The Steal Book spell

[Raef13]

Hey everyone I was wondering if you all would help write up the spell that is mentioned in the book Prince of Wolves?

The spell is cast on a first book and then cast on a second blank book. After the first casting but before the second the original book still keeps its content. After the second casting the original text disappears and the second book is now filled with all information including notes made on the original book. If before this second casting the original book is destroyed its text is still transferred in full. I think any damage to the text or attempts to obscure it are removed during the transfer.

I do not currently have my copy of Prince of Wolves so if you could help me in listing anything I forgot and any ideas for what the spell would end up looking like in game terms that would be awesome.

Its probably just standard actions each time to cast and i would say that the original book only shows up as a slight transmutation aura not able to tell what the spell is because it is not completely cast.

[Atarlost]

Please don't. That is potentially a ridiculously powerful spell in the hands of an NPC arcane trickster or wizard/rogue facing a PC wizard. We don't need more ways to turn PC wizards into commoners with no proficiencies.

[Raef13]

Well how often is a wizard actually going to have his spell book in a position where someone can just walk up and cast a spell on it. Then all a BBEG would have to do is burn the book or cast erase and screw the wizard over. For the few situations, like he's studying or writing in it, where this does come up then Book Ward could be a way to block this spell.

[Protoman]

Kobold Quarterly magazine issue 14 had a Prince of Wolves article. Had Radovan stats (they were so-so) and Steal Book spell written up. The spell didn't seem too bad; had a rule where it can't steal magical writings such as wizard's spellbook and scrolls (so assume Lacuna Codex was more of a theory book rather than specific magical writing).

[ciretose]

Atarlost wrote:

Please don't. That is potentially a ridiculously powerful spell in the hands of an NPC arcane trickster or wizard/rogue facing a PC wizard. We don't need more ways to turn PC wizards into commoners with no proficiencies.

I thought wizards were overpowered demi-gods and people who play lesser classes should be shunned for considering such things (s)

[Raef13]

Protoman do you have the copy of Kobold to copy it and share? I am just planning on making a wizard and this would fit him very well.

[Arazyr]

You can pick up the pdf here. It's not very expensive.

[Protoman]

Kobold Quarterly 14, page 13. wrote:

Steal Book

School divination; Level bard 3, inquisitor 3, sorcerer/wizard 3, witch 3
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range touch
Target one book touched
Duration permanent
Saving Throw Fortitude negates (object); Spell Resistance yes (object)

Often used by bards, spies, and arcane scholars to steal important texts without alerting their owners, steal book allows you to copy the contents of one book, folio, scroll, or other text to a blank one of sufficient size. In doing so, the original pages are wiped blank, though any covers or binding remain unchanged. Differences in size between the original and the blank folio don’t matter, though the blank folio that the information is being transferred to must have an equal or greater amount of space (in number of pages or inches of scroll) or else any text that overflows the document is lost forever.

This spell cannot transfer magical writing (such as a wizard’s spellbook or a magical scroll). At GM’s discretion, the spell can restore lost information, such as a page obscured by spill wine, text erased by magic or mundane means, or even pages lost to fire or other damage.

When cast from a scroll, the beginning of the stolen text appears on the steal book scroll until you select a target book for the text to appear. The stolen text glitters and sparkles while it remains on the scroll.

The rest of the article has some other cool stuff in it. The stuff that aren't too out of date would be the spells, includes a couple that Azra used whenever she's beating on Radovan.

The Radovan stats are as of Prince of Wolves, though I wouldn't say it's the best representation of him. Check out this blog post for more recent stats made by other players that Dave Gross liked best.

Has a corpselight rapier written up, though it's been replicated on the Prince of Wolves Chronicle Sheet for PFS.
The riffle scrolls in the article has been updated in Inner Sea Magic. Basically scrolls with the Silent Spell metamagic.

Finally, if you haven't already, keep reading the rest of the Varian/Radovan novels and short stories. Super fun.

[Raef13]

Thanks Protoman.