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Transformation Effects
Though very simple at lower levels of casting, transformation efefcts are capable of creating complex and radical changes in their subjects. Lead to gold, flesh to stone, and man to beast are all examples of physical transformations, but chaos mages are able to enact mental transformations as well.
The total amount of material that may be transformed physically is equal to 20 pounds per level of the caster. Several effects listed below allow the caster to grant a variety of bonuses or penalties to a subject.
In every case the exact bonuses and penalties may be specified by the caster, though the maximum possible adjustment is +1 or -1 per two caster levels.
Game Masters and players are welcome to invent their own transformation effects, using those below as a guide to their relative strength and power.
All transformations really should have a duration – otherwise, the target(s) will flash into their transformed state then immediately flash back. The transformation effects only persist for the duration of the spell, after which the chaos power used to hold the transformation in place dissipates and the target returns to its natural state.
This leads to some issues the GM must resolve. First – it is recommended that transformations not be allowed to work on only part of an object or creature. This prevents some of the problems that can result when a transformed portion of a building suddenly ‘detransforms’ and regains its natural shape.
For example: A chaos mage decides that he’s going to transform two of a shack’s four walls into air. This would, naturally, lead to the rest of the shack collapsing. But, when the duration of the transformation effect expires, the walls return to their normal state. Since the other two, non-transformed, walls, have already fallen down, the newly restored walls also fall down! This creates a problem – the chaos mage has now achieved an original aim (the destruction of the building) even though he would not have normally been able to do that based on the size of the object he can transform.
If a creature is transformed into a non-living state, inanimate matter, raw energy, or whatever other transformations are used to remove the creature from the realms of the living, the creature will return to life at its original location (unless moved by external forces) at the end of the effect’s duration. Games Masters must pay careful attention to this, to avoid abuse by characters who use transformation to simply kill a creature.
Casting DC: 5
Save: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
Duration: Required
Continued Concentration: No
At this level of effect, the chaos mage may:
Clean or repair minor damage to an object. This includes restoring damage such as tears in fabric, chips in wood and metal, or stains and spots.
Grant a subject an enhancement bonus to one type of saving throw (chosen by the chaos mage at the time of casting) for the duration of the spell.
Alter the appearance of a subject, providing an enhancement bonus to any Disguise checks.
Create or erase writing (one sentence per caster level) by transforming the patterns on a surface.
The targets of any spell created with this effect are rendered invisible to normal sight for the duration of the spell. Note that this effect ends immediately if the target does anything to draw attention to itself, including attacking another creature or casting a spell.
The target of this spell, or any creatures within the spell’s area of effect, is immune to all 0 level static magic spells, unless the caster of those spells defeats the chaos mage in an opposed caster level check.
Casting DC: 10
Save: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
Duration: Required
Continued Concentration: No
At this level of effect, the chaos mage may:
Grant an enhancement bonus or penalty to a subject's saving throws, Armor Class or attack or damage rolls.
Apply an enhancement bonus or penalty to one ability score of a subject.
Blind, stun or deafen a subject.
Render the target(s) invisible sight for the duration of the spell. Note that this effect ends immediately if the target does anything to draw attention to itself, including attacking another creature.
Change the material of one object into another, similar type - for example, paper to cloth, or steel to stone.
The target of this effect becomes less susceptible to damage from a specific energy type (acid, cold, fire, electricity, or sonic) and gains energy resistance 1 per caster level from attacks of that energy type for the duration of the spell.
Any spell from any single school of magic is prevented from affecting the target or targets in the area of effect for the duration of this effect, unless the caster of the spell defeats the chaos mage in an opposed caster level check.
The target of this spell, or any creatures within the spell’s area of effect, are immune to all 0-level spells, unless the caster of those spells defeats the chaos mage in an opposed caster level check.
This effect creates a hole in a solid object of up to 1’ diameter and 1’ depth per chaos level of the chaos mage. The targeted object is entitled to a saving throw, as normal.
The target of this effect, or all creatures in its area of effect, are immediately rendered unconscious for the duration of the spell as chaotic impulses short out their minds and prevent them from taking any actions.
The target of this spell, or those in the spell’s area of effect, immediately regards enemies as allies and vice versa. If the targets are currently under attack, they receive a +5 bonus to their saving throws. Note that this level of effect only works on creatures of the same type as the spellcaster (humanoid, abomination, etc.). Removing this restriction increases the effect to a moderate transformation.
Target, or targets in area of effect, receive the ability to see perfectly in total natural darkness up to 5’ per caster level, twice that distance in low light conditions. This ability does not permit the user to see through magical darkness.
The critical threat range of the target weapon or weapons in the area of effect is increased by one. All fires completely encompassed by the target area of effect are immediately extinguished by this effect, which does not affect magical fires.
Strike fear into the hearts of creatures, causing them to flee for 1d4 rounds.
Cause creatures to believe your words are true, despite proof to the contrary.
Casting DC: 15
Save: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
Duration: Required
Continued Concentration: No
At this level of effect, the chaos mage may:
Cause a solid object to become ethereal and able to move through other solid objects.
Transform one magical effect upon a subject into a harmless enchantment that dissipates immediately.
Increase or decrease the size of a subject by 10% per level of the caster, up to a maximum of 50%. Note that the subject can only expand to fill the limits of its environment, and will only reduce until it meets the resistance of objects it contains. Therefore this effect cannot be used to, for example, crush a warrior in his own armor by reducing the armor in size or increasing his. See the table below for the effects of increasing or decreasing the size of a creature of object.
Convert the state of non-living matter - for example, water to steam or stone to sand.
The target of this effect becomes less susceptible to damage from a specific energy type (acid, cold, fire, electricity, or sonic) and gains energy resistance 2 per three caster levels from attacks of that energy type for the duration of this effect.
This effect suppresses any magical effect that enters its area of effect, or any magical effect currently affecting the target creature or object. These magical effects are not removed from the target creature, but their effects are completely nullified for the duration of this effect. When this effect’s duration ends, the other magical effects immediately take effect once again.
The target creature or creatures in the area of effect receive damage reduction 5/+1 per 4 levels of the casting chaos mage.
The target of the spell is forced to take a single action or restricted from taking a single action. Spells using this effect must have at least a oneround duration – if the action a target is instructed to take can be taken more than once, the target will take it every round for the duration of the spell. Note that any action that is directly harmful to the target creature entitles the creature to a +10 circumstance bonus to his save. Directly harmful things include committing suicide, walking into a known environmental hazard (such as a fire), or walking off a cliff. If this spell is cast with an area of effect, all affected targets will take the directed action, or are restricted from the action, as the case may be.
The target, or targets in the area of effect, receives the ability to see perfectly in total natural darkness up to 5’ per caster level, twice that distance in low light conditions. This ability does permit the user to see through magical darkness of any type and can be used to restore sight to those afflicted by magical blindness.
The critical threat range of the target weapon, or all weapons in the area of effect, is doubled.
Casting DC: 20
Save: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
Duration: Required
Continued Concentration: No
At this level of effect, the chaos mage may:
Convert raw materials into finished, crafted objects. For example, a sturdy stick of wood and a bar of iron can be transformed into a hammer.
Convert non-living matter in the spell's area of effect into harmless, light-based energy.
Grant a subject an entirely new from, complete with special abilities such as flight.
Dispel any and all illusions within the area of effect to transfrom it back to its natural state.
Convert non-living materials from one type to a dissimilar type - for example, water to steel, or wood to fire.
Transform the direction of gravity in an area of effect.
Increase the size of a target by up to 100% or decrease it by 90%. See the table below for the effects of increasing or decreasing the size of a creature of object.
Grant a subject improved invisibility.
All existing spell effects in the area of effect are immediately disrupted and cease to function entirely. If a saving throw is allowed for this effect, the caster of the spells affected is entitled to the save – if he succeeds, the spells he cast are not dispelled.
Target creature or creatures in the area of effect are immune to all spells or spell-like effects targeted at them or the area of effect for the duration of this spell, unless the caster defeats the chaos mage in an opposed caster level check.
Target creature, or creatures in the area of effect, as well as all carried equipment, become insubstantial and able to pass through even the smallest cracks or holes. While in this state, insubstantial creatures may move at their normal movement rate but are unable to fly or swim. In addition, insubstantial creatures receive damage reduction 20/+1 and are unable to physically attack others or cast spells that require somatic or material components. The target creature or creatures are transformed into another type of material with hardness equal to at least 5. While in this state, the target creature or creatures may take no action.
You are able to resculpt the mind of your target. For each round of the duration of this effect, you are able to permanently change one of the target’s memories totally and completely. Note that this memory is only changed in a single context. You could, for example, change a memory so that the target remembers seeing you in a bazaar, rather than in the middle of his alchemical laboratory. You could not, however, change his memory so that he never remembered seeing you at all, because the memory of your face is tied in with other memories, such as him remembering that he doesn’t much care for you.
You are able to actually seize control of the target’s mind for the duration of this spell and control it just as if it were your own. The target is allowed a Will save against any activity you choose to undertake that is directly harmful to his person, or which is strongly against his beliefs (such as forcing a paladin to murder an innocent).
Casting DC: 30
Save: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
Duration: Required
Continued Concentration: No
At this level of effect, items are transformed into pure chaos that may be refashioned in control of the spellcaster. Weight may be increased or decreased by up to 10 per level of chaos mage, uniquely beneficial features can be added, and the composition of the object can be changed in utterly unnatural ways.
At the moment of transformation the chaotic energies flare in a 20ft. radius, causing 1d8 damage fer every 20 pounds transformed, up to a total of 10d8. No creature with Hit Dice greater than the current level of the caster may be affected by the chaotic reconstruction.
All modifiers are rounded down. Note that creatures affected by this effect may move between size classes, as defined in Core Rulebook III, and suffer Armor Class and Base Attack Bonus modifiers in the process.
Note that the subject can only expand to fill the limits of its environment, and will only reduce until it meets the resistance of objects it contains. Items that are worn by a living creature will grow or shrink to match the new size of the wearer. Weapon damage will increase or decrease by their size category, as noted in Core Rulebook I.
It is possible, however, to cause incidental damage to objects when they are enlarged or reduced. The hinges on a door, for example, will likely break free of the door if it is reduced, and a rope that is reduced in size will surely break if any weight on it remains the same.
Table: Chaotic Reconstruction
| Size Change | Height/Lenght Modifier | Weight Modifier | Strength Modifier | Hit Point Modifier |
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| -90% | x0.1 | x0.01 | -5 | -45% |
| -80% | x0.2 | x0.02 | -4 | -40% |
| -70% | x0.3 | x0.03 | -3 | -35% |
| -60% | x0.4 | x0.06 | -3 | -30% |
| -50% | x0.5 | x0.12 | -2 | -25% |
| -40% | x0.6 | x0.22 | -2 | -20% |
| -30% | x0.7 | x0.34 | -1 | -15% |
| -20% | x0.8 | x0.50 | -1 | -10% |
| -10% | x0.9 | x0.75 | 0 | -5% |
| +10% | x1.1 | x1.3 | 0 | +5% |
| +20% | x1.2 | x1.7 | +1 | +10% |
| +30% | x1.3 | x2.2 | +1 | +15% |
| +40% | x1.4 | x2.7 | +2 | +20% |
| +50% | x1.5 | x3.4 | +2 | +25% |
| +60% | x1.6 | x4.1 | +3 | +30% |
| +70% | x1.7 | x4.9 | +3 | +35% |
| +80% | x1.8 | x5.8 | +4 | +40% |
| +90% | x1.9 | x6.9 | +4 | +45% |
| +100% | x2 | x8 | +5 | +50% |
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