Are there any rules about the mass of the Gaseous Form?
In the absence of a rule that specifies “reduced total mass” as part of the Magic effect, I would assume normal rules of reality apply.
As such, the same number of moles that previously comprised the Paladin and Dragon are now gaseous species at local temperature & pressure. That’s the magic, yaay!
But it’s the same number of protons, so it’s gonna be just as heavy. Even if you can squeeze all those molecules into a small-ish container, it’s gonna have the weight of the paladin, his armor, and his dragon.
I think the spell represents sublimation, which doesn’t convert mass to energy (actually requiring energy, but I guess that’s the “magic” part of the spell). So the paladin’s mass (body, armor, weapons, etc.) would remain. I’m not sure how to decide how big the bottle needs to be (though, likely not very large), I just don’t know how the party is reasonably throwing the bottle. It’s similar to picking up the paladin (in their normal, physical form) and trying to throw them across the room.
If there are in a sealed container that wouldn’t matter, unless it flies using a magical force without an equal and opposite force, at which point you might as well just throw out conservation of mass.
Hold on hold on…
Are there any rules about the mass of the Gaseous Form?
In the absence of a rule that specifies “reduced total mass” as part of the Magic effect, I would assume normal rules of reality apply.
As such, the same number of moles that previously comprised the Paladin and Dragon are now gaseous species at local temperature & pressure. That’s the magic, yaay!
But it’s the same number of protons, so it’s gonna be just as heavy. Even if you can squeeze all those molecules into a small-ish container, it’s gonna have the weight of the paladin, his armor, and his dragon.
I think the spell represents sublimation, which doesn’t convert mass to energy (actually requiring energy, but I guess that’s the “magic” part of the spell). So the paladin’s mass (body, armor, weapons, etc.) would remain. I’m not sure how to decide how big the bottle needs to be (though, likely not very large), I just don’t know how the party is reasonably throwing the bottle. It’s similar to picking up the paladin (in their normal, physical form) and trying to throw them across the room.
It might have the same mass, but considering they gain a fly speed, their (effective) weight is zero.
If there are in a sealed container that wouldn’t matter, unless it flies using a magical force without an equal and opposite force, at which point you might as well just throw out conservation of mass.