here's an idea

one problem that's often raised is that if you capture a ship, you're
better off throwing away the hull and cargo and just keeping the helm.
this therefore is something i came up with in an idle moment.

	when people think of arcane helms, they generally think of a large
chair. this is only half the truth. 
	after purchase the chair is placed in it's desired location within the
ship. then, when first a spellcaster sits on the helm and attempts to
spelljam, thousands of miscroscopic tendrils spread out from the helm,
permeating the entire ship. it is this network of fibres that provides
the helmsman with his "oneness" with the ship, and that create and
manipulate the spelljamming field.
	these tendrils regenerate from damage, and grow to permeate additions
and modifications to the ship. however, if the helm itself is removed
from the vessel, the connections to the tendrils are severed and the
helm is rendered permanently useless. 
	the arcane are the only ones that can remove a helm from a ship without
destroying it, but they charge a pretty penny for doing so; typically
half the value of the helm itself. this means that the arcane sell more
helms, of course, but it also means that there is a thriving market for
used ships with helms as this is more economical than trying to transfer
one's helm from one ship to another.


that's it. you can ignore the bit about severing the connections if you
want, but i think the tendrils are a fun idea.

-- 
rad.

one psychiatrist says to another; 'i made a freudian 
slip when i was having lunch with my mother 
yesterday. i meant to ask for the salt, but it came 
out as "you bitch you ruined my life"'