[RPM] Questions - Mana Enhancer, Stacking Dispel, Spell Chains, Item Cost

[Lia Valenth]

Hello, I have been looking into Ritual Path Magic lately and (as the GM) I have a few questions I can't figure out how to rule on;

1. “Spells cannot make anyone better at using magic…” (RPM book page 15) what happens if you cast an effect to give someone levels of Mana Enhancer?

High mana levels gives a lot of different bonuses, but one the biggest is the boon to casting a spell or having spells cast on you. So, under the above rule, should I disallow Mana Enhancer from being granted through RPM entirely (like Magery and Ritual Adept), limit it to granting all the bonuses higher mana levels have with magic items, but not with living casters, or just have it work normally if granted by a spell?

2. Can you use a spell with high energy to auto-dispel other effects?

I realize this is exploiting a loophole, but could you use this spell;

Shine Body
Spell Effects: Lesser Strengthen Body.
Inherent Modifiers: None.
Greater Effects: 0 (×1).

Causes the target to become slightly shinier for 1 minute.

This Casting: Lesser Strengthen Body (3) + Duration 1 Minute (1) + Extra Energy, +140 (141) + Range, 20 yards (6).150 Energy.


To automatically dispel any Lesser Strengthen Body effect on a person that costs less than 150 Energy without an opposed Path check?

3. Could you use a cheap Create Greater Crossroads to make a weak spot that does not go anywhere, just so you can use a Lesser Control Crossroads and Lesser Transform Crossroads to make it go far away? Or use Lesser Create Matter to create raw materials and Lesser Transform Matter to make a complex object like a car or aircraft carrier without a creation roll?
For example;

Create Scar
Spell Effects: Create Greater Crossroads
Inherent Modifiers: Duration
Greater Effects: 1 (x3).

This creates a scar in reality, used specifically to allow the caster to create gates or contact other planes easier.

Typical Casting: Create Greater Crossroads (6) + Area of Effect: 2 yards (0) + Duration: 12 hours (6). (12x3) 36 Energy

And then use that weak point to use this;

Create Gate
Spell Effects: Lesser Control Crossroads + Lesser Transform Crossroads
Inherent Modifiers: Range + Area of Effect + Duration
Greater Effects: 1 (x3).

This creates a gate 2yards in radius allowing humans, and their equipment, to pass through. It can connect to an area within 200,000 yards and disperses after 10 minutes.

Typical Casting: Lesser Control Crossroads (5) + Lesser Transform Crossroads (8) + Duration: 10 minutes (1) + Area of Effect: 2 yards (0) + Range: 200,000 yards (28) + Speed: 200,000 yd/s (28). 73 Energy.

4. I am also looking into pricing of RPM made permanent magic items in a market. I plan to have magic items cost (CP^2)*(.01*Starting Wealth) so;

CP cost of item      TL3 - $1,000    TL8 - $20,000     % of starting wealth
5                      $250              $5,000                25%
10                     $1,000            $20,000               100%
20                     $4,000            $80,000               400%
30                     $9,000            $180,000              900%
50                     $25,000           $500,000              2,500%
80                     $64,000           $1,280,000            6,400%
100                    $100,000          $2,000,000            10,000%

Does this seem fair as the base price?

If any of these have been discussed elsewhere on the forums a link to the thread would be appreciated.