Re: Small Ships

Hi everybody! I've been lurking for quite a while, but old-timers may
recognize me...

Ariel Sibal wrote:
>>That is solvable by creating helms that can move
>>only smaller ships, of
>>course. Officially, there is also non-magical helms,
>>a concept I to be
>>goofy myself (how do these work again?).
>
>
> I tried to solve that by using steam jet engine,
> petrol based jet engine which is cheaper than magical
> helms. I also use propellers, paddle wheels,
> solar/mana sail, balloon/blimp/dirigible. These are
> only asteroid belt ships since they take a long time
> to reach even a close destination. I am also using a
> spellengine helm that allows non-magic using pilots to
> man the helm.
How's this for a solution:
Minimum Helm:
Cost: 5,000 gp
SR: 1 per 2 levels of spell cast into it
Capsule: The Minimum Helm was designed for use on ship's launches,
fighter craft such as flitters, and lifeboats. This helm can power any
ship up to 3 tons in size (note that the minimum ship size of 1 ton is
something that has been contradicted several times in SJ products, so
I've chosen to use it as a practical minimum, but not an absolute
minimum, making this helm capable of powering a sturdy desk if you
really wanted to). This helm is only capable of tactical speeds, so if
it is being used on a lifeboat, the occupants should hope that there is
a hospitable planet or asteroid nearby.
        The Minimum Helm is powered by spells, but the method for this power is
different than that used by Minor and Major Helms. This helm is
'charged' by an individual casting a spell into it (if desired a spell
can be cast from a scroll, Book of Infinite Spells, Ring of Spell
Storing, or similar magic item, but not spell-like effects from other
magic items such as wands). Once charged, the Minimum Helm can be manned
by any character. A charged Minimum Helm can propel the ship it powers
at a rate of 1 SR for every 2 levels of the spell which has charged it,
rounding up with fractions. The amount of time that this helm can power
a ship is also related to the level of the spell which has charged it,
lasting for 1/2 hour per spell level. If a new spell is cast into a
Minimum Helm which is already charged, the remaining charge of the
previous spell is lost, and the charge of the new spell takes over, even
if the new spell is less powerful.

Any thoughts? I whipped this up pretty quickly here, so if you see any
flaws (too powerful, not powerful enough, too expensive, not expensive
enough, etc.), please let mw know.
-Ben Wafer