Mack wrote:Actually, all one has to do is wait for the duration to expire.
RUE p171, lower right corner wrote:The player may keep trying until he succeeds or time elapses.
Even if he continually fails to find his way back he will automatically return once the power's duration ends.
Greetings and Salutations. Though consequences aren't stated out directly, your conclusion of being automatically returned runs contrary to the text we do have.
Rifts Ultimate Edition, page 171 wrote:Second, if the Astral Body gets lost or captured while in the Astral Plane, the body will begin to waste away and die.
Rifts Ultimate Edition, Page 171 wrote:Furthermore, the Astral Plane has its dangers as well, from Astral Beings and monsters to becoming endlessly lost.
The first quote tells us you CAN become lost and die as a result. Additionally, becoming lost is considered a "danger" that can happen "endlessly." These statements couldn't be true at all if you were guaranteed safe return whenever you become lost. But what does happen?
Rifts Ultimate Edition, page 171 wrote:The player may keep trying until he he succeeds or time elapses.
So once time elapses, you can't try again. Is this because you get automatically snapped back to your body safely and without danger? Well, the text doesn't state for sure, but this seems unlikely based upon the previous sections, and even some of the following sections.
Rifts Ultimate Edition, page 172 wrote:Astral travel with a partner is a much safer way to travel, because if one can find his body, he can lead the other one with him.
Rifts Ultimate Edition, page 172 wrote:The other danger lies in ...
Again, this is calling it a danger, and how it's safer to travel with a friend so that you have a better chance of finding your body. The fact this is dangerous, and the book suggests added precautions to help safely return suggests that automatic safe return is NOT the default. Note: The second quote here isn't about returning to the body, but it does call monsters "the other danger," indicating that the returning to the body is the first danger (reaffirming what the book clearly states earlier).
What I believe would happen (based upon the text provided)?
To me, it seems that if you don't find your way back within the duration that you become endlessly lost (at least within the Astral Plane). However, why? As long as that silver cord (you know, the one the power talks about constantly in almost every paragraph sometimes multiple times as a super important aspect) is there you should be able to still try and find your way back, right? I'd theorize that staying out of your body beyond the time limit snaps the Silver Cord. Now, this is NOT instant death. You get a 30% chance (best 2 out 3) to still find your body. This is kind of a last ditch effort, but still possible. If the roll fails, the body likely dies of shock.
So if I fail this roll I'm automatically dead?
Well, first, you probably had to fail a LOT of rolls before this for this to be an issue. However a G.M. can cause you to lose sense of time in the Astral Plane due to the lack of environment such as a sun to tell time with, as well as the general time distortion. So maybe it became a time crunch and a race against the clock. Bad luck and well ... now you're stuck! G.M. allowing though, all hope is not lost. Though you're lost in the Astral Plane, the hope is you still have friends on the Material Plane. Instead of the Silver Cord being snapping under too much stress (exceeding the duration), it could just fade away. Now, instead of the body dying suddenly of shock it will just slowly wither away. This gives friends time to enlist help from another Astral Traveler (psychic, magic, other). Tell this hired hand where Bob was headed when he went into the Astral Plane (considering Bob relayed this info), and now the hired help can go looking for Bob. If he finds him, he can bring Bob back the same way as traveling with a friend. Now our hired hand is a professional. He might have the Astral Navigation power from Nightbane: Between the Shadows (greatly increasing his chances of finding his way back), or just leave himself with enough time to have literally thousands of attempts to find his way back. Eventually, Bob's body will wither away and die. But, until then, there's hope.
Would this apply if traveling in the Material Plane?
Yes! The book tells us you have a 60% chance of finding your body (if it's been moved that is, otherwise it seems a guaranteed success as long as you give yourself enough time). This is still listed as a danger within the book, and the rule for a Silver Cord breaking would still be the same. While this is much safer than going to the Astral Plane, that's not the same as being safe. See ways to save a lost character above.
Anyways, those are my thoughts on Astral Travel. Hope they help. Farewell and safe journeys for now.