MAG.E 4/MAG.E 4 (Disk 1 of 2).adf/8/8

Text File | 1977-12-31 | 9KB | 558 lines

@4NEW SPELLS FOR BARDS
====================



@3Pitch (Evocation)

@1

 Level: Cantrip

 Range: 0

 Components: V

 Duration: 2 rounds

 Casting Time: 1

 Area of Effect: The caster

 Saving Throw: None



    This cantrip sounds a perfectly-tuned note from out of

nowhere.  The note is centered on the caster, and can be

heard from a distance of 20 feet.  Things that block normal

noise (walls, curtains, Silence 15' Radius, etc.) block

this as well.



    This spell is useful for tuning instruments "by ear",

or with the help of a Tune cantrip.  It is also slightly

disturbing to those around the caster, as any single note

would be if held out for two rounds.



    To cast this cantrip, the bard must speak out loud the

name of the note he wishes to hear, such as "Middle C", "B

Flat", or "Quarter-step above the first F Sharp above High C".



 -- -- -- -- --



@3Tune (Alteration) Reversible

@1

 Level: Cantrip

 Range: 0

 Components: V or M

 Duration: Instantaneous

 Casting Time: 1

 Area of Effect: 5 foot radius sphere

 Saving Throw: None



    With this cantrip, the bard can bring one note of an

instrument in tune with either a hummed note, the

equivalent note played by a second instrument (in which

case the component of the spell is that other instrument,

which is obviously not consumed in the casting; what good

would that do?), or the result of a preceding Pitch cantrip

(q.v.).  The one note will end up perfectly in tune with

the reference note.  As many instruments as are in the area

of effect can be brought into tune at once.



    A well-Tuned instrument (with two or more Tuned notes)

has the effect of making the bard's songs more melodious

and enjoyable; this has the game effects of reducing the

saving throws of hostile creatures vs. the bard's

mood-altering story telling by 1, as well as making the

bard's morale-boosting song affect the listeners for half

again as long (i.e. one and a half rounds per level) as it

usually does.



    Too many notes perfectly Tuned on an instrument,

however, will have a negative effect on other bards in the

area, who will realize that the Tuned instrument has been

magically altered to sound so perfect.  For each note above

one that the instrument has been Tuned, the hostile bard

personally gets a +1 to his saving throw vs. the playing

bard's friendly effects.



    Although the Tuning is instantaneous, the effects of

the cantrip last for a while.  In perfect conditions

(humidity on the low side, comfortable temperature, no

rough handling), the instrument will stay Tuned for a week.

In less than perfect conditions (typical adventuring abuse,

for example), the instrument will have to be re-Tuned every

day.  If the instrument is taken apart for storage, such as

flutes or other woodwinds are, the instrument will have to

be re-Tuned every time it is reassembled.



    The reverse of this cantrip, Untune, causes one note of

the specified instrument to become horribly out of tune.

It also has the side effect of turning the caster's hands a

brilliant red for one turn after the cantrip is cast,

unfortunately.



-- -- -- -- --



@3Kazago's Lock Pick (Alteration)

@1

 Level: 1

 Range: 0

 Components: SM

 Duration: 1 day + 1 day per 5 levels of the caster

 Casting Time: 1 round

 Area of Effect: The caster

 Saving Throw: None



    This spell allows the bard to pick locks.  The bard's

Pick Pockets percentage roll becomes an Open Locks

percentage roll, and the bard is treated as a thief in this

respect for the entire duration of the spell.



    This spell is different from both the second-level

Knock spell and the Unlock cantrip in that it can possibly

affect much more than one lock, and that its effects are

far less certain.  It is especially useful on fact-finding

missions where the bard is worried about coming across many

locked doors along the way.



    The material components for this spell are a set of

thieves' picks and tools, which are not consumed in the

casting.



 -- -- -- -- --



@3Minor Annoyance (Illusion)

@1

 Level: 1

 Range: 5 feet per level

 Components: VS

 Duration: 1 round per level

 Casting Time: 1

 Area of Effect: 1 creature

 Saving Throw: Negates



    This spell creates the illusion (sound and feel) of a

mosquito flying into the victim's ear.  The victim will

then act appropriately, which usually means stopping and

trying to get the illusionary mosquito out of his ear,

until either a successful saving throw vs. spell is made,

or the spell expires.



    The spell takes effect at the beginning of the round

after it is cast.  This means that it cannot be used to

interrupt a spell, although it can be used to keep spells

from being cast in the round(s) afterward.



    The victim gets a saving throw at the time of the

casting, and then at the end of each round thereafter.



 -- -- -- -- --



@3Sangfroid (Abjuration)

@1

 Level: 1

 Range: 0

 Components: VSM

 Duration: 1 turn per level

 Casting Time: 1

 Area of Effect: The caster

 Saving Throw: None



    This spell confers immunity to all "nuisance" cantrips

and first-level spells cast upon the bard.  In addition, it

gives the bard a +4 bonus to his saving throws vs. nuisance

spells of second level or higher.



    Nuisance spells are those that do no damage, but are

designed to adversely affect the bard's concentration,

train of thought, or senses.  Most Illusion and Charm

spells fall into this category, as do Blindness, Deafness,

and such spells that otherwise cause blindness or deafness.

All three variations of the Annoyance spell (qq.v) are

included as well.  There are more such spells, but an

exhaustive list here is unwarranted.



    This spell is primarily used while performing, as it

keeps outside events such as hecklers and Taunt spells from

interrupting the bard's performance.



    The material component for this spell is a chip of

granite.



    (Yes, it's a pun; one of the gods in my game is named

Sangfroid the Uncaring.  Nevertheless, it's a real word;

it means "imperturbability", but "imperturbability" is

too long a word for the name of a Bard spell.)



 -- -- -- -- --



@3Annoyance (Illusion)

@1

 Level: 2

 Range: 5 feet per level

 Components: VSM

 Duration: 1 round per level

 Casting Time: 2

 Area of Effect: One creature

 Saving Throw: Special



    This is a more powerful version of the first level

spell Minor Annoyance (q.v.), in that it creates the

illusion of a bumblebee flying into the victim's ear.  The

victim only gets one saving throw; if successful, the

annoyance lasts for only one round.  The spell's effects

start at the beginning of the next round, just like Minor

Annoyance.



    The material component of this spell is a dead insect.

If an actual dead bumblebee is used, the victim's saving

throw is made at -2.



 -- -- -- -- --



@3Memorize Song (Enchantment/Charm)

@1

 Level: 2

 Range: 0

 Components: VS

 Duration: Permanent

 Casting Time: 1

 Area of Effect: The caster

 Saving Throw: None



    This spell enables the caster to memorize the next song

he hears.  From then on, the caster can sing and play the

song exactly as he heard it, without worrying about

forgetting verses or notes later on in life.



    This is especially useful for traveling minstrels, who

must remember someone else's songs for a long time in order

to sing them (in other words, "spread the news") in faraway

lands.



-- -- -- -- --



@3Transcribe Song (Alteration, Evocation)

@1

  Level: 2

  Range: 0

  Components: SM

  Duration: 1 round

  Casting Time: 2

  Area of Effect: One piece of paper

  Saving Throw: None



    This spell converts sound waves from a song currently

being played within earshot of the bard to musical notation

onto a piece of paper the bard has in his possession.  It

will transcribe up to one round's worth of music into the

musical notation most familiar to the bard.



    This spell is useful for keeping records of new songs,

or for keeping track of songs the bard is worried about

forgetting.  It does not work well for conversations, since

it does not transcribe the words of songs, only the noted

of the song itself.



    The material components for this spell are a piece of

paper or parchment, two ounces of good ink, and a grain of

diamond dust.



 -- -- -- -- --



@3Major Annoyance (Enchantment/Charm)

@1

 Level: 3

 Range: 5 feet per level

 Components: VSM

 Duration: 1 round per level of the caster

 Casting Time: 3

 Area of Effect: One creature

 Saving Throw: 1/2



    This is an even more powerful version of the Minor

Annoyance and Annoyance spells (qq.v.).  It makes the

victim's leg hurt, exactly as if he has barked his shin on

something.  Although causing no damage, it is painful

enough to disrupt spell casting in the round it is cast in,

as well as subsequent rounds, to the limit of the spell.

The victim also suffers combat penalties: Armor Class

bonuses due to high dexterity are negated, and attacks are

made at a -2 penalty.



    A successful save vs. this spell reduces the duration

of the spell to one round per two levels of the caster, and

reduces the attack penalty to -1.



    The material component is a coffee bean, carved to look

like a miniature table.