3rdEd Detect Powers spell - 1st hack

This is a first hack at converting the Detect Powers spell to
3rdEd.  A good chunk of this spell is DM not player, so it is
proposed this be removed and placed in a commentry sidebar.  The
terms 'cleric' or 'priest' are replaced by 'divine spellcaster'.

Comments?


2ndEd:
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Priest Spells

Second-Level Spells

Detect Powers
(Divination)

Sphere: Divination
Range: 240 yards
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 turn
Casting Time: 1 round
Area of Effect: 1 crystal shell
Saving Throw: None

Casting this spell ouside a crystal shell allows a cleric to
determine if there are friendly gods and/or other powers so that
he may recharge his higher-level spells within its borders.  The
Detect Powers spell will also reveal if the gods revered by the
cleric are worshipped within that sphere.

If the sphere is one known to the DM, or one which has its major
powers already designated, then the spell will reveal if the
priest's deity, or deities related to the one involved (either
members of the same pantheon or with similar attributes and
portfolio) exist.  Two different war gods from different fantasy
campaigns are probably sufficiently similar to justify a
"related" status.  However, a god of smithing may have no
parallel in a world without developed metalcraft.  In that
situation, a cleric devoted to the smithing god would not find a
power to recharge his spells.

If the sphere is new to the DM (ie, the characters just
discovered it), and he has no clear idea what lies within, then
roll on the table below for a possible response to the spell:

Die Roll  Response
01-10     Power is known in this sphere.  The cleric can recharge
          spells normally.
11-50     Power is unknown in sphere, but a related power exists. 
          The cleric may regain spells normally after contacting
          clerics of the related deity.
51-90     Power is unknown in the sphere.  The cleric may not
          regain spells above second level until contact is
          restored with venerated power.
91-00     Power is unknown in sphere.  There is a related power,
          but his relationship is not good with the cleric's
          power (whether through lack of knowledge, some ancient
          insult - imagined or real - or some other mysterious
          reason).  The cleric may not regain spells above second
          level until either contact is restored with his
          original power, or the cleric performs a great task for
          the new power.

While many powers will have similar portfolios and areas of
interest (war, healing, agriculture, death, and so on), they are
often at varying alignments.  In one fantasy world a war god
might be a positive figure, and therefore good and lawful.  On
another world, war might be regarded as a destructive force, and
its deity is evil and chaotic.

A cleric will be able to tell the alignment of the power closest
to his deity through the Detect Powers spell.  Accepting spells
from a power of similar outlook but opposite alignment is
dangerous, and any cleric that does so must regain favour with
his chief deity (through quest or atonement) before further
advancement in his class is possible.

There are a number of speciality faiths that exist only in space
fantasy campaigns, including the Polygots, the Path & the Way,
Ptah, and the Planar Churches.  If there exists a space
civilization of any sort in the crystal sphere, then these faiths
will be represented somewhere in that system.

The material component of this spell is a handful of sand, which
the priest casts onto the crystal shell.

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3rdEd:
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Detect Powers
Divination
Level: Clr 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Target: Crystal sphere
Duration: 1 minute
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: None

Casting this spell ouside a crystal shell allows a divine
spellcaster to determine if there are friendly gods and/or other
powers so that he may recharge his higher-level spells within its
borders.  The Detect Powers spell will also reveal if the power
or gods revered by the divine spellcaster are worshipped within
that sphere.

A divine spellcaster will be able to tell the alignment of the
power closest to his power or deity through the Detect Powers
spell.  Accepting spells from a power of similar outlook but
opposite alignment is dangerous, and any divine spellcaster that
does so must regain favour with his chief power or deity (through
quest or atonement) before further advancement in his class is
possible.

Material Component: A handful of sand, which is cast onto the
crystal shell.

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Sidebar Commentry:

If the sphere is one known to the DM, or one which has its major
powers already designated, then the Detect Powers spell will
reveal if the priest's deity, or deities related to the one
involved (either members of the same pantheon or with similar
attributes and portfolio) exist.  Two different war gods from
different fantasy campaigns are probably sufficiently similar to
justify a "related" status.  However, a god of smithing may have
no parallel in a world without developed metalcraft.  In that
situation, a cleric devoted to the smithing god would not find a
power to recharge his spells.

If the sphere is new to the DM (ie, the characters just
discovered it), and he has no clear idea what lies within, then
roll on the table below for a possible response to the spell:

Die Roll  Response
01-10     Power is known in this sphere.  The cleric can recharge
          spells normally.
11-50     Power is unknown in sphere, but a related power exists. 
          The cleric may regain spells normally after contacting
          clerics of the related deity.
51-90     Power is unknown in the sphere.  The cleric may not
          regain spells above second level until contact is
          restored with venerated power.
91-00     Power is unknown in sphere.  There is a related power,
          but his relationship is not good with the cleric's
          power (whether through lack of knowledge, some ancient
          insult - imagined or real - or some other mysterious
          reason).  The cleric may not regain spells above second
          level until either contact is restored with his
          original power, or the cleric performs a great task for
          the new power.

While many powers will have similar portfolios and areas of
interest (war, healing, agriculture, death, and so on), they are
often at varying alignments.  In one fantasy world a war god
might be a positive figure, and therefore good and lawful.  On
another world, war might be regarded as a destructive force, and
its deity is evil and chaotic.

There are a number of speciality faiths that exist only in space
fantasy campaigns, including the Polygots, the Path & the Way,
Ptah, and the Planar Churches.  If there exists a space
civilization of any sort in the crystal sphere, then these faiths
will be represented somewhere in that system.


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