I've been toying with a new spell, to help create rings/circles to use for spellcasting. I'm designing it for a Terram Magus, which is why i went for PerdoTerram. I'd like some comments on the spell since I'm not sure about the Range and Target.
The Trusty Circle of Terram (v.1)
PeTe 10 R: Touch D: Mom T: Part
[tab][/tab]Destroys a small amount of surface material made of dirt or stone, in a circular shape, around the caster. This creates a shallow circle (not completely geometric) about 1 cm in width and depth, with a diameter chosen at the time of casting. The circle created could be of any size, but note that any subsequent spells using this circle for spellcasting are highly dependent on the size of the circle. To use the circle for Ring Duration for example, the caster must be able to physically trace this, which may require additional casting time and Concentration rolls. The maximum size for a circle traceable in one round should be no larger than 3½ paces in diameter (10 paces in circumference). Although originally invented to create dependable circles for spellcasting, variants of this spell have also been used as a way to highlight specific objects or areas.
[tab][/tab] (Base 3, +1 Touch, +1 Part, +1 affect stone)
Give or take a magnitude, this is probably the easiest way to create the circle with magic using Terram, and should be easy to spont. for most Magi. In some situations it might not be appropriate to make a permanent circle though. You wouldn't want to ruin the beautifull mosaic of a newly erected church, or destroy the marble flooring of the high lord you're trying to help. Also, you're leaving behind a pretty solid evidence of a mystical happening. So instead one might try to pull it of with a Creo spell, that creates a metal band with a duration. But since this is easily movable, it's probably not as trusty as the spells name implies. Instead I'll make an attempt at using Muto, with a creative use of duration (that might not follow the rules complety - comments are very welcome).
The Trusty Circle of Terram (v.2)
MuTe15 R: Touch D: Ring T: Part
[tab][/tab]Transforms a small amount of surface material made of dirt or stone, in a circular shape around the caster, into glass (or some other type of stone or dirt material, different from the targeted surface). This creates a shallow circle (not completely geometric) laid into the ground about 1 cm in width and depth, with a diameter chosen at the time of casting. The circle created could be of any size, but note that any subsequent spells using this circle for spellcasting are highly dependent on the size of the circle. To use the circle for Ring Duration for example, the caster must be able to physically trace this, which may require additional casting time and Concentration rolls. The maximum size for a circle traceable in one round should be no larger than 3½ paces in diameter (10 paces in circumference). Note that since this spell uses the drawn circle as its own duration, the spell ends (making the circle disappear) when the caster leaves the circle - which also ends any effects using the circle for Duration: Ring og Target: Circle purposes.
[tab][/tab](Base 3, +1 Touch, +2 Ring, +1 Part)
Editing my post, since I managed to skim over the part where you mentioned the caster still has to trace the circle
I figure a pre-made circle grants concentration bonuses, which I'd apply to any pre-made circle - either magically created or just inscribed in your lab.
I might be tempted to throw a +1 magnitude in there for easily variable circle sizes (complexity).
Second one... I'm not sure about the Ring duration without having a traced circle to go with it. I'd make the duration something else - either sun or perhaps concentration*.
(yes, concentration! It's low enough level that expecting a 'maintain the demanding spell' effect of various durations to support it isn't unreasonable, and it gives the caster better control over when they want it to go away again)
I agree with the Concentration bonus for premade circles; +3 sounds reasonable.
Your suggested Durations would work, no doubt about it. But the design was deliberately going for the Ring Duration, so that one would have the flexibility similar to Duration Concentration, but without the need for Concentration - since the idea of the spell is to ease the casting of subsequent spells. The rules read "... a ring drawn at the time of casting...", and I'm sure other spells use Ring Duration without having to prepare a circle or ring in advance.
I recommend Rego terram, and true a Concentration and lowering the Time to casting. I'd say +5 (3 + Magnitudes o the effect) and the half of the time to draw it.
Thanks for the quick reply, but I'm sorry - i just don't understand what you're getting at...
How is it that Rego Terram creates the circle? (The Magus is pretty good with Rego Terram, so this could work, but how?)
And the rest af the post with concentration, casting time and magnitudes I just don't understand...
Could you please elaborate/clarify?
Hi Lasse - its like you were reading my mind as I was thinking of handy this type of spell would be only a day or so ago. Thank you for translating thoughts into action!
Sorry.
The Craft Magic (from HoH:S, A&A and Covenants) works that you can make things with Rego Form on the same way that a mundane crafter can work it. Theorically, besides the Perdo can make marks, it's to destroy, to make precise things is more near to the reform, draw and so on - you can see it here atlas-games.com/pdf_storage/ ... elines.pdf:
Or it maybe need some Perception + Finess roll.
The Bonus to Concentration by the spell should be of 5 (3 because is reasonable and 2 by the magnitudes of your effects and i think). The drawing casting should be the half thanks to the spell.
Should mad to this way on one dusted or earth floor:
Magi's Pencil
ReTe 5
R: Touch, D: Mom, O: Part
Draw on the floor one dusty sketch of one magical circle, adding +5 to the Concentration Roll and making the circle on the half of time. One Perception + Finess roll it's needed, with a Ease Factor of 6.
(Base 2, +1 touch, +1 part, +1 complexity)
Magi's Chisel
ReTe 10
R: Touch, D: Mom, O: Part
Draw on the rocky or hard floor of one magical circle,adding one +6 to the Concentration Roll to draw one Circle and reducing to one third part the time needed.One Perception + Finess roll it's needed, with a Ease Factor of 9. Casting requisites are needed to the material of the floor, Herbam for example. If it's covered by metal (like a gold palace floor or similar), this spell doesn't work.
(Base 2, +1 touch, +1 part, +1 to affect rock, +1 complexity)
ReTe is certainly a nice way to go.
My personal favorite though, is one step more complex
MuTe to make the ground soft, then ReTe to move bits around so that the circle sticks out of the "floor" about an inch.
This means it's much more unlikely to be accidentally broken, and since the MuTe effect ended while the material was stuck in shape, it's likely to stay there (if stone or metal anyway).
I'm a bit dubious about this one. It requires you to create your trusty circle inside a circle you trace at the time of casting, and remains there, which is certainly no problem in itself, but what's the point ? Even if you accept that a circle is inside itself, and so the created circle is in fact the one you trace, you have to draw a circle without magic to begin with ?
Yeah, i get it now Rego craft magic, sure. I completely agree that this is possible and i like the spell designs.
I'm not sure i like the 'add +1 per magnitude of spell' on top op the +3. I honestly don't see why two spells you designed should have different bonuses to Concentration rolls just based on a +1 magnitude to affect rock. With an added magnitude for enhanced effect it might make sence, but this extra magnitude is 'wasted' on affecting tougher material. Unless the argument is that the circle is more 'precise/accurate' in a harder material. A dust circle is less defined than one cut into a gemstone i guess, but it still doesn't feel right. I'll stick with +3. By the way, the bonuses are +1 off right now, probably as a result of the corrected base level.
I do like your Perception + Finesse roll, as it helps balance the otherwise low level of the spell compared to the other possible designs, and more importantly; it has the right feel to it. As written i the OP spell design, the circle is not completely geometric, but skilled casters might be able to make almost perfect circles with a good roll - and might put some honour in that.
So we have similar affects through spells using Rego, Muto, Perdo and Creo. For a Teram specialist this is not really important as he could spont. any of them. But it might be important for other casters such as technique specialists and especially those that have deficient techniques. Also, if putting this spell into your Talisman to draw circles with you Staff, it is nice to be able to choose your favorite technique (for +1 bonus to later enchantments). For reasons of study, ability specialisations, incombatible arts etc. it is nice to have several options. I wouldn't be surprised to see these spells turn up in our saga here and there before too long.
The +1 material is part of the rules of Terram, but on rock you can't accidentally delete nor you can't confuse it, it feels by touch and sight, against the only sight of the dust or earth, by that i think that is a few better. And more important, the drawed hard floor can be reutilized without a new spellcasting, you can delete the draw of the circle but still the marcks on the rock. On HoH:S there are rules to space reserved to spellcasting, and it'd work this.
Yeah i was doubtful too, that's why i asked for guidance
I don't really see a problem with circle inside circle thing. What do you normally do when you cast spells with duration circle? I don't think this is that much different.
You're right about the tracing thing though, witch is why i would normally go for the Perdo version (its also of a lower level). Obviously one would have to trace the 'first' circle without magic, but that is something that could be done prior to a planned encounter with plenty of time and care. Should any Magi inside the circle feel to urge to cast spells appropriate for the ongoing events using duration or target Ring/Circle, it would be much easier to do so.
Another use would be casting this spell before embarking on a dozen spells used by effective (or paranoid) traveling Magi, to improve recovery, hide sounds/smells/light coming from the campfire, spells for warning about intruders, waking spells for first dawn, a range of warding spells etc. I don't know if your saga has Magi like this, but i know that some would - maybe they've read too much Harry Potter or Eragon :mrgreen:
By chance I stumbled upon the Arithmetic Magic chapter of The Mysteries Revised Edition and found the following spell:
Scribe the Perfect Circle
Re(Cr)Te 4 R: Touch D: Mom T: Ind
[tab][/tab]Destroys a small amount of surface material made of dirt or stone, in a circular shape, around the caster. This creates a shallow circle (not completely geometric) about 1 cm in width and depth, with a diameter chosen at the time of casting. The circle created could be of any size, but note that any subsequent spells using this circle for spellcasting are highly dependent on the size of the circle. To use the circle for Ring Duration for example, the caster must be able to physically trace this, which may require additional casting time and Concentration rolls. The maximum size for a circle traceable in one round should be no larger than 3½ paces in diameter (10 paces in circumference). Although originally invented to create dependable circles for spellcasting, variants of this spell have also been used as a way to highlight specific objects or areas.
[tab][/tab](Base 2, +1 Touch, +1 affect stone)
This has a lower level as a result of merely scribing the circle on the ground, rather than molding/destroying the ground which requires Target: Part. With a level this low the requisite shouldn't really matter onless you've seriously flawed your Creo. This version, on the other hand, also makes the circle a temporary and vulnerable one.
From this spell it seems that we could create a perfect version of any regular geometric shape, although Circle is probably the most commonly used one. The perfect shape scribed by this spell, could be used to trace a perfect circle for other spells.
Rego craft magic, sure. I completely agree that this is possible and i like the spell designs.