How Item Magic Works

Unknown by Cong Li

How Item Magic Works

Every type of Item Mage uses three categories of ingredients: scarabs, talismans and herbs.

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Each recipe has a Complexity Level (CL) that is directly analogous to spell level.  There are six levels of recipes now known to Men.

Herbalists also use powdered gems

Alchemists also use alchemical liquids (reagents)

Priests also use tapers.

Druids also use entrails.

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CL 1 and 2 have a scarab and two ingredients (a scarab, a talisman and an herb.)

CL 3 and 4 have a scarab and three ingredients.

CL 5 and 6 require a scarab and four ingredients.

Creating a Recipe

The Item Mage mixes ingredients.  Sometimes it makes nothing.  Sometimes it makes something with a side effect. Very rarely it makes something without a side effect.

If you keep it, you then roll to determine the delivery method and side effect.

Roll d100 + your Item Mage experience level for a particular (Scarab + Talisman + Specific Ingredient)

1-40 But naught

41-90 Something with a side effect

91-00 Something with no side effect

Then roll on Table 8: Delivery Method

Then roll on Table 9: Side Effects (if necessary)

Whether it’s any good or not, write down that combination in your recipe book. If it works, then that's a formula you pulled out of thin air and it makes something good.  It will work every time.  If it’s not something good, you can be sure not to try that combination again.

Sometimes when re-reading your recipe book, you will see connections between certain ingredients and results. For instance, perhaps you see that after two or three fire spells, the herb henbane always makes a fire spell (this is just an example.)  Show this to your Ref. Perhaps he agrees that you have discovered one of the underlying rules of order in Item Magic! Item Magic rules such as these at your table will look different from someone else’s rules. That’s OK. Pseudo-science doesn’t have to be consistent from world to world like science does in our Realm.

Delivery Methods

Every recipe has its own peculiar delivery method.  The easiest ones are potions, followed by herbal teas.  But there are many other ways to activate an Item Magic ensorcelment.

Changing Delivery Methods: By tinkering with the recipe, the Item Mage may change the delivery method to anything on this list or that the Referee will agree to.  This change takes one week and 1 GP (CuS) per CL in his laboratory.

 

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Side Effects

Many recipes are imperfect and have side effects associated with them.  Some are beneficial but most are a nuisance - or worse.  When deducing a recipe, roll on Table 8.  When creating a recipe, the Item Mage may add his experience level to the roll.  Most side effects last for six Turns (one hour) while some are quite permanent!

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Notes on Specific Side Effects

Cancel next side effect: This happens automatically.  The user knows a side effect has been cancelled.

Projectile vomiting: The user may only make half moves.  He may not attack. He is loud and stinky.

Addicted to potions: The user will attempt to drink all his potions immediately.  If he knows other PCs have potions, he will offer the most outlandish trades in order to procure them.

Incapacitating agony: The user may only make half moves.  He may not attack.

Lose a level/Gain a level: These effects can only happen one time and only to the first character who uses the recipe. Apply this effect and then immediately re-roll the side effect and mark the new side effect down on the recipe.

Removing Side Effects

Of course, the Item Mage will want to have as few side effects as possible.  This will require further experimentation.  If the Mage adds an additional ingredient, there is a chance that the recipe is perfected and the side effect is removed.  But there is also a chance of creating a deadly poison or a new recipe entirely.  With a recipe for a new magical effect, you will also have to determine the new delivery method and possibly a new side effect!

Perfecting a Recipe: Scarab + recipe + 1 Ingredient

Roll d100 + add your experience level

1-10 Poison

11-35 No Change

36-70 Old recipe, cleaned up

71-90 New recipe with side effect

91 or more New recipe, no side effect

Roll 2: new side effect (if necessary)

Roll 3: new delivery method

Then you write down that combination.  That's a formula you pulled out of thin air and it makes something good.  It will work every time.

If you stumble upon the recipe for a family of spells (for instance cure light wounds) then you know you just have to switch out the scarab and you have a base for the more complex spells in the same family - if you like the side effect and if you like the delivery method.

Recreation:

Your character has discovered a potion or other consumable magic item.  When the Ref places the item, he determines the effect including the Complexity Level (CL), but not the recipe. How does the Item Mage determine what the recipe is, so he can make it again?

1.        Use it.  By using it, he will know its CL and that determines the scarab it burns.  He will learn its effect and its side effect.  Item Mages also learn one ingredient (in addition to the scarab) when they use the item.  Other kinds of characters do not.  Knowing this partial recipe reduces the research cost by 60% but requires a week of lab time, instead of just a day.

2.       Test it in a lab.  By testing it the lab, Item Mage determines the ingredient list in full, the effect, any side effect (and delivery method if this is inobvious.) Upon test completion, the Item Mage makes a WIS check. If successful, the consumable may still be used. Otherwise, it has been used up in the test.  Tests require 1 GP (CuS) per CL, and one day.

In either case, you now have the recipe, the effect, the side effect, and the delivery method.  Roll on Tables 2, 3, 8 and 9.  Roll on the appropriate table from Table 4 to 7 for your subclass.  You write that recipe in your book and use it however you wish.

Item Magic Scrolls

Item Magic scrolls do not work the same way as spellcaster scrolls do.  They take one day and cost 5 GP (CuS) per CL to write.

A scroll contains the information for a single recipe.  Copying the scroll into your recipe book uses up the scroll.  Nothing can be spontaneously cast from such a scroll, it’s just a learning tool.  Many villages and towns have an Item Mage who will create for you and sell you a scroll of a recipe he knows.  Such scrolls sell for and average price of 20 GP (CuS) per CL.  Use the 2d6 Reaction Table to determine if you can get a good deal on a scroll or if the locals intend to chisel you.