Fetishes (playtest)

[logan9a]

Note - currently the PC's all have 'make magic fetish, level one' in all of the trees of magic. Sorry if you didn't know this - I tried to let people know but may not have been successful. Yes, all of the fetish skills are different for different trees.


Here's a bit more on those.

First - the PC has to use some skill they have to craft one. Let's say the PC wants their fetish not to be destroyed so they make it out of steel. For this example, they make a steel ring.

Skill needed: Craft: Metal (or forge metal, etc). Note that it takes one day to make a fetish - longer if the item takes longer to craft.

If you make the craft but fail the fetish roll you can keep the crafted item but it is not suitable to make a fetish with any more. Need to make both rolls at the same time.

After that, they have to put the spell they want into the ring. For this example, let's say they've made fetishs in the past and are specializing in the gate/time tree.

Skill needed: Make fetish: gate/time tree.

They've managed to claw their way up to a level 5 spell fetish.

Rolls needed: Four prior crits in 'make fetish: gate/time tree'.

They can now put 'phase other' into the ring.

Rolls needed: Craft metal, make fetish: gate/time tree level 5, phase other spell. (Note - you can't make this for someone else - it's just for YOU.)

Assuming the PC succeeds at all of that they then semi-permanently lose 6MP. If the ring is lost or destroyed it will become inert and the PC will get back those MP.

Assuming the PC had say 18 ESS before (hence 18 MP) they are now down to 12 MP 'forever' (unless ring destroyed or lost).


What do they get for this?

The PC can now cast 'phase other' at will for NO MP cost. Pretty much it would mean that if there is no 'phase - other' up on another PC it is either because they are in a zone where magic is hard or the caster has gotten lazy.

To do so they have to 'brandish' the ring (brandish - basically display, hold up and shake) when they are attempting to cast this.

Everything on the spell (range, fumbles, etc) is all the same but no MP cost.


All the fetish does is remove the MP cost of the spell - everything else is the same.

Hence, if the spell says it can only be cast once per day, it is a shitty thing to put into the fetish as you can still only cast it once per day.



In conclusion:

Yes, this is a pain in the ass. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it is limiting. However this is a way in which the PC's can make starter magic items. This is far interior (but much simpler) than making artifacts and such (see 'Amber powers').


If you have questions, let me know.

[PotatoJedi]

Is it always 6mp that they "lose" or does it depend on the spell they put into the fetish?

Do you still get checks in the spell if you cast it through your fetish? What happens if you fumble? Does the fetish get destroyed or is it just regular fumble for the spell? If you crit a spell through your fetish, do you get access to the next level of the spell as normal (obviously your fetish remains the same)?

[logan9a]

How ever much MP the spell costs to cast is what goes into the fetish.

Yes, since you have to roll the spell you can still get checks.

If you fumble, you draw a fumble card.

If you crit, yes, you get the next level up.

All the fetish does is remove the MP cost of the spell - everything else is the same.

Hence, if the spell says it can only be cast once per day, it is a shitty thing to put into the fetish as you can still only cast it once per day.

[docfullton]

so I can't make a fetish of sense trump, pattern once a day?

[logan9a]

Not with the weak assed shadow magic shit.

[PotatoJedi]

This might be really useful for getting level ups. Just cast the spell over and over until you either fumble or crit.

[logan9a]

That is one use. But you have to build the 'make fetish thing' for each tree - and that's not a super fast process. And learning higher level fetishes is hard. Guessing your spells might be learned faster than the fetish (specific tree) skill.

I'd have people spend the MP into it, try to craft it, try to cast the spell and if they fail those rolls, whomp whomp. I figure the whole process should be a day - longer if the item takes longer than that to make, of course.

[PotatoJedi]

So it goes…

Spend MP -> Craft roll -> Fetish roll?

What's the point in spending the MP if you haven't even made it yet? Surely you would put the MP in after the fetish roll. Craft -> Fetish -> MP.

If you fail the craft roll, do you lose the materials? If you make the craft but fail the fetish roll, do you still get to keep the crafted item?

[logan9a]

Either way, sure. Lose materials - yes. If you make the craft but fail the fetish roll you can keep the crafted item but it is not suitable to make a fetish with any more. Need to make both rolls at the same time.

[docfullton]

I thought I got the create fetish when I walked pattern though... or was that just a here ye go btw...

[logan9a]

No, the fetish thing is a 'here you go'. To make special Pattern goodness it is up quite a few steps on the Pattern tree.

[PotatoJedi]

Yet more skills we need to develop. Painting, sketching, Trump, Pattern, Fetishes, crafting (metal/wood)… It's like Logan wants us to sit in a dark room making things while the world crumbles around us.

[logan9a]

That is one way to look at it.

OR

You could look at it as though there are so many skills in the world to develop that (as I've said numerous times in the past) it is a good idea to pick say three and work on building those every session.

By having so many skills it kind of helps ensure that every character will be different.

[PotatoJedi]

I'm onto your nefarious ways. You can't fool me!

(In all seriousness though I love that there are so many different things you can do.)

[logan9a]

I am nefarious.

As the campaign continues on, there may be even more shit to do.

I like this sort of thing better than games where there are a grand total of say 30 skills and everyone ends up with the same character.