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The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: Theonlyspiral on February 04, 2013, 11:27:25 PM
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I was tinkering around trying to figure out a couple Enchanted Items for a Character and (considering I've only ever made one) I had some trouble on the second. I then noticed that the Resource Collection lacks any sort of thread on enchanted items and figured we could use this thread to develop some. Leave ideas here for people who want them.
The item I've had trouble with is a Ring of Invisibility. Basically I want a ring that when you put it on it makes you invisible for a short time. The character was has Lore 4 and no crafting specialties. I am pretty free on how many slots to spend, but I was hoping 2 Enchanted Slots. I was originally thinking of doing it as a block on sight, and then I wondered if maybe a Maneuver would be the way to do it. I'm not really sure what the best way to do it is. Any help would be appreciated.
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The problem with a list of enchanted items is that they can basically hold any spell their creator can cast, subject to power/complexity restrictions...which depend on their creator.
There would be more benefit to a list of narrative spell effects accompanied by suggested mechanical representations, but devoid of hard numbers (since that will depend on the caster/creator).
For your particular enchanted item, I would suggest a thaumaturgical veil (as that bumps the default duration to 'scene') using 2 slots for a strength:5 block vs perception. It's not amazing, but it'll do the trick against casual observers and even intent mooks (most of the time). This is early-mid-Dresden veiling capability.
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For your particular enchanted item, I would suggest a thaumaturgical veil (as that bumps the default duration to 'scene') using 2 slots for a strength:5 block vs perception. It's not amazing, but it'll do the trick against casual observers and even intent mooks (most of the time). This is early-mid-Dresden veiling capability.
I agree that this is the way to do things...but, uh, Evocation veils last the scene, too. Well, unless you disrupt them.
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I agree that this is the way to do things...but, uh, Evocation veils last the scene, too. Well, unless you disrupt them.
They MIGHT last a scene IF your group follows a SUGGESTION in YS, but NOT if it follows RAW.
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They MIGHT last a scene IF your group follows a SUGGESTION in YS, but NOT if it follows RAW.
Uh...stuff in the margins is every bit as much rules text as anything else in the book. I mean...it's by the same people, the format's just for flavor. It's phrased as advice, sure, but so are things actually in the text. It is a GM judgment call, but saying that following the rules suggestions written in the game isn't following the RAW is...weird and untrue.
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Uh...stuff in the margins is every bit as much rules text as anything else in the book. I mean...it's by the same people, the format's just for flavor. It's phrased as advice, sure, but so are things actually in the text. It is a GM judgment call, but saying that following the rules suggestions written in the game isn't following the RAW is...weird and untrue.
When those suggestions directly contradict the statements of the rules proper, it's not at all 'weird' and the furthest thing from 'untrue' to say that it is not the Rules As Written.
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When those suggestions directly contradict the statements of the rules proper, it's not at all 'weird' and the furthest thing from 'untrue' to say that it is not the Rules As Written.
There are no 'Rules Proper' as distinct from the marginalia. It was all written by the same people, often at the same time, with whether things wound up in the margins or the text having to do with what worked best aesthetically as much as anything. It is, admittedly, a suggestion, which is why I guess you aren't disregarding the RAW if you ignore it...but you sure as hell aren't disregarding the RAW by following it either, since it is a RAW.
I mean, it's no different from a more traditionally structured gamebook having a paragraph in the text saying "The duration of Veils, at GM discretion, may be somewhat longer than this. It's recommended they last until pierced or the end of the scene, much like they are simply a very good magical stealth roll." or something like that. It's a suggestion...but one that is absolutely part of the rules.
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There are no 'Rules Proper' as distinct from the marginalia. It was all written by the same people, often at the same time, with whether things wound up in the margins or the text having to do with what worked best aesthetically as much as anything. It is, admittedly, a suggestion, which is why I guess you aren't disregarding the RAW if you ignore it...but you sure as hell aren't disregarding the RAW by following it either, since it is a RAW.
I mean, it's no different from a more traditionally structured gamebook having a paragraph in the text saying "The duration of Veils, at GM discretion, may be somewhat longer than this. It's recommended they last until pierced or the end of the scene, much like they are simply a very good magical stealth roll." or something like that. It's a suggestion...but one that is absolutely part of the rules.
But not the default implementation, which is what I understand Tedronai is trying to get at.
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But not the default implementation, which is what I understand Tedronai is trying to get at.
I dunno...when the rules strongly suggest you do X...isn't the default to follow their advice? Not following it is certainly valid, and even RAW, but isn't following it what you'd expect to run into?
I'd certainly call actually following the book's explicit advice the default...
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The default is to do what the rules TELL you to do, not to do what the rules suggest that you instead do.
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The default is to do what the rules TELL you to do, not to do what the rules suggest that you instead do.
Games have variant rules all the time. That's all this is. You're drawing a distinction where there is none.
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A 'variant rule' is precisely what this is. And variant rules are not what is referred to by 'RAW'. 'RAW' is the default rules, including, at most, official errata (not terribly relevant to DFrpg given Evil Hat's policies on the subject).
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I disagree with you completely...but I doubt either of us is gonna talk the other around, and it's an extremely semantic point in most ways anyway, so let's just agree to disagree and move on, eh?
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I'm driving this thread back on topic:
For any type of invisibility, I'd use a veil. As someone said, with two enchanted item slots, you can get a Veil 5 that lasts a scene. When this veil is up, you'll face a block of 2 against all of your actions requiring perception. You'll be able to use this item once per session, with additional uses costing 1 mental stress.
Personally, I find that having two dedicated enchanted items (Offensive, Defensive), and using the rest of my slots for potions is usually the best way to do things. A veil can be a decent defensive enchanted item with utility outside of combat, but I'd want it at more than 5 Shifts if I were playing with a Superb or higher skill cap.
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Fantastic! That was exactly the sort of help I was looking for. Now here's the next thing I want to try and model:
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Psychic_Paper
The Psychic Paper from Doctor Who!
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Fantastic! That was exactly the sort of help I was looking for. Now here's the next thing I want to try and model:
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Psychic_Paper
The Psychic Paper from Doctor Who!
Skill replacement?
The paper has many uses, so these are just suggestions. I don't know how you'd get them all...probably as a potion, because then you could just declare the appropriate use:
Scholarship declarations with the forgery stunt: For showing people writing they might think is official
Deceit rolls: Making people think that what is written on the paper is truth.
Declarations regarding communication: Insert appropriate skill - probably contacts...(although, this would work in reverse, since it would allow other people to send you a message) But technically, the Player is making the declaration.
eg: GM: you're about to be ambushed
Player: I use a potion to make a contacts declaration: Wanda wrote me a message warning me of the ambush.
Actually, in that case, it could be used to replace your awareness roll to represent the fact that you'd been warned in advance...
As far as immunity goes, if it gives you a replacement roll of +4, someone like Shakespear, who likely has a super high scholarship/empathy, would more likely be "immune" to some of the uses because their defending skills would be higher. Also, compels would work to make the paper useless against some people who are "geniuses".
so yeah. maybe there's a better way, but that's all I could think of.