Re: Locate Portal conversion - Was: Whatever happened to the 3.5e conversions to the Spelljammer Spells?

In <URL:news:local.spelljam> on Thu 30 Mar, David Shepheard wrote:
> [snip-snip-snip-can't tell who wrote what from it anyway]
[snip]

I just count the '>', but in an only two-person discussion I can
usually work out who said what, anyway! [grin]


> I'm glad you mentioned this as it settles the "duration" question - an
> instantaneous Locate Portal spell would *not* work outside a sphere, you
> need one that lasts until you get to the portal (either "permanant" or
> something like: "1/day per caster level or until the portal is reached -
> whichever is sooner".)

I don't see why...

You get a direction and a distance at SJ speed. No guarantee you
wont be delayed, no guarantee that the portal will be there when
you arrive.

If you want more information, you need to re-cast the spell when
you think you are closer.

About right, I feel, for what is only a 2nd level (though highly
specialised) spell, operating over an immense range.


If you are running from someone, approaching the shell at SJ
speed (about 4 million mph), and you know roughly where a
(permanent) portal is, but not exactly, maybe a longer range
spell with faster casting time than one minute would be what you
want?

Longer range in this case would be at least tens of thousands of
miles from the shell, preferably hundreds of thousands so as to
give time for navigation orders to be given and obeyed.


I could argue for a higher level spell, See Portals, that lets
you see any portals in line-of-sight (i.e. there is nothing like
a planet or opaque gas in the way), glowing clearly
distinguisable on the shell. Only usable in wildspace, or maybe
on bodies of up to size class B with clear atmospheres.


> Locate Portal can be described as giving a permanant (but dispellable)
> direction sense (or as lasting a fixed time - I'd go for days as the casting
> time is long). The conch shell mentioned in the spell description could be
> used like a divining rod. The caster could point it around until they feel a
> tug towards the portal (alternatively it could be hung on a bit of string
> and could swing towards the portal's direction - looking up some divining
> websites could provide an idea for the fluff of this spell). I wouldn't make
> constant concentration required, but if the caster did something else, I'd
> make them concentrate for a round (or action?) to get the direction sense
> back (whatever other similar SRD spells do should apply).

While this looks fun, I would prefer avoiding introducing new
chunks of mechanics like this. If you want a (personal) "Find the
Path" effect to the portal you just detected I'd make that a
higher level spell, anyway. 4th?


> The shell could shatter or crumble after the spell ends, (either at the end
> of the duration or if the caster travels through the portal).
[snip]

The original spec doesn't say if the material component is
consumed or not. I would recommend that the shell survies intact
- anyway, I feel that this fits better than a SJ ship navigator
having to ensure they have a good supply of conch shells!


> David "Big Mac" Shepheard

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Dreamer
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