01-24-2018, 04:59 PM | #11 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Casting time of missile spell scrolls
That's one second to cast and optionally up to two seconds (not four or seventeen!) to enlarge. You roll at the end of the first second. Charged scrolls specifically cover the casting costs, and the scroll dissappears after you cast anyway.
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01-24-2018, 05:24 PM | #12 |
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Central Texas, north of Austin
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Re: Casting time of missile spell scrolls
What an interesting topic.
ArchonShiva is getting really good at poking some of the nuances in the system. And I really agree with most of the interpretation that SirPudding has provided. This was one of those brain teasers that got me thinking. I actually think this situation would benefit from an official ruling. So just to clarify: The issue at stake seems to really be a distinction with missile spells between the casting and the enlarging. My opinion: The casting of the missile spell should govern the initial enlargement. This would rely on the scroll enchanter's magery level (or spell casting talent) for the initial "power/size/effect" of the missile charge. As per Exploits, pg. 76, the scroll would specify the magery level that the enchanter would actually allow in the spell. After that, I would assume that the scroll reader is on his own with the following two enlargements drawing from only his own magery level (spell casting talent). Example: A level 2 mage casts fireball from a scroll specifying a 6d damage missile enchanted by a level 6 mage. The maximum strength of the fireball using all enlargement actions would be 10d damage (6d + 2d + 2d). Now . . . try not to miss! Okay, now somebody please stop me (although I'm sure ArchonShiva would appreciate this.) I don't recommend this, but is it logical that a scroll could be created solely for enlarging a missile? Of course, you would complicate enlarging time limits (getting the scroll out and reading it before you run out of your two allotted enlargement seconds). The point of this thought exercise is to define exactly what an enlarging action is. It's in that gray twilight zone between casting a spell and manipulating it, especially for the initial enlargement. |
01-24-2018, 05:32 PM | #13 | ||
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Casting time of missile spell scrolls
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Also there is no "initial enlargement", look at the cost line for Fireball, this energy is part of the casting. Quote:
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01-24-2018, 05:48 PM | #14 |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 100 hurricane swamp
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Re: Casting time of missile spell scrolls
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01-24-2018, 06:04 PM | #15 | |
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Central Texas, north of Austin
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Re: Casting time of missile spell scrolls
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What I really believe is that their should be a strict delineation between casting and enlarging. My real opinion would be that all the missile spell really does is create a 0d charge. All enlargements are the purview of the scroll reader. But this would make the enchantment a 0 energy prospect which is odd.* The first enlargement is special and here is why. It necessarily conflates the casting with the enlarging. Casting a missile spell: 1 Turn: Concentrate Success roll for spell Enlarge Enlarging a missile: 1 Turn: Concentrate Enlarge The initial enlargement is not exactly uniform with the others. I created a cheat sheet that attempted to strictly define an enlarge action. The first enlarge necessarily merges its concentrate with that of the spell casting in a blended order. I think the compromise solution is to allow the first enlargement to use the magery of the enchanter but the energy of the reader (for uncharged scrolls). Exploits, pg. 76 says "When the spell goes off, the reader pays the energy cost for whatever spell effects the scroll's creator chose." Assuming that the enchanter would at least have to enchant the first enlargement with a single energy, I say allow him to use his entire magery just for the first enlargement. I think the follow up enlargements are more easily defined to be strictly out of the casting sequence. Of course, this is a very technical and gray issue with room for opinions. That's just my logic. * Edit: After reviewing GURPS enchantment rules this is probably not that odd. However, there could still be issues with forced energy requirements from the specification in the scroll as we discussed in the next few posts (considering how you want to interpret the rules as written.) Last edited by Tom H.; 01-24-2018 at 10:28 PM. Reason: New research |
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01-24-2018, 06:27 PM | #16 | ||
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Casting time of missile spell scrolls
I'm sorry, which part are you disagreeing with?
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Quote:
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01-24-2018, 06:35 PM | #17 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cockeysville, MD
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Re: Casting time of missile spell scrolls
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01-24-2018, 06:40 PM | #18 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Casting time of missile spell scrolls
Huh, yeah I think that settles it.
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01-24-2018, 09:16 PM | #19 | |
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Central Texas, north of Austin
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Re: Casting time of missile spell scrolls
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Are they part of the spell casting proper or are they more like manipulating a spell's effects. Spells, pg. 11, informally defines manipulation: "You can maintain a spell without concentration unless it requires constant manipulation and change; e.g., to maneuver a levitating object." In fact, consider a scroll with the Levitation spell. The effects of the user directing the nature of his movement (manipulation) after casting would not be specified in the scroll. Although JMason's interpretation is certainly reasonable, I would judge that the scroll enchanter must then specify the amount of magery that the scroll reader would have to comply with for the second and third enlargements (even if it's beyond the scroll reader's magery level). (That is if you still want to hold on to the idea that the second and third enlargements are part of the spell's effects where "effects" are specified in the rule as written.) Last edited by Tom H.; 01-24-2018 at 09:24 PM. Reason: Clarity |
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01-24-2018, 09:40 PM | #20 | |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Casting time of missile spell scrolls
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Tags |
charged scroll, fireball, magery, scrolls |
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