The Pensula Sun-Times
	Volume viij	March 27, 1803			3rd Edition
Opinions & Editorials   A note to the Gentle Reader: Any and all opinions that are expressed in the following article are of no relation, whatsoever, to the Pensula Sun-Times and its employees. Last week we presented the following topic to the reading public: What do you think of magic and its related institutions? Although we received countless responses, we were only able to publish a scant few letters, as our space in this periodical is limited. Therefore, the editorial staff here at the Sun Times labored arduously to piece together the best arguments given for each side of the debate. They are presented, unchanged as received, below.     To the Staff at the Pensula Sun-Times,   Before I begin with my argument, I would like to state my credentials, as they will give merit to all that I have to say. I am a professor of psychology at the Teresia Academy of Higher Learning. In my time I have studied many phenomena of the mind, from ordinary disorders to even stranger mental behaviors. My expertise in this field leads me to believe that this “magic” which everyone argues over is merely an exercise in sensationalism. I can assure you that there is nothing at all mystical about mages and their spells. The existence of some sort of ethereal energy is mere poppycock, a travesty to logic. How, you may ask, am I so sure of these claims? In my research, I have found a most fascinating behavior in the human mind. After exposure to certain stimuli, both chemical and electrical, the mind can become capable of altering the world around it. These stimuli “unlock”, so to speak, a dormant part of the brain that allows the patient to accomplish many feats that seem “magical” in nature, giving new meaning to the phrase “Mind over matter”. Therefore, the nature of this alleged “magic” starts to become clearer. These mages, mystical as they seem, are actually the result of an accident of birth which has opened up a part of their brain that lies dormant in the rest of us. So, as you can see, there is nothing so “special” about them. My research at the Teresia Academy is presently working on fine tuning my “unlocking” procedure, which I believe should be available to the public in a matter of years. I hope this has dispelled any and all of the superstitious nonsense about “magic”.   Dr. Arthur Wellington Professor of Psychology at the Teresia Academy      To Whom It May Concern,   I write to your fine paper in defense of my profession; nay, my art. I am a professor of Divination at the Pensula City School of Magic. I realize that most of the readers have already formulated their opinions so steadfast that they will not sway. To those, my words are nothing more than leaves in a hurricane. I write this modest essay for those precious few readers who are willing to listen, to learn, and to formulate their own opinions. All others need not read further. Over the last few decades, magic has been slandered and defaced. It has been called an outdated institution, an inferior, obsolete school of thought. It has been labeled as frivolous, a triviality. Some have even gone so far as to say that magic is tyrannical, an institution that is building up power so that it can attempt to dominate the world. I assure the readers, using magic does not make one want to take over the world. Magic is merely being used as a scapegoat for a deeper sociological problem. In the future, as my way of living becomes marginalized, I can foresee scientists becoming the next scapegoat. But I have digressed. My reason for writing was to give an adequate, although very layman, definition of what magic is. Many scientists have tried to define magic as a part of the physical world, and they have always failed. That is because magic itself is not a part of this world. It is an unseen, unidentifiable force from another plane of existence. We mages have been born with the innate ability to channel this force into our own world and to manipulate it to cast spells. Magic is not something that can be quantified, calculated, or studied. It just is, and this infuriates scientists. Therefore, they forget about magic entirely, concentrating on the effects of magic, the spells. They formulate excuses, loosely based on supposed experiments, for how these spells manifest themselves. However, in ignoring magic itself, they miss the point entirely. I would like to end this letter with one final disclaimer. I am not a man who is afraid of progress. On the contrary, I look upon the creations of science and technology, and I marvel at them. I merely wish that there be prudence. Scientists should not libel or discredit the magical institution for merely having a different school of thought. We are working towards the same goals, the advancement of both our minds and our society. Thank you.   Tobias Marl				(The Editor would like to note that the next letter came without a return address and was scrawled haphazardly on several napkins. Its inclusion into this piece was a matter of debate, but was finally resolved when it was observed that the author had a most unusual and unique perspective.)     Dear Pensula Sun-Times,   I have finally found it, the secret that has been plaguing scientists for years. I have discovered what magic is. Or, perhaps I am getting ahead of myself. I haven’t necessarily found out “what” it is, per se, but I am very close. Most importantly, I have found that it is a part of our world, a part of everything. It is a physical substance, or perhaps a part of a physical substance, which is in all matter. But first, I suppose I should divulge some information. I can’t tell too much, as the nature of my research is enough to have me labeled a heretic by scientists and mages alike. Already, I am in constant fear of assassination. The most I can say is that, at one time, I was a professor. However, my interests into fields that were considered “not of the physical world” drove me to my present seclusion. Anyway, back to my research. Magic is a part of the world, in particular, a part of matter. Of this, I am sure. It’s composition and its structure, however, is unknown to me. Still, I am quite sure how magic is used to manifest spells. Magic can be moved, it can be affected, just like matter. When magic is combined together in a specific arrangement, a single spell is manifested. Now, the attentive reader is probably wondering why riding a carriage, or merely walking down the street does not spontaneously create a spell. After all, matter, and undoubtedly magic, is being displaced by these actions. However, the arrangements in which magic must come together are enormously complex and require an amazingly dense concentration in a relatively small location. By simple entropy, spontaneous spell creation proves statistically impossible within the lifespan of the universe. Mages, then, must have some mechanism by which they can draw in magic from their surroundings, as well as a way of affecting its structure and arrangement, in order to cast spells. Unfortunately, due to my seclusion, I have been unable to observe a magic user casting a spell. I have, however, developed a device through which I can adequately affect the magic around me. Results, though, have been mixed. My theory poses an interesting debate: If magic is a part of the physical world, why do mages, who work so intimately with magic, argue that it is a part of another dimension? I have come up with two theories, the latter more probable than the former. Perhaps this behavior manifested itself as a mental self-defense mechanism. Back in the early stages of mental development, though who were magically inclined may have suffered great mental strain because of their abilities. Perhaps the mind dealt with this stress by making the source of these abilities seem ambiguous and distant. However, a great deal of study must be done in order to prove this theory. A simpler idea is that this behavior is deeply rooted in culture. Mages have been taught for centuries that their powers come from another plane. The belief is probably kept alive because of adherence to tradition, as well as a great appreciation and respect for the past, a sentiment that mages are notorious for. Either way, it certainly is food for thought. In closing, I would like to state that I was uncertain as to whether or not I should send this letter to your publication. I am sure that my theories will not be greeted warmly. Also, the threat of attempted assassination from fanatics, should anyone discover my identity, is not something I take lightly. However, the truth must be revealed, no matter what the cost.   Sincerely, R.     The Editor would like to thank everyone who submitted a letter for this week’s editorial. The subject of next week’s editorial shall be: What do you think of "R’s" theory? Does it have any validity?

Chapter Six:

Opposing Forces

Natural and Supernatural Law

Natural Law is the means by which scholars have come to describe the behavior of reality.  They know, for example, that all matter has mass and thus exerts a Gravitational Force on all other matter in the universe.  This is a law of nature, never broken unless it is altered by the presence of a Supernatural Force.  Supernatural Force is a fact of life in Færith’s universe.  It is as real as gravity, electricity, and magnetism.  And, like these other recognized, fundamental forces, it obeys laws that wizards have long understood and employed in their spellcasting.

One of the fundamental precepts of Supernatural Theory states that Supernatural Force, by definition, is incapable of shaping any of the basic features of reality without a focus to direct it.  In other words, all of the planets and stars and galaxies and forces and energies and even living things must have come about through means of Natural Law, because Supernatural Law does not apply to the material universe unless somehow willed or directed to. 

Even priests are bound by Supernatural Law, though they tend to view the world in much simpler terms.  All but the most detached and philosophical of clergy tend to regard Supernatural Force as a gift from God, a tool used by those who are wise enough in His sight.  To a vast majority of priests, trying to explain this in terms of a science is at best folly, and at worst, blasphemy.

But since when has that ever stopped a wizard?
 

Supernatural Forces

Supernatural Force, like any other force, can be described as an energy field that occurs in nature.  This energy doesn’t really do anything, however, unless channeled by intelligent being in one way or another.  Various ways to move a Supernatural Force include spellcraft and psionics but either method draws upon a different sort of energy (mana for magic and chi for psionics) in order to produce an effect.

Though several different energies can be used to produce a Supernatural Force, the result is nevertheless the same.  Therefore, the lines between arcane, divine, and animistic magic, and even psionic power, are characteristically blurry.  Magic and psionics are not different forces in Færith; just two means to the same end.

Magic

The art of spellcraft: bubbling potions, enchanted staffs, and tomes of draconic lore.  Such are the images dreamed up when one imagines the power of the arcane.  Magic, in all of its common forms, is basically understood to be Supernatural Force housed in the spirit of the caster, in one way or another.  The act of casting a spell allows a magician to “gather up” nearby Supernatural Force and work that energy into altering reality, the way a child gathers snow and forms it into a snowball.

Ideally, magic should be able to change the real world however the caster imagines he can do so.  In casting, the magician is basically imagining something new into existence, and then willing it to exist.  The more a spell is supposed to change reality, however, the more difficult it is for the rational mind to believe the effect could ever be real; that’s why it takes a great deal of experience and skill to cast the more powerful enchantments.  Wish is really the ultimate expression of magic, for it allows a magician to alter the world around him in any fashion imaginable; thus, a magician who can wish has gained mastery over his rational mind.

Arcane Magick

Of all the forms of magic, arcane magecraft is undoubtedly the most common.  A magician is one who uses a genius intellect to formulate spells and will them into being.  It takes great intelligence to craft the proper circular logics and unfounded principles necessary to believe something that isn’t, and then make it so; magicians excel at such things.

Animistic Sorcery

Magicians derive their spells from careful study and experimentation, but shamans and spirit-mediums need only barter for them.  Of course, it’s a bit more complicated than that, since the only place a prospective practitioner of sorcery can go to learn spells is the spirit world.  In order to learn magic, a shaman must enter a meditative trance and send out his spirit to bargain with some extraplanar entity.  The shaman then makes a deal with whatever type of entity he contacts.  Good spirits (like celestials) often ask that the shaman complete valorous quests in exchange for magic.  Evil spirits (particularly fiends) will often dole out powerful spells, seemingly for free, and then watch in amusement as the shaman damns his own soul.  Shamans are more likely to attract stronger spirits and get “better deals” if they have the personality to get noticed and get what they want – so most shamans tend to be as charismatic as they are wise.  As to whether the shaman makes his bargains with polite diplomacy or an outright bluff, though… that’s another story.

Divine Theurgy

Theurgies are spells that priests have divined from the holy writings of their various religions.  In Færith, magic is not considered sinful by any religion.  Rather, it is a wondrous gift from on high that may be used as any other tool or weapon: to heal, protect, and defend, or to seize, control, and destroy.  Priests have learned to use magic to the more noble ends.  Their spells are almost universally defensive, capable of warding off evil outsiders, destroying foul undead, and curing all manner of wounds, diseases, and curses.  Priests in Færith are well aware that their spells are only that – spells that they have developed through study – and they hold no illusions that they are receiving miracles straight from God (the exception being spells like miracle, naturally).  Instead, they look upon theurgical magic the same way they look upon science: as a scholarly pursuit with the potential to do much good in the right hands.  Even though priestly magic is just as worldly and studious as arcane magic, priests have an easier time collecting complete spellbooks.  Since the various churches of Lethandria train the priests and keep all the common theurgical spells collected in the monasteries and seminaries of the continent, a priest is easily able to learn all the spells of a given spell level as soon as he can cast them.

Spellbooks: Priests keep spellbooks as magicians do, but they need not seek out other scrolls or spellbooks to fill them.  A priest's spellbook contains all the common priest spells that exist, plus any that the priest researches for himself.

Psionics

Psychic power is a supernatural effect that comes from the very mind and soul of an intelligent, living being.  Supernatural Force can be created by the mana that flows from the very planet and powers spells; or by chi, energy which is produced by all life and can be tapped when body and mind are in balance.  Psionics are fueled by chi, which can be shaped by the intellect through strict meditation and control, intuitive understanding of one’s own soul, or by cutting loose sheer emotion and releasing a cascade of latent power.  Psionicists are able to use their minds touch that reserve of latent chi that rests hidden within the body – whether they were born with the talent, or discover later it through arduous, introspective soul-searching.

Power Acquisition: Psionicists discover their latent powers within, but they may also draw new powers out of power stones or the minds of other psionicists.  A psychic begins with 3 + his Intelligence modifier in psionic powers and discovers 2 new powers (of any level he is able to manifest) at each level thereafter.  To draw a power from an outside source is a more complex process, similar to an arcane spellcaster scribing a spell from a scroll into a spellbook.

The psychic must first make psionic contact with the source of the power, which requires a full round of physical contact and a Psicraft check vs. DC 15 + the highest level power contained in the power stone or the other psychic’s repertoire.  A psychic can only make contact with another psychic who is willing, or unconscious.  Once mental contact is achieved, the psychic becomes aware of all the powers stored in the stone or all the powers the other character knows, up to the level he is able to manifest. 

Next, the psychic must make a Psicraft check vs. DC 15 + the power’s level to see if he understands the power.  If the power belongs to a discipline that the psychic does not have access to, this check automatically fails.  If the check fails, the psychic cannot understand, manifest, or learn the power, even from a different source, until gaining a rank in Psicraft.  If the psychic does understand the power, he can attempt to manifest it normally on his next turn, or he may attempt to permanently commit it to his own repertoire. 

This process requires 8 hours of uninterrupted meditation.  The psychic does not need to keep in contact with the power stone or other character, but he may not manifest any other psionic power while meditating, or else the process fails and may not be attempted again until a rank in Psicraft is gained. 

Unique Powers per Day: The psychic does not prepare his powers ahead of time, but he may still only manifest a limited number of powers in a given day (see Chapter 3).  For example, a 3^rd level psychic has unique power limits of 3/2/1.  This means that even if he knows five 1^st-level powers, he may only manifest three of those 1^st-level powers in one day.  The powers he can use need not be chosen ahead of time, and he can continue to manifest them as long as he has power points, but after manifesting his limit in distinct powers, he would not be able to manifest a fourth, different 1^st-level power until he rested for eight hours.

Minor Magic-Users

The bard, knight, mystic, ninja, and ranger are all able to use a limited selection of supernatural FX.  Bards and ninjas cast arcane spells.  Knights cast divine theurgies in the same manner as priests, while rangers use the animistic sorceries of shamans.  Mystics use psionic powers.

Bards

• Starting Spells: A 1^st-level bard acquires a spellbook containing 1d6 + Int mod cantrips and 1d4 1^st-level spells.

• Spell Acquisition:  Bards receive 2 free spells at each level up.  Otherwise, bards must acquire new spells the same way magicians do.

• Spell Preparation: Bards prepare their spells from their spellbook, just like magicians.

Knights

• Spell Acquisition: A 2^nd-level knight gains a spellbook containing all of the 1^st-level paladin spells.  Like priests, a knight's spellbook already contains all the knight spells commonly known.  Thus, a knight may always prepare any spell on the paladin spell list.

• Spell Preparation: Knights must have their spellbook to prepare spells.

Mystics

• Power Acquisition: Mystics acquire their powers the same way psychics do, starting with 1d4 + key ability mod in free 1^st-level powers, discovering 2 free powers at each level, and drawing new powers out of power stones or other psionic characters by making the needed Psicraft checks.

• Unique Powers per Day:  The mystic does not prepare his powers ahead of time, but he may still only manifest a limited number of unique powers each day at each power level (see the mystic class in Chapter 4). 

Ninjas

• Spell Acquisition:  A 2^nd-level ninja gains a spellbook containing 1d4 1^st-level assassin spells.  Ninjas receive 1 free spell at each level up.  Otherwise, ninjas must acquire new spells the same way magicians do.

• Spell Preparation: Ninjas prepare their spells from their spellbook, just like magicians.

Rangers

• Spell Acquisition: A 2^nd-level ranger gains the ability to contact the spirit world and retrieve spells, just like a shaman.  The ranger may retrieve any spell on the ranger spell list.

• Spell Preparation: Rangers do not need a spellbook to prepare common ranger spells, but any spells that they research for themselves require a spellbook for preparation.

Ninjas, bards, and shamans ignore the first 20% of armor spell failure due to medium and heavy armors.  Priests and rangers ignore the first 30% of armor spell failure due to heavy armors.

Magic Points

Magic points make up the heart of the Relative Entropy campaign’s magic system. 

The Core Mechanic

All spellcasters both prepare their spells and cast them spontaneously.  A set number of spells are prepared at each level using spell slots which are based on class level and fixed in number.  Spells may then be cast using magic points, which are based on both class level and key ability score.

Spells Known

Magicians keep spellbooks which they must fill with spells learned from studious research or the scrolls and spellbooks of other mages.  Priests keep spellbooks as well, but their books are automatically filled with all priest spells.  Shamans have access to all shaman spells via contact with the spirit world.

Spells Prepared

All spellcasters prepare a set number of spells ahead of time, choosing from their broader list of spells known which ones they’d like to make available for casting.  A spellcaster’s array of prepared spells is given by his spell progression, but this number is fixed at each level – a character does not prepare additional spells for a high ability score.  Specialist mages, shamans, and priests are all able to prepare a single bonus spell at each level (from a specialty school or a domain).  Normally, a spellcaster may not change his or her prepared spells without first resting for eight hours, but priests, shamans, and magicians with the Signature Spell feat are able to spontaneously swap a prepared spell for another spell (cure spells for priests, summon nature's ally spells for shamans, and any chosen Signature Spells for magicians).  Once this swap has been made, it may not be changed back until the character is able to rest and prepare spells again.

Magic Points

A character casts a spell by expending the appropriate amount of magic points.  A spellcaster's total MP are equal to the base MP from class level plus bonus MP from a high ability score.  Bonus MP are equal to your (key ability modifier × class level × one-half). 

Multiclassed spellcasters may only pool their magic points from different classes if the two classes cast the same type of spells.  Thus, priests and knights can combine their total MP, as can shamans and rangers, and magicians with bards and ninjas.  (At most, a character can have three separate MP pools, one each for arcane magicks, divine theurgies, and animistic sorceries).

0-level spells normally cost 0 MP.  A spellcaster can cast his 0-level spells a number of times per day equal to 3 + one-half his class level.  After reaching this limit, 0-level spells cost 1 MP.

Most spells use the MP cost given on the chart, but for spells that deal so many dice of damage per caster level, you have to add 1 MP for each additional caster level above the minimum, up to the maximum allowed by your level.  A 1 MP magic missile will always fire only one missile, and a 5 MP fireball will always deal 5d6 damage, no matter what your actual caster level is, but a 9^th level mage can fire five magic missiles or shoot a 9d6 fireball for 9 MP.

Metamagic

Metamagic is applied when you cast a spell, not when you prepare it.  Metamagic feats increase the MP cost of a spell by 2 for each added spell level (note, though that these additional MP do not increase the damage dice of a scaling spell).  You cannot use metamagic to raise a spell’s effective level above what you could normally cast, so a 10^th-level magician is still only able to Quicken cantrips and 1^st-level spells.  Due to the added flexibility of the MP system, each metamagic feat may only be used thrice per day, applying its effects on the fly.  You may, however, take a metamagic feat more than once, gaining an additional three daily uses of the feat each time you take it.

Epic Levels

Relative Entropy’s rules for magic and psionics require special attention directed at epic levels.

Spellcasters

Characters do not increase their base MP after reaching 20^th level in a class, but they continue to increase their bonus MP by raising their class level and key ability score.  Because metamagic no longer requires use of a higher-level spell slot, there’s no such thing as a spell slot above 9^th level; so, the Improved Spell Capacity feat merely grants additional 9^th-level spell slots (or 6^th-level for bards, or 4^th-level for ninjas, knights, and rangers), which let a character prepare a spell of any level he knows.  The first time a magician, priest, or shaman takes Improved Spell Capacity, that character also gains 19 MP; the second time, he gains 21 MP; the third time, 23 MP; and so on.  (For a bard, this would be 13 MP the first time, 15 MP the second time, and so on.  For knights, rangers, and ninjas, it starts at 9 MP, then 11 MP, etc.)

A character is able to apply metamagic as if his spells prepared had continued to go up by one spell level at every odd spellcaster level: a 19^th level magician is treated as “able to cast 10^th-level spells” with regard to metamagic, and a 21^st-level magician is treated as “able to cast 11^th-level spells.”

Epic spells are prepared as normal, based on the number of ranks a character has in the appropriate Knowledge category (supernatural sciences for magicians, theology & philosophy for priests, or natural sciences for shamans).  Once prepared, an epic spell is cast by spending MP equal to its Spellcraft DC.  Hellball, for example, is a DC 90 epic spell, so it costs 90 MP to cast – but a character can continue to cast his prepared epic spells so long as he has sufficient MP.

Psionicists

A psionic character’s base PP do not increase after 20^th level, but bonus PP continue to accrue for both class level and high Intelligence.  Otherwise, epic psionics work much like in the core rules.  Each time a psychic takes Improved Manifestation, he also gains an additional 9^th-level unique power per day (6^th-level for a mystic; the mystic also gains only 13 PP for taking Improved Manifestation, not 19).

An epic psychic is able to manifest one unique epic psionic power in a day for every 10 ranks in Knowledge (supernatural sciences).  The PP cost to manifest each power is equal to its Psicraft DC.

Craft Points
Craft points are designed to simplify the crafting process and replace the "downtime" that often breaks up the action of the game while characters pause to take a few weeks off adventuring in order to build something. It unifies the rules for crafting mundane, magical, and high-tech items, while also replicating a character's ability to come up with just the thing he needs for a specific task in the nick of time. It glosses over the realities of such work-tool kits, alchemical reagents, laboratories, long hours of toil, and the like-to keep the game moving along at an exciting pace. After all, building things is a central feature of the Relative Entropy setting, and with half the party tinkering on half a dozen inventions at any given time, a rule mechanic like this becomes necessary to keep the game moving.

To craft an item without spending the normal labor time, a character with the appropriate item creation feat (such as Brew Potion or Craft Staff; see below) can pay 1/100th the item's base price (in guilders) in craft points (minimum 1 point).  (1/100th the item's base price in guilders is the same as 1/10th its base price in gold pieces).  He must also pay material costs equal to one-half the item's base price (this replaces the normal material cost for crafting an item). For a magical or technological item, the character must also pay the normal experience point cost for crafting the item. Once the character declares that he is spending these craft points and guilders (and experience points, for a magic or mastercraft item), the item is automatically completed one day later (typically the next morning).

Though this makes it appear as if the item was created "instantly," the assumption is that the character has actually been working on it for a while, but only now got around to finishing it. For instance, the party scientist might have been tinkering with the soldier's sword for some time, but only now has finished improving its enhancement bonus. The system simply assumes that characters are always working on various projects in their spare time, whether between forays into the dungeon, while on the road, or even while gathered around the campfire after battling goblins in enemy territory. Thus, when the time comes, they simply spend the requisite cash and craft points, and the item is "finished" one day later.

To spend craft points toward the creation of a or magic item, you must have the requisite item creation feat or assist someone who does; likewise, to make a technological item, you must be a scientist of the appropriate level, or assist one who is (see Assisting, below). Crafting mundane armor and weapons or simple items and devices like tools, chests, saddles, and the like doesn't require a Craft feat. Anyone who helps with the creation of such an item can contribute craft points at the normal rate.

For common items, you must make a successful Craft check to complete the item. For a masterwork item, two separate checks have to be rolled, one for the item and one for its masterwork component. A failed check means you waste one-half of the money and craft points required for the item, but you may try again as soon as the next day if you still have enough guilders and craft points to complete the item. Magic items and technological inventions require no skill check to complete.

Masterwork items require separate Craft checks for each component involved.  You must succeed at all the requisite checks before the item is considered complete, but any or all of the checks may be attempted at the same time.  You only need to wait a day to retry a failed check.

You can reduce the amount of craft points required by increasing the amount of time you spend working on the item. For nonmagical items, reduce the craft point cost by 10 points for every day of work you contribute to the item's creation (see the Craft skill). For magical items and technological inventions, each 8-hour day spent working on the item reduces the craft point cost by 100.

Example One
A masterwork suit of full plate armor has a market price of 16,500 silver guilders (15,000ƒ for the armor, plus 1,500ƒ for the masterwork component).  A character with the Craft (mechanical) skill pays one-half of this price (8,250ƒ) and spends 165 craft points to complete it one day later with two successful Craft checks, DC 18 for the armor and DC 20 for "masterworking" it. (If both checks failed at this point, it would cost the character 4,125ƒ and 82 craft points.).  The character could also take five days to work on the armor, and then spend only 115 craft points.

Example Two
A +2 longsword has a base price of 8,000 gold pieces (not including the material cost of the masterwork longsword itself). Assuming you had the Craft Magic Arms and Armor feat (and didn't have to make the masterwork longsword from scratch), you could either spend 8 days of time to craft the item, or you could spend 800 craft points to finish it "instantly." (In either case, you have to spend 4,000 gd in addition to the time or craft points.) If you wanted, you could save 200 craft points by spending two 8-hour days working on the item.

Assisting
In addition to the primary crafter, who must have the appropriate Craft feat (if one is required) and be trained in the appropriate Craft skill (if the skill is trained-only), up to three assistants can contribute craft points to the creation of the item.

Assistants who have the appropriate Craft feat and/or skill ranks contribute craft points at full normal value. For untrained assistants (those who don't have the appropriate Craft feat or skill ranks), each craft point contributed counts as 1/2 a point of assistance.

The primary creator must contribute at least half of the craft points required to create an item.

It doesn't matter who contributes the money that goes toward creating the item. Only the primary creator can contribute experience points toward the creation of a magical or technological item.

Gaining Craft Points
A 1st-level character has 100 craft points. With each class level gained, he gains a number of craft points equal to his new level × 100. A 2nd-level character can have as many as 300 craft points, and so forth, all the way up to a 20th-level character, who would have a total of 21,000 craft points (assuming he never spent any).

Creatures with Intelligence of 3 or higher have craft points as a character whose level equals their class levels + Hit Dice. A troll (6 HD), for instance, has the craft points of a 6th-level character. If that troll gained a class level, it would gain an additional 700 craft points. Of course, not all creatures can use their craft points -- despite being at least reasonably intelligent, a griffon or pegasus is unlikely to be in a position to craft an item or assist another character in crafting an item. The DM must use his best judgment when determining whether a creature can use its craft points.

Creatures with Intelligence of 2 or lower (or without an Intelligence score) never gain craft points.

Familiars or special mounts never gain craft points, regardless of their intelligence or Hit Dice.

Item Creation Feats
Each time you gain an item creation feat, you gain additional craft points as noted on Table 6-2: Item Creation Feats. You don't have to spend these craft points on items appropriate to the feat -- you can spend them on any item. For example, Craft Wand grants a bonus of 2,500 craft points, which you can use to craft weapons, armor, potions, or any other item.

Scientists also gain bonus craft points every time they gain access to a new level of scientific discoveries.  The craft points earned are equal to the discovery level × 1,000 craft points.

High Technology Reigns
Supernatural Law is not the only way for the keen mind to adapt to the dangerous world of professional adventure!  Research scientists everywhere are in dire need of field technologists who can test and apply the theories of Natural Law against the rigors of real life!  Arrayed in the latest metallurgical advancements and equipped with the finest devices and elixirs modern science has to offer, a veritable legion of graduates from the universities and technical institutes from all over Lethandria have joined the ranks of the traditional warriors and magicians to become the adventurers of today, and the heroes of tomorrow!
 

Technological Inventions

Any character can use technology to some extent -- the varied Craft skills are class skills for just about everybody, and anyone who wants to use Craft (chemical) to make a bomb or some acid or Craft (mechanical) to make a gun, a light bulb, or a steam engine can go right ahead.  Only scientists, though, can make the truly astounding machines that are rapidly transforming the face of the world -- the mechanized weapons, steam-powered armors, airships, advanced explosives and gadgets, and all manner of devices that rely on science and nature rather than magic and the supernatural. 

There are eight "schools" of technology that scientists are specially able to work with: aircraft, armaments, artillery, automata, elixirs, gadgets, grenades, and surface vehicles.   Each of these items has its own rules for creation and use, but all of them are based upon scientific discoveries that a scientist must have knowledge of before attempting to craft the item.

Scientific Discoveries

Whether they come in the form of detailed blueprints and schematics or chalkboard after chalkboard of advanced chemical formulas or physics equations, discoveries are the underlying principles behind a scientist's inventions.  Consequentially, the scientist must know the discovery to craft the invention.  Scientists receive a number of free discoveries at the beginning of the game and as they level up, but most of the time, scientists will be performing their own research, experimenting in the laboratory and rummaging through the academic journals of their peers.  Scientists need not roll any checks or pay out any cash for the free discoveries that come with leveling, but when the scientist wants to add additional discoveries to his portfolio, he must make a Research check vs. DC 15 + the discovery level and pay 1,000ƒ per discovery level to represent materials expended during experiments (a 0-level finding counts as half a discovery level and costs 500ƒ to learn).  If he fails the Research check, the scientist's experiments have failed or produced misleading results, and so he may not try to understand the discovery again until he has gained another rank in Research.

The list of scientific discoveries is given in the next chapter, Summa Technologica.

Technology Basics
As mentioned above, technological items are divided into categories, depending on what they do and how they are made and used.  Some items, it's also worth noting, have special quirks, like a tendency to malfunction or a clockwork brain that bestows artificial intelligence.  Finally, a few technological items are so rare and bizarre that they defy categorization and can only be termed the creations of "mad science".  Creations of mad science are usually divided into "minor" (difficult to create but not exactly one-of-a-kind, like a stitched-together corpse animated with electricity) and "major" (one of a kind and extremely powerful, like a weather-manipulating doomsday device).

Armaments: Technological weapons and armor usually grant bonuses to AC and DR or attack and damage, along with many other beneficial abilities.  Cartridge-loading and automatic firearms also fall into this category.

Elixirs & Reagents: Elixirs are potent pharmaceutical drugs that, when ingested, do something to the drinker.  Reagents are chemicals that are applied externally and have some effect on whatever they're placed on.

Grenades: Better termed "grenade-like inventions", this category covers any device that can be used once, and then destroys itself.  Explosives are the most common example, but others are possible.

Gadgets: Gadgets are the mainstay of the scientist, arguably the most potent devices in any technologist's arsenal.  A gadget is any device that can do something useful repeatedly.  Gadgets can typically be used 50 times before they wear out, short-circuit, run down, or become otherwise in need of repairs and refueling.

Automata: Mechanical constructs, automata can take any number of shapes, though the most common is that of a humanoid.  Most automata have a modicum of intelligence, but relatively few are truly sentient.

Surface Vehicles: Automobiles, locomotives, and ships are all examples of surface vehicles -- any transportation device that operates in two dimensions.

Aircraft: Airships and airplanes are the basic examples of aircraft, but this category actually covers any vehicle that travels in three dimensions (or more), including submarines, spacecraft, and ships built for planar travel.

Technological Invention Descriptions
Each general category of invention gets an overall description, followed by descriptions of specific details to consider when creating each item.

Crafter Level: This is the scientist level at which the item was made, similar to the caster level for a magic item.  Scientists can create items at a crafter level as high as their current level, or they may voluntarily lower their crafter level and make a weaker item to lower the cost of the item.  The scientist must be careful about lowering the crafter level below the usual minimum for the scientist class, though, because exceptionally weak items may malfunction -- there's always a price to pay for shoddy craftsmanship. 

Take, for example, an 8th-level scientist trying to work the firebomb discovery into a gadget... a firebomb launcher.  Firebomb is a 3rd-level discovery, which, for scientists, carries with it a minimum crafter level of 6th (because scientists gain access to 3rd-level discovers at 6th level).  The scientist could decided to make his firebomb launcher at CL 8, so that it tosses firebombs that deal 8d6 damage, or he could save some dough by making it at CL 6, a launcher that throws 6d6-damage firebombs.  However, if the scientist is really strapped for cash and doesn't mind cutting some corners, he can make the gadget at an even weaker CL -- but for every level below the minimum, there's a 5% chance that the item won't function properly when used, and a 1% chance that it will just explode! 

If the scientist wanted to make a CL 5 firebomb launcher, for example, he could do it, but it would have a malfunction threshold of 5%(1%).  This means that every time the device is used, the wielder must roll d%, and on a roll of 5 or lower, the item simply doesn't work -- nothing happens.  On a roll of 1, though, the item explodes with the force of a hand grenade, dealing 4d6 damage (Reflex DC 15 for half) to its wielder and anyone within 20 feet!  If the scientist made his firebomb launcher at CL 1, the item's malfunction threshold would be much higher -- 25%(5%). 

Prerequisites: These are the discoveries required to craft the item.  There may be other miscellaneous requirements, such as feats or skill ranks, depending on the invention.

Market Price: This is how much it would cost to buy the item on the market.  Market prices will be listed dually in trade currency (silver guilders) and hard currency (gold pieces), since most people in the world, player characters included, carry trade currency for normal transactions; but technological items are very expensive and usually easier to work with if the price is in gold.

Cost to Create: As described under the scientist class, the cost to create an item generally includes cash equal to half the base price (for raw materials), experience points equal to 1/25th the base price in gold (representing the 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration that account for success -- in other words, the blood, sweat, & tears that go into an inventor's creations), and craft points equal to 1/10th the item's base price in gold (which abstractly represent time spent building the item).  Remember, you can save 100 craft points for each additional full day of work you devote to constructing the invention. 

a scientist may also decide to take a riskier path and gamble on his crafting skills in order to save some EXPs.  To do this, the scientist must roll a Craft check of the appropriate type against a DC of 15 + the discovery level.  If the check fails by less than 5, there is no effect, good or bad, and the item is completed normally.  If the check fails by 5 or more, the item is not completed, and half of the raw materials, EXPs, and CPs spent on the item are lost.  If the check succeeds, though, the EXP cost for creating the item has been reduced by a percentage equal to the check result (see below).

Example: A 4th-level scientist decides to build a moderate medkit, a gadget based on a 2nd-level discovery.  The base price of the gadget is 750 × 2 × 4 gd, or 6,000 gd.  This price is between 2,000 and 20,000 gd, so the EXP multiplier (according to the table below) is ×2.  The scientist must thus pay 3,000 gd for raw materials, 600 craft points (minus 100 CPs for each day spent working on the item), and 480 experience points (6,000, divided by 25, multiplied by 2).  The scientist may roll a Craft check against DC 17 to attempt to save some EXPs.  These are the possible outcomes:

• If he rolls between 11 and 16, nothing happens, and the item is completed one day after the gold, experience, and craft points are spent, exactly as if he had never opted to roll the Craft check. 

• If he rolls 10 or lower, half of the raw materials are ruined, and the item is not finished.  The scientist must now spend another 1,500 gold pieces, 300 craft points, and 240 experience points in order to finish the item.

• If he rolls 17 or higher, he deducts a percentage from of the EXP cost equal to the check result.  A roll of 20, for example, would reduce the item's EXP cost by 20%, from 480 to 384 EXPs.

Note: Since the risks that come with the Craft check attempt greatly outweigh the potential benefits, it's not at all overpowering to allow spellcasters and psionicists to attempt the same thing when creating supernatural items, instead using a Spellcraft or Psicraft check against a DC of 15 + the highest spell level in the magic item's prerequisites.

Weight: This entry is only given for gadgets.  A gadget is typically pretty bulky, and weighs 10 lbs. per discovery level.

Creating Technological Inventions
To create inventions, scientists use their special skills. They invest time, money, and their own personal energy (in the form of experience points) in an invention’s creation.

Note that all inventions have prerequisites in their descriptions. These prerequisites must be met for the item to be created. Most of the time, they take the form of discoveries that must be known by the invention’s creator (although this may be circumvented with the Improvise Invention feat).

While invention crafting costs are handled in detail below, note that normally the two primary factors are the crafter level of the creator and the level of the discovery worked into the invention. A technologist can create an item at a lower crafter level than his own, but as described above, there are problems if the item is created at a level lower than that of the minimum needed to know the discovery.  Using invention feats, a scientist can also modify the basic nature of his inventions.

Material supplies for items are always half of the base price in gd, EXPs equal to 1/25th the base price in gd, and CPs equal to 1/10th the base price in gd.  For many items, the market price equals the base price.

Remember, since this game uses level-independent EXP-awards, you have to multiply the EXP cost for very expensive items, since characters at high levels earn more experience points than normal, and these EXPs are worth less.

Armor, weapons, and items with a value independent of their technologically enhanced properties add their item cost to the market price.  The item cost does not influence the base price (which determines the cost of raw materials, craft points, and the experience point cost), but it does increase the final market price.

In addition, some inventions involve additional, costly internal components (such as steam engines or clockwork brains). For these items, the market price equals the base price plus an extra price for the component costs.  The cost to create these items is the raw materials, craft points, and EXP cost (determined by the base price) plus the costs for the components.  Descriptions of these items include an entry that gives the total cost of creating the item.

The creator also needs a fairly quiet, comfortable, and well-lit laboratory in which to work. Any place suitable for learning discoveries is suitable for making inventions.   The character must spend the cash, craft points, and experience at the beginning of the construction process.

The secrets of creating mad science inventions are generally beyond the abilities of rational, sane scientists.

• Armaments
• Elixirs & Reagents
• Grenades
• Gadgets
• Automata
• Artillery
• Surface Vehicles
• Aircraft
• Mad Science & Ancient Artifacts

Back to Chapter V
Main Contents
Forward to Chapter VII