Rikki Tikki Traveller said:
Can be REALLY helpful for a thief too!
That's true. And here's the rough draft of a new Common Magic spell that might be even more useful for a thief :lol:
Distraction
Instant, Magnitude 1, Ranged
The caster creates a minor illusory noise designed to distract individuals within a radius equal to the caster's POW in meters. The caster might use this spell to create the noise of twigs snapping or a pebbles shifting underfoot in order to distract sentries stationed near an entrance to a stronghold (e.g. "What was that? We'd better check it out...").
The spell cannot simulate complex sounds such as voices, nor can it be used as part of a complex ruse - it's fine to create the faint rasp of a sword being drawn somehere in the shadows, but it's not possible to create the clangour of an alarm gong sounding in the distance. The effects of this spell are always subtle, intended to rouse the natural suspicions of listeners rather than to compel them towards a particular course of action.
Listeners must still make a Perception roll to hear the illusory sound - it is feasible that a group of inattentive guards might not notice the subtle distraction.
This spell does not enhance the caster's Stealth skill, but it does make it harder for guards to detect intruders while investigating the distraction. If sentries need to make an opposed Perception roll against the caster's Stealth, they suffer a -20% penalty on the round after this spell is cast. Once this period has passed, the effects of the distraction fade (e.g. "Must have been nothing. Probably just a cat..."). In essence, this spell buys the caster a single opportunity to slip past undetected.
Repeated castings of this spell are less effective, with the distraction penalty being reduced by 5-10% each time. However, creative casters may use this to encourage guards to ignore a
real disturbance originating from the same direction (GM's discretion). If in doubt, allow the guards to make an Insight roll to realize that they have been duped (e.g. "That's no cat! Someone's over there...")