Just things I have gotten from this and previous post:
SSDR doesn’t seem to be a SRM player so he aligns with flexibility.
Lormyr plays more SRM. He prefers strict rules.
In my mind, that is why you two have different rules Philosophies.
I tend to fall in the SSDR camp. I will admit, the first thing I thought when I got to spell creation was “I can’t wait to see what Lormyr comes up with, to break it”. No offense intended Lormyr. Also, your grenade idea reminded me of a Magneto trick.
I find your observation fascinating! And, no insult intended, somewhat humorous, as I'm actually quite involved with SRM.
I think I have quite a bit in common with Lormyr on how we view the rules, actually. I daresay our main differences in opinion (other than some 6e specific hangups) is not being on the same perspective on when "a reasonable" amount of reliance on GM discretion becomes "too much" of the same.
How would you all create Shapechange or (Critter) form?
Regards,
SL
I think crowdsourcing would be an interesting way to explore the spell creation rules, since they're (by design) so free and unrestricted.
As a player potentially wanting to use the spell, I'd want to primarily gain a new or enhanced movement mode... or ability to survive in an extreme environment (turn into a fish underwater, turn into a polar bear out in a blizzard, etc). The other reason I'd be interested in the spell is for stealth/surveillance... noone thinks twice about a rat moving down the alleyway behind the yakuza warehouse, or a pigeon landing on the roof of a corp research facility.
As a gm, I'd be concerned with keeping the spell from opening up "game hacks". I don't want to, for example, see a mage be able to ignore crappy physical stats by turning into a powerful critter. Neither do I want to see someone using the spell as a way to by default generate a "portable hole" that gear goes into while you're transformed. In my opinion, it's a hard no on using a spell to turn into a pigeon or cat to bypass 1) encumbrance and 2) security sensors that would otherwise detect your gear if you were wearing it while NOT transformed.
So with all that in mind, here's my crack at a (Critter) Form spell! (I've already decided that the spell has to be learned and relearned for different critters.. Cat Form, Pigeon Form, Hammerhead Shark Form, etc)
Category: Clearly Manipulation. (base 1DV)
Ingredients:
It's gotta work on at least myself, and I probably want to be able to cast it on other people too? Either way, this calls for:
Affect Living Targets +1DV
If I'm turning into a combat beast, presumably I should be getting tougher/faster/stronger/etc. Using the attribute augmented limit satisfies preventing someone with 1 body becoming a 10 body piasma.
Attribute Boost +1DV per increased attribute
Of course, I need the
Shape Material ingredient to warp flesh into an animal shape. +1DV
And I'm gonna add in the
Affect Speed ingredient as a catch all for gaining flight, gaining cheetah speed, breathing underwater. +1DV
There isn't a good ingredient to represent gaining extra sensory powers like a bat's ultrasound or a dog's expanded hearing, but such an ingredient seems like it should also be +1DV.
As a raw subtotal, I'm looking at anything from 2DV to 10DV, depending on how many ingredients are triggered by the specific critter.
I'm also thinking that the Attribute Boost is worthy of being customized. If I can get stronger by turning into a bear, then it stands to reason I should be getting weaker if I turn into a mouse. Rather than having a DV of +0 to +4, I'm going to have 1 set DV where everything potentially goes up or down, depending on your own stat vs the critter statblock. I'm calling this feature +2DV.
Additionally, I think maybe the Shape Material ingredient may need some sort of attention. Can I turn into something as big as a Juggernaut? As small as a microbe? What's the limit here? I notice that Manipulation category is the natural choice, but the mechanic of what you roll against isn't well defined. So, geeking 2 Pigeon Formed mages with one bullet here! The net hits will be tweaked to go from how much volume of flesh you can transform to establishing a threshold your spellcasting test has to hit to attain the form. Ergo, spells where you remain roughly the same mass but take on a new shape (tiger, wolf, horse if you're a troll, etc) will be easier than turning into something huge or tiny.
So, last thing to do is hammer out the particular mechanics:
(Critter) Form: Manipulation Spell
Range: Touch Type: Physical Duration: Sustained Drain: 7 (See below)
This spell transforms the target's physical body into a critter, gaining the size and mass and basic properties of that new form. The specific form cannot be changed, a new spell must be learned for each critter form. The target retains its normal mental faculties, but will gain or lose physical prowess based on the new form. This will usually include the loss of ability to speak, as only sounds normal for that critter can be produced.
Terms and Conditions:
This spell can duplicate the form of any mundane critter, or an awakened critter that still has a biological body. However the spell grants no magical critter powers. So a Hell Hound Form spell could exist, but the target would not gain the ability to project flame. The threshold to cast this spell on a willing target is [2]. The threshold increases by 1 for every doubling or halving of the target's mass. This spell cannot be cast on an unwilling target.
The target's physical attributes (Body, Strength, Agility, Reaction) may go up or down based on the target's normal value compared to the critter's attribute. For every net hit on the spell, increase these attributes up to the critter's stat block value, subject to the augmented maximum or critter's stat block, whichever is lower. In turn, reduce every physical attribute down to the critter stat block value when it is lower (minimum value of 1 in all attributes). This reduction is decreased by 1 for every net hit. Example: Turning a troll samurai with Body 10, Agility 3, Reaction 2, and Strength 6 into a wolf with Body 4, Agility 3, Reaction 5, Strength 4 with 2 net hits ends up with the troll having Body 6, Agility 3, Reaction 4, Strength 4 in Wolf Form. Recalculate physical condition monitor if necessary, and carry over any preexisting damage. Mental stats do not change, although few critter forms possess the vocal capacity to permit speech.
The spell grants purely mundane powers possessed by the critter. For example bats have ultrasound, dogs have enhanced senses, vipers have Venom (use the caster's Magic if the target is a mundane) and etc. If the form gains no such power, then the Drain Value is reduced by 1. If the critter flies or swims or even breathes underwater, the form gains these capabilities as well. If the form lacks these, lower the Drain Value by 1. If the form grants neither critter powers nor enhanced movement, then lower the Drain Value by 2.
The target's equipment does not transform, and may harm or even strangle the target if it outgrows clothing and armor. Gear that is paid for via essence transforms but ceases to function for the duration of the spell. Drugs and toxins may affect the critter form differently than a metahuman, at the GM's discretion.