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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: MC23 <mc23@**********.COM>
Subject: Spell Creation Number Crunchers
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 11:49:15 -0500
I was never happy with my first forays into spell design with a
Transform Item spell. What the spell does is transform an item into
another obviously, so you can bring items into places where they are not
allowed. This seems simple enough until I had to consider how to
transform magical items, especially focuses. I played around with it
(along with thermo invisibility) a few years ago and dropped it after I
was satisfied with my results. I'm interested in what you people out
there who enjoys this kind of project can do with it.

On an added house ruling on Transform, Shapechange, Critter (form)
and the like. The chosen form's Body must be within must be within 1 pt
of the target's. Two success are needed to stage this range 1 pt up or
down. This is to keep mages from turning Troll Sams into cockroaches and
sickly deckers into Great Blue whales easily. It is still possible but a
lot riskier.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Ancient cultures believed that names held great power, personal names
more so and they were guarded very closely. To protect themselves, they
answered to another name, because if another discovered their real name,
it could be used against them.
History repeats itself.
Welcome to the Digital Age.
I am MC23
Message no. 2
From: "J. Keith Henry" <Ereskanti@***.COM>
Subject: Re: Spell Creation Number Crunchers
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 12:04:54 EST
OH MC guy in big pink burro outfit (I LOVE that picture!!!)....

In a message dated 98-02-01 11:50:58 EST, mc23@**********.COM writes:

> I was never happy with my first forays into spell design with a
> Transform Item spell. What the spell does is transform an item into
> another obviously, so you can bring items into places where they are not
> allowed. This seems simple enough until I had to consider how to
> transform magical items, especially focuses. I played around with it
> (along with thermo invisibility) a few years ago and dropped it after I
> was satisfied with my results. I'm interested in what you people out
> there who enjoys this kind of project can do with it.

Oh let's see, sounding comedial but being very serious here...

changing form (by the book btw) Base "S" drain
physical spell +1 DT
sustained spell +1 DT

Makes' it S2...that's it...nothing else actually is involved, as this is a
Transformation Manipulation and NOT a Detection spell. Target number would
the Object Resistance rating of course...who knows after that...it would
probably not change a non-living object into a living one or vice-versa, but
that is up to the GM in charge for a decision.

A very simple rule, when designing a spell, do NOT make a mountain out of a
mole-hill. Meaning, do not be afraid of power or munchkinism, but always
remember common courtesy and game balance where applicable.

Mike had this really annoying habit of ALWAYS throwing in those
"discretionary" modifiers for spells that were actually fairly easy otherwise.
Don't be afraid or edgy about something new...

> On an added house ruling on Transform, Shapechange, Critter (form)
> and the like. The chosen form's Body must be within must be within 1 pt
> of the target's. Two success are needed to stage this range 1 pt up or
> down. This is to keep mages from turning Troll Sams into cockroaches and
> sickly deckers into Great Blue whales easily. It is still possible but a
> lot riskier.

Granted, it's your house ruling, and I believe it is used by many other
players/groups that are out there. But, IMHO, it is way to short-changing
someone.

Remember general mechanics, deckers into blue whales anywhere but in Salt
Water will likely do immense damage to the decker/whale, as the weight is not
properly distributed...Trolls Sams into cockroaches isn't beyond grasp,
especially taking into account the Body Threshold numbers required. It just
means it's harder to turn that Troll Sam into a cockroach in the first place.

Transform magics are really cool, everyone just seems to want to make them
into something they don't need to be.

-K

Further Reading

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Thwap!