From the GMR
August 28 , 2003

From a private email, asking for a public reply, six questions about spellballs and their effects:

1. What happens to a player whose shield is hit by a lightning bolt?
2. What happens to a player whose weapon is hit by a lightning bolt?
3. What happens to a player whose shield is hit by a fire ball?
4. What happens to a player whose weapon is hit by a fire ball?
5. What happens to a player whose shield is hit by sphere?
6. What happens to a player whose weapon is hit by sphere?

Good questions, and one that is easy to answer if you know where to look (and I do!)

>From the Amtgard: Handbook on the Rules of Play, 6th Ed.

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Magic Clarification 22
Non magical armor will not stop lightning bolt, fireball, sphere of annihilation, etc. The target is fully affected and killed by these attacks. Note again that enchantments on a person and class immunities do not extend to carried or worn equipment.

Rules of Magic 5
An enchantment will only cover one object (for example a person, a weapon, armor, etc.). Thus, while you may be protected from flame, your armor and weapons are not. The same applies to class abilities. Enchantments cast on one's equipment do count against the number of enchantments allowed to be carried.

Rule of Magic 22
When hit with a magic ball of any type, all hits count except head or throat shots. This includes foot shots, tail hits, and grazes. A hit to the hand holding a weapon destroys or affects the weapon (which in some cases, as in iceball, affects the holder also).

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So, what all this means, when sifted through and applied rationally:

1. Any hit with a spellball counts, even grazes and"garb shots".

2. If it hits a weapon, the weapon is destroyed.

3. If it hits a shield, the shield is destroyed.

4. If it hits or grazes you or your garb anywhere but the head and neck, you are dead.

5. Normal armor is not proof against spellballs.

6. If you are Protected or Immune to Flame/Magic, YOUR EQUIPMENT IS NOT and can STILL BE DESTROYED. (The ol' Naked Paladin trick!)

Other things to note:
1. Iceball, Entangle and Petrify are ENGULFING balls, meaning if you are hit in a shield or weapon, you are effected. Fireball is NOT an engulfing attack.

2. Weapons and people destroyed by a Sphere can still be Mended and/or Resurrected. Not sure where *that* bit of weirdness originated, but it ain't in the Rules of Play anywhere.

Next question?

Luke
GMR v.4.0