From: Rannou@info.polymtl.ca (Patrick Rannou)
Subject: Re: Scrolls and spells
Organization: Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Canada
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 08:04:56 GMT

In article <1992Aug28.014141.17465@latcs1.lat.oz.au> barton@latcs1.lat.OZ.AU (Douglas P Barton) writes:


   Can an MU copy a spell from a scroll to his spell-book?

   i have just argued with another, more experienced player, that
   an MU should be able to do this, otherwise an MU of any level
   should be able to cast the spell on the scroll with near automatic
   success...

   Reasons:
   if the spells on the scroll are just trigger words to release the
   inate power from the scroll, then the spells would be uncopyable
   BUT the MU (of any level) should be able to cast the spell with none
   of the normal disadvantages such as ageing etc as the power is
   transmitted/channeled through the scroll (hence the disintegration
   of the scroll when all spells are used up)

   Otherwise the scroll has the actual spell scribed upon it and
   the actual spell components are somehow bound into the creation
   of the scroll.  the mage provides the vocal component and the
   required motions (if any are described along with the spell)...

   This could lead to a number of interesting scroll variants if
   each type of scroll may be found...

   This might be an alternate way for MU's to learn new spells...

Yup. But strictly according to 2nd ed rules, a scroll is morel ike your
first version: needs only triggering.

THe problem is that this isn't automatic when the mage's mind isn't "ready"
to understand the trigger yet. You could even say that as a spell is cast,
since it's the castr's MIND which determines the direction of the spell
(exL: magic missile on scroll. Surely the original maker of the scroll
didn't intend the exact trajectory of the missile in advance... that would
be ridiculous). So, the original maker of the scroll was the one who casted
the spell and suffered from any aging and such. Then the spell is "trapped"
in the scroll, and when any mage then speaks the trigger, then the spell
gets freed from the scroll, but smae way the spell got trapped from going
from a mage's mind to the paper, then it`s freed by going from the paper to
a mage's mind. The mage's mind then "shapes" the missing details of the
spell, like actual range, targets, shape, etc... and THEN the spell (ait
all happens very fast... only the time needed to read the scroll!) goes out
of the mage's brain as a fully completed spell and takes effects. You could
say the original mage provides the energy and substance, the end mage
provides the information and shape, of the spell.

That's why a low level mage can have problems casting a spell from a
scroll: his mind may not be up to giving information and shape to the
energy and substance of the spell.

So a scroll CAN'T be copied, but it can be used to gain INSIGHTS on a
spell, and thus helps spell reasearch. The rules say using "up" a spell
specifically to gain insight on it halves the time and cost used for spell
reasearch.

The rules say a spell can be COPIED from another mage's spellbook but
provide NO information oin the time that takes, so you have to assume it
for yourself.


Anybody has the magic user's handbook and know if that rulebook say
ANYTHING about copying spellbooks?

Me, I' let my players copy spells, but only when "going up a level" or
stopping adventuring for a similarly long period of time.

The total number of spells copied is one every one full day per
spell level in other situations. NO interruption at all is tolerated as
this disrupts concentration, which make the mage lose EVERYTHING on the
current spell tranfert, although when the mage has finished his 8 to 12
hours days wor on that job, he can do other things as long as this doesn't
involve complicated things. If not, he loses one day. Thus, it is clearly
intende for out of adventuring periods. Copying an entire spellbook might
take months!




--
/---------------------------\
| Patrick "Paradak" Rannou. |
| Rannou@info.polymtl.ca    |
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