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

From: "Dreamer" <dreamer@??????.?????.??.uk>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 9:20 AM
Subject: Re: [SPELLJAMMER] Locate Portal conversion - Was: Whatever happened 
to the 3.5e conversions to the Spelljammer Spells?


>> 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.

But if the currents of the flow routinely push you off course, and there are 
no points of reference to navigate by, you would have to cast this lots of 
times.

> 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.

Try "Find the Path". There is no limit to how far away the destination is 
(although I believe its effects would end at the sphere wall).

> 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.

As well as Locate Portal you could have Detect Portal (as per detect magic 
but works with portals - you turn around to scan and concentrate on a portal 
for more information, such as permanant or temporary, large or small or 
whatever).

>> 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?

You can infer the spell as working either way. I think that is one of the 
reasons WotC shuffled everything around. (Althoght they eventually 
introduced their own ambiguities).

>> 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!

If it gets consumed it is listed as "M" in 3rd edition if it isn't it is 
listed as "F" and becomes a focus.

I agree a focus sounds more sense, but that isn't what the person who 
converted the spell did.

David "Big Mac" Shepheard