Shield, originally called General Matick's shield,[1] was a relatively simple abjuration spell used by sorcerers, wizards,[4] witch doctors,[15] and wu jen.[16] The spell blocks all magic missiles[2], originally called General Matick's missile.[1]
Effects[]
Originally, the spell produced an invisible barrier in front of the caster that would block all magic missiles and provide varying levels of protection against physical missiles, from arrows to javelins to manticore spikes, and against other attacks, as well as help them evade harmful effects coming from in front of them. While the shield could move somewhat to block an incoming strike, it could only stay in front of the caster. It lasted 50 minutes.[14][9]
Following the Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, the mage created an invisible disk of force, similar in size and function to a tower shield but with none of its cumbersomeness. It hovered in front of the caster and moved with them. Since it was formed from force, it protected even against the touch of incorporeal creatures like ghosts. However, the caster could took not take cover behind it. It lasted a number of minutes according to the power of the caster.[5]
Post-Spellplague, as well as post–Second Sundering, a mage could cast shield as a reaction, quickly putting up their hand in response to an incoming attack and manifesting a shield of magical force around them, thus deflecting attacks and helping them evade harmful effects, including magic missiles.[4][2]
Components[]
The spell had somatic and verbal components.[14][5][2] The sorcerer Simon cast a version with a powder material component and the words obscrus moyfin.[17][18]
Inscription[]
According to the tome known as the Book of the Silver Talon, the ink ingredients used to inscribe shield into spellbooks were: 1 ounce (28 grams) of giant octopus ink, one clipped thumbnail, a pinch of iron filings, a powdered piece of rock crystal, a pebble, a beryl, and a star sapphire. The rock crystal, beryl, star sapphire and pebble were each individually crushed in a dwarf-forged mortar and burnt to ash with the thumbnail. The ink was heated, but not boiled, to which was added the components in the following order: pebble dust, iron filings, rock crystal dust, beryl dust and star sapphire dust. It was stirred until dissolved and completely mixed, and then the thumbnail ash was added. It was then cooled until the fire dissipated.[19]
History[]
The spell was introduced by the Netherese arcanist and warrior General Matick in 2279 NY (−1580 DR) of the Golden Age of Netheril,[20] but many scholars believed that he had only commissioned its invention.[21]
In the late 1490s DR,[note 1] the wild magic sorcerer Simon Aumar tried to cast shield to protect himself from his own angry audience in the Triboar playhouse. However, his spell miscast several times, becoming reverse gravity and throwing them all from the floor to the ceiling and back.[17][18] He later used shield much more successfully against a meteor swarm hurled by Sofina, saving himself and his companions.[17]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The Honor Among Thieves movie and its tie-ins are as yet undated. As discussed here, from the condition of Castle Never and Dagult Neverember's reign, this wiki estimates a date of the late 1490s DR for the main events of the movie. Prequels and flashback scenes are set up to 11 years before this.
Appearances[]
- Film & Television
- Honor Among Thieves
- Books
- Honor Among Thieves: The Junior Novelization
- Video Games
- Baldur's Gate III
Gallery[]
.png "Shield (spell).png (135 KB)")
External links[]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.
Shield article at the Baldur's Gate 3 Community Wiki, a community wiki for Baldur's Gate 3.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 23. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 209–210, 275. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ Jeremy Crawford, Mike Mearls, Robert J. Schwalb, Adam Lee, Christopher Perkins, Matt Sernett (November 2017). Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 55. ISBN 978-0-7869-6612-7.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, James Wyatt (June 2008). Player's Handbook 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 161. ISBN 0-7869-4867-1.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (March 2006). Power of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 72. ISBN 0-7869-3910-9.
- ↑ James Wyatt (October 2001). Oriental Adventures (3rd edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 93. ISBN 0-7869-2015-7.
- ↑ Richard Baker (November 2004). Complete Arcane. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 92. ISBN 0-7869-3435-2.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 137. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
- ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 178. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
- ↑ Dale Donovan (January 1998). Cult of the Dragon. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 125. ISBN 0-7869-0709-6.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 152. ISBN 978-1560763581.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 121. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 68. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Gary Gygax (1979). Dungeon Masters Guide 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 40. ISBN 0-9356-9602-4.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 77. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley (2023). Honor Among Thieves. (Paramount Pictures).
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 David Lewman (February 28, 2023). Honor Among Thieves: The Junior Novelization. (Random House Worlds), chap. 8, pp. 56–61. ISBN 0593647955.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Tim Beach (November 1995). Pages from the Mages. Edited by Jon Pickens. (TSR, Inc.), p. 23. ISBN 0-7869-0183-7.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 27. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 111. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.