[RPM] Thoughts and clarifications

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Honestly, this is 90% of the reason; I just wanted to know if people who are more experienced with RPM saw some reason it was obviously broken in a munchkiny direction.

Nope, the reverse of broken. Perhaps a bit too strict.

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Yes, that was what I meant, sorry if I wasn't clear. But for people who don't have Thaumatology, Esoteric Medicine is their only available default.

I could see this working, and I've actually done this before in a way. It was me toying with the rules where I tied the core skill in such a either/or manner for a fantasy campaign. I've got all the ways I've bent and broke the system in a file, this was one of the first things I tried, iteration something or other (somewhere in the teens).

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Cost of living? I'm not sure I understand what number you're multiplying by 5 here.

I shorthanded this a bit more than I thought I did. Basically, look up the status of the dwelling you're creating in your pocket dimension (see p. B265) - multiply that number by 5 and then use that as the amount for which you need to roll on your Create Matter effect. This way you don't have to say "It creates a couch, table, nightstand, etc." you say "It creates a Status 0 dwelling" and right away player and GM will know what that means.

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Now, per the Duplicate Object Ritual (p. 42 of GURPS Thuamatology: Ritual Path Magic), adding a Lesser Sense Matter effect and having a set of apartment furnishings on hand to duplicate into the phantom apartment would eliminate this problem, right? (it says you have to be touching the object to be duplicated, would adding Area of Effect change that?)

Yes. It would. I'd require Area of Effect to be able to "scan" everything. That seems workable.

Originally Posted by Dalillama

This is the bit that I was failing to understand.

No biggie. :-)

Originally Posted by Dalillama

So, fixed:
Phantom Apartment:
Spell Effects: Greater Create Crossroads + Lesser Create
Matter. +Lesser Create Energy + Lesser Control Spirit + Lesser Create Spirit
Inherent Modifiers: Area of Effect.
Greater Effects: 1 (x3).
This spell creates a fairly nice apartment in a pocket dimension. The caster and any
being he brings along can access it. It functions identically to
“normal” reality in all respects and has its own self-renewing
supply of air. The apartment is furnished with a bed, a sofa, an armchair, and a coffee table. The kitchen area has a two burner stove and a small refrigerator. The apartment has electricity and running water, and has an invisible servant who takes care of most needs.
Typical Casting: Greater Create Crossroads (6) + Lesser Cre-
ate Matter (6) + Lesser Create Energy (6)+ Lesser Create Spirit (6)+Lesser Control Spirit(5)Area of Effect, 7 yards (6) + Duration, 1 month
(11) +Subject Weight (3,000 lbs) (5). 120 energy (40×3).

Right off, I don't see anything problematic with that.

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Personal Oasis:
Greater Create Crossroads + Lesser Create
Matter.x3+Greater Create Body
Inherent Modifiers: Area of Effect.
Greater Effects : 2 (x5)

This spell creates an alternate dimensional area that the caster can access and bring others to. The oasis is filled with sand. In the center is a freshwater spring and a date palm. The air is breathable, the spring inexhaustible, and the dates edible.
Typical Casting: Greater Create Crossroads (6) + Lesser Cre-
ate Matter (6) + Greater Create Body(6)+ Area of Effect, 10 yards (8) + Duration, 1 month (11) + Subject weight 450 tons (estimated weight of sand and water filling half that volume) (10). 235 (47x5)

I don't know if I'd try to figure out cost of sand and water like that...that's....annoying and finicky. Again, I don't see anything off.

Originally Posted by Dalillama

You said in a different thread (I can probably find it if necessary) that the Greater Create Crossroads effect in Create Pocket Dimension (and thus by extension in these two spells) is only good for the initial access, and you'd need a separate Create Greater Crossroads effect to get back once you left. Would it be doable within the RAW to attach the initial Crossroads effect to something, creating a gate that exists for the duration of the spell? For instance a tent which, when you set it up and walk through the door you go to the oasis rather than the inside of the tent, or a cardboard box in an alley that leads to the phantom apartment?

Yes. You'd use a Lesser Create effect to attach a "gateway" to a specific object or place for a specific pocket dimension.

[Dalillama]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

I don't know if I'd try to figure out cost of sand and water like that...that's....annoying and finicky. Again, I don't see anything off.

So something a bit more handwavy for subject weight then?

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

Yes. You'd use a Lesser Create effect to attach a "gateway" to a specific object or place for a specific pocket dimension.

Heh, I have a sudden vision of a hobo Gate mage with backpack that's bigger on the inside (I have a ritual written up for that one around), in which he keeps a folded cardboard box just large enough for someone to crawl into. He rides the rails with a pack on his back, and never stays in one place very long, and is superficially indistinguishable from anyone else who's on the bum, but can be a very helpful ally or contact if approached right. Seems like a good fit for a magical 20s-40s setting.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

So something a bit more handwavy for subject weight then?

Honestly, I'm not sure how I'd handle it other than...not like that. It's not so much as "handwavy" as something like that would slow down gameplay and despite it's detractors - RPM is all about "ease of access."

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Heh, I have a sudden vision of a hobo Gate mage with backpack that's bigger on the inside (I have a ritual written up for that one around), in which he keeps a folded cardboard box just large enough for someone to crawl into. He rides the rails with a pack on his back, and never stays in one place very long, and is superficially indistinguishable from anyone else who's on the bum, but can be a very helpful ally or contact if approached right. Seems like a good fit for a magical 20s-40s setting.

Ye old bag of holding. I too, have done this in a game. The hobo part, not so much - but that's cool. I didn't ride the rails, but when I was 15 I wandered the east coast via Greyhounds. I did piecework, dishwashing, etc. for three months as I just wandered around. So I can dig where you're going with that. :-)

[Kalzazz]

I hope this is not necromantic of the Evil Sort, but I wonder, is this spell correct?

Jaina the Mageling was asked by a friend to make said friends room bigger, as said friend looted a dragon sized cloud mattress which was awesome, but also bigger than their entire room at the Adventurer's Guild

Supersize My Room
Spell Effects: Greater Strengthen Crossroads.
Inherent Modifiers: Subject Weight + Area Of Effect + Duration.
Greater Effects: 1 (×3).

Supersize My Room - This spell makes a room bigger, cast usually on the door of the room, it conveniently expands the interior dimensions. Often thought to be a variant of the Hideaway spell.
This is a popular spell and grimoires are often readily available, as very many magic students wish to use said grimoires to make their rooms at school bigger.

This Casting: Greater Strengthen Crossroads (3) + Subject Weight, 5 tons (6) + Area Of Effect, 10 yards (8) + Duration, 1 years (22). 117 energy (39×3).

[Dalillama]

Pretty sure that you need a create crossroads effect instead of a strengthen.

[Kalzazz]

I had thought that since I wasn't trying to create an apartment from nothing, rather just make an existing apartment bigger that Strengthen would be appropriate, but could go with Create if that would work better

[Dalillama]

I would rule that the apartment is 'real' space, so to create new pseudo spave you need a create crossroads effect. If you already had an extradimensional space hanging around for some reason, that would be another story.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

I would rule that the apartment is 'real' space, so to create new pseudo spave you need a create crossroads effect. If you already had an extradimensional space hanging around for some reason, that would be another story.

This basically. If you're making it "bigger on the inside" you need a Create effect.