I am wanting to make an item for the game that I am running though I have no clue how to make it or what it would cost. I know I can, as the GM, say that is simply exists and it does what I am wanting but I would prefer to actually know how it would be made and what it would cost.
So like the title says I am wanting a safe place to dual with magic. That means there is an area, 30 to 100 square feet, that magic is no longer lethal. All spells are as if they were cast with the merciful meta magic feat. This would allow for professional duels and magical training with a much lower risk of killing someone.
I am not wanting to up the caster level for the people in the arena by forcing them to take merciful spell and there are plenty of builds that do not use a rod. Plus that could easily be stolen and I do not want that to be an option.
This item that causes the non lethal magic I do not want to be easy to move.
So I ask the wonderful people of the message boards to please help me out.
Thank you in advance.
DAA
How many observers do you want? Greater Create Mindscape to create a harmless mindscape would do it for a small group.
Pocket dimensions.
Pocket dimensions everywhere.
I believe merciful is a weapon quality, and I could imagine seeing that as a ring. I'd think just doing the price of a +1 bonus should do it.
Of course I see to it nowhere is safe.
;)
Plausible Pseudonym as to the observers I would like to be able to have anywhere from just the teachers and maybe a healer all the way to a full crowd like there would be for jousting. The crowd does not need to be effected but I would like a way to enchant the arena so that people cannot shot anything in without it also become nonlethal.
master_marshmallow the pocket Dimensions would also work for the small scale setting but not the big one. I have never had a chance to play with pocket dimensions so I will look into that. Thank you.
MageHunter the rings wont work on a big scale since I do not want it to be able to be stolen... Unless there is some way to lock the item in to the arena. But that option would defiantly be the cheap pick for the training style like in schools and with guilds. Just not for the formal events. And there is still danger, I want there to be. But this is a thing that would exist in the world so I want it. Thank you for that one.
A demiplane might have the properties you want. It's not a listed planar trait but it seems a reasonable extension. Stealing it would be an epic quest rather than a matter of slipping something into your pocket.
If you want a fixed item, a variation of Hymn of Mercy which affects spells seems to be the spell to start with. That would affect a 30' radius area if not changed otherwise. As a fixed item you might want to make it a 'trap'.
In the 3.0 D&D book Magic of Faerun there was interesting bit about formal mage duels. The gist of it is as follows:
Challenge is issued and either party offers to solve it via mageduel.
Participants then concentrate for 1 round to attune themselves.
Then they define the size of the arena. If they disagree about the size they roll opposed ability checks to see who decides. There are minimum and maximum dimensions to the area.
Area is encased in obvious shimmering field that keeps out animals and frightens others if they try to enter.
Participants agree on prep time and when complete step in.
Spells can not leave the area and spells cannot be cast to the area from outside, participants get extra action to counterspell each round.
Damage is nonlethal and is halved. Instant kill spells deal half the defenders max hits in non lethal.
Duel ends when one is knocked uncouncious, leaves the area, is disqualified, time runs out, both agree to end the duel or there is outside interference.
Plausible Pseudonym as to the observers I would like to be able to have anywhere from just the teachers and maybe a healer all the way to a full crowd like there would be for jousting. The crowd does not need to be effected but I would like a way to enchant the arena so that people cannot shot anything in without it also become nonlethal.
Create Greater Mindscape is limited to one target/caster level, so at a minimum 12. Everyone in the custom mindscape can't be harmed if you set it to a harmless trait. You just wake up at full HP after you die in the mindscape. I suppose you could create a custom item based on this spell that would do what you want.
Could always have the floor or something similar have falling to 0 trigger a light spell and a cure/regeneration/breath of life spell. Each duelist has a marker that triggers a different colored light. Might not protect against a true overkill spell but most deaths would be prevented and who lost would be pretty clear. Making an antimagic zone as a ring to protect the audience would be pretty easy too.
avr I like the Hymn of Mercy. Sadly it is only weapons but as the GM I can make alterations. Maybe a spell that does that same for magic. Thank you
WagnerSika I have only every played about 10 sessions in 3.5 games so I know nothing about that but I will look into it.
Plausible Pseudonym the mindscape has great potential for the training options. I will look into that option.
silverrey I actually did not consider it from that angle and I rather like it. For the tournament option that defiantly could work and it fills the desire for a bloodsport.
Poking my own thread and hoping for more ideas
Merciful spell does not use a higher level spell slot. GM fiat is probably the best way to go about it. If you want an explanation simply make the item an artifact. Artifacts are pretty much for when a GM wants to do something unique but wants to keep control of it. Make the artifact the dueling chamber itself. This would also allow you to justify that any magic cast does not reach past the chamber.
I rather liked the forgotten realms version of this.
Cliffs notes: Mystra the goddess of magic created a very simple ritual to facilitate mage duels that both prevented collateral damage and preserved the lives of casters. I think it was three circles in the dirt or something.
Essentially any magic that occurs in the arena (created by the circles) is subdual and cannot leave the confines of the arena.This holds for any kind of spell and not just damage. Summoned creatures do subdual damage, save or die becomes save or pass out, etc. Basically people can watch in safety and casters can knock the hell out of each other and only succeed in incapacitating them.
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Remember, all safe spaces for a mage's duel must ban magoaggressions.
I rather liked the forgotten realms version of this.
Cliffs notes: Mystra the goddess of magic created a very simple ritual to facilitate mage duels that both prevented collateral damage and preserved the lives of casters. I think it was three circles in the dirt or something.
Essentially any magic that occurs in the arena (created by the circles) is subdual and cannot leave the confines of the arena.This holds for any kind of spell and not just damage. Summoned creatures do subdual damage, save or die becomes save or pass out, etc. Basically people can watch in safety and casters can knock the hell out of each other and only succeed in incapacitating them.
Yes, this is fleshed out in the Magic of Faerun book as I noted earlier.
A friend apparently has that book so i will look into it.
And I do not recognize this term, 'magoaggressions'
A pair of epic wizards in a duel? An erupting volcano might be relatively 'safe'.
Well you can make up your own spells, with the spell research rules. Basically I would use those rules to find out what spell level it is. I would likely compare it to one of the pocket dimension abilities. Once you know what level spell it was just use the wonderous item chart. Which says for items that are always one or you can turn on and off: Spell level X caster level X 2,000 gold.
So, if you decide it is equal to Greater Create Mindscape then it would cost 132,000 gold.
Could probably get a discount because you want to make it a limited version of mindscape that always does the same thing. If you wanted to in a stationary area, just make the floor the magic item.
It's a wizard's duel, they may well not touch the floor.