4.1.9 Area of effect

The area of effect of an enchantment determines how big an area is affected by the enchantment.

The minimum value that can be given to the Area of effect of an enchantment is zero.

The magician casting an enchantment should define the enchantment's effects as being either:

Lasting over the area - in which case the enchantment remains at full power over the full duration of the enchantment; or
Reducing over the area - in which case the power of the enchantment is stronger at the centre of the enchantment than at the outside of the area. The power reduces by 1 point for each level of area that someone is away from the centre of the enchantment. For example, a character casts a Power 5 enchantment with reducing area of 7 metre diameter. In the central combat hex, the enchantment has Power 5, one hex out it is Power 4, for the next two hexes out (to the edge of the area) it is Power 3.

The amount added to the difficulty of the enchantment depends on the Area level chosen and whether the enchantment's effects are lasting or reducing over the area:

Area level	Lasting over area	Reducing over area
Single target - no area	0	0
1 metre diameter [1 combat hex]	1	1
3 metre diameter [2 combat hex radius, i.e. 7 combat hexes in total]	2	1 1/2
7 metre diameter [4 combat hex radius]	3	2
15 metre diameter [8 combat hex radius]	4	2 1/2
30 metre diameter [15 combat hex radius]	5	3
100 metre diameter	6	3 1/2
300 metre diameter	7	4
1 kilometre diameter	8	4 1/2
10 kilometre diameter	9	5
100 kilometre diameter	10	6

In addition, the caster may optionally choose to make the area of effect selective, i.e. choose that certain targets within the area are unaffected whereas others are affected. If the caster can specify a simple criterion for this selectivity (e.g. affects everyone except those wearing Imperial Guards uniform) the difficulty is increased by +1; otherwise, if the caster can choose exactly who within the area is and is not affected on an individual basis, the difficulty is increased by +2.

The following diagram shows two alternative area of effect enchantments, both with Power 5 and Area of effect difficulty 2. In the first case (on the left), the enchantment is lasting over the area; in the second case (on the right), the enchantment is reducing over the area.

Area of effect enchantments illustration