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Saturday, May 11, 2024

Spellbook: Rope Trick

In one of his earliest adventures, Dr. Strange discussed the ancient Indian rope trick (Strange Tales #116). During the trick, a magician climbs to the top of a rope and vanishes. That description more or less matched the 2nd Level magic-user spell Rope Trick that would appear in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. When the spell is cast, one end of a rope rises into the air. The upper end of the rope fastens in an extra-dimensional space. The spell caster and up to five others can climb to the top of the rope and disappear into safety. The spell also allows climbers to stop and reach a normal place if they do not climb all the way to the rope's upper end.

After describing the ancient trick, Dr. Strange uses a sash as a rope substitute to climb diagnally upward and rescue three prisoners in Strange Tales #116 (Jan. 1964).
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