[PnP] Enhancement

[Schnockel]

Scott,

IT's a GREAT way to limit characters.  When they can enhance anything they 
find, and the enhanced items are SO powerful, and VERY FEW limitations, it 
makes the magic users ultimate characters.  With the limitations, of 
specific knowledge for each enahnced material, then it gives magic users a 
reason to be careful, to seek out other mages, and maybe even create 
adventures...i.e. you want, or you want some party, to go find such and so 
magician that you have heard rumor of his being able to enhance pickles... 
and you need that recipe.

That's also why I sent out the comments previously about enahnced 
items...and putting more limits on them...because an enhanced item made by a 
MEL1 idiot and a MEL25 master only differ in their MDV...it's not enough 
difference.

Here's what I worte earlier, just for refresher:

I think that enhanced items are far too powerful for the measly efforts put 
into creating them and far too common.  Not only that, but a MEL20 wizard's 
enhanced items are no more powerful than is that of a MEL1 apprentice.  This 
is just plain wrong.  So, here I try to make the item descriptions match my 
personal sensibilities.



ALSO.as per the rules.while there is but one enhancement spell, the special 
knowledge for each item in this list must be individually learned.  Without 
that knowledge, enhancement of an item is automatically an abysmal failure. 
(Note: This will give you a reason to seek out the secret formulas for such 
spells, and may even be the reason for you to go, or are sent, on 
adventures.)



Many enhanced items take time to create.  Those that require more than a few 
mere seconds (phases) to create are considered 'rituals'.  Those that 
require a ritual are identified as such.  Instead of the number of phases 
calculated using casting speed, use instead HOURS (or Turns if so noted in 
the item description).  The amount of mana is not changed, just the time.



Also, many of these require resources that are readily available, but not 
usually carried by the mage.  This is why a mage might have a tower, maybe 
some greenhouses, storage rooms, laboratories, etc.  The description will 
show what mundane items might be needed.



Finally.all of these variable amounts and effects are based on the standard 
rolled magic items from the back of Book 4.  Those mostly are MEL 2D6 and EL 
up to ? MEL.  Any constructive suggestions to changes are welcome...I'm not 
wedded to these limitations, I just threw them together as a first draft.  I 
eventually want to do the same thing for all of the magic items created in 
Book Four, where an expanded explanation of the creation of the items is 
developed.



ADINGANTIDA - HERB - RITUAL

A death poison.  In unenhanced form, it is Slow Death at BL2.  Enhanced, it 
is Immediate Death at BL=EL.  In both cases it must be eaten to poison its 
victim.  This ritual requires the liver of a poisoned creature to be dried 
and powdered, and sprinkled into the herb.



AGATE - GEM - RITUAL

An unenhanced agate neutralizes snake and insect poison if success at BL5 is 
rolled.  It has no effect on any other type of poison.  It will never affect 
the poison of a supernatural force (i.e. a creature with a Contact Level). 
Enhanced agate has the following properties:

A)    Increases the wearer's Eloquence by (ELx2)+5 to a maximum of 15.  This 
requires a small brass brazier.

B)     Starting at MEL5, adds EL/2 to the wearer's MDV when he is attacked 
by any Storm Power.  This requires pulverized stone from a fortress.

C)    Starting at MEL7 the wearer has immunity=EL to all emotional spells 
(i.e. Fear, Terror, Hatred, etc.).  This requires some dried and powdered 
heart of a lion (not Desert Lion, however).

D)    At MEL10 the agate can be used as a truth talisman.  When the stone is 
swirled in water contained in a brass goblet a potion is created.  This 
potion can last up to one hour in the cup.  The person being tested drinks 
from the cup.  If he tells the truth, nothing happens.  If he lies, he will 
have spasmodic fits and must roll against a BL=EL Slow Death poison.  Both 
fits and poison last for ELx2 turns.  This requires holly twigs.

E)     The enhanced form no longer has any effect on ANY poison.



If the person wearing the enhanced stone EVER lies, then the stone will 
darken and become useless.



AGRIMONY - HERB - TURNS

Unenhanced agrimony must be eaten to affect a person.  When it is, the 
Stamina of the eater is increased by 15 (for StB determination ONLY.has no 
affect on actual St or HP) and his HC by 20 against any form of Disease or 
Poison.  This effect lasts until the next natural healing roll occurs, or 
some magic healing takes place, or death, whichever may occur first.  This 
requires a trained Herbalist to pick it correctly (Moderate difficulty roll 
vs. Herbalist skill).  The plant must be fresh to have any effect (lasts 
2d10 days).  Enhanced Agrimony stays fresh until used.



ALECTORIUS - CONCRETION - RITUAL

A stone that is found (10% chance) in the brain of a rooster.  It has no 
value in an unenhanced form.  The stone must be visible on the wearer in 
order to be effective.  When it is enhanced, it has the following 
attributes:

A)    Any trained magic user (using other mana only from Casting Ability) 
can use it for casting TWO mana points per day for any purpose.  This 
requires something magically purified (dirt, earth, wood, etc.).

B)     At MEL 2 the wearer has EL immunity from anything he might fear (i.e. 
his courage is unshakable unless confronted by a magical influence). This 
requires some dried and powdered heart of a domestic cat.

C)    At MEL5 the wearer cannot suffer from thirst (he cans still die from 
thirst but he will feel no discomfort in doing so).  This requires some 
magically purified water.

D)    At MEL7 the influence chance of the wearer is increased by EL while 
the stone is worn.  This requires a small silver charm shaped like a tongue 
(1SC).  The charm is consumed in the attempt to make the item.

E)     Starting at MEL10 the wearer's MDV is increased by EL/2 (RD) to a 
maximum of FIVE against all forms of magic.  This requires the use of a 
brazier.



AMARANTH - PLANT - TURNS

Amaranth seeds must be swallowed whole to have their effect.  One seed per 
daily food point (rounded up) must be taken for the healing effects to 
begin.  Unenhanced, the seeds increase Stamina by 20 and HC by 10 when used 
to heal physical damage.  These increases only affect the heal chance and 
StB for the next healing.  Enhanced seeds add 20+(ELx2) to the Stamina and 
EL+10 to the HC.  The seeds must be successfully picked by a trained 
Herbalist against a Moderate difficulty roll or the enhancement spell fails 
abysmally.  The seeds need not be fresh.  This requires dried and powdered 
human blood as part of the spell or it automatically fails abysmally.



AMBER - RESIN - RITUAL

A person that wears a charm of unenhanced amber will have his HC increased 
by 10.  In addition, if the amber is enhanced, the following attributes will 
apply:

A)    The wearer can see clearly in non-magical darkness up to ELx2".  This 
requires lamp oil to be burned as part of the ritual.

B)     The stone darkens when creatures that use poison, or use disease 
powers, are within 4"+(ELx2") of the wearer.  If the person is looking at 
the amber, then he can never be ambushed by creatures of this type. 
Non-enhanced basil, dried and crushed, is sprinkled on the stone during the 
ritual.



AMETHYST - GEM - RITUAL

The wearer of an unenhanced amethyst will require twice the normal amount of 
liquor to become drunk.  If the amethyst is enhanced, it has the following 
attributes:

A)    The wearer cannot become drunk.  Fine wine or better is required, and 
must have the alcohol boiled off.

B)     At MEL6, if the stone is swirled in water contained in a silver 
goblet, a potion is created that is a BL(EL+3) cure for any Death poison. 
The potion created must be drunk within MEL turns or its benefits are lost. 
Unenhanced balim must be sprinkled into the potion.

C)    At MEL8 it increases the wearer's Intelligence and Empathy by EL/2 RU 
each.  This requires a small piece of paper from an educational book or 
scroll to be burned in a brazier.

D)    At MEL11 the wearer has an eidetic (i.e. photographic) memory while he 
wears the stone.  He will not forget any detail about anything that he feels 
important.  He will always forget anything that does not strike him as being 
important at the time.  This requires a small scrying (magnifying) crystal 
that permanently clouds up in the attempt to make the item.



ANEMONE - PLANT - TURNS

The benefit of the flower is gained by inhaling the fragrance.  It normally 
remains fragrant for 48 hours after being picked, if done so by a trained 
Herbalist against a Moderate difficulty roll.  Its effect increases Stamina 
by 10 and HC by 20.  Enhanced, and kept in a pouch, it will remain fresh 
until exposed to fresh air or light.  Once so exposed, the flower will last 
MELx2 hours and cannot be further stored.  There are no additive effects for 
repeated use of, or exposure to, the flower.



ANGELICA - PLANT - TURNS

The entire plant must be dried, ground into powder, and mixed with ONE quart 
of FINE wine.  The plant must be successfully picked by a trained Herbalist 
against a Moderate difficulty roll or the enhancement spell fails abysmally. 
Unenhanced, the potion created will increase Stamina and HC by Herbalist 
(EL/2)-10 when defending against the effects of Disease, Decay or Corruption 
(the Stamina increase applies ONLY for the next healing roll).  Enhanced, 
the plant adds MELx1D3 (to a maximum of 30) to the MDV of the user and 
replaces MELx3 lost energy points (to a maximum of 30).  If the potion is 
taken more than once per day, it acts as a BL8 Slow Death poison.  In both 
cases, these effects last only until the next healing roll is taken.  Per 
plant and quart mixed, eight doses of potion are created.  The method of 
storage is not important but the flavor of the potion is not like normal 
wine.  Sipping the wine potion just to get the flavor of it does not count 
as a 'second' dose !
 in a day.  The wine used for the enhanced version must be magically 
purified.



ANTIMONY - METAL - RITUAL

The unenhanced metal has no special attributes.  Enhanced, it increases the 
wearer's MDV against all demons and Chaos Magics by EL+1, to a maximum of 
SIX.  It will operate as an EL Protection spell, to a maximum EL of 5, 
aiding the wearer only, against any demon that attacks.  This spell requires 
it to be cast in direct sunlight during the summer solstice high noon.



> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 00:53:45 -0400
> From: Scott Adams <longshot at darktech.org>
> Subject: [PnP] Enhancement
> To: The Powers and Perils Mailing List <pnp at abroere.xs4all.nl>
> Message-ID: <200905220454.n4M4rx96056960 at mxdrop151.xs4all.nl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
> I'm surprised again by v2 and Richard...
>
> Read abelow especially the NOTE
>
>
>
> ENHANCEMENT
>     This is used to enhance dead and inanimate material that has
> natural magic value, as determined by the Referee or specified in
> the Natural Magic section.
>     Success brings out the enhanced value. Failure destroys 1/2
> the material and does not bring out the enhanced value. Abysmal
> Failure destroys all of the material. Material destroyed in this
> way is destroyed only in the sense that it can never be enhanced.
>     The amount of material the Caster can affect with one spell
> depends on the type of material, as follows:
> Plant derived or liquid
> (EL+1)*2 doses
> Gem, metal
> 1 item
> Other material
> EL+1 doses (If it is consumed in use).
> 1 item (If it is not consumed)
>     Once material subjected to this spell has been enhanced it
> is enhanced forever. A Dispel/Banish spell can eliminate the
> enhancement. The material is destroyed, as specified above, when
> this is done.
>
>
> NOTE ? Enhancement is not possible without knowledge of the
> specific enhancement rites for the material. This knowledge is
> learned educationally. The Referee may allow the characters to
> start with knowledge of the enhancement rites of 1D6 materials.
> Shamans learn 2D6 rites in addition to knowledge of materials
> they gain as detailed in Book One.
> BMC
> 6
>
> With that note.  It adds good balance to the spell.  Means a mage can't 
> just enhance everything they find in the forest.  But my question is does 
> one need a NEW enhancement spell to learn 1-6 more or how much is a 
> "rite".  Can a mage go to a herbalist store and ask the rite for a Diamond 
> from a old guy?  The cost isn't clear.
> One might say a new spell is needed or a factor of the spell or just a 
> simple Knowledge spell?
>
> Interesting to consider but not sure yet which way to go.  What do you 
> guys think (especially Richard if your around?).