Ritual spells

[TippetsTX]

It feels like certain spells, specifically those which require substantial ST to cast, should have special rules dealing with preparation time, costs and other efforts.

For example, how much time and/or materials should be required to create a pentagram? Flavor-wise, it wouldn't seem appropriate to allow this to be done on the fly.

Revival is another spell that I would expect some serious prep-time is needed.

Does anyone have house-rules for something like this?

[Shadekeep]

I've added Rites in The Book of Unlife. They operate basically as spells that cleric-types perform. Many of them take a long period of time, with some spanning days. Also, forging Golem and incubating Homunculi are long and involved processes from that book. Both have material and time requirements, and are spelled out as to what needs to be done on each day.

I also cover séances, which could be considered an extended magical operation in some contexts, though I have it categorised under the Mediumship talents.

I can repost some of that stuff here if it helps.

[TippetsTX]

Originally Posted by Shadekeep

I've added Rites in The Book of Unlife. They operate basically as spells that cleric-types perform. Many of them take a long period of time, with some spanning days. Also, forging Golem and incubating Homunculi are long and involved processes from that book. Both have material and time requirements, and are spelled out as to what needs to be done on each day.

I can repost some of that stuff here if it helps.

I was thinking more about how this kind of mechanic might be applied to existing spells, but I'm sure your content would provide some good general guidelines for it.

[Shadekeep]

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

I was thinking more about how this kind of mechanic might be applied to existing spells, but I'm sure your content would provide some good general guidelines for it.

Personally I do like to add preparations and ingredient lists to complex spells, such as Pentagram. I also think Astral Projection should require preparation and the right environment. Both could in theory be done extemporaneously in certain situations, but I'd impose a penalty on someone sketching a pentagram or going out-of-body in less than optimal circumstances. There are no doubt other spells that would benefit from this kind of extra detailing as well.

I'll post some of my stuff a bit later, when I get a chance to get to that computer.

[TippetsTX]

Here's a list of the spells that I would probably want to apply some kind of ritual rules to...

IQ 10
Ward

IQ 11
Reveal/Conceal

IQ 12
Analyze Magic
Pathfinder

IQ 13
Scrying

IQ 14
Restore Device
Summon Lesser Demon
Weapon/Armor Enchantment

IQ 15
Astral Projection
Create Gate
Pentagram
Regeneration

IQ 16
Create/Destroy Elemental
Write Scroll

IQ 17
Cleansing
Dissolve Enchantment
Geas
Summon Demon
The Little Death

IQ 18
Lesser Magic Item Creation
Shapeshifting (other only?)

IQ 19
Long Distance Teleportation
Revival
Zombie

IQ 20
Greater Magic Item Creation
Possession

[hcobb]

I like having IQ 15 wizards cast ward as they're walking around the corner.

[Shadekeep]

Originally Posted by TippetsTX

Here's a list of the spells that I would probably want to apply some kind of ritual rules to...

A good list, and I could see rituals being an important part of many of those. For example, I think Regeneration should be complex, laborious, time consuming, and expensive. It should also require some pretty choice ingredients.

Likewise, opening a gate is not a trivial matter, and should require a lot of preparation. Possibly one would have to construct the correct mathematical geometry to house the gate as well. The shape of the gateway could be part of what "tunes" the gate to the right location.