Re: SJD20 question - Cost to the pilot?

Downer, Chris wrote:
>
> I take it that Helms are rare in your SJ campaign. If that is the case then
> I can see your point. However if there are lot of ships using helms in a
> campaign then it makes no since that the helms are as expensive as the old
> SJ says they were.

        I'd say helms should be rare, especially if combined with one of the
three methods I've detailed below to increase traffic.

> Like what?

        I'll give you three examples, some that I've been working on for a
while:

* Spells & magic sails are good, especially if balanced against helms.
Such as being slower than helmed ships & not being able to land on
planets (thus limited to asteroids & flat worlds).

* Natural movement to allow ships to sail wildspace without helms, again
being slower than helmed ships and unable to land on anything but
asteroids & flat worlds.  I have an extensive article on this I'm still
playing with.

* Make wildspace a coexistant plane with natural space, except with a
distance distortion-like effect.  That way you just need a flying ship,
not something that sends you into super speeds.  This is something I've
just started playing with, but looks pretty promising.

> You do have a point here but the Helms are no ordnary magic item, in fact
> they seem to be mass produced givin the number of ships out there that have
> them by the Arcane. So perhaps the Arcane has come up with a method of mass
> producing certain magic items.
> So if say the humans or other spacefaring nations made there own Helms then
> your prices would make since, but of coarse there would not be that many
> helms out there.

        One problem here: From everything I've heard so far, in this d20 SJ,
Arcane have nothing at all to do with helm creation anymore.  Everyone
can make their own helms now with use of a feat.

> Perhaps if you get the Arcane to make one for you.

        Arcane don't do helms anymore (hell, they don't exist anymore; they're
all Mercane now).  I want my 9th level wizard to do it!
--
Adam Miller