From: raistlin@wixer.cactus.org (Eli Boaz)
Subject: Re: New Spell idea, comments needed
Organization: Real/Time Communications
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 21:21:23 GMT

In article <1992Nov23.042142.5229@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au> wigs@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au writes:
>I've penned a new spell for the campaigns I play in, listed below. It has 
>not been playtested yet, but I think I see a game balance problem with it.
>
>Firstly, the spell:
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>KNOTS AND BINDS (Enchantment)			Level:	3? 4?
>						(higher than 2)
>Author:		[Aaron Wigley]
>Range:		5 yards
>Components:	V, S, M
>Duration:	Special
>Casting Time:	2
>Area of Effect:	Special
>Saving Throw:	None
>
[...]
>	The stored energy will last for 2 days per level of the caster, 
>in the case of instantaneous spells, until it disipates harmlessly; or 
>when the knots are undone, or the rope is cut, at which time the spells 
>effects are unleashed. The object the knots are on is the target of the 
>spell and the person who cut the knot. If the knots arn't on anything, 
>the person who undid/cut the knots is the target.

I would reduce the time for instantaneous spells to 1/day per level of the
caster.

Also, I would increase the casting time to about 3 rounds.

>	In the case of Permanant or special duration spells, the spell is 
>generally ended when the knot is untied or cut, although there may be traps 
>attached.
>	The caster can untie the knot at any time safely, either
>physically or upon command. The caster can then retie the knot upon
>command or physically.
>	To actually get the knot onto someone, the caster of the knot
>spell must get within 5 yards of the target. The enchanted bonds will
>then entwine themselves onto the target.
>	If Dispel Magic is cast onto the knots, two checks are needed.
>If the knot spell itself becomes dispelled, then the contained spell
>needs to be tested. If the contained spell survives the dispel magic, it
>activates. If the knot spell survives, the contained spell automatically
>survives.
>	Material compontents are a section of rope/twine/ribbon that
>becomes knoted. It is not consumed at the end of the spell.

I would add some other item that's 500gp to 1000gp, the more expensive
the item, the less chance of the Knot spell failing.  (Yes, I would add
a chance for it to fail at the time of casting.  Not much, say a save
vs. Intelligence (ie. roll higher than Int on d20) with the bonuses from
more expensive material components, this should provide most mages a decent
chance...)

>
>	Typical applications:
>
>	A 'curse' spell is woven into the ribbon, and it is attached to
>someone. For the duration of the curse spell, the person suffers the curse 
>effects.
>	A fireball spell is cast on a section of rope, used to tie shut 
>a bag. If someone opens the bag, the fireball goes off into their face.
>the caster can untie the bag safely, and retie it.
>	An 'armor' spell is cast on a section of rope. The caster keeps
>the rope in his pocket, and if attacked, unties the knot.
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>	Ideas on what level this spell should be?

With the 'guidelines' I added in, maybe 5th or 6th level.  The way it's
originally listed, say 8th...

>
>	Any sugestions to stop abuse of this spell. I can easily imagine
>abuse in the form of characters making up heaps of knots with Cure Wounds 
>contained within them, or does anyone think I shouldn't worry about this?

Yes, it would be easy to abuse, but having a chance of the spell failing
and adding an expensive component would help to prevent the players from
making whole heaps of them.

>
>Other comments ?

It's an interesting spell, but I already allow mages to "hang" spells in my
campaigns, but it's limited to the mages level divided by 5 (ie. a 20th level
mage can only "hang"/delay spells 4th level or lower.)  And a "hung"/delayed
spell takes two memorization slots (ie. Foobar, a 5th level mage, decides to
hang a sleep spell, normally he could cast 3 first level spells, but because
he decided to hang the sleep spell, he can only cast one more 1st level
spell).

>The Wigs of Oz,
>Aaron Wigley


-- 
ttyl,     | "My friends, no matter how rough the road maybe, we can and we  |
Eli Boaz  +---------------\ will, never, never surrender to what is right." |
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