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maransreth
Learned Scribe
Australia
157 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Apr 2007 : 23:50:08
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I have been re-reading a number of the older FR novels and have been working my way through the Elminster series. One thing (so far at least  ) that has struck me, is the use of mantles to absorb spells.
Now I have tried to do a search through Candlekeep to see what I could find, and didnt come up with much. I know there used to be 2e spells of Spell Mantle and Greater Spell Mantle, but I never got the Wizard Encylcopedia spells, so am unsure to where I could find a write-up of these spells. What other spells could have been used to ward off spells?
In 3e I found in the Players Guide to Faerun a spell called Spellmantle, but it is only available to Initiates of Mystra.
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2007 : 00:20:32
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I believe the 2e Secrets of the Magister book has information on older versions of the spells used to create spell mantles. In 3.5, a spell mantle is sort of a "virtual" magic item, which you can craft around yourself, and you can cause them to go off during set conditions, or when you will them to, but you have to take two separate feats to be able to craft them.
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maransreth
Learned Scribe
Australia
157 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2007 : 07:25:01
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Thanks for that. I just looked through Secrets of the Magister, and it seems that the mantle described in there is more for phsyical protection until the caster gets into the higher levels.
Where is the 3e information about mantles as feats described? I dont think I have heard of them before. |
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At your Behest
Acolyte
Germany
46 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2007 : 14:58:52
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You can find the Spell Mantle feat on page 112 of Lost Empires of Faerûn.
Cheers,
AYB |
Beware the beast man, for he is the Devil's pawn.
Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport or lust or greed. Yeah, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land.
Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him, for he is the harbinger of death. |
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Snow
Learned Scribe
USA
125 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2007 : 16:12:39
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quote:
Originally posted by At your Behest
You can find the Spell Mantle feat on page 112 of Lost Empires of Faerûn.
Cheers,
AYB
Interesting thing about this feat ... you can, as a standard action, activate a particular contingent spell as a SPELL-LIKE ABILITY, regardless if the normal activation criteria has been met.
This combos well with contingent spells that normally have crazy-long casting times (10 minutes or more). In that regard, this feat also acts as an improved version of the metamagick feat known as Rapid Spell (Complete Divine). |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
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maransreth
Learned Scribe
Australia
157 Posts |
Posted - 09 Apr 2007 : 10:32:06
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While the sources are appreciated, I just dont feel that they have the same "gumption" as the spells described in the novels. I know that authors can take author's perogative and be a bit "loose" with game mechanics for a novel, but I feel that spell mantles to repel multiple spells should be somewhat different to the feat described in LEoF.
But thanks again for pointing me to where their descriptions are found. |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6648 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2007 : 00:36:29
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As to spell mantles that 'feature in the novels', they say that patience is a virtue.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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warlockco
Master of Realmslore
USA
1695 Posts |
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maransreth
Learned Scribe
Australia
157 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2007 : 08:46:45
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| Well I dont mind waiting, but in the meantime I might look at Dragon Annual 2 (when I can find my copy ;)) and look at the Cormanthyr mantles, as opposed to the Netheril mantles |
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WalkerNinja
Senior Scribe
USA
573 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2007 : 12:51:37
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quote:
Originally posted by maransreth
While the sources are appreciated, I just dont feel that they have the same "gumption" as the spells described in the novels. I know that authors can take author's perogative and be a bit "loose" with game mechanics for a novel, but I feel that spell mantles to repel multiple spells should be somewhat different to the feat described in LEoF.
But thanks again for pointing me to where their descriptions are found.
Actually the 2E Secrets of the Magister verstion was, in the words of my old DM "CRAZY BROKEN." He just barely allowed us to have it, and then regretted it for the rest of the campaign. And if you think contingency spells are bad, take a look at spell baldrics in the same source. |
*** A Forgotten Realms Addict since 1990 ***
Treasures of the Past, a Second Edition Play-by-Post game for and by Candlekeep Sages--http://www.rpol.net/game.cgi?gi=52011 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11701 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2007 : 16:28:45
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There is the spell mantle feat that works with the craft contingent spell feat in Lost Empires. Given the cost of placing the contingent spells and their ease of dispelling if you're not keeping the caster level high (and the cumbersome time to replace them), this is a very interesting option. I had written a prestige class that focused around this type of caster that you might find of interest. I'll post him at the bottom, I named him the arcane transformist (for those who may have seen him before, I changed the mechanics of the final ability for simplification and adjudication purposes).
However, there's also a spell, called spellmantle, in the Player's Guide to Faerun, which is opened up to those with the initiate of mystra feat. Similarly, the initiate of mystra feat also opens up the spell phylactery feat, which creates contingencies using scrolls. Note that the class I've posted below actually opens the character up to this spell as well (spell phylactery, not spell mantle).
Arcane Transformist
Amongst the orders of the arcane, it is well known that oftentimes an opponent may not be as defenseless as he looks. Many spellcasters have contingent effects designed to come up and transport them from danger, bring up wardings to stop magical effects, or turn spells back upon their enemy. The arcane transformist seeks to find out what effects are waiting for him and either disables them or changes them into a nasty trick. This group is primarily comprised of wizards due to the numbers of feats required to enter the class, but the occasional sorcerer is seen amongst the ranks, especially since the number of times you can use these special effects is based on charisma.
Requirements:
Feats: scribe scroll, attune gem, craft contingent spell, magical artisan (contingent spell)
Skills: knowledge arcana (14), spellcraft 14
Spellcasting ability: Ability to cast 6th lvl arcane spells, one of which must be contingency
Hit Die: d4
Level Base
Attack Fort Ref Will Special Spells Per Day
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Read Contingent Conditions +1 level of existing spellcasting class
2nd +1 +0 +0 +3 Contingent Cost Reduction +1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd +1 +1 +1 +3 Change Contingent Conditions (simple) +1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th +2 +1 +1 +4 Speed Detect Contingencies +1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th +2 +1 +1 +4 Change Contingent Conditions (complex) +1 level of existing spellcasting class
Class Features:
Read Contingent Conditions – An arcane transformist who is able to see an opponent or area (whether through normal sight, scrying, arcane eye, etc…) may spend one minute trying to find any contingent effects (such as glyphs, symbols, contingency spells, etc…) within a 10 foot square. At the end of this time, the arcane transformist must make a spellcraft check against a DC of 15 + level of the spell to detect the waiting magical effect(s). If successful, the arcane transformist can detect the contingent conditions. If the arcane transformist beats this check by 5 or more, he can determine the effect(s) that will be triggered. If the arcane transformist beats this check by 10 or more, he can determine the trigger(s) as well. An arcane transformist can perform this ability 5 + charisma modifier times per day.
Contingent Cost reduction: at 2nd lvl, the cost for making a contingent spell via the craft contingent spell feat is reduced by half. This stacks with the benefits of the magical artisan feat, such that contingent spells cost only 25% of the normal cost to create. Note, this is only for spells created with the contingent spell feat.
Change Contingent Conditions (simple) – By using a ranged touch attack on an object or creature, the arcane transformist is able to change the triggering conditions for the waiting magical effect that he has determined the trigger for with his read contingent conditions ability. The arcane transformist can set the contingent condition to either happen immediately or be unable to occur. The range of this ability is 30 feet. An arcane transformist can perform this ability 2 + charisma modifier times per day.
Speed Detect Contingencies – The arcane transformist has gotten adept enough at reading contingent effects that he can determine where they are much more quickly. Given a single round the arcane transformist can now detect all contingent effects in an area. If he wants to attempt to determine their effects and triggers, he must still spend the full minute studying the area.
Change Contingent Conditions (complex) – The arcane transformist has become better at changing conditions, and as result this ability simply replaces the one gained at 3rd lvl. As a result of further training the arcane transformist is able to change the trigger to anything that could be set with a contingency spell. Also, if the waiting effect is another contained spell, he may replace the waiting effect to any spell that is the same level or lower than the contained spell (example, a contingency spell holding a 4th lvl spell could be changed to hold a new spell of 4th lvl or less). Any spell effect changed out is always centered on the area or creature which held the waiting spell. In order to change out a spell effect, the new spell must be cast into it (and thus oftentimes sneaky casters use silenced, stilled versions of their spells so as not to tip off opponents). Once the changed effect is triggered once with the new spell, the contingent effect is removed, even if it were an effect that normally resets itself. Each use of this ability counts against the number of uses per day (thus, changing a trigger and 2 spell effects counts as 3 uses of this ability).
Arcane Transformist Spell List – many of the spells on the arcane transformist spell list are spells that they could normally cast. However, because of their studies they are able to cast them at lower levels than other casters would normally be able to do.
2nd level – Khelben’s Suspended Silence (source MoF)
3rd level – Darsson’s Potion (source MoF), Backlash (source MoF)
5th Level – Spell Phylactery (source PGtF)
6th Level – Suppress Glyph (MoF),
7th level – Transcribe Symbol (source PGtF)
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Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Spell Mantles
