Re: SPELLJAMMER-L Digest - 31 Aug 2005 to 1 Sep 2005 (#2005-162)

In <URL:news:local.spelljam> on Fri 02 Sep, Charles Sykora wrote:
> I like the Boat helm a lot.  It fills a very necessary niche
> requirement.  However, what about a version that just does tactical
> speeds for a lander?  (It always bothered me when the original SJ books
> referred to 'conventional engines' and never bothered to explain how or
> what those were and how they worked).  The economics of SJ has really
> never made that much sense.  No one could afford to spend 20K on a
> lifeboat helm.

Look at what you want for a lifeboat Helm. It is something that
you invest in, and hope you are never going to have to use,
unless your lifeboat is also used for other purposes.

OK, so it needs to have a long shelf life (preferably
indefinite), survive whatever caused you to need a lifeboat in
the first case, and then function long enough to put you down
somewhere vaguely habitable.


1) Have a sealed scrollcase (probably metal over hardwood), with
a "Create Minor Helm" spell on a scroll, inside it. The scroll
functions as if a 12th level wizard cast the spell (the minimum
to write a scroll with a 6th level spell on it), so it takes 12
turns to cast (maybe too long in an emergency), lasts for 12
weeks, and moves up to a 24-ton lifeboat. All you need is a
chair, stool, or seat on the lifeboat, ready to turn into a
temporary Helm. How much does a scroll like this cost in your
campaign? You need at least a 12th level wizard to write it, and
by the (1st Ed) DMG it's 1800gp, in my campaign a price of 3000gp.

2) Have a one-use, prepared temporary enchanted, item on the
lifeboat. This might be something like a folded chair, which when
unfolded (much quicker than the 12 turns to read the spell of a
scroll) activates a single-use temporary enchantment which
otherwise works as the scoll, above. Folding the chair up
terminates the enchantment! Using one enchantment system it takes
9 weeks of the time of at least a 14th level wizard who is
capable of casting the "Create Minor Helm" spell, and is a
carpenter, and costs 3000gp in magical materials. In my campaign
a probable price of at least 6000gp.

3) Have a spell "Fly Lifeboat", 5th, enchanted on a chair in your
lifeboat, so that it can be used once per year (plus a day), only
moves you at tactical speed, and otherwise uses up your spell
energies as a Helm does. Using one enchantment system it takes 15
weeks of the time of at least a 14th level wizard who has this
spell, and is a carpenter, and costs 15,000gp in magical
materials. Yes, this is priced about 20,000gp in my campaign, but
it is not a one-use item.


Are those more the sort of prices you are looking for?

Of course, you then need a spell caster to run the Helm...

Second-hand lifeboat helms, anyone???  Half price?


How about a potion which, when you drink it, gives you the
magical energies of a 1st level wizard for the purposes of
feeding a Helm, for 8hrs? What sort of level would that be? 4th
Level?

Or, a potion which when you drink it, makes you function as a
Minor Helm for 8hrs? At a cost of 1pt of STR or CON per hour's
use, 1pt of either regained per hour's rest. 5th Level?

Generous DMs might say the two potions are compatible, so, drink
them both, and you are your own Helm, and have the power to run
it! [grin]

Several days bed rest might be recommended afterwards...

(In my campaign buying this pair of potions would cost you
9000gp!)


> I like your Series Major Helm description.  It fills in a lot of holes
> and I think is in keeping with SJ philosophy.
>
> The scavver saddle is just fantastic.
>
> Holes I still see:  What are the mechanics of how dwarven forges work?

Creativity => SJ movement! [grin]

Value by which materials are increased per day controls SJ move?


> --Dale--
[snip]

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