Re: More Helms

In <URL:news:local.spelljam> on Thu 26 May, Ariel Sibal wrote:
> --- Dreamer <dreamer@??????.?????.??.uk> wrote:
> > In <URL:news:local.spelljam> on Sun 17 Apr, Ariel
> > Sibal wrote:
> > > Superior Helm
> > [snip]
> >
> > Nice helm specs...
> >
> > How difficult would it be to spec the spells which
> > produce these
> > sorts of helms?
>
> Sorry for not replying sooner. =)
>
> It would take me a while to figure out the specs to
> convert most of the helms into spell. Hehehe! I am
> really bad in trying to find the appropriate levels
> for the individual helms. You also have to think of
> the components of the spell. Just thinking what is the
> appropriate material component for a Superior Helm
> could drive a sane DM to the bottles. If you have an
> idea shoot it through here. =)

A friend's comments were:

"These spells are given at the correct levels relative to the
Minor Helm and Major Helm spells described in the SJ boxed set. I
feel that these spells should be one level higher for game
balance: they are not quite high enough level for their power.
The note under Create Major Helm implying that the spell returns
to operation one round after being dispelled was a major element
in this decision..."

and I see his point about the two spells for Minor Helm and Major
Helm being a bit low level...

Do you, or anyone else, have an answer to this comment?


Incidentally, he did the spells for "Greater Helm" (8th),
"Sprinter Helm" (7th), and "Cargo Helm" (7th), along with such
interesting spells as "Dispell Helm" (6th); though in this case
he gave them equivalent to the standard SJ spell levels, with the
above caveat.

Assuming you use the standard SJ spell levels, I would guess that
"Create ~ Helm" spells would be no lower than 6th arcane or 5th
divine, and rarely higher than 8th arcane - it would take a very
exceptional Helm to be 9th.

I would not consider 10th level spells (and certainly not higher)
unless you are going for the +1 spell level my friend suggests.

Maybe some Helms, like Artifurnaces, just don't have Create
spells for them, and can only be created using the sort of ritual
work needed for artifacts themselves.

Personally, I would restrict priests from access to the Create
Minor Helm spell unless I as DM hear some reason why their god
would grant them such. Though, I would likely allow priests of
suitable gods also access to the Create Major Helm spell, and
maybe others.

Having a scroll of Create Helm around seems like a very sensible
precaution for any captain!

As for other spells, which give effects of flight but without the
SJ overdrive, the weakest of them is likely to be 4th, more
commonly 5th, with the high grade ones that can lift massive
weights 6th. Having a spell scroll with "Fly Vessel" on might be
a good idea, as well!


On the subject of Superior Helm, do you think it much better than
the Greater Helm spec (written by my friend) that I put here?

(I pinched the spec from the site, below.)

http://www.romsys.demon.co.uk/frpg/alchemy/extras/helm.htm

maybe you could just recyle that as a spell spec, with minor
tweaks?

--
Dreamer
dreamer@??????.?????.??.uk
http://www.romsys.demon.co.uk/