Price of Aluminum of Yrth?

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

It says "organic". Anthony quoted upthread.

But as the word has numerous definitions, in context, it can't possibly mean in modern organic chemistry terms.

[(E)]

Limpet teeth. Supposedly one of the hardest biological substances. They may to be enlarged first though

[ericbsmith]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

But as the word has numerous definitions, in context, it can't possibly mean in modern organic chemistry terms.

Probably not, but the examples that are given in the book are all unquestionably formerly living things - "Wood, Bone, Ivory, etc." The meaning of that seems pretty obvious to me, it's meant to be cast on Staves and Wands; if you're pushing the definition a club or bokken fall within the technical definition. IMO the previously mentioned blood iron swords seems to be well away from the intention; even the "decorative axe head" seems well beyond the intention of the spell. "Fossils" actually would fall within what I would consider a magical "organic" material, but would be pretty useless as a weapon due to the fragility of most fossils.

Originally Posted by (E)

Limpet teeth. Supposedly one of the hardest biological substances. They may to be enlarged first though

Rather unlikely for several reasons. First and foremost, would the teeth be able to keep their properties if enlarged? The other reason is simply what are the chances of a mage of figuring this out on their own? Unless you're in a TL7-8 Magitech setting then it seems very unlikely to be discovered that limpet teeth are somehow more useful than any other teeth.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Iron isn't organic...

By the oldest definition of the word - chemistry produced by organisms - a lot of it maybe is. A fair number of iron ores are biogenic - bog iron is almost always oxidized enzymatically by iron bacteria, and banded iron deposits (i.e. most of the world's commercially important iron ores) are thought to be products of cyanobacteria mats, though there is argument about the later (less than a billion year old) ones.

[sir_pudding]

I am certain that "bog iron" isn't on the same list as "wood, horn, bone".

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I am certain that "bog iron" isn't on the same list as "wood, horn, bone".

Depends on what it's a list of.

And in a fantasy world there are good odds there's a monster out there somewhere with iron bones.

[robkelk]

Originally Posted by Anthony

...
Item: any rod-shaped piece of organic material.

Anything that changes its shape to no longer behave like a rod is functional, not decorative, and thus not allowed.

If you enchant your favourite rod, can you still use it to catch fish? Does it matter if you took the reel off the rod first?

More seriously, how are you defining "rod"?

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

...
I am pretty sure the intent of the spell is for things like wood, horn and bone.

I thought a wizard imposed his or her own intent upon the universe...

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by robkelk

I thought a wizard imposed his or her own intent upon the universe...

In-game a wizard might. Out-of-game a munchkin might. This whole attempt to game the Staff spell strikes me as the latter.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by robkelk

If you enchant your favourite rod, can you still use it to catch fish? Does it matter if you took the reel off the rod first?

You can enchant it with the fishing line detached, and you can attach the line after enchanting, but the enchantment won't apply to the fishing line.

Originally Posted by robkelk

More seriously, how are you defining "rod"?

Straight, blunt, lacks substantial protrusions, width does not vary substantially along its length. If used as a weapon, it should use the stats of a baton, short baton, jo, quarterstaff, or long staff.

[simply Nathan]

Originally Posted by malloyd

Depends on what it's a list of.

And in a fantasy world there are good odds there's a monster out there somewhere with iron bones.

I'd say that shaping those iron bones into blades would nullify their use for the enchantment, but you might be able to make a Staff knobbed club/mace with poor balance our of them.

And then there are creatures with actual sword-quality blades for their claws - managing to have a good hilt on them without breaking the spirit of the enchantment would be the hard part.

I'd say "I don't think such monsters actually exist on Yrth" but then, the Banestorm can bring in anything