From: Jim Ogle (Ks. Jim) <jogle@aoc.nrao.edu>
Subject: Re:  My first try at Spell Creation
X-Gated-By: The Black Marble Wombat@morticia.cnns.unt.edu
X-Gated-From: torg mailing list
Organization: University of North Texas
X-Gatemail-Version: 1.0b
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 13:31:24 GMT

Bob writes:

> Okay, I found the line that said that arcane knowledges are only used in
> the creation and learning of spells.  Here's my first attempt at spell
> creation.  I'm a little unsure of it all, so tips, pointers, and
> criticism are welcome...

> We decided on a "beer tap", a permanently enchanted hollow wand and funnel 
> combination that transports liquid from the funnel to the wand when within
> range.  It was developed by a dwarven mage name of Hemdar, for the purpose
> of making it easy to keep guests' glasses filled in a pub.  Here's the
> enchantment spell:

[teleport beer spell]

> Here's what I did.  Hemdar has Divination 14, Alteration 14, Conjuration 19,
> and Apportation 18, with the Water knowledge at +5.  He knows the Control
> and State process theorems at +4 each.  I chose Apportation as the pattern
> skill (as it involved moving liquids), with Water as the pattern and Water
> as the result.  Magic is the mechanism.  The spell is impressed and focussed
> in the metal tap.

Hemdar appears to be a highly skilled magician - what's he doing
running a bar?

[spell creation steps - looks good to me]

> Questions for the knowledgable:
> 
>     - Did I do anything blatantly wrong? I'm particularly concerned about the
>       Area, Volume, and Effect values, which I had trouble with.

I thought of one thing; the area/volume should probably represent the
range of the beer tapping ability, while the range of the spell would
represent how close the mage has to be to the focussing items when he
casts the spell.  

>     - If a spell is designed to be permanent, won't the creator always assign
>      the bonus number to Duration? Then the -15 bonus number that you have to
>       use to make permanent magic doesn't negatively affect the result.

Actually, the penalty is not applied to the bonus number, its applied
to the backlash and difficulty values (added of course).  The bonus
number is unaffected.

>     - Why use pattern theorems at all?  Spending a week using any theorem is
>       a crap shoot, but at least with process theorems you can learn skill
>       adds and skew the odds in your favor.  (I had planned on using Touch,
>       Voice, Similarity, and Contagion, but it was so much easier to use the
>       process theorems...)

One thing is that you don't have to learn them, you just work them
into the spell.  It does add time to the spell creation but they also
add variety and 'color'.  For ord mages, who don't get to spend
Possibilities, its about the only way they can make spells of low
total complexity.

How much more difficult would the entire spell have been if Hemdar
were an ord?  

>     - What's the real affect of apportation/water?  Does a stream of water
>       flow from the funnel to the wand?  If I wanted something more like a
>       teleportation effect, would the spell become alteration/true knowledge,
>       with a result of water?

The only true teleportation spells I can recall are in Tharkold and I
don't remember if they were apportation or alteration.  I'd be willing
to allow a teleportation effect if the similarity and contagion
theorems were worked into the spell.

>     -Is it safe to say that most beverages could be "tapped" with this spell,
>       or do I somehow need some component of Plant to pick up the extra 
>       components in beer, wine, Pepsi :-)?  (I know I can't tap a bottle of
>       mercury with the spell - that would require a result of Metal...)

I guess if you wanted to be safe you could use Inanimate instead of
the more specific knowledges like Water.  I'd allow it to work on most
beverages with just Water.


Kansas Jim (jogle@aoc.nrao.edu)