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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jeremy E Grenemyer" data-source="post: 6927792" data-attributes="member: 12388">Spell Baldrics; Magic Item IdeasA new job working swing shift means I spend my favorite time of the day for writing by driving a company vehicle in the night, so I am glad to have a chance to get back to this thread on my day off. Updates will come once a week at most. Your patience Dear Reader is, as always, appreciated.Let's start with another post I recovered after the database crash here at EN World. ********My imagination hit me with a few more spell ideas involving Spell Mantles and Spell Baldrics. (I thought Spell Mantle was one word, but it's two words.)So, let's take a pause on building an adventure within the Sundered Tomb so I can get these ideas down while they are relatively fresh in my head.Here we go!1. The difference between Mantles and Baldrics is that Mantles are primarily defensive in nature, while Baldrics are offensive. This makes sense, since a baldric is a belt for a sword, while a mantle is like a cloak or covering.2. The similarity between the two is that both were multi-school spells. For example, Spell Mantle as written under 2nd Edition AD&D (in the Realms sourcebook "Secrets of the Magister", page 93) was a Wizard spell at 6th level of Abjuration, Alteration (a school not in 5E) and Evocation spell.3. Let's write out a simple Baldric spell and see how it looks.Basic Spell Baldric1st-level evocationCasting Time: 1 actionRange: SelfComponents: V, S, M (one fresh drop of blood each time you cast a spell into the Baldric)Duration: 24 hoursWhen you cast this spell, an invisible and incorporeal field of magical energy settles over your shoulders. Immediately after you cast this spell, and at any time within the spell's duration, you may cast a 1st level spell into the Baldric (regardless of the chosen spell's actual range). Any time thereafter, you may spend an action to cast a spell stored in the Baldric as an act of will. This requires only that you be conscious. You need not meet any of the other requirements to cast the spell, such as making Somatic gestures, using additional Material Components, etc.This Baldric readily accepts any spell you cast, and only spells that you cast. Therefore, you may cast spells into the Baldric from magic items, such as a wand or staff. A Baldric may not be stored in another Baldric. Any time the Baldric is emptied of spells, the spell ends. If you complete a long rest and prepare spells before the duration is complete, this spell ends.At Higher Levels. If you cast this spell using a 2nd level spell slot, then you may store up to two levels worth of spells in the Baldric (i.e., one 2nd level spell or two 1st level spells). A 3rd level spell slot allows for three levels worth of spells, and so on to 9th level. Subtract available spell levels from the Baldric each time you cast a spell into it....OK, that seems pretty reasonable. I think it's OK to make this a 1st level spell to start. I'm no expert at min-maxing, so if you see something that's crazy overpowered about this spell, please let me know.3. How about a more advanced Baldric? Something that you can keep around for longer than 24 hours, but at a price...Blood Baldric3rd-level evocationCasting Time: 1 actionRange: SelfComponents: V, S, M (a vial of the caster's blood)Duration: 24 hours + specialThis spell functions exactly as the 1st level spell Basic Spell Baldric, with the following exceptions:LIST][*]This spell stores a minimum of three levels of spells.[*]After 24 hours, or after a long rest and immediately before you prepare spells, you may chose to reinforce the Baldric by paying a number of hit points equal to the number of spell levels stored in the Baldric.[*]Only you may pay the hit point cost. You may not benefit from any effect that prevents damage while you pay the hit point cost. You must pay the entire cost; either the Baldric is reinforced or it is not.[*]If you choose to reinforce the Baldric and you pay the hit point cost, the Baldric's duration is extended another 24 hours.[*]Any time the Baldric is subjected to a spell or effect that would destroy it--such as the effect of a Dispell Magic or similar--you may pay a number of hit points equal to the number of spell levels currently stored in the Baldric to reinforce it. If you do so, the Baldric is not destroyed. [/LIST]...5th Edition is generous with healing, so I might consider increasing the hit point cost. 5. A player could theoretically cast multiples of these two Baldric spells. I don't see a problem with that at low levels, though I suppose a wizard could turn herself into a spell machine gun at higher levels. There might be room here to add another element to the spell such as paying hit points to put spells back into the Baldric. Or to create another version that lets you unleash two spells at once (or even three). Hrm...let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet.6. Let's get down to even more of a basic spell mantle (as in more basic then the versions I wrote up <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?488643-5th-Edition-and-Cormyr-Flexing-My-Idea-Muscle-and-Thinking-Out-Loud/page2&p=6897437&viewfull=1#post6897437" target="_blank">HERE</a>).Let's not even call it a mantle. Instead, we'll call it a spell shield.Simple Spell Shield1st-level abjurationCasting Time: 1 actionRange: SelfComponents: V, S, M (1 solid rock per spell placed into the spell shield)Duration: 24 hoursWhen you cast this spell, a disc of silver radiance materialize in front of you, and then disappears from view. Immediately after you cast this spell, and at any time within the spell's duration, you may cast a 1st level spell into the Shield (regardless of the chosen spell's actual range). You are unaffected by that spell for the duration of the Shield. You are no longer protected if the Shield is dispelled, or if you choose to dismiss your shield. You may dismiss your shield as a bonus action, or by casting any spell that was previously cast into the shield. The Shield accepts spells that you cast from magic items, and may be dismissed by spells you cast from magic items in the manner just described.At Higher Levels. If you cast this spell using a 2nd level spell slot, then you may cast up to two levels worth of spells into the Shield (i.e., one 2nd level spell or two 1st level spells). A 3rd level spell slot allows for three levels worth of spells, and so on to 9th level. Subtract available spell levels from the Shield each time you cast a spell into it.7. I figure a ritual version of Simple Spell Shield might allow for other casters to place spells into the Shield, but only during the ritual casting activity. I know that ritual casting doesn't allow for the modification of spells--it only prevents the use of a spell slot while also limiting the spell to its lowest level version. Hrm...Ritual Casting should be different or made better. Maybe that's an Arcane Tradition in its own right (and so a Topic For Another Day).8. So for now you're going to have to come up with a unique spell that allows others to add spells to the shield.Thus:Cooperative Spell Shield3rd-level abjurationCasting Time: 1 actionRange: SelfComponents: V, S, M (1 gemstone worth at least 10 gp per spell placed into the spell shield)Duration: 24 hoursThis spell functions exactly as the 1st level spell Basic Spell Shield, with the following exceptions: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Because this spell is 3rd level, you may cast up to three levels of spells into the shield.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Any creature may cast a spell into your Shield. For your Shield to accept the spell, you must Ready an action to accept the spell while holding a gemstone of the proper value, and the creature must announce it is casting a spell into your Shield.</li> </ul>9. That's pretty straightforward. I don't think it's a good idea to add any ability to extend this spell beyond 24 hours. Being immune to a spell is pretty powerful.10. How about a magic item? OK then, borrowing from the concept of Wandlace (as introduced <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?488643-5th-Edition-and-Cormyr-Flexing-My-Idea-Muscle-and-Thinking-Out-Loud/page2&p=6899429&viewfull=1#post6899429" target="_blank">in post #18 in this here thread</a>)...Wandlace BracersWondrous item, uncommonThese bracers of intricate lace over leather may accept up to two spells of 3rd level or lower cast into them. You may accept a spell into one of your Bracers by casting a spell into them yourself, of by readying an action to accept a spell cast by another creature. In the later case, the creature must announce it is casting a spell of the appropriate level into your Bracers after you ready your action. Any time you are the target of a spell stored in your Bracers, or are in the area of effect of a spell stored in your Bracers, that spell has no effect on you (though it may affect other targets and anything in its area normally) and your Bracers lose the spell that was just prevented. Any time a spell stored in the Bracers is cast into the Bracers a second time, that spell is prevented as though it was dispelled, and the stored spell in the Bracers is lost....and I'm spent.Some good candidates here for my sourcebook. Two months until the next update. Good night, Dear Reader.</blockquote>

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