Using high cost spells

[T.K.]

Originally Posted by weby

Do you roll breakage for peoples belts? scabbards? hats? boots? and other stuff strapped on people that are not enchanted as part of them?

Do your player characters are born with belts, scabbards, hats and boots? Because that would be the correlate to a item enchanted with a gem from the very beginning...

...which is _WORLDS_ different from strapping gems of irregular size and shape, that were made in different times, places and by different people being attached to a staff that most likely was made to function as a weapon and thus have very hard wood as composition and very rough and defined edges.

Most certainly I'd require rolls for breakage if the mage in question got involved into any physical convolution like combat or running if he had stuff among the lines of potions or flasks hanging outside of potion-holder belts.

[weby]

Originally Posted by T.K.

...which is _WORLDS_ different from strapping gems of irregular size and shape, that were made in different times, places and by different people being attached to a staff that most likely was made to function as a weapon and thus have very hard wood as composition and very rough and defined edges.

Ah, so jewelry making is an unknown art in your world, sure, you are the GM. But in most worlds there are actually professionals who can do such things.

[Culture20]

Originally Posted by T.K.

a staff that most likely was made to function as a weapon and thus have very hard wood as composition and very rough and defined edges.

I disagree with the characterization of a staff-weapon as very rough with defined edges. A staff-weapon should be smooth, to allow easy transition between different hand positions, and well balanced. A fully round shape will reduce chipping if the staff hits hard objects.

Of course, a mage's magic staff isn't usually designed to be a weapon, or een look like one. A tall walking stick with gems ensconced in either end, and intended to be used in extending the reach of spells, not bashing orcs over the head. Probably enchanted with essential wood, too. If the mage is especially paranoid, the powerstones could be enchanted with further protections, and if the PC is especially paranoid, the staff and powerstones could be purchased as signature gear.

[Kromm]

Quarterstaffs intended as weapons were almost inevitable shod at both ends with metal caps or ferrules. Sure, an improvised staff made from any old stick wouldn't have this feature, but if you're paying money for one (as in fantasy games), you're getting such furniture. In light of that, I don't think it's particularly over the top to assume that the hardware at either end of a wizard's staff normally has a "Powerstone hollow" under it. In fact, there are plenty of real-world examples of caps that screwed off to reveal small carrying compartments. These would protect both staff and contents, and if anything make the weapon more durable.

As for length . . . a six-foot staff is a short staff. It can go and be wielded anywhere a six-foot man can go and fight. It's hardly so long as to be unwieldy, as it isn't swung around like some huge maul or axe. In traditional staff fighting, the long staff or pikestaff was considered the unwieldy one, but it was up to 12 feet long, so there was good reason for that.

Honestly, denying wizards six-foot staffs with gems at opposite ends – while within the GM's purview – is somewhat denying how ordinary, non-wizardly staffs normally work.

[scc]

Originally Posted by Kromm

Quarterstaffs intended as weapons were almost inevitable shod at both ends with metal caps or ferrules. Sure, an improvised staff made from any old stick wouldn't have this feature, but if you're paying money for one (as in fantasy games), you're getting such furniture. In light of that, I don't think it's particularly over the top to assume that the hardware at either end of a wizard's staff normally has a "Powerstone hollow" under it. In fact, there are plenty of real-world examples of caps that screwed off to reveal small carrying compartments. These would protect both staff and contents, and if anything make the weapon more durable.

As for length . . . a six-foot staff is a short staff. It can go and be wielded anywhere a six-foot man can go and fight. It's hardly so long as to be unwieldy, as it isn't swung around like some huge maul or axe. In traditional staff fighting, the long staff or pikestaff was considered the unwieldy one, but it was up to 12 feet long, so there was good reason for that.

Honestly, denying wizards six-foot staffs with gems at opposite ends – while within the GM's purview – is somewhat denying how ordinary, non-wizardly staffs normally work.

The reason the idea is for a 6 foot staff is because that's the maximum length a Staff spell can be enchanted onto, so denying Mages access to 6 foot starves is a bit unusual for GURPS

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Kromm

... It can go and be wielded anywhere a six-foot man can go and fight. ...

I wouldn't go quite that far. I don't see how one could wield it properly in tight hallways or caves requiring hunching. But certainly anywhere that allows nearly any other two handed weapon.

Though being a bit frugal, I would hesitate to smash enemies with a staff holding my life savings in gem form on either end.

[Bibiribobiri]

So.... my approach form first post would work?

Can I spend a few days creating several manastones for free and than go running arround with huge ammounts of mana?

Can i use more than one manastone for a single spell?
Can i use a manastone that is in my pocket? (thus leaving my hands free for combat gear)?

[weby]

Originally Posted by Bibiribobiri

So.... my approach form first post would work?

Can I spend a few days creating several manastones for free and than go running arround with huge ammounts of mana?

Yes, of course you need the gems(or other valuable things) to cast it at and a GM could rule things like quirks staying in gems(objects) if re-enchanted or that a given gem(object) can be enchanted only once or some other limitation, but if you have the gems to enchant the base approach is yes.

Of course if you can get 20 energy into the casting the whole thing becomes nice and easy, as they can be cast on any items, so you can create small stones with any amount of power by casting manastone multiple times at x4 cost.

If you cannot get the 20 energy then you need a lot of money to buy the items to enchant to power 10.

Can i use more than one manastone for a single spell?

No, mana stones have same limits are power stones.

Can i use a manastone that is in my pocket? (thus leaving my hands free for combat gear)?

No. "Any wizard touching a Powerstone ..." and so on.

[Anaraxes]

Originally Posted by weby

"Any wizard touching a Powerstone ..."

Which is one reason for the Staff spell and building a Powerstone into the staff.

To keep your hands free, you might consider stringing the manastone(s) into a necklace, amulet, bracelet, etc, and wearing that against your skin.

[Nereidalbel]

Originally Posted by Bibiribobiri

Can i use a manastone that is in my pocket? (thus leaving my hands free for combat gear)?

On a technicality, a specially designed pocket that keeps the stone in constant contact with your flesh would work. Otherwise, no, you actually have to touch it.