How does a character conceptualize “per HD” for spells and Such?

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

For those instances where a character needs something worth something per hit dice of the target how do they non-meta game conceptualize it?

For example soulbind needs an expansive gem per hit dice of the target.

[GM MacShack]

I would picture it as high-HD creatures being objectively more powerful. So if you tried to use a “per HD” spell on a cat, it wouldn’t be too difficult. But if you tried to use that same spell on a great wyrm dragon, it would take a lot more magical power.

[Matthew Downie]

Where possible I would usually ignore the issue - it's in the same category as "How does my character with the power to make someone reroll a d20 know what they rolled on a d20?" - something that exists in our world, not theirs.

Failing that, I'd do something along the lines of, "Make a knowledge/spellcraft check to see if you know what quality of gem you'd need in order to bind the soul of this creature."

[whew]

Through combat skill or mystic mojo, characters actually divide all damage that they take by their level. That's why a high-level character can survive being stabbed multiple times with a sword.

For divine magic, it takes a bigger offering to work on a higher level character, because the Gods know you can afford it.

For soulbind, why shouldn't a higher level creature have a more powerful soul?

Hit dice can be roughly determined empirically by counting stab wounds on dead bodies, or precisely with spells like commune.

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

I guess “gem quality” vs “power” is the only way to discuss it in character.

[Jeraa]

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:

I guess “gem quality” vs “power” is the only way to discuss it in character.

But it isn't really quality either. A larger (but flawed) uncut gem may be a lot more expensive than a tiny well cut one. The larger low quality one may work while the smaller higher quality one may not.

[MageHunter]

Maybe one example could be the dark tower movie. (Bear with me.)

A sorcerer is able to manipulate anyone except one person. They have an uncanny ability to resist their magic.

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

Jeraa wrote:

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:

I guess “gem quality” vs “power” is the only way to discuss it in character.

But it isn't really quality either. A larger (but flawed) uncut gem may be a lot more expensive than a tiny well cut one. The larger low quality one may work while the smaller higher quality one may not.

Expense of a gem is relative and not a good analogy for this. I mean you could buy a gem at a discount and technically it wouldn’t work for the spell. There’s a comic strip about that somewhere. Maybe OOTS

[Jeraa]

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:

Jeraa wrote:

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:

I guess “gem quality” vs “power” is the only way to discuss it in character.

But it isn't really quality either. A larger (but flawed) uncut gem may be a lot more expensive than a tiny well cut one. The larger low quality one may work while the smaller higher quality one may not.

Expense of a gem is relative and not a good analogy for this. I mean you could buy a gem at a discount and technically it wouldn’t work for the spell. There’s a comic strip about that somewhere. Maybe OOTS

Just because you manage to buy a 1000gp gem for a discount doesn't mean it stops being a 1000gp gem.

[Derklord]

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:

Expense of a gem is relative and not a good analogy for this. I mean you could buy a gem at a discount and technically it wouldn’t work for the spell. There’s a comic strip about that somewhere. Maybe OOTS

First panel.