Ant Haul vs Floating Disk

[NemoNoName]

Ant Haul
vs
Floating Disk

What is the point of having both of these spells in Core rulebook?

They do almost the same thing, except one (Floating Disk) does it way better than the other one except under some rare circumstances.

So, why clutter up Core rulebook with 2 of the same spells?

[HammerJack]

They aren't the same spell. The floating disc carries more in it's basic application, and could help with things that are particularly awkward shapes to strap to yourself. Ant haul cast on a large animal (like your pack animal of choice) can end up carrying considerably more.

[NemoNoName]

HammerJack wrote:

They aren't the same spell. The floating disc carries more in it's basic application, and could help with things that are particularly awkward shapes to strap to yourself. Ant haul cast on a large animal (like your pack animal of choice) can end up carrying considerably more.

I see where you're going with it, because large creatures treat Bulk 1 as Bulk L?

It sounds incredibly gamey and definitively not intended. :-/

[Siro]

Possibly for different spell traditions to use. Arcane casters can use both Ant Haul and Floating Disk, while Occult is limited to just Disk, and Primal is limited to Haul {with Divine getting neither}.

Floating Disk as the advantage of being able to carry more stuff {5 Bulk vs Ant Haul 3}. However its easier to have items taken from the disk, as its just floating behind you {while Ant Haul you can have the additional items on your person.} Disk is also easier to get rid of, as the only thing someone has to do is ride it.

Edit= If I had just raided a Dragons horde, I would want Floating Disk, because I could carry more coins back with it. When I get to the actual city, I would prefer Ant Haul to carry them, as a floating disk of coins is going to draw attention, sticky fingers, and a kid you know is going to attempt riding on the thing.

[NemoNoName]

Siro wrote:

Possibly for different spell traditions to use. Arcane casters can use both Ant Haul and Floating Disk, while Occult is limited to just Disk, and Primal is limited to Haul {with Divine getting neither}.

I bet this is the reason, except it feels extra bad given this is Core Rulebook and we're getting spell repeats just to fill slots.

Siro wrote:

Floating Disk as the advantage of being able to carry more stuff {5 Bulk vs Ant Haul 3}. However its easier to have items taken from the disk, as its just floating behind you {while Ant Haul you can have the additional items on your person.} Disk is also easier to get rid of, as the only thing someone has to do is ride it.

Yeah, but these differences are highly situational. What you'll care mostly is - how much stuff do I get on it.

[Siro]

While it may be situational its also a matter of how much this situation happens. While more Bulk is great, there are also going to be plenty of times I don't want to parade those items around, especially if they can easily be taken, or being able to carry them dependent on a spell that anyone can easily break.

[mrspaghetti]

And to the Paizo team's credit, there are few instances of near identical spells in the book. A heck of a lot fewer than 1e where heightening wasn't really a thing.

[Xethik]

Floating Disk also can't do things like float up cliff walls or travel with you as you teleport. Perhaps these are extremely circumstantial, but I think Ant Haul becomes a stronger option as you gain more and more levels.

[Claxon]

The fact that anyone stepping on the disk breaks it is a big draw back, as well as now being able to hold the items on your person for use in combat. An alchemist who has trouble holding all the stuff he needs (formula book, and alchemist tool kit are 3 bulk by themselves) isn't going to want to carry that around all the time on a floating disk (not that they have the option to on their own, but this is a theoretical example).

Floating disk is good for when you've just looted a bunch of valuable items you intend to sell but don't really need.

Ant hual is to help when you want to carry something on your person and need access to it during combat, or when you don't want to risk is being out in the open.

[Zwordsman]

I wonder if a Ko'd person counts as "riding" or not?
If not I guess it would vanish the second they wake up though.