For Artus:
Your lantern (slightly modified) just became the focus of of my new campaign! My compliments and sincere thanks. I was invited late Thursday to guest GM today for friends who don't get much opportunity to game, and who had never played Pathfinder before (though they had played 3.5). I only had a single day to invent a scenario (I prefer my own to modules), so I whipped an omen and a quest to stop a vampire lord's minions from getting this Lantern to their lord's sanctum, where he planned to destroy it forever. Though I altered the mechanics, I gave you full credit for the concept, even writing you into my game as Saint Artus the Pious, creator of the Lantern!
Needless to say, all involved enjoyed themselves, and we plan on continuing that campaign in two weeks.
Thanks again, and best of luck in the next round... can't wait to see the archetype you've created!
For Artus:
Some of the most awesome things I have ever heard.
Thank you giving me something nice to wake up to.
This is a very cool item, Artus. I love that it's able to change the light from a radius, to a cone, to a projected sphere. That's brilliant. (No pun intended.)
I would love to see an evil version of this item - one that channels negative energy and projects darkness. <Tom pauses and puts on his GM cap.> I think you just gave me a new item I can use to terrorize my players! Thanks!
I think this shaped channeling is great, and certainly of a utility that justifies it's cost. I do agree that there should be some spell or feat components, and also that an ability based power is more unbalancing for some than others. I also think that the 5-foot burst at 400 feet is a little small, if you think of the number of affected squares compared to the cone or line effects.
Someone else may have mentioned this already but I seem to recall a spell shaping metamagic feat form 3.5 which allowed you to change the shape of a spell for a cone or line of similar size, but also to four small radius effects. I'm sure they needed to be closer than 400 feet, but I doubt I would be using it that far off anyways, since most of the other PCs in an average party can't influence opponents at that distance.
I would totally use this. In fact, I fear that the already amazing cleric for whom I DM will want one.
Intriguing item :) I definitely can see a few clerics I know wanting one of these. A nice enhancement of a standard power, allowing for flexibility in the channeling. I can use this in my compaign.