Converting original D&D and Mystara monsters

[Cleon]

That works a bit better, since summon coven can power multiple effects.

Updating the Goatling Working Draft.

So, are we just going with the following? The spell focus can release 10 empowerment points in one round plus one per additional round to a single goatling caster to empower one effect, and certain goat spells allow special empowerments.

Basically, although I'd repurpose it a bit.

How's this:

The summon coven spell is a powerful magic that allows a group of goatlings to amass a pool of empowerment points and then use those points to empower additional spellcasting. This spell requires at least 3 goatling spellcasters, who all cast summon coven simultaneously, plus a congregation of at least 4 other goatlings of 15th level or higher. The spellcasters who cast summon coven must nominate one of their number as the "head" of the coven, they must all agree who this head is or the spell fails. The spell also requires a focus component called a tabernacle, a ritual chest that holds the empowerment point pool created by the spell.

*Gathering Power Bit*

A summon coven ends if all of the goatling spellcasters who cast the spell stop concentrating upon it, if the coven head loses consciousness, or if any of the spellcasters chooses to dismiss the spell. So long as at least one of the spellcasters is concentrating on the summon coven, the other spellcasters can perform other actions (or rest) without interrupting the summon coven spell; this allows the casters to take turns concentrating.

The head of the coven can draw empowerment points from the tabernacle and use them to enhance the next spell they cast. It takes 1 round to draw 10 empowerment points, plus 1 round for each additional point drawn. Certain goat magic spells allow for special enhancements when empowered using summon coven. These are detailed in the individual spell descriptions - see binding cage and occultation for examples.

Drawing power from the tabernacle is a standard action that requires concentration. If the concentration is interrupted (as per interrupting a spell), the coven head loses the empowerment points they have drawn so far, but can begin drawing again on their next turn.

 

[freyar]

That works for me. Was there supposed to be something though about just using the tabernacle to power certain effects separate from a head caster, or were you trying to wrap them all up together?

 

[Cleon]

That works for me. Was there supposed to be something though about just using the tabernacle to power certain effects separate from a head caster, or were you trying to wrap them all up together?

I thought wrapping it together made sense, yes.

Updating summon coven working draft.

EDIT: We were going to make the Tabernacle of the Ram an artifact with special abilities to store and transfer a summon coven power pool, so we could give such special powers to that magic item instead of the base spell.

 

[Cleon]

We still need a range for it. The "range" we need to know is how far away a Goatling can be and contribute (or draw) empowerment to the pool. I'm thinking the basic version of the spell should be Medium range (100 ft. plus 10 ft. per level) and require line-of-sight for the power-gathering, while the Tabernacle of the Ram artifact is what allows the country-wide no-line-of-sight epic-sized empowerment pool.

Also, I guess it makes sense for the casters to have to be close to the tabernacle to concentrate on the spell. Maybe 30 feet?

That makes me think we should add a couple of tweaks:

Gathering Power: This spell creates a pool of empowerment points equal to the total HD of all participating goatlings who are willing to sacrifice their Goat Magic spell-like abilities for the day while the spell is being cast.​

Also, do we want all three+ spellcasters to concentrate while casting the summon coven, or is the "only one needs concentrate" bit only supposed to apply to after the spell is cast?

I'm happy with the current "only one concentrator needed", but if it's supposed to be only for post-casting we need to tweak the paragraph so:

Once cast, a summon coven ends if all of the goatling spellcasters who cast the spell stop concentrating upon it​

I'm also thinking we should have more about the empowerment pool - like making it clear the empowerment points dissipate from the tabernacle when the spell ends, or giving the pool a "maximum capacity" based on the CL or the value of the tabernacle.

That would help make the Tabernacle of the Ram such a precious item for the goatlings.

 

[freyar]

I like the changes you've listed in blue. I would make the empowerment pool disappear at the end of the spell duration first. Let's see how that looks and what we want the artifact Tabernacle to look like and decide if we need to limit the spell more.

 

[Cleon]

I like the changes you've listed in blue. I would make the empowerment pool disappear at the end of the spell duration first. Let's see how that looks and what we want the artifact Tabernacle to look like and decide if we need to limit the spell more.

Yes, I was kind of assuming the empowerment pool would only last for the duration of the coven when used without the Tabernacle of the Ram.

Shall I update it with the blue bits then?

 

[freyar]

Yup. Do we want to put a cap on the duration? Like X minutes or concentration?

 

[Cleon]

Yup.

Updating summon coven working draft.

I added "The pool of empowerment points dissipates when the spell ends." to the end of the casting time paragraph, since we'd agreed on it at least conceptually.

Do we want to put a cap on the duration? Like X minutes or concentration?

It's already got a concentration limit on its duration.

That said, it might be appropriate to add a max duration as the original spell had one - the pool evaporated from the Tabernacle after a lunar month.

 

[freyar]

No, I meant a duration of "X minutes or concentration" meaning the spell ends when the caster loses concentration or at the end of the time limit, whichever comes first. And the month is for the artifact Tabernacle. Anyway, I guess I would make the duration of the spell something longish given the long casting time. Maybe 1 day? Then the special Tabernacle can hold points for a month. How's that?

 

[Cleon]

No, I meant a duration of "X minutes or concentration" meaning the spell ends when the caster loses concentration or at the end of the time limit, whichever comes first. And the month is for the artifact Tabernacle. Anyway, I guess I would make the duration of the spell something longish given the long casting time. Maybe 1 day? Then the special Tabernacle can hold points for a month. How's that?

That's what I thought we were talking about.

Making it minutes seems way too short - I'd think 1 hour/level for the duration would be more appropriate for the maximum time of an involved ceremony.