Magical Birth Control

[AlexanderHowl]

In GURPs, we have two examples of magical birth control. The first, Strike Barren (Magic, p. 41), is a Body/Necromancy spell that permanently sterilizes the target, takes 30 seconds to casts, cost 5 energy points and possesses a prerequisite count of 7 (making it moderately difficult to cast with Ritual Magic). The second, Sterility (Thaumatology, p. 150) is a Path/Book ritual that temporarily prevents conception during its duration. Of the two, Strike Barren is probably marginally more useful, though its relatively high prerequisite count is annoying.

Do you see much use of magical birth control in your games? If so, is it something that a mage can do to make a living? For example, a mage with Strike Barren-15 can Recover Energy-15 could easily cast it twice an hour, so a mage charging $5 per FP cost of the spell could make $50 per hour.

[Dalillama]

Permanent sterilisation isn't a terribly popular option today, less so in heavily agrarian societies such as most fantasy worlds. Those are both curses to place on enemies (or their livestock). An amulet that applied Sterility only while worn might be a big seller. (Also ISTR that there's an alchemical birth control mentioned somewhere, but I can't find it.)

[jason taylor]

An obvious use, borrowed from Dune is if the Mage's Guild ordered a PC to have or not to have a child or to have a child molded in their particular specification against the parents wishes. Or in general in some way have a quarrel with the Guild about how one's power is to be used.

[AlexanderHowl]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Permanent sterilisation isn't a terribly popular option today, less so in heavily agrarian societies such as most fantasy worlds. Those are both curses to place on enemies (or their livestock). An amulet that applied Sterility only while worn might be a big seller. (Also ISTR that there's an alchemical birth control mentioned somewhere, but I can't find it.)

Permanent sterilization is quote popular in the USA, I think that around 60% of adult women get it done in the USA after their second child.

[RyanW]

My fantasy setting will probably feature a concoction or several purported to prevent pregnancy. Some would be for lasting protections, others would be to prevent a child from this particular act (for example, when there would be awkward questions raised because the child looks suspiciously like the pool boy). Expect them to contain all sorts of unsavory ingredients, some of which might actually help prevent pregnancies.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Permanent sterilisation isn't a terribly popular option today.

Strike barren only lasts until removed, which is not that hard (remove curse or restoration. Counterspell probably also works, it doesn't specify not working against curses, and if so is the easiest).

[edk926]

Biotech has a few other spells for fetuses.

[Pursuivant]

Seems like an omission in the spell line-up, especially since most fantasy games mirror 21st century attitudes towards sexuality.

I've always thought that Strike Barren was a bit much in terms of duration, prerequisites, and casting cost, so I created a new spell which works like the magical version of modern contraceptives:


Birth Control Regular; Resisted by HT
Birth Control prevents the subject from bearing or siring offspring.

If cast on a female, this spell either prevents her eggs from being fertilized or prevents implantation of the fertilized egg in the womb, as the caster prefers. If cast on a newly-pregnant female (less than 1 month pregnant for humans, a proportional amount - typically much less - for most animals), the spell destroys the fetus with no harm to the mother. The spell has no effect on more advanced pregnancies.

Cast on a male, the Birth Control spell makes his sperm non-viable or prevents him from producing or ejaculating sperm, as specified by the caster, but doesn’t otherwise interfere with his sexual functioning.

If cast on a plant, the spell temporarily makes it incapable of producing pollen, fruit or seeds, unless such structures naturally grow without fertilization. In any case, any pollen, fruits or seeds the plant produces will be non-viable, although it can propagate by other means.

If the subject is unwilling or wishes to cancel the spell, they can roll vs. HT to resist. One roll is allowed each day. Non-sentient entities can’t resist the spell’s effects.

This is also an Animal, Biotech, Healing, Necromantic, and Plant spell.

Duration: Instantaneous (for abortion) or 1 month (for birth control).

Cost: 1 to cast; same cost to maintain.

Item: (a) Staff, wand, clothing, or jewelry. Energy cost to create: 150. (b) Any item, typically clothing or jewelry. Allows the wearer/user to cast this spell on himself. Energy cost to create: 100. (c) Any item, typically clothing or jewelry. Casts this spell on the wearer/user. Always on. Energy cost to create: 150. (d) Any item, typically a small piece of cheap jewelry, a simple talisman, or some other small inexpensive object. Casts the spell on the wearer/user. One use only. Energy cost to create: 10.

[hal]

For what it is worth, Anthony has the right of it - Strike Barren is a reversible spell, and as such, one might believe that the spell would prove to be popular. Unfortunately, assuming a "medieval" mindset, just goes to prove the converse - not being able to produce an heir was often grounds for divorce.

Couple that tidbit with the knowledge that a popular abortificant herb went extinct due to overuse, and the truth lies somewhere between. The fact that death by childbirth was right up there in medieval history as AIDS is today, and the common use would be to go with anything to insure one's safety from death during childbirth.

But - there are other means for avoiding childbirth that doesn't require permanency. Imagine if you will, the ring of "no strings attached". Women or men for that matter, could purchase a magic item that runs 800 energy to create, removes the need to worry about unwanted pregnancies, and would run roughly $26,400 or nearly 37 months of average monthly income.

While playing in a GURPS HARN campaign, my wife made it a point t purchase "heir in a bottle" (A fertility potion) that permitted her Female Knight character to plan her pregnancies as desired. So, yes, birth control (not just avoiding pregnancy, but attaining it) does happen in campaigns.

If you ever get a chance, pick up a copy of THE COMPLETE ALCHEMIST or THE ARCANUM (by Bard Games) - the alchemy rules there stipulate that you can create a potion, or its opposing effect by means of adding an ingredient that reverses the effect. In that case, a fertility potion would become a infertility potion.

By the by? Thanks for bringing this topic up. I'm running an Atlantis: Second Age campaign for my two players, and they're about to enter an Abandoned First Age Atlantean City. That "chapter" is called "And a Gold Crown short", soon to be followed by "For the sins of their mothers". Normally, I wouldn't bother putting in spells from GURPS BIOTECH in this campaign, but it would fit the "Lost lore" concept that I'm currently running.

[SteamBub]

Originally Posted by edk926

Biotech has a few other spells for fetuses.

Bio-Tech p. 32, Remove Fetus. It can be used for any stage of pregnancy.