Packet Delivery

All packet attacks are delivered by throwing a packet or by touching a packet to a target. This includes spells, gas globes, and attacks using pure elemental forces. The packet only needs to touch the target or any possession of the target to take effect. When using any Packet delivery, the full call must be made before releasing the packet. “Say, then throw” is a good reminder of the proper order. Poison attacks (whether through alchemy or from a monster) are represented by orange packets. Arrows and bolts are represented by blue packets. Spell packets, therefore, can never be orange or blue.

Note that ranged weapon attacks made via Archery act as Physical delivery, not Packet delivery.

Physical Delivery

This includes all blows from weapons including arrows, bolts, thrown weapons, and claws. A Physical attack must connect with a valid target. If you swing with your sword, and your opponent blocks your attack with their own weapon or shield, they won’t take the attack. Similarly, if you swing and only hit your opponent’s loose clothing or cloak, you’ve missed. Keep in mind that we play with the Good Sportsmanship rule: If someone intentionally tangles your weapon with their cloak, but your weapon swing would have connected with some part of them, they should still take the hit. More details about weapon combat can be found in the Combat section.

Note that even if an attack is made with a strange, magical qualifier or effect, as long as it’s made with a Physical delivery, it will only connect if it hits you, and not if it’s blocked or only hits garb.

If a Physical attack adds the Strike keyword, then it counts as the Packet delivery for targeting purposes, meaning that even if it’s blocked or only hits a person’s possessions it will still count as “taken.”

Example: Rendal is fighting Ena, each of them wielding a sword. Rendal swings at Ena and calls “2 Normal!” He only hits her sword, so she doesn’t take the damage. He then uses a special skill representing a feat of great strength and swings again, calling “2 Weapon Strike Normal!” Ena blocks instinctively, taking the damage this time since the Strike keyword was used. In-game, her arm is sore from the power of Rendal’s blow to her sword!

Ingested Delivery

All ingested attacks are delivered by placing a potion or elixir phys rep next to the mouth of the target or by having the target consume a prepared item. Ingested deliveries always ignore protective spells, even if taken while unconscious. Only specific defenses can be used against Ingested deliveries; see the Defenses section for details.

Radius Delivery

Radius deliveries include traps, contact poisons, and monster abilities such as eye contact or sound of voice. Usually a Hold is called when a radius attack takes place and everyone partially within the radius is affected. Note that (just like with all attacks) Radius delivery effects should always include an explicit Qualifier and Effect. If no Qualifier is stated, assume the Spell qualifier is being used.

For Example: An adventuring party encounters a terrifying Banshee! She draws a deep breath and then shouts “Voice Spell Paralysis!” If any of the adventurers who hear her do not have a valid defense to call against this attack, they will be frozen in their tracks!