partial invisibility using air

[greyblob]

in an elements styled system, do you think it's possible to achieve invisibility or partial invisibility, and how? partial invisibility being a blurry but transparent patch of air, like how what you'd see in the distance in a very hot day.
I've been thinking of using different "layers" of air, so light refracts multiple times and eventually dissipates. any ideas are appreciates .
there's also the possibility of using water, or a combination of air and water, if that makes any difference.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

There is usually darkness and light in the elements styled system. These two elements should probably be responsible for invisibility.

 

[greyblob]

There is usually darkness and light in the elements styled system. These two elements should probably be responsible for invisibility.

nope there's only fire, water, air, and earth.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

nope there's only fire, water, air, and earth.

Combine fire and air to make mirages?

 

[Deeprotsorcerer]

You're working too hard. Simply have the magic work on cultural perceptions of the elements. That way, your magical effects will neither be limited by science or rationality, which it really shouldn't be anyways, this is magic we're talking about! If JK Rolland can get away with a magic system softer than Ram's t... tummy, you can have an air-aspected invisibility spell. Hell, you can have a version of the same spell using an infinite number of aspect combinations with differences in cost, casting times, and requirements for counterspells.

Don't let logic get in the way of a good scene.

 

[greyblob]

Combine fire and air to make mirages?

interesting idea. i'll have to look into it more. though, i wasn't originally planning on adding fire to the mix

You're working too hard. Simply have the magic work on cultural perceptions of the elements. That way, your magical effects will neither be limited by science or rationality, which it really shouldn't be anyways, this is magic we're talking about! If JK Rolland can get away with a magic system softer than Ram's t... tummy, you can have an air-aspected invisibility spell. Hell, you can have a version of the same spell using an infinite number of aspect combinations with differences in cost, casting times, and requirements for counterspells.

Don't let logic get in the way of a good scene.

i like logic - keeps things grounded, to a degree. it limits certain scenarios, yes, but it allows for much more depth. plus, you can always mitigate said limitations with some creativity. I prefer to write things with a touch of science and rationality in mind (I rarely explain things). it gives the readers a scale about the powers being used, even if they don't receive an explanation, but more importantly, it helps me balance things out as most of what I write is mostly improvised (I pick the spell first then rationalize it).

 

[Ruriha]

in an elements styled system, do you think it's possible to achieve invisibility or partial invisibility, and how? partial invisibility being a blurry but transparent patch of air, like how what you'd see in the distance in a very hot day.
I've been thinking of using different "layers" of air, so light refracts multiple times and eventually dissipates. any ideas are appreciates .
there's also the possibility of using water, or a combination of air and water, if that makes any difference.

Use water to refract light, maybe?

 

[RepresentingWrath]

interesting idea. i'll have to look into it more. though, i wasn't originally planning on adding fire to the mix

If you're going to look into mirages, look at heat haze\heat shimmer as well.

 

[NotaNuffian]

To hell, Air Gear's concept of heating air using the flame road until mirages are formed shows that air itself can do it. Mirages in the deserts are formed with hot air.

 

[greyblob]

To hell, Air Gear's concept of heating air using the flame road until mirages are formed shows that air itself can do it. Mirages in the deserts are formed with hot air.

right but now how would you do it minus the heat (no fires)

 

[Deleted member 19066]

though, i wasn't originally planning on adding fire to the mix

If it's magic it might not necessarily require fire.

the reason light bends in a mirage is because the density of particles in hot air and cold air is different
if magic can create more dense and less dense air, fire/heat will not be required, right?

 

[NotaNuffian]

right but now how would you do it minus the heat (no fires)

Electricity.

The lightning road ( i forgot the name) can cause illusions by having the electromagnetic waves affecting the perception of people.

If the objective is to bend light, then I have no clue

 

[Zirrboy]

Refraction happens when light transitions between media it has different propagation speeds in.
As a rule of thumb, denser material means slower propagation.

Hot air is less dense than cold air, hence the refraction, with turbulence causing the flicker.
But simple "less dense air" also works, in theory at least.
Assuming that wind magicians could control the air around them to a similar degree, they could form structures of refraction around them in such a way that the light is redirected around them.

But the trick would only work in a relatively narrow cone, since the projection of the image behind gets skewed as the observer moves away from the point the setup is designed for.

 

[ThrillingHuman]

in an elements styled system, do you think it's possible to achieve invisibility or partial invisibility, and how? partial invisibility being a blurry but transparent patch of air, like how what you'd see in the distance in a very hot day.
I've been thinking of using different "layers" of air, so light refracts multiple times and eventually dissipates. any ideas are appreciates .
there's also the possibility of using water, or a combination of air and water, if that makes any difference.

Just write "it's magic". Nobody is going to bother with the potential technicalities of it, and you are going to have more flexibility in the ways you can use/limit the use of the spell.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Oh, you can also probably fiddle with earth magic to conjure some kind of mineral or crystal to mess up with light?

 

[NotaNuffian]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fata_Morgana_(mirage)

Tad difficult if you just plan to use wind to cause a differential gradient in density of air.

Oh, you can also probably fiddle with earth magic to conjure some kind of mineral or crystal to mess up with light?

And I wonder why Earth has been forgotten in invisibility.

My limited braincells only think about dragging the poor sod for an early burial.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

And I wonder why Earth has been forgotten in invisibility.

My limited braincells only think about dragging the poor sod for an early burial.

Uhhh? I don't understand.

 

[greyblob]

If it's magic it might not necessarily require fire.

the reason light bends in a mirage is because the density of particles in hot air and cold air is different
if magic can create more dense and less dense air, fire/heat will not be required, right?

yup, any air manipulation should be possible. this is probably the easiest method, energy wise

Refraction happens when light transitions between media it has different propagation speeds in.
As a rule of thumb, denser material means slower propagation.

Hot air is less dense than cold air, hence the refraction, with turbulence causing the flicker.
But simple "less dense air" also works, in theory at least.
Assuming that wind magicians could control the air around them to a similar degree, they could form structures of refraction around them in such a way that the light is redirected around them.

But the trick would only work in a relatively narrow cone, since the projection of the image behind gets skewed as the observer moves away from the point the setup is designed for.

that's what I was thinking. though, I'm not sure if adding a current to the structure would help.

Oh, you can also probably fiddle with earth magic to conjure some kind of mineral or crystal to mess up with light?

very intersting. i have no idea how that'd work though. will need to do some research here too.

Tad difficult if you just plan to use wind to cause a differential gradient in density of air.

don't think this is the right application for this; however, it could be useful in the future. not sure how i'd be able to explain it though.

 

[NotaNuffian]

Uhhh? I don't understand.

Nah, I just intrigued by you saying using earth magic to bring up crystal for refracting light and I was flabbergasted. Cuz my thought process was either using earth for faraway silhouettes or use heat (when @greyblob said no) to make mirror.

Then as a joke, I say shit like "the enemy can't see the real you if they can't see" and proceeds to use sand coffin or sand burial on them.

Here is another thought.

Move so fast that no one can see you.

 

[greyblob]

Nah, I just intrigued by you saying using earth magic to bring up crystal for refracting light and I was flabbergasted. Cuz my thought process was either using earth for faraway silhouettes or use heat (when @greyblob said no) to make mirror.

Then as a joke, I say shit like "the enemy can't see the real you if they can't see" and proceeds to use sand coffin or sand burial on them.

Here is another thought.

Move so fast that no one can see you.

I've been writing about earth magic for about a year. I don't get how the idea of using silhouettes hasn't crossed my mind once. goddamit i feel stupid