A spell.....

>What I really wanted to start discussion on, though, was any ship-to-ship
>spells that others have created. The situation as it stands is a bit odd,
>in my opinion, because even if you do happen to run across an evil mage in
>his dragonfly, all you have to do is stand off three hexes away and blast
>his ship to flinders. Evil mages would know this :) and design spells to
>counter it. It would also give combat mages something to do even at long
>range.

Here's a spell often employed by the IEN....

Githoniel's Ship Shield
(Evocation 5)
Range: touch
Components:V,S,M
Duration: 1 rd/level
Casting Time: 4
AoE: Special
ST: None

        This spell surrounds the hull and masts of a single vessel with an
invisible field of force which absorbs and cushions damage caused to the
vessel by artillery weapons,  rams and collisions.  The spell will absorb
1d4 hull points of damage per caster level before dissipating (unless the
duration ends first).  Damage caused by fire, acid,  or magical forces
(like a Magic Missile spell) is not absorbed (not colliding with a Wall of
Force is physical, not magical damage and is thus absorbed).  The crew can
benefit only indirectly from this benefit,  the proctect only extends about
an inch from the ship's surfaces.  Thus a rain of arrows onto an open deck
will still be a danger to the crew.  The caster can affect a vessel upto 5
SJ tons per level in size.
        The material component of this spell is a cut diamond of no less
then 1,000 gp value.

"We look on the same stars,  the sky is common,  the same world surrounds
us.  What difference does it make by what pains each seeks the truth?  We
can not attain to so great a secret by one road..."
Symmachus,  "Memorial on the Occasion of the Removal of the Altar of
Victory from the Senate House" (392 AD)

westermeyer.3@???.edu
Paul Westermeyer
Phd Student, History, Ohio State University
Adjunct Faculty, Humanities Department, Columbus State Community College