Teleport (spell)

Teleport is a spell that allows the caster to instantly transport themselves and others to a specified location with significant precision, depending on the caster's familiarity with the destination. The distance between the starting point and the destination is irrelevant, as long as both locations exist within the same plane of existence. The spell cannot be used to traverse planes, limiting its utility to the caster's current realm.

Teleport

Range	self
Duration	instantaneous
Area of Effect	1 creature per level; see text
Casting Time	3 rounds
Saving Throw	none
Level	mage (5th)

The caster is capable of teleporting one creature per level of experience, including themselves. All creatures being teleported must be physically connected, either held by the caster or linked in a chain by hand. Equipment carried by the teleporting creatures is also transported, but this is subject to a strict weight limitation of 100 pounds per person. For example, the caster could teleport a horse, which would be treated as one creature. If the horse is ridden, the rider would count as a separate creature, and the combined equipment carried by both the horse and the rider could not exceed 100 pounds per individual. However, the rider and their equipment are not included in the horse's weight limit for the purpose of the spell.

If the combined weight of any creature and its equipment exceeds the maximum weight limit, the excess weight will be left behind. The spell will discard this excess randomly unless the caster or the teleported individuals take deliberate action to remove or redistribute the weight before casting the spell. As such, careful preparation is critical to ensure the successful transport of essential items.

Teleportation success relies heavily on the caster's knowledge of the destination. Familiar locations are much more likely to result in accurate arrival, while teleporting to an unfamiliar or poorly visualized location carries an increased risk of error. Mistakes in teleportation may result in arrival at an unintended location, with potentially hazardous consequences depending on the circumstances of the spell's use. Proper planning and an understanding of the spell's limitations are crucial to avoiding mishaps during its execution.

Probability of Success

Success signifies that the caster and any others being teleported arrive at the precise location desired. If the caster is familiar with the destination, the spell ensures arrival at the exact spot intended, provided the teleportation roll succeeds.

A miss occurs when the teleportation roll fails, causing the caster to deviate from their intended destination. The distance missed is determined in blocks or hexes, depending on the map scale being used. A "block" equals 145 yards, while a "build hex" measures 1,304 yards. Other hex sizes, such as 2-mile hexes, are similarly scaled and self-explanatory. The distance of the miss is calculated based on the percentage by which the caster's roll exceeds the success threshold.

For example, if the caster is attempting to teleport to a location that was "seen casually" and requires a roll of 88% or less for success, but rolls a "92," the result exceeds the threshold by 4%. This means the caster and their group would rematerialize four 2-mile hexes away from the intended location. The direction of the miss is determined randomly, using a 360° scale to indicate where the caster appears relative to the target.

Teleportation Success Table

Familiarity of Destination	Probability of Teleporting
	Success	Miss	Unit	Random
Very familiar	01-97	98-99	village hex	00
Passing acquaintance	01-94	95-98	land hex	99-00
Visited	01-88	89-96	2-mile hex	97-00
Viewed once	01-76	77-92	6-mile hex	93-00
Never seen	01-52	53-84	20-mile hex	85-00

Such deviations can lead to unexpected and potentially hazardous situations, as the new location may be unknown, unsafe or inaccessible. It is important for the caster to account for these risks, particularly when teleporting to destinations with which they have limited familiarity. Proper preparation and an understanding of the teleportation mechanics are critical for reducing the likelihood and consequences of a miss.

A random result occurs when the teleportation has gone completely awry, depositing the caster and their companions at an entirely unknown location somewhere on the globe. The destination is determined randomly, with no connection to the intended target or the caster's familiarity with the desired location. While this result may be highly inconvenient, the caster can simply wait a single day to regain their magical energy and attempt the spell again.

Any result of the teleport spell must place the caster and their companions on dry, solid ground or, if appropriate, on a stable surface such as the deck of a ship at sea. The spell will not cause the caster to materialize in an inherently lethal environment, such as the middle of a lava flow, the heart of a tsunami or beneath the ocean's surface. However, while these safeguards prevent immediate, unavoidable death, they do not guarantee the caster's safety.

The spell does not account for weather conditions at the destination, meaning the caster could still arrive in the midst of a violent storm, freezing tundra or blistering desert. Additionally, the teleport spell provides no protection against hostile encounters upon arrival. The destination — whether intended, missed or random — may place the caster in the presence of unfriendlies, dangerous wildlife or in the heart of an enemy stronghold. This unpredictability underscores the risks involved in teleportation, particularly when used to reach unfamiliar locations or in moments of desperation. Proper planning and readiness for unexpected outcomes are essential to safely navigating the potential hazards of the teleport spell.

Familiarity

Very familiar refers to any location where the caster has resided continuously for more than two weeks. Such familiarity provides the caster with intimate knowledge of the area's details, increasing the accuracy of teleportation to that destination. Passing acquaintance applies to a location where the caster has spent a notable but shorter period, such as during adventuring, mapping or staying for at least three consecutive days. The time spent allows for a functional understanding of the area but without the depth afforded by longer familiarity.

Visited describes any place where the caster has stayed briefly, such as an overnight stop at an inn, a day-long rest or a 12-hour period at a campsite. While the caster may remember key features, the level of detail is limited, which slightly increases the chance of error during teleportation. Viewed once covers any location the caster has seen, even if only momentarily, such as passing by while traveling. The brief exposure provides only a rudimentary impression, significantly increasing the likelihood of missing the target when attempting to teleport.

Finally, never seen refers to any location the caster has not directly experienced. Attempting to teleport to such a place relies entirely on secondhand descriptions, maps or other indirect knowledge, making it the most unreliable and hazardous choice for teleportation.

See also,
Natural Abilities
Plane Shift (spell)
Word of Recall (spell)