Improvised Items Perk to Make Explosive Runes

scc · 06-27-2015, 04:57 AM

OK, That Other Game has a spell called Explosive Runes, which leaves writing on a surface that, when read, explodes. Reading through Thaumatology Magical Styles I noticed the Improvised Items perk and it's first suggested usage, leaving a scroll as a note that automatically casts itself when read.

So what I need to know, is is there a spell that would explode like this? I figure that a missile spell (Like Fireball) or a Melee Spell might work, but are there better options?

Culture20 · 06-27-2015, 05:29 AM

Does the scroll creator get to choose the target (reader, scroll)? There's explosive fireball, and burning death might work if the reader is the target. If the scroll is the target, what happens if it is read from a spyglass?

~~evileeyore~~ · 06-27-2015, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Culture20

If the scroll is the target, what happens if it is read from a spyglass?

The scroll explodes.

The same thing happens with D&D's Explosive Runes spell.

Bruno · 06-27-2015, 01:40 PM

My suggestion: The spell "Explode" from the Making and Breaking college (Magic page 118), simply because it's so straightforward :)

More helpfully, I'd suggest comparing the effects of Explode, Concussion, and Explosive Fireball, and also consider the AOE damage spells. Essential Fire + Fast Fire can get you a lot more damage, if you have the leisure of casting them ahead of time.

Explode does fragmentation damage, potentially quite a lot of it! this is actually a pretty darn good damage dealer within 10-ish yards, as the damage doesn't fall off with range like actual explosion damage.

Concussion comes with a great stun effect within 10 yards.

Exploding fireball is pretty cheap and cheerful by comparison.

Prince Charon · 06-27-2015, 05:27 PM

On the subject of Explosive Runes (as in, Symbol Magic), would [Create] + [Fire] be the appropriate combination for an explosion spell, or would another rune need to be added - and if so, which one ([Strengthen] is a possibility, but might not be the best one, and might not work at all, in a lexicon where [Create] and [Strengthen] are the same symbol)?

roguebfl · 06-27-2015, 05:50 PM

Explosion is more destroy feature than create.

scc · 06-28-2015, 03:56 PM

One really nasty thing about this set up is that the target pays the cost of casting the spell and I think it's retroactive

06-27-2015, 04:57 AM	#1
scc Join Date: Mar 2013	Improvised Items Perk to Make Explosive Runes OK, That Other Game has a spell called Explosive Runes, which leaves writing on a surface that, when read, explodes. Reading through Thaumatology Magical Styles I noticed the Improvised Items perk and it's first suggested usage, leaving a scroll as a note that automatically casts itself when read. So what I need to know, is is there a spell that would explode like this? I figure that a missile spell (Like Fireball) or a Melee Spell might work, but are there better options?

06-27-2015, 05:29 AM	#2
Culture20 Join Date: Feb 2014	Re: Improvised Items Perk to Make Explosive Runes Does the scroll creator get to choose the target (reader, scroll)? There's explosive fireball, and burning death might work if the reader is the target. If the scroll is the target, what happens if it is read from a spyglass?

06-27-2015, 01:40 PM	#4
Bruno Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canada	Re: Improvised Items Perk to Make Explosive Runes My suggestion: The spell "Explode" from the Making and Breaking college (Magic page 118), simply because it's so straightforward :) More helpfully, I'd suggest comparing the effects of Explode, Concussion, and Explosive Fireball, and also consider the AOE damage spells. Essential Fire + Fast Fire can get you a lot more damage, if you have the leisure of casting them ahead of time. Explode does fragmentation damage, potentially quite a lot of it! this is actually a pretty darn good damage dealer within 10-ish yards, as the damage doesn't fall off with range like actual explosion damage. Concussion comes with a great stun effect within 10 yards. Exploding fireball is pretty cheap and cheerful by comparison. __________________ All about Size Modifier; Unified Hit Location Table A Wiki for my F2F Group A neglected GURPS blog

06-27-2015, 05:27 PM	#5
Prince Charon Join Date: Dec 2012	Re: Improvised Items Perk to Make Explosive Runes On the subject of Explosive Runes (as in, Symbol Magic), would [Create] + [Fire] be the appropriate combination for an explosion spell, or would another rune need to be added - and if so, which one ([Strengthen] is a possibility, but might not be the best one, and might not work at all, in a lexicon where [Create] and [Strengthen] are the same symbol)? __________________ Warning, I have the Distractible and Imaginative quirks in real life. "The more corrupt a government, the more it legislates." -- Tacitus Five Earths, All in a Row. Updated 12/17/2022: Apocrypha: Bridges out of Time, Part I has been posted.

06-27-2015, 05:50 PM	#6
roguebfl Dog of Lysdexics Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne FL, Formerly Wellington NZ	Re: Improvised Items Perk to Make Explosive Runes Explosion is more destroy feature than create. __________________ Rogue the Bronze Firelizard Gerald Grenier, Jr. Hail Eris! Rogue's Weyr Last edited by roguebfl; 07-28-2017 at 03:56 AM. Reason: spelling

06-28-2015, 03:56 PM	#7
scc Join Date: Mar 2013	Re: Improvised Items Perk to Make Explosive Runes One really nasty thing about this set up is that the target pays the cost of casting the spell and I think it's retroactive