Arcane & helms (was: wishes & helms)

>so about this. I was under the impression that create major helm was
>tempory and could not be made permanent.
>I was thinking about a permanent helm that could be used for more than a
>couple weeks.
>PS If echant item and create helm work, then why are the arcane the only
>suppliers of helms?

In my campaign, their not. They are simply the most _common_ suppliers of
helms.  And their helms have "std" tonnage limits of 50 and 100.  here's
the sections from my SJ primer which explains helms in my campaign
(comments welcome!:))

>7.Helms
>        Helms are the primary method of powering spelljamming vessels.
>Simply put, a helm is a magical device which channels magical energy from a
>some source into motive force for the ship it's attached to.  Some helms
>operate on slightly different principles but these are few and rarely seen
>in the Known Spheres.
>        There are several different types of helms of varying types and
>abilities, below I list the types most common within the Known spheres and
>the "standard cost" for such a helm in an active spelljammer port like the
>Rock of Bral or Refuge.  Note that in other places the price quickly
>becomes what the market will bear and thus can drop or rise considerably.
>The helms are listed in roughly ascending order of power and rarity.
>
>Minor Furnace Helm
>Cost:20,000 gp (SR1) or 50,000 gp (SR4)
>        Very similar to the larger Furnace helm,  this helm propels a
>vessel by drawing on the power of magical items placed within it's fuel
>opening.  Items placed within are burned (literally) by the fire within,
>and their dweamor is sucked into the helm to give it power.  The size and
>shape of the furnace is such that only items no greater than 18" on a side
>can fit within. The item must fit entirely within to begin burning (a thick
>leather glove is used to protect the hand while adding fuel).  Each 100 xp
>of value provides 12 hours of power.  Minor Furnace Helms can helm ships of
>up to 20 tons in size.  They commonly come in two varieties: lifeboat
>version-SR1,  can attain spelljamming speeds,  relatively cheap.  Fighter
>version-SR4 but can not attain spelljamming speeds.
>These helms are used extensively within spheres (they explode in the
>philogiston,  of course) to power fighters,  lifeboats,  harbor ferries,
>ect.  Most are fueled by scrolls with continual light or some other common
>spell inscribed upon them.  They can even be fueled for an hour or so if a
>piece of wood or paper with a Magic Mouth,  Continual light,  or even
>Nystul's Magic Aura spell has been cast (as oppossed to inscribed) on them.
>Like a furnace helm they can be helmed by anyone and do not drain spells
>from spellcasters using them.
>
>Furnace Helm
>Cost:100,000 gp
>        These items function just like the Minor Furnace helm in principle.
>Specifically, they provide SR 2 and can travel at spelljamming speed for
>ships upto 100 SJ tons in size.  An item with an xp value of 150 provides 1
>days worth of power.  If two items are sacrificed at the same time SR is
>boosted to 3 but the helm might explode (25%).  Some goblinoids are
>rumoured to power their furnaces with an incendiary, magical fuel. Some
>think this fuel might be related to smokepowder in some way but reliable
>reports are rare.
>
>Minor Helm
>Cost:2,000 gp per SJ ton
>        These are the most common helms in space, drawing their power from
>the spell energy of their helmsman (draining all memorized spells at a
>touch).  These helms provide an SR of 1 for every 3 levels of the helmsman,
>rounding down so that at levels 1-5 SR is 1, and then so on.  Minor helms
>can move vessels at spelljamming speeds.  These helms are created most
>commonly by the priesthoods of Ptah and Celestian or by the elven
>priesthoods.  Of course, most elven created helms are employed by the
>Imperial Elven fleet and they jealously recover those lost when possible.
>Minor helms are rated according to the size vessel they can power, which
>typically varies from 18-40 tons, with the lower sizes being by far the
>most common.  Many of these helms are constructed from fine woods.
>
>Arcane Minor Helm
>Cost:100,000 gp
>        Sold only by the Arcane, these helms conform to the specifications
>for Minor helms listed above except they are all rated for vessels upto 50
>tons in size and are all constrcuted of metal.
>
>Major Helm
>Cost:4,000 gp per SJ ton
>        These function just like minor helms but provide an SR equal to the
>users level divided by 2 and rounded down. A 3rd level helmsman would have
>SR1, for instance, and one of 5th level SR 2.  These helms typically have
>power ratings of 42-60 tons, though some have been able to power much
>larger vessels, even as high as 100 tons in size.  These helms are much
>less common then minor helms,  they are rarely for sale.  The only known,
>"common" manufacturer of such helms are the elven high wizards and their
>helms are usually used to power elven man-o-wars.  All major helms are
>constructed of metal.
>
>Arcane Major Helm
>Cost:250,000 gp
>        Sold only by the Arcane, these helms conform to the specifications
>for Major helms listed above except they are all rated for vessels upto 100
>tons in size.  These helms are actually more common then thier non-Arcane
>counterparts among most human spacefaring communities because they Arcane
>can provide them reasonably regularly.  Finding an high powered mage
>willing to create one , let alone several, is difficult indeed.
>
>        Many other types of helms exist, some feed off life, while others
>use psionic capability as the power source.  Others are even more bizarre.
>This list is just a starting point for "standard" spelljamming cultures,
>and as always in SJ expect the unexpected.
>        In my campaigns helms are much more fragile then in the std
>universe.  They make all saves versus magical assaults on a 2,   but
>against purly physical attacks they save according to the material they are
>constructed of.  This means all major helms,  for instance,  are not
>created equal.  A metal helm is worth more then one made of wood,  because
>of its greater durability.  Wooden helms
>are by far the most common. Helms are also more difficult to fit,  to be
>removed without incident the work crew must be supervised by someone with
>the shipwright proficiency.  This is automatic in a ship yard where all the
>proper tools are available and plenty of time can be taken,  in space (or
>when in a hurry) it requires a proficiency check.  If the check fails,  or
>if the helm is removed by
>someone without the proper proficiency, then the helm must make a save versus
>crushing blow.  Helms are artifacts and contain very powerful magical
>forces.  If one is destroyed it immediately becomes the center of 1d6 wild
>magic surges.
>        One last point,  in my game the Arcane are the most predominent
>(and respected) helm merchants but not the only such suppliers.  Used helms
>are sold by many different people,  virtually any SJ shipyard will have a
>few available.  Because of the highly magical nature of helms,  however,
>many of these used helms have acquired curses and side effects similar to
>those of other artifacts.  This might be a simple as a harmless phantom who
>haunts the helm and appears occasionally,  or as deadly as a phantasmal
>killer which the chair releases to hunt crew members during the night.  The
>Arcane do a brisk buisiness "purging" used helms of these curses,  though
>it's not a hidden art-many high level mages and priests do so as well.  Let
>the buyer beware!

"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)

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