New Magic Item

Remote Operator Module or (ROM):
The remote operator module is a circlet that the helmsman wears around
the brow.  It is usually made of gold, platinum, or silver, with
an onyx/obsidian/jet band running through the center of the circlet.  The
band is a stone that has properties reputed to be "soul material".
A second band, much larger, encircles the helm of the ship.

The ROM allows the helmsman to be at a second location, while controlling the
ship.  He/She could be on another ship, a planet, an asteroid, or
floating in space.  This could free up a space for another person, who
might control a weapon or whatever, or a firewind could be piloted
without the helmsman risking life.

The ROM works by seperating the user's mind into two parts, and "splits"
his/her concentration.  The second half of the user's mind enters the ROM
on the ship and may act as the helmsman.

The helmsman has some serious hinderances while using the ROM.  The user
may only move at half normal movement rate, half attacks, and may only
spelljam as if a level of half his/her normal ability. If the user is
multiclassed or dual classed with clerical and mage type abilities, the
ROM user may spelljam two ships, with the hinderances listed above for
both ships.  One set of spells (the mage class) goes to operating the
first ship, and the second set (the priest class) goes to operating the
other ship.  This is due to the split of the mind, and since classes are
learned preclusive of other classes, they split evenly.
Example:  Cleric 8, Mage 8- each ship would act as a
helmsman of 4th level.
Example2:  Cleric 8 Mage 10- the first ship would
act as if operated by a 4th level helmsman, while the second would act as
if operated by a 5th level helmsman.  Fractions are dropped.

If spelljammer shock is rolled when a ship is attacked, there is a chance
of insanity, bringing about either multiple personalities, or DM choice.
Another possibility is a permanent splitting of the mind, with one part
residing in the helmsman, and the other in the ROM.  With proper spells,
the mind might be restored to the user, but it would be difficult to
arrange and could be an adventure in itself.  In the firewind example
above, the user must make a saving throw, to reintegrate upon destruction
of the ship, and a second saving throw to see if the user remains sane.
If the first save fails, part of the mind was destroyed (For game
purposes, act as if hit by a spectre for half of your energy levels. If
the user was multiclass or dual class, the user might lose that class,
until restored.  New advancement is possible, but beginning again at
first level.  To restore a destroyed half of mind, it requires a wish.
The user can still live on half a mind, because it has some regenerative
ability, and functions controlling the body are redundant.  If the second
save fails, it acts as the spelljammer shock example above.

The ROM is created by spells similar to those used for creation of magic
jars, amulets of life protection, and trap the soul spells. A spell
similar to homonculus and similar to other mind seperating spells has
been created, called mental double. (for mind seperating spells, see the
tome of magic)
The spells used in the creation of the ROM are: projected image (allows
the user to act as if at another location), mental double, magic jar,
enchant an item, permanency, and limited wish.  The limited wish is
necessary to cause the seperated mind to be projected to the ROM at the helm.

Paul Sonnier
nsson3300@?????.?????.edu
http://www.nsula.edu/~nsson3300/eclec.html

Thought for the month: If you are going to work, do something you enjoy.