Practical Piracy: the Helm Locater

Form discussions lately, a huge stumbling block in SJ rules has become
obvious: how the hell do pirates find their targets?

Except raiding static places, like asteroid bases or groundling ports,
pirates would have a hell of a job catching any prey, also, this applies to
privateers and military fleets.
Wildspace is so vast, while random encounters could happen, it verges on the
impossible for pirates to attack ships, short of mooring very close to a
planet/asteroid's major shipping lane, i.e. point blank basically.

So, without the aid of subterfuge, like planted spies, the chances of a
pirate encountering a ship in the utter vastness of space, is almost
impossible. (all these points also go for legitimate folk hunting pirates,
enemies etc)

Solution: a HELM LOCATER device.

HELM LOCATER
  A helm locater is an ornate device the size of a small table, usually
around 3 feet high and about 2 foot square. Made from precious metals, gems
and stainless steel, they usually take the form of a three inch wide metal
rim, supported by three or four legs, with two extensions that arc partially
over the rim. These extensions are always inset with gems and are designed
to be grasped or touched by the user.
  To activate the device, a user must be a spellcaster of some type, they
cannot be activated by psionics, though Psionic Helm Locaters exist and
works in the exact same fashion as described below, with some differences,
and they can in turn, only be used by creatures with psionic powers.
  The user casts a spell (or psionic power) and it's energy is utterly
absorbed by the Helm Locater, which then fashions in a manner analogous to a
Crystal Ball, but it only detects active helms, plus it acts as a Planetary
Locater, it can also be foiled in the exact same way as a Crystal Ball. Once
successfully activated, an illusory sphere appears inside the rim, not
unlike a Planetary Locater, showing every active helm in the sphere. In the
Phlogiston, active helms are also shown, but there is some range limit to
this which is unknown, due to the nature and vast size of the Flow, plus
there maybe no planetoids for frame of reference (DM's can place whatever
limit they chose in the Flow, it is quite arbitrary)
  The chance for success is not automatic however, as it can be blocked or
affected as per a Crystal Ball (or Remote Viewing), so a suitable warding
spell (or Psi-Power) cast on or round a helm could hide it from view. Since
the Locater detects helms, not helmsmen, wearing an Amulet of Proof Against
Detection And Location will not work. Also, areas of intense magic or
energy, or multiple helms close by, can block or give uncertain results.
  Users will see white dots in the illusion representing helms, as well as
planets, so relative positioning can be reckoned. The spellcaster can also
zoom in or move/rotate the display as needed. The illusion will last for 5
minutes per spell level (or Power Level) used to activate it. During this
time, the spell caster can concentrate on one ship per minute and try to
discern what type of helm powers it, using a Knowledge: Arcana check (even
psionic helms use Knowledge Arcana checks, except if the target uses a
Psionic helm). The helms appearance on the display then changes to a
specific colour or look the user recognizes. This function is based on the
user's ability to sense and try to interpret the actual helm itself, and has
nothing to do with actually looking at the display itself.

Red -- Minor Helm DC 15
Yellow -- Major Helm DC 20
Blue -- Life Jammer DC 20  (DC 35 if using a Psionic Helm Locater)
Artic Blue -- Death Helm DC 25   (DC 40 if using a Psionic Helm Locater)
Pulsating Star -- Artifurnace DC 40  (Can automatically fail if the DM so
wishes it)
Pulsing Orange -- Furnace DC 15
Sparkling white -- Series Helm DC 30 (DC 15 if using a Psionic Helm Locater)
Sparkling orange -- Pool Helm DC 35   (DC 20 if using a Psionic Helm
Locater)

Helms that use necromancy or negative energy for power are more difficult
for psionic users to discern, and likewise, psionic helms are harder for
spellcasters to recognize.
Failed results always give wrong type of answer, without the user knowing
it, so it is a gamble.

  The Arcane sell these, of course. Illithids are the primary creators of
Psionic Helm Locaters.
Strong Divination; CL 15th; Craft Wonderous Item (Craft Universal Item for
psionic version); Scrying (Remote Viewing for Psionic version); Price 60,000
gp




What ya think? :)




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Than a King who believes in Nothing.
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