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Old 07-24-2020, 04:38 PM   #26
maximara
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Default Re: GURPS Magic: The Least of Spells

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Originally Posted by Say, it isn't that bad! View Post
A 1-point Powerstone costs $70, putting it within the price range of most anybody, and allowing a single "free" spell per day.

While not the most grand thing, and generally useless for wizards; combining it with many of these "least spells" gives a definite increase in utility to both.
Actually, even though they cost $700/point, Paut Talismans are more likely as a Powerstone requires Magery 2 and 10 Prerequisites to make. The following is from RAW:

Pros of Paut Talismans vs Powerstones
*Magery 2 and spells not required to make: Since Paut involves Alchemy, Magery 2 and the 10 spells needed to learn Powerstone are not required.
*Faster process at higher energy: It takes 100 days to make a 6 energy Paut Talisman rather then 120 days for a 6 point Powerstone via the Slow and Sure process.
*Option for better base success rate: Since Talisman making is not enchanting, with high enough skill a 16 can succeed and only an 18 is a critical failure.
*Better cumulative success rate: Since a 6 energy Powerstone takes multiple castings there is only a 90.7% chance the item will survive the process rather then the 95.4% for a 6 energy Paut Talisman.
*No quirks: Unlike a Powerstone, a Paut Talisman will have no quirks - either the process works or it doesn't.
*Fixed "recharge" rate: The break even point for a Paut Talisman vs a Powerstone is 2 energy in normal mana. A Paut Talisman recharges far faster in low mana then a Powerstone.
*Multiple Talismans can be used together: There is nothing in the RAW that says that multiple Talismans cannot be used together. This allows a mage to use as many Paut Talismans as they can can wear.

Cons of Paut Talismans vs Powerstones
*Expensive: At $700/energy point a Paut Talisman is far more expensive then a Powerstone of the same energy. In fact, a Paut Talisman does not become less expensive until around 40 energy which is effectively impossible to make.
*Practical Energy limitation: Since each dose (energy point) is -1 for each dose beyond the first Paut Talismans beyond 6 energy are extremely rare.
*Paut Talismans cannot be made more efficient: They must be separate items and cannot be part of another magic item.
*Requires activation in Low Mana: a Talisman requires a roll against the effective skill of the alchemist who originally created it.
*Fixed "recharge" rate: the Classic version of Charge Powerstone and the Mana Pool quirk dramatically changes the break even point in terms of "recharge" rate.
*Must be Worn to "recharge": A Talisman must be worn to come out of dormancy. "A talisman stashed in a chest or backpack will lie dormant indefinitely."[5]
*Amount of Energy cannot be improved: The energy of a Paut Talisman is set at creation. More energy can be added to a Powerstone after creation vis the Powerstone spell.
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Last edited by maximara; 07-24-2020 at 11:27 PM.
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