Re: Life Preserver (new use for spell) - Was: New Spelljammer Spells

--- David Shepheard <david_shepheard@???????.com>
wrote:

> Hi Adam,
> 
> I just had some ideas for new uses for your Life
> Preserver spell.

> Before I start, here is what made me think of these
> new uses, here are the things that made me think of
it:
> 
> The spell creates up to ten magical ropes and
> The ropes *can* tie themselves around unattended
> objects or unconscious people (as I said before, I
>  wish it could do this "all the time" instead).

It will.

> If those ropes were *intended* to tie themselves to
> the target this spell would become *much* more
useful
> And not just for grabbing people floating in the
void.
> Here are the ideas/alternative uses that players
could
> try:
> 
> 1) It could also be used to grapple ships during
> boarding actions.

Hmmm, I wouldn't want a 1st level spell doing that, so
I'll limit the size of object it ties off to to be no
bigger than medium sized.

> 2) The spell could also be used to target people on
> other ships and yank them overboard. An opposed
> strength check - or a strength check vs. an 
> escape artist check (if someone tries to untie the
> rope).

Hmmm, that's one i'll have to think about.  Not sure
it should be that powerful.

> Because someone might want to cut a rope, you need
> to decide how many hit points each rope has. I'd say
> the same as a normal rope - whatever that is.

Not much.  Probaby 1 hp.

> 3) The spell would also be useful to a spell who
> fell overboard themselves.  They could use the spell
> on the ship and pull themselves in.

Good point.

> 4) The rope(s) could be used as emergency rigging,
> holding up sails, if their rigging was cut, until
they
> could be tied off.

Meh, I don't see these ropes doing that, because they
vanish once brought fully aboard ship. 

> 5) The rope(s) could be used to swing quickly onto
> another ship (or to slither slowly along the gravity
> plane and reach the "water line" of the  other
ship).
> 
> In a game where ships, rope use and rigging are
> involved, there is so much you could potentially do
> with your spell. I think you should consider extra 
> options before going live with it. You could either:
> 
> 1) Pump up the level a bit in recognition of its
> additional uses or
> 2) Copy TSRs concept of "Bigby's Endless Hand/Fist"
> spells.
> 
> If you make this an multi-purpose spell, then
> grappling would be so useful I 
> think you should consider calling the spell
> "Grapple" (and making the other 
> uses secondary functions).
> 
> If you create a series of spells, then perhaps they
> could all have names 
> with the word "Rope" in the title. The spell you
> have already created could 
> become "Rope of Rescue" and the other uses I have
> proposed could be sister 
> spells called "Rope of Grappling", "Rope of Rigging"
> or "Rope of Boarding".

That'd probably be the better route :)

> 
> The "Rope of Grappling" could automatically tie off
> at both ends and then 
> pull together. Unlike other "Rope" spells, this one
> could be given a 
> strength score.
> 
> The "Rope of Rigging" could be a long duration spell
> that replaces a broken 
> rope on a ship (or creates additional rigging). This
> spell could have a rope 
> use score equal to the spellcaster's level.
> Additional rigging would work in 
> the same way as the similar rule in the campaign
> setting (I forget where it 
> was) extra rigging would probably require extra
> sails.
> 
> The "Rope of Boarding" could be targeted on people
> about to board. A rope 
> would shoot from their hand to the rigging of the
> opposing ship, and should 
> give them a minor bonus to a jump/tumbling check
> when they swing across (the 
> rope "helps" them swing into a good place to land).
> 
> If you want to be really crafty, then you could rule
> that if a rope was cut 
> into two pieces, the smaller piece would vanish, but
> the larger piece would 
> carry on working.
> 
> I hope that some of this is useful. I think your
> idea is too good to be just a single spell.

Too good for a first level spell, definately.

Adam

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