3rdEd Gnomish Helm & Non-Magical Engines

This is the first draft of the Gnomish Helm (which isn't really
one) and Non-magical Engines (which also aren't helms, grouped
together to cut down on postings.  The text is much as the
original, with a Caster Level added (equivalent to Minor Helm),
and the time changed from turns to minutes.

Comments?


Spelljammer Helms - 11/May/06


Gnomish Helm: This cannot be made by conventional enchantment.

They do not normally have a rated AC, hardness, hit points or
break DC, but if the important bit is a minor helm then, once you
locate it, you could use AC 6, and +18 save bonus.

Caster Level: 15th; Weight: 2200+ lb.


Arcane Price: 50,000 gp

Gnomish helms should not function.  That is, their very
construction seems to defy the nature of thaumaturgical law. 
They are impossible.  Of course, being gnomish, they work anyway. 
Like most products from gnome ideas, they include a large number
of bells and whistles and very little substance.  Those that do
work usually have a minor helm contained within, always hidden
away so as to appear innocuous and unessential.

Gnomish helms are large, gaudy, ornate and overblown.  They
occupy at least 1 ton of space, and their SR (for those that
work) is determined solely by the spellcaster at the helm.

Only about 60 percent of Gnomish helms work (because they've had
a real spelljammer helm built into them somewhere). The remaining
40 percent are so much bunk and hokum.  Let the buyer beware.

Those foolish enough to purchase a Gnomish helm that works should
also hire two to eight gnomes to serve as repairmen.  There is a
20 percent chance at any time (usually when you need it most
badly) that the helm will malfunction and become inoperative for
2d4 minutes.

Gnomish helms are treated with a well-deserved derision among the
space-dwelling community, and are often unloaded on the
unsuspecting newcomer.


Non-magical Engines: Because these are non-magical they cannot be
made by conventional enchantment.

Caster Level: not applicable; Market Price: ~10,000 gp; Weight:
varies.


Arcane Price: varies, but approx. 10,000 gp

There are a number of ways of moving through space - gnomish
engines, chemical propellants, even explosive mixtures ignited in
a closed space.  These are sometimes used in space to travel
through magic-dead areas (called "Sargassos") as well as for
lifeboats and shuttles that are too insignificant to merit a
full-blown minor helm.  Non-magical movement is used as a back-up
system for larger ships when all other options fail.

All non-magical engines share one feature - they are slow
compared to helms.  Their movement is never more than 17 mph and
their SR is 1.  At such rates, it would take years to reach even
a nearby planet.

Further, they cannot be used to lift-off from celestial bodies
larger than size class A due to their limited power.  Little
research has been done in expanding this "weak sister" to the
spelljamming helms (because the helms provide such a good
alternative), but there are situations where they are useful.

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