Teleportation

From PathfinderWiki
This article is about the generic act of transporting a person or object instantly from one place to another. For the subschool of conjuration, see Teleportation (subschool). For permanent magical links between locations or planes, see portal. For the spell, see teleport (spell).

Teleportation is the transfer of matter or energy from one point to another without traversing the physical space between them.1 It is most often accomplished through magical means of traversing the Astral23 or Ethereal planes,4 particularly via spells like teleport and similar spells in the Teleportation subschool of conjuration magic,2 as well as abilities related to certain domains,5 divine gifts,6 or oracular mysteries7 of divine magic.

Permanently applied teleportation effects are sometimes referred to as teleporters.89

Restrictions

Blightburn is highly disruptive to teleportation.

Teleportation is almost always a one-way process and cannot be dispelled or inherently undone.2

Safety

Objects and creatures cannot be teleported into other objects or creatures, and teleportation spells by design must have a clear, supported surface as a target. Intentional teleportation attempts into life-threatening environments always fail.1011 However, some permanent teleporters might still attempt to teleport creatures or objects to a location that was once safe but has since been destroyed, resulting in especially inconvenient or dangerous results.12

Teleportation mishaps

Magical teleportation also often requires the spellcaster to at least be familiar with the destination in order to teleport to it; a lack of knowledge about the destination can result in failure, teleporting to an unexpected destination, or a painful teleportation mishap.13 This familiarity can be gained simply by reading a map of the destination.14

Planar travel

While a few rare instance of teleportation magic can cross planar boundaries beyond the transitive planes, most cannot. Teleportation is also subject to any restrictions against travel to or from the Astral Plane.2

Created by spells

Certain spells specifically interdict or prevent teleportation, such as dimensional anchor, dimensional lock,15 and forbiddance.16

Summoned creatures

Summoned creatures cannot be teleported, nor can they use any teleportation abilities they might possess.1718

Resistance

Some forms of teleportation can be used against unwilling subjects, though they can sometimes resist being teleported.1319

Disabling and interdiction

Certain spells like teleportation circle can sometimes be disabled through mundane means similar to trap disarmament,20 and permanent teleporters can be linked to devices that can enable and disable them.12 Some locations have wards against teleportation, such as the jyoti city of Arudrellisiir on Creation's Forge, which intercepts all unsanctioned teleportation attempts and redirects their passengers into prison cells.21

Blightburn prevents all but the most powerful magical teleportation in its presence, and is always highly disruptive even when its effects can be overpowered.22 Certain auras can also anchor or interdict planar travel, including teleportation, with often painful results.23

Range

Many teleportation effects have a limited range, whether a fixed distance or a sensory limit, such as line of sight. However, these limits can sometimes be astronomical in scale—for example, spells such as interplanetary teleport can move creatures and objects from one planet to another.1124

When invoking teleportation effects that can be shared with or imposed onto others, they most often require direct physical contact with the objects or creatures being teleported.225

Scope

Most methods of teleportation are limited to a single creature and objects it wears or carries. Stronger versions can be shared with a few others.226 But a few rare and truly epic forms of teleportation can move entire buildings, and sometimes even parts of other lands, from one place to another.2728 For instance, magically powerful city planners might use teleportation magic move entire unoccupied buildings across a city district.29

Side effects

Teleportation is often inherently disorienting, though some methods (such as the dimension door spell) are more disorienting than others.13

Alternative methods

Druidic magic allows a form of teleportation via two different living plants of the same type, regardless of their distance apart.30 Similar magic can also allow for teleportation-like travel by entering and exiting different trees of the same species.31

The illusion spell shadow step provides a teleportation-like effect from one dim or dark shadow to another.32

Several types of magical specialists, including non-spellcasters, have innate teleportation abilities. For example, certain types of magi can teleport a bound or specific item, such as a weapon, to their hand.33 Certain types of rangers,34 investigators,35 and even fighters who are exceptional planar scholars36 have access to teleportation abilities.

While portals are distinguished from teleportation by their permanence and broader potential planar reach, some people have mastered the use of short-lived portals to effectively teleport short distances.37

The edges of an unbounded plane will teleport any who attempt to cross them to their opposite edge.38

On Golarion

The Lady's Light features permanent teleporters.

The Thassilonian ruins of Crystilan are encased in crystal that prevents teleportation to the city visible within.3940

The College of Dimensional Studies in Katapesh lacks doors between its rooms, requiring its students to be capable of teleportation and other transport magic.41

The sun orchid elixir is sometimes transported via teleportation magic, although this is considered taboo due to repeat mishaps.4243

The interior of the Adella Necropolis is riddled with permanent teleporters and other forms of teleportation magic, while also restricting teleportation into the Necropolis from outside.44 The Lady's Light, a statue of ancient Thassilon, also contains many permanent teleporters.45

The wardstones of Mendev are designed to prevent teleportation across its borders.464748

Wizards deliver supplies to Kyonin from outside its borders via teleportation.49

In magic items

Teleportation abilities can also be imbued in magic items, such as scrolls, clothes, rings, and armor.5051 Such items can reproduce a teleportation spell's abilities in whole or with certain limits, such as binding its target to the location of a specific creature.5253

When damaged, the Harrow Deck of Many Things teleports to a random location elsewhere on a single plane of existence. One of its cards, the Desert, can teleport a group and a ton of items to a known destination with enough power to bypass most barriers against teleportation.54

The brass dragon orb is imbued with a powerful teleport spell.55

Annually on or near 20th Pharast, Saint Cuthbert's Mace can teleport anywhere within a plane, or shift across planes, to appear where those who fight for law and good need it the most.56

Shin-Tari, one of the Seven Swords of Sin, can teleport a creature that it wounds.57

Vesper's Rapier grants its wielder limited teleportation abilities.58

In religion

Alseta, elven deity of doors and portals, is often (if unofficially) considered the patron deity of teleportation.59

In the Great Beyond

A rare side effect of a teleportation maneuver used by shield and lantern archons results in the explosive creation of a bastion archon.60

Mobile valharut inevitables use teleportation at will to move quickly across a battlefield.61

Sahkils are masters of teleportation, and parts of Phantasmagoria's Maw—the entrance to their realm of Xibalba—is inaccessible without teleportation.62

References

  1. Teleportation, Wikipedia.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Magic” in Core Rulebook, 210. Paizo Inc., 2009
  3. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 3: The Great Beyond” in Planar Adventures, 149. Paizo Inc., 2018
  4. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Spells” in Core Rulebook, 359. Paizo Inc., 2009 Specifically the teleport object spell.
  5. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Chapter 3: Classes” in Core Rulebook, 47. Paizo Inc., 2009
  6. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 2: Running Planar Adventures” in Planar Adventures, 74. Paizo Inc., 2018 Specifically Abadar's divine gift.
  7. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Chapter 1: Spellcasters” in Ultimate Magic, 57. Paizo Inc., 2011
  8. Mike Shel. Tomb of the Iron Medusa, 12–13. Paizo Inc., 2011
  9. Richard Pett. “Escape From Old Korvosa” in Escape from Old Korvosa, 55. Paizo Inc., 2008
  10. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Magic” in Core Rulebook, 209. Paizo Inc., 2009
  11. 11.0 11.1 Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Chapter 5: Spells” in Ultimate Magic, 225. Paizo Inc., 2011
  12. 12.0 12.1 Sam Polak. Tower of the Ironwood Watch, 8–9. Paizo Inc., 2013
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Spells” in Core Rulebook, 358. Paizo Inc., 2009
  14. Tito Leati. “Crown of Fangs” in Crown of Fangs, 18. Paizo Inc., 2008
  15. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Spells” in Core Rulebook, 270. Paizo Inc., 2009
  16. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Spells” in Core Rulebook, 285. Paizo Inc., 2009
  17. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Spells” in Core Rulebook, 352. Paizo Inc., 2009
  18. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Chapter 4: Words of Power” in Ultimate Magic, 183. Paizo Inc., 2011
  19. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 1: Planar Characters” in Planar Adventures, 18. Paizo Inc., 2018 Specifically the portal seeker archetype.
  20. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Skills” in Core Rulebook, 95. Paizo Inc., 2009
  21. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 3: The Great Beyond” in Planar Adventures, 120. Paizo Inc., 2018
  22. James Jacobs & Greg A. Vaughan. “Exploring the Darklands” in Into the Darklands, 14. Paizo Inc., 2008
  23. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Chapter 3: Feats” in Ultimate Magic, 153–154. Paizo Inc., 2011
  24. Richard Pett. The Moonscar, 5. Paizo Inc., 2012
  25. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Spells” in Core Rulebook, 359. Paizo Inc., 2009 Specifically the teleport object spell.
  26. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Spells” in Core Rulebook, 359. Paizo Inc., 2009 Specifically the teleport object spell.
  27. Kyle Baird. The Sealed Gate, 14. Paizo Inc., 2014
  28. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 4: Bestiary” in Planar Adventures, 246. Paizo Inc., 2018 Specifically a watcher's beacon of Jandelay.
  29. Amanda Hamon & David N. Ross. “Spells” in Quests & Campaigns, 29. Paizo Inc., 2013
  30. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Spells” in Core Rulebook, 361. Paizo Inc., 2009 Specifically the transport via plants spell.
  31. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Spells” in Core Rulebook, 362. Paizo Inc., 2009 Specifically the tree stride spell.
  32. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Chapter 5: Spells” in Ultimate Magic, 237. Paizo Inc., 2011
  33. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Chapter 1: Spellcasters” in Ultimate Magic, 48. Paizo Inc., 2011 Specifically the bladebound magus' teleport blade ability.
  34. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 1: Planar Characters” in Planar Adventures, 17. Paizo Inc., 2018 Specifically the planar scout archetype.
  35. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 1: Planar Characters” in Planar Adventures, 18. Paizo Inc., 2018 Specifically the portal seeker archetype.
  36. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 2: Running Planar Adventures” in Planar Adventures, 28. Paizo Inc., 2018
  37. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 1: Planar Characters” in Planar Adventures, 18. Paizo Inc., 2018 Specifically the portal seeker archetype.
  38. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 2: Running Planar Adventures” in Planar Adventures, 60. Paizo Inc., 2018
  39. James L. Sutter. Varisia” in The Hook Mountain Massacre, 63. Paizo Inc., 2007
  40. Adam Daigle & James L. Sutter. Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition Player's Guide, 7. Paizo Inc., 2012
  41. Stephen S. Greer & Amber E. Scott. “City of Trade” in Dark Markets, A Guide to Katapesh, 34. Paizo Inc., 2009
  42. Thurston Hillman. First Taste of Eternity, 5. Paizo Inc., 2016
  43. Thurston Hillman. First Taste of Eternity, 7. Paizo Inc., 2016
  44. Mike Shel. Tomb of the Iron Medusa, 17. Paizo Inc., 2011
  45. Mike Shel. “Curse of the Lady's Light” in Curse of the Lady's Light, 24. Paizo Inc., 2012
  46. Sean K Reynolds. Deskari” in City of Locusts, 71. Paizo Inc., 2014
  47. Mark Moreland. The Sarkorian Prophecy, 4. Paizo Inc., 2010
  48. James Jacobs, et al. The Inner Sea World Guide, 301. Paizo Inc., 2011
  49. JD Wiker. “A Memory of Darkness” in A Memory of Darkness, 8. Paizo Inc., 2009
  50. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Magic Items” in Core Rulebook, 504. Paizo Inc., 2009 Specifically boots of teleportation.
  51. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Magic Items” in Core Rulebook, 518. Paizo Inc., 2009 Specifically helm of teleportation.
  52. Mark Moreland. The Maze of the Open Road, 9. Paizo Inc., 2010 Specifically the ring of the binding word.
  53. F. Wesley Schneider. “Lesser Artifacts” in Artifacts & Legends, 57. Paizo Inc., 2012 Specifically the crown of the simurgh.
  54. F. Wesley Schneider. “Legendary Artifacts” in Artifacts & Legends, 24–25. Paizo Inc., 2012
  55. F. Wesley Schneider. “Legendary Artifacts” in Artifacts & Legends, 32. Paizo Inc., 2012
  56. F. Wesley Schneider. “Legendary Artifacts” in Artifacts & Legends, 41. Paizo Inc., 2012
  57. F. Wesley Schneider. “Legendary Artifacts” in Artifacts & Legends, 52. Paizo Inc., 2012
  58. F. Wesley Schneider. “Legendary Artifacts” in Artifacts & Legends, 55. Paizo Inc., 2012
  59. Sean K Reynolds. “Other Gods” in Gods and Magic, 45. Paizo Inc., 2008
  60. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 4: Bestiary” in Planar Adventures, 226–227. Paizo Inc., 2018
  61. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 4: Bestiary” in Planar Adventures, 237. Paizo Inc., 2018
  62. Robert Brookes, et al. “Chapter 3: The Great Beyond” in Planar Adventures, 98. Paizo Inc., 2018