How would you rule on plasma cartridges?

[Hannibal]

So, curious how people would rule on the effect of Naruni plasma cartridges vs. the 2 spells "impervious to energy" and "invulnerability." Both spells obviously make the spell caster invulnerable to energy attacks. The cartridges are physical casings that are converted to plasma energy upon impact. How would you rule (and why): to what extent would the the caster take damage (or half damage or whatever) from the cartridges?

Corollary: What about plasma from an actual plasma ejector rifle? Any difference?

[glitterboy2098]

the spell would work against them, since plasma cartridges are plasma blasts. they convert to plasma in the weapons breach, and the resulting plasma is fired at the target. so aside from using a solid ammunition source instead of an E-clip, they function the same way as a normal plasma projector, which is effected by those spells.

[Beatmeclever]

Plasma is a distinct form of matter (liquid, gas, solid, plasma). I have always ruled that any kind of ability or spell that made a character impervious to energy would only reduce 3/4 of the damage from plasma-based attacks. It would remove the charge but not the particles. Those particles would still be moving at whatever speed they were moving at and they would still have whatever heat they had picked up, but they would no longer have the same cohesion that made them as solid of a projectile.

[SkyeFyre]

It doesn't matter how it originates... what hits them is energy... therefore no damage.

[Killer Cyborg]

So, curious how people would rule on the effect of Naruni plasma cartridges vs. the 2 spells "impervious to energy" and "invulnerability." Both spells obviously make the spell caster invulnerable to energy attacks. The cartridges are physical casings that are converted to plasma energy upon impact. How would you rule (and why): to what extent would the the caster take damage (or half damage or whatever) from the cartridges?

Corollary: What about plasma from an actual plasma ejector rifle? Any difference?

It's all energy, so the casters would be immune.

[Beatmeclever]

It doesn't matter how it originates... what hits them is energy... therefore no damage.

By the logic that "if it is energy it does no damage" you could rule that bullets do no damage to those protected in this way if you wanted to. Reduction of the energy within the bullet would stop the bullet's ability to move and punch through the armor, skin, internal organs, etc. of the target -ta dah! - no energy gets through to the target, the target takes no damage.

If we take that plasma is charged particles that have been launched toward the target at incredible speed, then even if the charge is removed from the particles, the particles impact the target at those same speeds, as long as they are still close enough together (which they would be since this power does not function at range) they will still do their physical damage.

Unless you agree that Invulnerability to Energy means ALL energy, then the target will always take damage from the moving particles. Otherwise, this becomes the PERFECT power! Nothing can move through your invulnerability because all kinetic energy is stopped at the field of the power.

[Colt47]

It doesn't matter how it originates... what hits them is energy... therefore no damage.

By the logic that "if it is energy it does no damage" you could rule that bullets do no damage to those protected in this way if you wanted to. Reduction of the energy within the bullet would stop the bullet's ability to move and punch through the armor, skin, internal organs, etc. of the target -ta dah! - no energy gets through to the target, the target takes no damage.

If we take that plasma is charged particles that have been launched toward the target at incredible speed, then even if the charge is removed from the particles, the particles impact the target at those same speeds, as long as they are still close enough together (which they would be since this power does not function at range) they will still do their physical damage.

Unless you agree that Invulnerability to Energy means ALL energy, then the target will always take damage from the moving particles. Otherwise, this becomes the PERFECT power! Nothing can move through your invulnerability because all kinetic energy is stopped at the field of the power.

True, the spell probably should be rewritten to be more specific. Plasma ejectors do release a form of matter, but the damage from the attack is from the super high temperatures. I suppose if it was possible to fire plasma out of a rail gun the damage might be high enough from the projectile alone to do mega-damage.

[Killer Cyborg]

If we take that plasma is charged particles that have been launched toward the target at incredible speed, then even if the charge is removed from the particles, the particles impact the target at those same speeds, as long as they are still close enough together (which they would be since this power does not function at range) they will still do their physical damage.

By that interpretation, the power would also leave you vulnerable to particle beams, ion blasters, electricity, and lasers, because they all inflict damage via particles.
Which would make the power useless.

[Killer Cyborg]

I think this is one of those gaming blanket terms: Energy Weapons. It doesn't matter about the logic on what they are, only that the book places them in the category. Anything else is just a house rule...
-Pax

Bingo.

[Colt47]

I think the spell should be worded to say all non-kinetic energy weapons just to satisfy peoples concerns here.