Message no. 1

From:	Marty <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject:	How invisibility works (was Watchers etc)
Date:	Thu, 17 Oct 1996 16:47:42 +1000

> >Yeah, but the description of the invisibility spell states that you
> >*bend* the light around yourself with the spell..... That proposes a
> >certain loss of intensity though scattering.
>
> No, it doesn't. Bending and scattering are two different phenomena,
> and while one might rule that there is scattering involved in an
> invisibility spell, it's not defined that way.
>
Scattering is a function of the distortions that the beam encounters...
Usually dust particles and ionised radiation (for the really high-power
lasers *grin*).. The old beauty, rayleigh scattering.... works for aerosols

> >You also have to assume that the light comes out going the same direction
> >as when it went in, and in the same place.
>
> If it didn't, the person wouldn't be invisible; there'd be an obvious
> optical distortion where they were standing.
> --

Which could account for why you only get the plus to your target numbers,
rather than complete immunity which a perfect spell would imply. I think
of the spell working along the same lines as a ruthenium polymer suit,
which is definitely *not* immune to laser.