Clothes and shapeshifters???

Games Discussion Ars Magica
1

I guess this has been discussed before but I couldn't find it.

I am creating a redcap (societatis merceris: milvi antiquiti) that has shapeshifting abilities. I am wondering about the following questions:

  1. Do shapeshifters change with their possessions?

  2. If not what kind of item would be required to make this possible?

My thoughts for #2:

  • The item must be portable in multiple animal forms: bear, seal, bird: a size adaptable (leash, ankle ring,...)
  • It must have a constant effect.
  • The spell is a MuAn spell (for leather shoes/clothes/books carried) with requisites for Herbam (clothes/ink), Terram (weapons/armor/ink), and vim (for vis). Maybe also Aquam (ink, potions)???

Which level effect is that? Or is it discribed in some book I don't have?

2

I typically rule that Hermetic spells and item effects to change a person into an animal also change the person's clothing, since most clothing is Animal (wool, leather). To transform an armored and armed character should probably include a Terram requisite, I think. I probably wouldn't require requisites for other small objects in the person's possession, like a knife, wine in a wineskin, ink in a book, or vis.

3

OK, so I only have one Terram requisite. It still costs about twice the level to shift the redcap's stuff than to shift the redcap and her stuff (HoH: TL p. 102, Shape of the Ancient Kite Mu(An)Co40)! Absurd, isn't it?

This is the item:
Enchanted Item: Ankle-Ring of the Shapeshifter
The Ankle-Ring of the Shapeshifter is a golden ring that transforms all the Shapeshifter's possessions into an intricate pattern on the ring when the Shapeshifter changes into a non-human form. The ring adapts itself to a size that fits the animal form.

  • Perceive the change InCo15, as in GotF, p.96 (Falke's Talisman); Level: 19
  • MuTe10 (Base 4 +2 Sun; +4 levels constant effect +3 levels Linked trigger); Level: 17
  • Mu(Te)An35 (Base 5: +1 Touch, +2 Group, +2 Sun, +1 for Extra effect Terram requisite; +4 levels constant, +3 levels Linked trigger): Level 42
    Total Levels: 78
4

My Bjornaer plans to make a robe as his Talisman. A Talisman is considered part of the magus for magical purposes, so it should change with him. (Of course, he needs to invest the Talisman/robe with effects to keep it from wearing out or getting torn like mundane clothes do...)

5

Note that per City and Guild, invested devices are already more resilient than their mundane counterparts. Not that it should stop you, but it's still good to know.