Game Effects
Citadel LARP employs a variety of effects to simulate the fantastical powers and abilities within the game world. It's important for all players to have a basic understanding of these effects. At minimum, we would recommend being familiar with the General Rules for Effects. However, it is absolutely not required that you memorize every effect, and it is always okay to ask for clarification during an encounter.
Taglines
Taglines are special words spoken to help identify complex game effects. For the most part, taglines are Out-of-Play but their effects may be recognizable from their In-Game effect. The skill or spell will clearly state the required tagline in its description. Speaking a tagline is a form of Concentration.
When used, taglines must be started before physically beginning the attack. A weapon that strikes before the tagline is complete, or a packet that is thrown before the tagline is complete, does not benefit from the tagline’s effect. If a player says the wrong tagline for an effect or falters when speaking, that is called a "flubbed verbal" and also does not count. The player that flubbed the verbal does not expend the effect and the player that was targeted does not receive the effect. Once a tagline is completed, the player has two (2) seconds to strike with their weapon or throw the packet. If they do not land a hit or throw the packet within those two (2) seconds, the effect is considered expended.
The tagline will let you know how the effect has been created and its Source (if any - see below). For example, all Wizard and Sigilcraft spells will begin with "Activate" when they are cast (e.g. "Activate Fire Dart"). A Channeler spell will either have a "Spellstrike" or "Magic" tagline (e.g. "Magic Fire Dart"). An Alchemic brew, and some Artificed items, will begin with "Chemical" ("Chemical Fire Dart").
A character would be able to tell the difference between a Wizard's fire dart, a Channeler's fire dart, and an Alchemic brew being thrown at them that has a fire dart effect, and could defend themselves appropriately. In these examples, the fire darts from the Wizard and Channeler are purely magical effects, and so could be Dodged or Countermagicked. The Alchemy brew, and Artificed items, although also thrown as packets, represents a clay pot filled with a volatile substance that shatters upon impact, or another physical item, and therefore could also be Sidestepped.
Delivery Methods
There are six ways an effect can be delivered to a character:
Weapon
Packet
Touch
Spellstrike
Point
Voice
Weapon
Any non-magical, harmful, or damaging effect delivered via a weapon (or claw) attack is a Weapon effect. These are most commonly seen from Weapon Maneuvers, and generally represent the character's skill with the weapon.
When a weapon delivers a specific effect (such as a Befuddle or Knockdown) the effect takes place instead of the weapon dealing any damage. The one exception is Piercing Strike as that specifically causes damage.
When a character is struck with a non-magical Weapon effect, it must strike a valid hit location (which means it may be blocked by a Melee Weapon or Shield), but no other physical defenses (Armor or Toughness) will prevent the effect from affecting the target.
If an effect does not follow this default rule it will be noted in its description. For example, a Break Weapon effect must hit the target's weapon not a valid hit location. Poisons can be blocked by Armor, but not by Toughness. See the individual descriptions of the effects for all of the details.
A weapon that strikes before the tagline is complete does not benefit from the tagline’s effect. When stating a tagline for a weapon attack, the player has two (2) seconds from when they finish speaking the tagline and when the effect must be used. If they do not land a hit within those two (2) seconds, the effect is still considered expended.
Packet
Packets attacks are delivered via a small packet of birdseed and cloth. Packet effects are considered to have “hit” if the packet touches any part of the target, including clothing. Many spells, Alchemical brews, and some monster attacks are delivered via packet.
Packet attacks cannot be Parried. All packets may be Dodged, unless paired with the True tagline. Only packet attacks with the "Chemical" tagline (i.e thrown Alchemy brews and some Artificed items) may be Sidestepped. Packet attack spells and magical effects (which can be identified if a Source is used in the tagline) can be stopped by Countermagic. Other defenses will apply based on the specific effect.
For example, a packet that delivers a Fire Dart effect would be stopped by a Shield, or mitigated by Armor or Toughness, but an Earth Snare Foot could not be blocked by any physical defenses and would have to be Countermagicked, Dodged, or Sidestepped (if applicable).
When stating a tagline for a packet delivered attack, the player has two (2) seconds from when they finish speaking the tagline and when the effect must be thrown. If they do not throw it within those two (2) seconds, the effect is still considered expended.
Touch
Touch effects are delivered by touch (while following the Physical Contact rules between players) and are limited to healing, curative, and other positive effects. All Enchantment type spells are Touch delivered. Due to their beneficial nature, they bypass all standard magical protections. A character receiving a Touch Enchantment spell who has a Ward or Resist against the Source being used for the Enchantment does not loose that magical defensive.
In general, no other defenses will prevent a Touch attack, though a character with an appropriate Resist could Resist the effect, if so desired.
Spellstrike
Spellstrikes are magical effects delivered via weapon strike. Note that the weapon strike does no damage when hitting the target; only the magical effect is delivered to the target. The magical effect is treated as a magical packet attack for all rules resolution. Thus, even if the weapon strikes a Shield, is blocked by a Weapon, or catches a cloak, the magical effect still takes full effect, just like a packet would (see Packet attacks above).
If the Spellstrike hits the Weapon or Shield and the effect would normally be stopped by Armor (such as a Dart effect), a character’s Armor applies to the attack if the limb holding the Weapon or shield has at least 50% armor coverage. (Remember that a Dart effect that strikes a Shield has no effect.)
Spellstrikes cannot be Parried or Sidestepped. They can be canceled by a Dodge or Countermagic
Point
Point delivery effects are very rare at Citadel, but do occur for specific skills, such as the Animal Empathy skill. Point effects are delivered by the character pointing a finger or raising a hand, palm out toward the target. The character using the ability must be within five (5) feet of the target and use an empty hand. Point effects may be defended against based on the specific effect.
Voice
Voice effects affect everyone who clearly hears the effect being called (e.g. “Voice Effect: Earth Repel”). The individual calling the Voice Effect can declare it at whatever volume they desire, from a full shout to a whisper. If you do not hear the effect clearly enough to understand it, then you are not affected by it.
Voice effects can ONLY be defended against with an applicable magical defense, such as a Ward, Resist, or Countermagic. In the case of a Countermagic, it only counters the spell for one individual, not for anyone else affected by the Voice Effect.
If the Voice effect is a damaging effect, such as a Lance, the effect strikes the Torso. A Voice effect cannot be blocked by a Shield, but it may be mitigated by Armor or Toughness, if applicable.
Effect Durations
There are a number of different Durations for effects. An effect’s Duration is how long it affects a character. For example, a Befuddle effect has a duration of ten (10) seconds. The target of a Befuddle would be unable to perform an offensive action, cast spells, or activate items, although they may defend themselves, for a total of ten (10) seconds. The Duration of an effect is listed in its description.
The categories are:
Instant - The effect happens and resolves instantly
10 seconds - The effect lasts for ten (10) seconds. This is the common duration for many offensive combat effects.
1 minute - The effect lasts for one (1) minute. This is seen in stronger combat effects, such as Snare Foot, and is the common duration required for Concentrating on a skill or casting an Enchantment type spell. One (1) minute is also the time it takes for healing effects to fully affect a target.
10 minutes - The effect lasts for ten (10) minutes. Some of the stronger combat effects and other miscellaneous effects have this duration.
1 hour - The effect lasts for one (1) hour. Only a handful of effects have a duration this long. However, it is important to know that a Stabilized target - if not given any other healing - will fully recover from their Wounds after one (1) hour.
Permanent - The effect cannot be removed or canceled.
Source
The Source of an effect represents the In-Game mechanism that causes the effect to exist. The Source also informs the player which defenses or protectives they can use against it. If a Source isn't stated with the effect, it is assumed to be a non-magical weapon attack (see above). The most common Sources are the five magical elements: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, and Light. These elements are known as the five Aspects of Essence (the proper name for "magic" in the Citadel setting).
Typically, the tagline for an effect will state the Source first. For example: "Air Befuddle" would represent a Befuddle effect with Air as a Source. It could be defended against with a Ward against Air or a Resist against Air. You could also defend against it with a Countermagic (since it is magical in nature), whereas, a weapon delivered "Befuddle" could only be defended against with a Parry, Dodge, or Sidestep (if applicable) since it doesn't have a magical Source in the tagline.
In addition to the five Aspects, there are two more Source taglines that are very important to know: "Kal'tov" and "Kal'inokh".
Kal'tov is pure, undiluted Essence. Kal'inokh represents raw magical power that has been corrupted or unbalanced in some way. Unlike the other Sources, these will always occur at the end of the tagline. For example: "Earth Prison Kal'inokh" or "Lance Kal'inokh" or "Heal Mortal Wounds Kal'tov"
You may notice the first example includes an Aspect Source ("Earth Prison Kal'inokh). The Source is still Earth, even though it is a corrupted form as indicated by the "Kal'inokh" on the end. Since it has an Aspect tagline present, a character may defend against it normally. In that example, a Ward against Earth, a Resist against Earth, or a Countermagic could mitigate that effect.
However, if an Aspect Source is not used at the beginning of the tagline ("Lance Kal'inokh"), then the effect may only be defended against with a Dodge (if applicable) or a magical defensive that is specifically against Kal'inokh.
Kal'tov will never have an Aspect tagline as it represents Essence in its purest form. As such, it may only be defended against with a Dodge (if applicable) or a magical defensive that is specifically against Kal'tov.
Declarations
A declaration is an Out-of-Play statement, usually one word in length, which is spoken by a player in response to an effect interacting with them. Declarations are not full taglines, and as such will not contain Activations or Sources like a full tagline. Declarations typically indicate the use of some skill or protective to counteract an effect.
Citadel Effect List
This section lists and explains all of the Effects and other game terminology used for Citadel LARP.
You can also access the lists of effects in the Citadel Rulebook or the Citadel Skills spreadsheet.