Dismantle Spell, Unheightened

[Bast L.]

What's with this duration? Am I missing something? Maybe my imagination is limited, but I can't see how it could possibly be useful as a 1 minute spell. Shouldn't this just be the heightened version at level 2?

Edit: only thing I can think of is dismantling manacles on you.

[Salamileg]

Can you cast it on a lock?

[Henro]

You can dismantle a fruit and eat it without having to deal with the peel or core.

[Cintra Bristol]

You could dismantle an object, attach a note to an interior piece, and then it's sealed up inside.

Or keep an alarm bell-pull from being pulled during a short fight. (although that's probably not "in your possession" so maybe not.)

[Bast L.]

Henro wrote:

You can dismantle a fruit and eat it without having to deal with the peel or core.

What happens when it reassembles? Do you vomit it up, or ...?

As for locks, I'd rule yes if it's hanging off the door and you can hold it, but no if it's integral.

[Ravingdork]

Wizard apprentice: "Ever wonder what it's like to shat out a grapefruit?"

Friend:"I've eaten grap--"

Wizard apprentice: "A WHOLE grapefruit!"

Friend's mom: *rolls her eyes*

[Tarondor]

Bast L. wrote:

Henro wrote:

You can dismantle a fruit and eat it without having to deal with the peel or core.

What happens when it reassembles? Do you vomit it up, or ...?

Dismantle wrote:

When the spell ends, the object reassembles itself into its original form, appearing in your hand or hands if you have them free, or on the ground in front of you otherwise.

[Tarondor]

I agree on the padlock. I suppose it'd be a way to smuggle a gun into some place you couldn't otherwise. Or a crossbow?

[Cordell Kintner]

It seems to be for smuggling. You can dismantle a large object and hide it in your clothes, then remantle it later. Should work with weapons too, if it's the right type. Probably useful for sneaking valuable clocks out of places too.

[Bast L.]

Yeah, for me it's not the spell's working that's bothersome, it's the unheightened duration. 1 minute is a very short time to try and smuggle something.

[Davina Day, Ace Archaeologist]

This is great if you're an archaeologist, gotta say! Guilt-free intensive analysis is worth the slot! Bet those fossil boys'd love it too. Real handy for alchemy classes and kit maintenance too. Oh, also, watchmakers!

Oh, you mean, like, off in the field? Adventuring? You'd be shocked at how many times you have to get in a place with your crossbow hidden up yer sleeves. Nothing really incriminatin' about a bunch of crossbow bits either; the damn things take forever to load when they're whole! Same goes for alchemical tools or your handy dandy polytool. The deconstructing, that is, not the loading.

Hm... speaking of loaded... Do all those pieces have to stay in your possession for it to reassemble? Not that I'd be advocating any fraud or anything, but there's a number of things you can build out of coins n sovereign glue if it's just gonna return to you at the end of the day, or, y'know, minute, so be quick! Or don't do crimes, probably.

That apple example does raise an important point, o'course. If you've got somethin' sturdy and small you really need to hide, and can't afford at all for it to be found, you could always just... cast this on it, and swallow the pieces? Not all that nice, it's gotta be said, and you gotta make sure that it's hard enough to survive the trip, but it'll be nice and shiny once it's all back in once piece!

It could also be VERY convenient if you're targetin' your disguise... I'm probably not selling myself as a very lawful citizen, but I'm sure we've all been there, running away from the baron and REALLY needing our big, flouncy, technically Light Bulk dress to go away for a hot sec so we can duck into the pub...

It's certainly a spell for the, er, discerning derring-doer, but it's far from useless! Somethin' for the spellbook, I suppose. Which it could also deconstruct, by the by, if you really needed to flat-pack the thing.

[Tarondor]

Davina Day, Ace Archaeologist wrote:

Hm... speaking of loaded... Do all those pieces have to stay in your possession for it to reassemble? Not that I'd be advocating any fraud or anything, but there's a number of things you can build out of coins n sovereign glue if it's just gonna return to you at the end of the day, or, y'know, minute, so be quick! Or don't do crimes, probably.

"Psst, Hey kid. Want to buy this incredibly valuable clock kit for three gold pieces?"

"Whoops! Look at the time. Enjoy your clock, kid. Gotta run!"

[thenobledrake]

Bast L. wrote:

Yeah, for me it's not the spell's working that's bothersome, it's the unheightened duration. 1 minute is a very short time to try and smuggle something.

Considering that smuggling really only needs concealment from inspection, and inspections typically happen at predictable points... seems like enough time to cast the spell, approach a checkpoint type situation where you might get noticed with the item, pass through, and get out of sight of the folks checking before the item reassembles.

[Djinn71]

Invisible Item seems much much better at any kind of smuggling.

With this duration and how poorly it heightens it kind of seems like they were worried about it having some kind of powerful in combat use that I just can't see. Maybe if you critically succeed at disarming someone you can grab their weapon and make it broken for a minute? Seems unlikely, especially given it can't target magic items.

The heighten should really increase the bulk limit at higher levels, and the targeting restriction should be unattended objects. Being able to disassemble a (non-magical) door or a cart at a whim would be awesome.

[thenobledrake]

Djinn71 wrote:

Invisible Item seems much much better at any kind of smuggling.

Generally true, but there are counters to invisibility that don't also counter dismantle so there are some opportunities for dismantle to shine in a smuggling situation.

[mrspaghetti]

I agree that one minute makes it really tough to be practical. 10 minutes or an hour would have made a world of difference.

[Ramanujan]

Reading the contents of a sealed letter, without leaving any marks that could be detected?

[Nitro~Nina]

Yeah, this really seems like a spell for an intrigue-y, utility-focused campaign. It's not really a standard adventure spell, but it could really shine in the right circumstances. Mostly illegal ones.