I have a question that I would everyones opinion on. I understand that there is no “right†answer, and that what works in one saga may not work in a different saga, let alone from one table to another. I would however, like to know how different groups handle Shape and Material bonuses that are found in the books. Specifically how different types of wood, or stone, or even colors of cloth are handled.
For example if I had a player who wants to enchant an object that she is going to make out of some kind of exotic wood, what would you tell her? As I understand the rules she would have to pick one type of bonus from the Shape/Material list meaning that she can not combine the bonuses for wood (dead), wand, and what ever the exotic wood has a material bonus. The player would need to pick one bonus and live with it.
Where would go to get ideas that remain true to Mythic Europe? In the game that I am running right now I plan on just letting the troupe make the decision of what Shape and Material bonus things get, as long as we stay consistent I don't think that it will harm Mythic Europe if we get the magical properties of Yew wood wrong. But I would still like to see how other (read more experienced) troupes have dealt with this, and if you are willing to share any examples I would be thankful to see them.
I don't think this is correct. She can in fact pile up as many shape and material bonuses as she wants to add to her lab total up to a maximum of her magic theory. (serf's parma invoked)
If she enchanted the item as her personal talisman and if she later had attuned two or more of the shape an material bonuses of her talisman and if later yet she was casting a spell for which two or more of the attuned shape and material bonuses were applicable, then she could only use one of the attunemens to boost her casting score. But for enchanting effects, the character does not have to choose only one bonus.
We make up new bonuses on the fly based on converation specifically the question normally takes the form of "My character is interested in finding something that provides very specific bonus x. What would provide that bonus?" the conversation then goes to people talking about legends and such tryoing to come up with the physical item most appropriate for the bonus.
if you can get your hands on it, the fourth edition wizard's grimore revised edition has a supplimental list of form and material bonuses on pages 102-105, yes the list does take up the entire four pages.
Important clarification - 5th Ed (which most posters are using by default) allows any number of Material Bonuses & one Shape bonus, with the total of all bonuses capped by Magic Theory Score.
4th Ed, which some people use, and which 4e posters often don't realise they should now make clear..., limits you to one bonus.
It is possible that the thread originates with a 4e question -- could the original poster clarify please?
I apologize, I have my editions mixed up. The kicker is that a few moments before I posted, the rest of my troupe and I talked about the shape and material rule for 5th edition. How embarrassing! I guess that proves that I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
So my question then would be, what do you find works best when players come up with shapes and or materials that are not covered in existing supplements? Do you have any examples from your games where a magus enchanted something and used a house rule for part of the shape and material bonus? How did your troupe come to the decision that said shape or material grants that bonus?
Just as an aside, thank you all for replying to my post.
Personally, I would allow any clever Shape and Material Bonus of like power to (maybe slightly less than) exhisting ones.
There is a Vulgar Alchemy Minor Mystery Virtue in the Mysteries book, which covers using Arcane Experimentation to discover new Shape and Material Bonuses, and once those bonuses are tested and perfected a Magi may write a tractatus on Magic Theory to spread it out to the Order at large.
I'm considering anybody to be able to do this bit, but still am leaning toward a more generous use of new bonuses.
the implication of TMRE is that there is a degree of research and effort required to find new S&M bonuses, and that most magi use bonuses listed in the shared catalogues that circulate round the Order. So, if you use TMRE I would recommend you allow Alchemists a special place as the devisers of new bonus factors.
Or, if you allow all magi this trick, think up some new alternative special trick for the Alchemists, to replace what you have stolen from them!
Having said that, my guess is that there are a number of catalogued lists of S&M bonuses yet to be revealed to us (more supplments!)
I guess that proves that I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. 