[PnP] pnp Digest, Vol 126, Issue 1 - flying carpets, etc

Mon May 16 22:53:45 CEST 2016

Finally got around to checking for pnp mail (been playing WoW - dangerous distraction, isn't it?)

I tend to agree with the transmutation mass = mass - magic is a natural/supernatural energy, so seems it would take hi-level (god-like) power to change mass as well as form, then return it to its natural state.

As far as flying carpets, I have thought about this because wondering if could use one in my story series. I fouind that while developing my PC as a member of the Society of the Trembling Throne, that the Society's hi-level magic includes a secret way of sending messages to their agents all over the world. I figured that a Levitation spell, combined with a version of this direction-focused communication spell/spells could make a relatively manageable flying carpet, especially if a "wind wall" along all carpet edges provided a safety measure to prevent falls from shifts in direction & altitude. Or perhaps combine a "glue"-type spell to attach the passengers when they sit down upon it that is active while teh carpet is off the ground or other solid surface (but not water - carpet repels against touching water on its lower side.

As you can see, such a carpet would be extremely expensive, and therefore rather rare. I plan, in my story, to use one, & a background history of having two or three available to members of the Trembling Throne, created by their very hi-level top magicians.  I further think that being as Ma'Helas, home of the Trembling Throne, as a country worshipping Balance, that they have the favor of the Gods  of Balance, and the Council of the Gods (don't remember what it's called, offhand), and that at least part of the magic of the carpets was provided by them, since teh agents can then be a sort of "Balance Police" that can go anywhere in the world. This does NOT mean that it is not dangerous for those agents, especially in Chaos & Kotothi territories.

As far as the livestock food issue, I have added the cost to buy wagons to transport hay, water, oats, etc, or pack animals for smaller parties. A necessary expense, as my own American pioneer ancestors dealt with as recently as the late 1880's. (Have a female ancester on my mother's who died in Bend, Oregon in 1835 - she is an example of both sides of my family. My father's side have been native Californians since 1810 - we have dealt with this, so our characters easily can. Needs must.

Good wishes on your completing the ships. I have borrowed names from actual ancient boat types to use in my stories, and loved teh resources available to order through our local County Library system. One is particular covered ships thru history, both northern, Mediterranean & Oriental - really useful. My ships simply use the bast parts of these, and teh weight/capacity statistics were very useful - ancient trading records provided actual loads for various ships, as well as times/routes & voyage speeds of both military & trading vessels. (and which ones pirates liked to use, which tells you which were fastest - lol)

This was a fun letter to read - thanks, Scott!

Bess L. Hadley 

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On Wed, 4/27/16, pnp-request at list.powersandperils.org <pnp-request at list.powersandperils.org> wrote:

 Subject: pnp Digest, Vol 126, Issue 1
 To: pnp at list.powersandperils.org
 Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2016, 3:00 AM

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 Today's Topics:

    1. Travel in the PL (Scott Adams)

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

 Message: 1
 Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 15:28:50 -0400
 From: Scott Adams <longshotgm at comcast.net>
 To: pnp at list.powersandperils.org
 Subject: [PnP] Travel in the PL
 Message-ID: <mailman.2.1461751201.9766.pnp at list.powersandperils.org>
 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

 List been quiet..so let's talk!

 1) Transmutation - Many of you use this spell? Initially
 players used 
 it to transmute a horse into rocks to stop inclusion costs
 of 
 tleeport.  Then we remembered the animate to inanimate
 rule.  But 
 this spell always gave me issues ever since '80s. Seems too
 easy.
 To me I think mass = mass.  So a horse going to rock
 would be a large 
 boulder.  IMHO.  I just can't see a horse goig the
 size of a 
 pebble.  Just makes no sens to me.  Unless you
 lose law of reality 
 and just say 'ohhh..magic does those things.'
 What do you guys say on this spell?

 2) Teleport - Inclusions.  Way back Richard had told me
 or was posted 
 here that a inclusion was 1 person of average human size or
 in some 
 ways same as caster.  So I've always just cheated and
 said 250 pounds 
 - 1 inclusion.  So a giant of 800 woudl be 4 inclusions
 an dso 
 on.  Thus issue with horses being 750-1200
 pounds.  Costly 
 inclusions.  We have teleporters with EL10 level but
 even they can't 
 take all horses in one leap.  So how do you guys
 consider this?  Some 
 say it shoud be Mass rather than weight.  Bleh 
 Course this doesnto 
 include gear/clothing.  I cheat there as well.

 3) Long travels: Party food is relative easy to have with no

 issue.  But horse food is not.  At 3 or 4 fp per
 horse and limited 
 type of food (ie oats, apples, grain) your limited on
 supiies.  At 10 
 horses for 2 week travel talking 30 fp per day or 420 fp
 ish.  At 10 
 pounds per grain bag....and that's only 10 that's alotof 
 weight.  Burton you did those great town / civilization
 building 
 guides.  Did you ever figure out a way to solve this
 issue? Did you 
 research this topic to make it easer?  Grazing is fine
 but in winter 
 its difficult.

 4) Flying carpets: Last night was thinking of ways to solve
 the 3 
 issues. No horses.  Flying carpets/ships/slabs.
 I did have a flying ship but it was through a new form of
 elemental 
 magic. So how would one maybe do this?  Levitation,
 some form of 
 heelmind spell to control it since no wheels on a carpet
 (steering 
 wheels) brakes.  Or verbal commands but that would make

 maneuverability rough. I saw some site with dnd carpets at
 20k gold 
 for 1 man...geesh!..seriously?
 Anyone ever add these to your world?

 5) Ship project- I've had free time lately so I'm back to
 trying my 
 ship project.  Its done except for
 Construction/combat.  Combat will 
 be easy.  Construction is harder.  I think I have
 a breakthrough on a 
 issue mainly on common amounts of wood.  So I cna build
 and price 
 it.  Think I solved it but need to do more
 tweaking.  I do want to 
 finish this project i started so many years ago.....sigh

 6) So how is everyone doing in their worlds?  Burton
 your empire 
 thriving for those folks? :)

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