Orbius and similar grapple spells

[smoore]

I'm trying to wrap my head around how Orbius works and after reading it and the grapple rules I have a few questions:

1. Apparently a tag or invoke is not needed like for other grapples?
2. Does the caster have to beat the targets Athletics on the first round to establish the grapple or does the spell just automatically establish the grapple if the control roll was successful?
3. Does the caster have to reroll anything each turn to maintain the grapple?
4. Is there anyway for the target to remove the obstruction before the duration ends?
5. or is it removed if the target wins the Endurance roll once?

[Deadmanwalking]

1. No, that's clearly covered by it beng a spell that only inflicts 1 Stress per round.
2. No, the Spell is opposed by endurance alone.
3. Not per se, it lasts as long as the Duration states, and each round they roll to avoid damage.
4. Not by default, though a counterspell would almost certainly work, and a Might roll might.
5. Clearly not.

[smoore]

Thats what I afraid the answers would be. Doesnt it seem like a problem that if taken as a rote   the caster doesnt have to roll at all? I know taking a power 8 rote isnt really likely  but it could be done at a 5 or 6. This seems like a very unfair way to take out a low physical stress opponent, the ones most likely to fail the endurance test anyway.

Why does this spell not get opposed by Athletics but Entaglement does (Which directly refers to this as the same type of spell but with damage)?

[Archmage_Cowl]

Well i would say because orbis is not a dodge-able effect you have to out last it or do something to distract the caster and break it or something like that. That being said it is still your game if you think someone should be able to dodge it, make it so.

[Deadmanwalking]

Ah, that's because each spell individually targets a particular Skill, which is often (but not always) Athletics. This one targets Endurance. Just like Earth Stomp targets Might (which is often even meaner than Orbius, really). An appropriate Block (including most defensive spells) can absolutely stop it, and do so easily (since it's only a 3 shift effect sans Duration). What low stress, non-mook, enemies do you have without some sort of magical defense?