Arcana OOC and Q&A

[Erenthril Mael'tharias]

You mean a special arcanic item, like as rare as staves, sceptors, etc? That might work.

As for the warding spells...yes, I think that's possible. Sorcery does have an Initiate 'gate' spell that works over longevity, so I certainly think it's feasible. <<

[Amber Brightwing]

I don't think you really need new techniques for that. New spells perhaps.

An "Arcana Knife" which is basically a blade of energy that cuts arcana. Essentially a Dispel but can be used more efficiently (multiple spells on a single use, quicker) at the risk of having spells blow up on you and limited range.

In the attempt at an dispel write up a while ago there was the mention of the possibility of a slow and safe way of dispelling and a quick and dangerous one in combat. Perhaps this could be achieved just by working out dispelling.

Looking into manipulating Vis more directly, to let mages transfer it to one another. Or to create attacks that would attack/drain another mage's vis.

Why no do it though spells then? I might try out a Vis drain some day (as an extend to life drain). Still, I was told it was a dangerous thing to try and it might not work. The closest to Vis draining is probably the absorb spell of Mystics. The advantage of a spell is that it could balanced easier by limiting how much it can be used (e.g. the spell taking up as much Vis as you gain).

A way where a mage can set a spell to trigger under certain conditions. Not an imbuement/enchant but a delay that only lasts for a more limited amount of time and expends a single spell.

You can simply cast wards spells. They should last a few hours. Longer even if cast above their standard level. Triggering certain effects might be tricky depending on what you want. Probably requires some complicated spell casting for what you want, but I don't see why not.

[Arthus Orion]

Why not spells? Well the idea would be that say for warding would be for it to be more of a method that could be applied to any spell. And perhaps shared with the general arcana community beyond simply one sphere and one mage. And something like transferring vis would almost by definition be 'below' spellcasting since its would be dealing with the more fundamental piece of arcana, without going to the planes and what not.

However the general answer to this seems to be "might be possible" which is what I was looking for.

[Amber Brightwing]

Shaping techniques are techniques as well and can be applied to any spell across the spheres. Force Bolts, Fireballs, Acid Spheres, Light Darts... all the same spell with a different Essence.

Vis transfer sounds very offensive to me. If someone can give Vis, what stops another from reversing the process and taking Vis from others. If it's a technique this would allow for infinite Vis leaching, so mages could simply start using other people as casting batteries.

[Z'kron]

One of the main problem would be the destabilisation of your own vis in the process.

[Marwin Luminarias]

Yes, Z'kron popped in with the answer I had in mind.

The thing with Vis is that it is VERY personal. Like blood, except there are more than a few types This would mean that there is a pretty good chance that if you 'steal' (or manage to) someone else's Vis and stuff it into yourself, the two Vis would attack each other, thus killing you.

Very painfully.

[Marwin Luminarias]

Just as a side note: there are formatting errors on some Arcana articles. I hope that someone can fix those soon... Since I can't!

[Xyltha Thanole]

An idea popped into my head today, during my usual boring walk back home: Is it possible to create a mage-to-mage language, something along the lines of crafting a weave of mana and sending them to another mage, who then deciphers it. Somewhat akin to telepathy, except available to other mages. Perhaps this mode of communication can be restricted to mages in the same sphere, as well. I don't know if this has been discussed before, so just throwing this idea out.

[Marwin Luminarias]

Well, Impart sortof works that way. But Mysticism is the only sphere whose essence can function actively with the mind. If an Elementalist was to 'send' you a 'message' using any of his four essences, your brain would explode

[Xyltha Thanole]

What's the longest distance from which a mage can Impart to another? As for elementalist, they could always create words made of an element, like a sophisticated written message of fire and send em, haha, or the recipient could always have that resist element spell activated.

[Erenthril Mael'tharias]

*fwaps*

Natura's "grapevine", anyone?

[Amber Brightwing]

Your way of 'long distance imparting' seems needlessly complicated. If you want to pass on spells, just explain them and any Journeyman+ could recreate it (given it's of equal level). Even for training new mages it would be fairly pointless as it would only allow a Journeyman to train initiates. You'd have to be backed up by a Master if you wanted to do anything decent with arcana.

And I agree, sending messages wouldn't be that hard with other spheres. Mysticism would be the only one to implant them directly into someone's mind whereas other spheres would be sending it in a more physical way.

[Marwin Luminarias]

Here's an interesting question:

Do animals conjured from the Plane of Nature get 'injured' or do they only return to the Plane when their material shells are broken?

How easy would it be for druids to 'customize' the conjured animals' coat color etc.

How realistic is it for druids to be able to do partial transformations? How difficult would it be? What percentage of their forms would require transformation for the partial form to work properly? (IE: attach wings to human)

[Amber Brightwing]

No. Damaged = spell fizzles.

Add Alteration

I'd say you could do partial transformations, though perhaps only things similar to animals you've met would be possible. Where would you attach regular bird wings on a humans back? Transforming the arms in bird wings on the other hand is probably similar enough (though you'll probably won't be able to fly with just the wings).

[Marwin Luminarias]

I was just thinking about the partial transformation thing. If we are able to 'customize' animal color and size via alteration, what's to stop a druid from simply making a larger version of a small bird's wings and attaching it to his back? He'd probably have to alter his bone structure a bit as well plus some divination to make sure everything's connected straight.