Can Player use Third Hand perk to cast touch spells?

[thom]

So the latest player in my group wants to be able to use a small shield, and then take the Third Hand perk to cast touch spells (primarily healing/buffing) on his fellow PCs. What does the Groupmind think of that? I've never had that idea come up, & I could go either way-which is why I'm asking....

thom

[SRoach]

Well, canonically, you can use a Wizard Eye to cast touch spells, so I'm going to guess, yes.

[Varyon]

Given the intent of the Perk is to be able to use a utility item (torch, lantern, flashlight, healing potion, etc) but not to be able to attack, I'd be inclined to allow it for beneficial spells (healing, buffs, etc) but not for offensive ones.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Varyon

Given the intent of the Perk is to be able to use a utility item (torch, lantern, flashlight, healing potion, etc) but not to be able to attack, I'd be inclined to allow it for beneficial spells (healing, buffs, etc) but not for offensive ones.

The OP skipped past the place where the player had his second hand occupied. That shield only takes 1 hand. If the player is intendinn to carry a weapon he'd only be ablle to cast spells on Turns where he didn't Attack anyway. He'd need Compartmentalized Mind and high skill to get around that rather than this Perk I don't think I've seen the book for

I would make him have Skill high enough to avoid Gestures.even with the Perk.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by thom

So the latest player in my group wants to be able to use a small shield, and then take the Third Hand perk to cast touch spells (primarily healing/buffing) on his fellow PCs. What does the Groupmind think of that? I've never had that idea come up, & I could go either way-which is why I'm asking...

My take is no, because Third Hand is a [metaphor], it does not actually give you an additional hand.

But being able to cast touch spells on somebody in your or an adjacent hex without actually touching them? Yeah that sounds like a perk to me. Maybe with some other restriction (you have to be able meet their gaze, or you must obviously address them, or something like that, I'd want something that makes totally secret casting unworkable.

It's just not the [same] perk as being able to juggle using something in each hand while keeping a third thing ready. If you want to be able to do both, you need two perks.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by thom

So the latest player in my group wants to be able to use a small shield, and then take the Third Hand perk to cast touch spells (primarily healing/buffing) on his fellow PCs. What does the Groupmind think of that? I've never had that idea come up, & I could go either way-which is why I'm asking...

thom

No. Third Hand as presented in Pyramid #3/61: Way of the Warrior is simply the Akimbo (Shield) perk with some extra verbiage.

A *new* perk specialized for magic might be in order though.

[thom]

Thanks for all the help guys! I hadn't considered all the ramifications - especially what Fred & Christopher brought up. I'll think more about the magical perk, and if I come up with one I'll run it by here first...

thom

[Culture20]

Alternative: use a round shield, and cast the Staff spell on the long wooden handle before attaching it to the shield, then touch friendlies with the handle when buffing/healing.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Christopher R. Rice

No. Third Hand as presented in Pyramid #3/61: Way of the Warrior is simply the Akimbo (Shield) perk with some extra verbiage.

A *new* perk specialized for magic might be in order though.

Ah! Akimbo from Gun Fu is what I couldn't rememb er the name of.

The player might be able to get by with touching friendlies with his elbow or something. He might not even need a Perk for that if he's already past the Gesture problem with Skill Level. "Laying on of hands" might be just stereotype.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Ah! Akimbo from Gun Fu is what I couldn't rememb er the name of.

The player might be able to get by with touching friendlies with his elbow or something. He might not even need a Perk for that if he's already past the Gesture problem with Skill Level. "Laying on of hands" might be just stereotype.

I'd probably allow any touch, but GURPS Magic has so many special snowflake rules it's hard to remember at times.