[DF] Not obvious spell - magery enhancement

[lvalero]

Hi all!

This is my first message in this forum. My name is Luis and I am from Spain. Please forgive my english, as it is not my mother language :)

I have begun a DF campaign and I have created my own versions of the "normal classes" as warrior, wizard, rogue, paladin, etc... Now I am creating some derivative classes as "Inquisitor", "Frontier/Peasant Hero", "Warlord"...

Now I am trying to create a cool "social" class named "the demagogue" who can modify the behaviour of the masses and who have a knack on dealing with people.... nearly magical!

It is like a bard because he "plays" but he doesn't play an instrument, he plays as an actor in stage using oratory and "actor tricks" (false tears, etc...)

I would like to give him some "tricks of the trade" like "ritual magic" spells based on "High Oratory (VH)" or similar VH skill but I don't want the spells to look like spells.

So, for example if the demagogue casts "Presence" and his final skill is 14 he will need to say some words and a gesture BUT only a highly trained wizard or other demagogue could recognize it as magic because the "words" and "gesture" seems like normal words and gestures, perhaps only with a little strange "accent" or "voice". Normal people couldn't notice that the demagogue is casting a spell!

How would you price "Not obvious spell" enhancement?


By the way, these are the enhancements and limitations that I will probably give him

+10% Switchable: You need a ready maneouver to activate your magic but, remember, you can ready at the same time you speak because speaking is "free action" !
+20/+40% Subtle Aura: Even when you "switch" your magic it is very difficult or impossible to see your aura as "mage flagged"
-xx?% Preparation required: You need some time speaking before being able to cast or -xx?% Activation required: You need to activate your magery using "Fast-talk" (when dealing with one person) or "Oratory" (when dealing with a group)
-20% Always verbal component: All your spells need verbal component, at least some words, even if your skill is high.
-10% Barrier of language. If your victim cann't understand or hear you he is immune!
-20%: Two collegues only (Path of communication, Path of mind control)
+xx?%: Not obvious magic. The verbal and somatic components of your spells are not obvious.

How would you price each level of magery? Ideas of advantages/disadvantages for this class and criticism will be highly welcomed!

Luis

[johndallman]

Another way to do this would be to use the Enthrallment skills, on pages 191-2 of the Basic Set.

[Refplace]

I would just price 20% No Signature on Magery

[the_matrix_walker]

Welcome to the Forum!

You are sure to find helpful GURPS enthusiasts here when you have this sort of question.

I agree that "No Signature, +20%" is the enhancement you are looking for.

[Dwarf99]

I'd say Low myself if other mages and demogogues can detect him.

[Christopher R. Rice]

You want the Easy Casting enhancement from GURPS Thaumatology (p. 28). It's +40% a level and basically lets you treat your spell as five levels higher for the purpose of rituals only (p. B236). You'd probably need at least a level - mostly likely two. Skill 20 requires no gestures and skill 15 needs only a small gesture (maybe something like the Clinton "thumb") and a few words (easily masked as tying into the speech or the like.