a slight glow from incinerated dust particles.

UV lasers are mainly used for space combat and on airless worlds. In atmosphere, the Range cannot exceed 500 yards divided by atmospheric pressure.

Rain, fog, smoke, snow, and similar weather or atmospheric conditions interfere with all high-energy lasers, adding extra DR to the target equal to the vision penalty (per yard). Thus, if a yard of smoke would be -10 to vision, then each yard gives DR 10; if every 100 yards of haze gives -1 to vision, then 1,000 yards provides DR 10. A high-energy laser beam can pass through material transparent to its particular frequency of light, which includes most glass, plastic canopies, etc. Increase the laser’s armor divisor to (10) when it strikes glasses, visors, windows, etc. unless the material was specifically designed to be laser-resistant.

Cost: Any amount up to your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The ray does 1d-2(2) tight-beam burning damage per energy point.

Time to cast: 1 to 3 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 1, Sunbolt, Colors.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 1,500. Usable only by mages.

Ultraviolet Laser Sword

Regular

Creates an ultraviolet laser blade in the caster’s hand. The sword inflicts burning damage, has a (2) armor divisor and Reach 1. The sword is silent and invisible, but in dusty air, there will be a slight glow from incinerated dust particles. Use Force Sword to wield.

Duration: 10 seconds.

Cost: Any amount up to your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The sword does 1d(2) burning damage per energy point.

Time to Cast: 2 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 1, Ultraviolet Laser.

   

Ultraviolet Pulse Laser

Missile

Fire a wide pulse of high-energy coherent ultraviolet light from one hand. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 1,200, Max 3,600, Acc 1. Ultraviolet laser beams are silent and invisible, but in dusty air, there will be a slight glow from incinerated dust particles.

UV lasers are mainly used for space combat and on airless worlds. In atmosphere, the Range cannot exceed 1,000 yards divided by atmospheric pressure.

Rain, fog, smoke, snow, and similar weather or atmospheric conditions interfere with all high-energy lasers, adding extra DR to the target equal to the vision penalty (per yard). Thus, if a yard of smoke would be -10 to vision, then each yard gives DR 10; if every 100 yards of haze gives -1 to vision, then 1,000 yards provides DR 10. A high-energy laser beam can pass through material transparent to its particular frequency of light, which includes most glass, plastic canopies, etc. Increase the laser’s armor divisor to (10) when it strikes glasses, visors, windows, etc. unless the material was specifically designed to be laser-resistant.

Cost: Any amount up to your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The ray does 1d-2 crushing explosive damage per energy point.

Time to cast: 1 to 3 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 1, Sunbolt, Colors.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 1,500. Usable only by mages.

Walk on Beams

Regular

The subject becomes able to walk on any coherent beams of light as if on solid ground. He is unharmed by the beam. Roll Acrobatics-2 to traverse a beam.

Duration: 10 minutes.

Cost: 2 to cast. 1 to maintain.

Time to cast: 3 seconds.

Prerequisite: Light Jet.

Item

Jewelry or boots. Always on. Energy cost to create: 200.

  

X-Ray Laser (VH)

Missile

Fire an X-ray laser beam from one hand. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 5.5 mi, Max 17 mi, Acc 1 in vacuum. Range drops to 7/20 yards in a standard atmosphere. (For thinner or thicker atmospheres, divide this range by the relative air pressure.) X-ray lasers have no range underwater. Laser eye injuries are especially dangerous. If an eye takes enough laser damage to cripple it, the result is always permanent crippling. X-ray laser beams are silent and invisible, but in dusty air, there will be a slight glow from incinerated dust particles.

Rain, fog, smoke, snow, and similar weather or atmospheric conditions interfere with all high-energy lasers, adding extra DR to the target equal to the vision penalty (per yard). Thus, if a yard of smoke would be -10 to vision, then each yard gives DR 10; if every 100 yards of haze gives -1 to vision, then 1,000 yards provides DR 10. A high-energy laser beam can pass through material transparent to its particular frequency of light, which includes most glass, plastic canopies, etc. Increase the laser’s armor divisor to (10) when it strikes glasses, visors, windows, etc. unless the material was specifically designed to be laser-resistant.

Cost: Any amount up to twice your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The ray does 1d(5) tight-beam burning surge damage per 2 energy points.

Time to cast: 1 to 3 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 2, Spectrum Vision, Ultraviolet Laser.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 2,000. Usable only by mages.

X-Ray Laser Sword

Regular

Creates an X-ray laser blade in the caster’s hand. The sword inflicts burning damage with the surge modifier, has a (5) armor divisor and Reach 1. This spell does not work underwater. The sword is silent and invisible, but in dusty air, there will be a slight glow from incinerated dust particles. Use Force Sword to wield.

Duration: 10 seconds.

Cost: Any amount up twice to your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The sword does 1d+1(5) burning surge damage per 2 energy points.

Time to Cast: 2 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 2, X-Ray Laser.

   

X-Ray Pulse Laser (VH)

Missile

Fire a wide pulse of high-energy coherent X-ray light from one hand. Use Innate Attack (Beam) to hit. This has 1/2D 11 mi, Max 34 mi, Acc 1 in vacuum. Range drops to 14/40 yards in a standard atmosphere. (For thinner or thicker atmospheres, divide this range by the relative air pressure.) X-ray pulse lasers have no range underwater. X-ray laser beams are silent and invisible, but in dusty air, there will be a slight glow from incinerated dust particles.

Rain, fog, smoke, snow, and similar weather or atmospheric conditions interfere with all high-energy lasers, adding extra DR to the target equal to the vision penalty (per yard). Thus, if a yard of smoke would be -10 to vision, then each yard gives DR 10; if every 100 yards of haze gives -1 to vision, then 1,000 yards provides DR 10. A high-energy laser beam can pass through material transparent to its particular frequency of light, which includes most glass, plastic canopies, etc. Increase the laser’s armor divisor to (10) when it strikes glasses, visors, windows, etc. unless the material was specifically designed to be laser-resistant.

Cost: Any amount up to twice your Magery level per second, for three seconds. The ray does 1d(3) crushing explosive damage per 2 energy points.

Time to cast: 1 to 3 seconds.

Prerequisites: Magery 2, Spectrum Vision, Ultraviolet Laser.

Item

Staff or wand – the beam is fired from the end of the item. Energy cost to create: 2,000. Usable only by mages.