 Wands & such, foci, fetishes or geasa? |
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 Nov 1 2006, 09:25 PM
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#1
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Running Target  Group: Members Posts: 1,379 Joined: 16-April 02 From: the LI shadows Member No.: 2,607  |
OK, I had this rather annoying thought running around in my mind for a while, & finally pinned it down (slippery little bugger). My thought is;
If a mage is creating (for whatever reason) a wand for magic use, does it fall under the category of Foci, fetish or geas? |
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Nov 1 2006, 09:28 PM
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#2
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Genuine Artificial Intelligence Group: Members Posts: 4,019 Joined: 12-June 03 Member No.: 4,715 |
Any of the above.
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Nov 1 2006, 09:31 PM
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#3
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ghostrider Group: Retired Admins Posts: 4,196 Joined: 16-May 04 Member No.: 6,333 |
Yes, it could technically be any of those, depending on how it was to be used, how it was created, etc.
I won't go into fetish vs. foci right now, because it's been a while and I don't want to mislead you. As far as geas though, the wand would merely be the physical part of the whole geas pie. The geas might read "has to have this want in hand with direct skin contact in order to cast X". |
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Nov 1 2006, 10:04 PM
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#4
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panda! Group: Members Posts: 10,331 Joined: 8-March 02 From: north of central europe Member No.: 2,242 |
a foci is a magic item that gives a bonus to something (like a spell, a group of spells, summoning of a kind of spirit and so on).
a fetish is a magic item that puts a limit on your spell use. its simpler to learn a spell that require a fetish, but if you do not have the right fetish in contact with your person you cant cast any spells limited by said fetish. it also gives +2 dice on train tests for any spells it limits. a "wand" as a geas would most likely be that unless you have it in your possession (or maybe waving it about as part of the casting) your magic attribute is reduced (the most used use of a geas). |
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Nov 1 2006, 10:04 PM
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#5
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 |
A wand could be the telesma for a focus or a fetish.
A fetish that satisfies a geas is called a talisman; there are rules for them in Street Magic. |
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Nov 1 2006, 10:31 PM
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#6
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,206 Joined: 9-July 06 From: Fresno, CA Member No.: 8,856 |
Also an important side note is that it can also be for show.
Misdirection associated with having people believe that it has something to do with your power can be useful in some cases, for purely social engeneering reasons. Remeber, just because you're a mage dosen't mean everything has to be magical. |
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Nov 1 2006, 10:43 PM
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#7
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
It could also come in handy in that 'social encounter' later on, especially if it can accomodate batteries ... :)
... or be used with the Orgasm Spell, of course ... :D or both! ;) |
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Nov 1 2006, 10:43 PM
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#8
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ghostrider Group: Retired Admins Posts: 4,196 Joined: 16-May 04 Member No.: 6,333 |
True enough. And I've always loved the countless references to Talismongers selling worthless "magical" baubles to the populace at large. :) @Fortune: :P |
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Nov 1 2006, 10:47 PM
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#9
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
I know that this was not in response to my post, but it could easily be considered quite fitting none-the-less. :D |
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Nov 1 2006, 10:50 PM
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#10
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 |
"Whatcha doin' 'hawk?"
"Getting out my magic wand." "'hawk, that's a bar of thermite." "Same difference." |
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Nov 1 2006, 11:29 PM
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#11
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,333 Joined: 19-August 06 From: Austin Member No.: 9,168 |
So, now I'm confused.
If I take the talisman geas, do I have to use a magical item for it? I had originally read it as simply something specific, but rereading it suggests that a talisman isn't defined simply by the characteristics, but also must have a magical portion? |
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Nov 1 2006, 11:54 PM
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#12
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
I think the 'magical portion' refered to is that it needs to be attuned to you in a sort of ritualistic manner (I can't remember the exact time needed off-hand - probably similar to Fetishes), thereby linking your Astral Signature to the newly bonded (karma-free) Talisman. |
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Nov 2 2006, 12:08 AM
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#13
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 |
If you take a talisman geas (say, "custom Armani pen"), then it isn't enough to have a custom Armani pen - the custom Armani pen must also be enchanted as a talisman. |
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Nov 2 2006, 12:15 AM
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#14
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Is that in the same loose, ritualistic-type, karma-free method as I (badly) described above? Or does that involve the actual Enchanting Skill, and all that is involved with that? |
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Nov 2 2006, 12:28 AM
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#15
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,379 Joined: 16-April 02 From: the LI shadows Member No.: 2,607 |
That's NOT what I meant, Fortune & you know it! |
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Nov 2 2006, 12:36 AM
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#16
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 |
You need Enchanting, yes, but they don't cost karma to make. Pretty cheap, actually. |
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Nov 2 2006, 01:50 AM
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#17
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,333 Joined: 19-August 06 From: Austin Member No.: 9,168 |
Would you allow a player to start with these talismans, if they'd taken the geas? Or would you require a talismonger contact, or something similar, before it could be part of their starting gear? I'd say that you can simply buy foci, w/o them, so it's okay to have a talisman, but...
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Nov 2 2006, 02:00 AM
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#18
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
You don't make people recover from their chargen implant surgery at the beginning of the game, do you? So why would this be any different? Equipment/Qualities/Skills acquired at chargen are assumed to be fully-functional, and usable without further ado.
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Nov 2 2006, 02:02 AM
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#19
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 6,748 Joined: 5-July 02 Member No.: 2,935 |
A talisman is like a 100 nuyen. If a player started with the talisman geas, I as a GM would expect them to buy one at chargen, and I would certainly allow it - no talismonger contact needed, though they're always helpful later on.
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Nov 2 2006, 03:48 PM
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#20
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ghostrider Group: Retired Admins Posts: 4,196 Joined: 16-May 04 Member No.: 6,333 |
Yes, I'd definitely allow a character to take something like that at chargen, especially if they had a geas that required it. At chargen, it's just another piece of gear, really.
And yes, it starts bonded and ready to use, because anything else would equate to penalizing the player for making character choices. The equivalent would be allowing a sammy to buy an assault rifle, but not letting him have any ammo for it unless he had an arms dealer contact. :) |
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Nov 2 2006, 04:45 PM
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#21
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,206 Joined: 9-July 06 From: Fresno, CA Member No.: 8,856 |
Woah Nellie!
You let your sammies start with ammo?!? |
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Nov 2 2006, 04:56 PM
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#22
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The back-up plan Group: Retired Admins Posts: 8,423 Joined: 15-January 03 From: San Diego Member No.: 3,910 |
That's just backwards..they can start with plenty of ammo, but no guns... Back to the topic... Most commonly I've seen wands and athame etc referenced as tools to help focus hermetics and path of Wicca for ritual magic. That being said, they could be any of the options you listed, or simply a tool that the character uses to help focus. Most people utilize some form of concentration aid when doing mentally taxing tasks...why should this be any different? |
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Nov 2 2006, 05:27 PM
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#23
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,333 Joined: 19-August 06 From: Austin Member No.: 9,168 |
Ph33r my elven magican, Parry Hotter. 7 Cha, 6 Magic, and a wand with a phoenix feather that's also a rank 5 weapon focus!
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Nov 2 2006, 05:32 PM
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#24
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Genuine Artificial Intelligence Group: Members Posts: 4,019 Joined: 12-June 03 Member No.: 4,715 |
Don't make me hate you. :P |
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Nov 2 2006, 05:36 PM
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#25
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The back-up plan Group: Retired Admins Posts: 8,423 Joined: 15-January 03 From: San Diego Member No.: 3,910 |
p'shaw...Stacked Spellcasting (All Spells) Focus...the gryffindor sword is the weapon focus...
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