Ice spells (part two) Shaping and blocking with ice

Following again the spells relating to ice and snow, and all the other frosty effects from a while ago (the Wall from GoT, a series on Frozen (posts 2, 3, 4), and spells for cold climates). It seemed that my Ice Magus for Ars Magica was missing a basic spell to drop a huge block of ice in place, encase something in ice, and a way to shape it easily; sonand these spell effects add this capacity.

The intent is to create a barrier of ice for defence or strategic purposes, which might also be used to crush opponents.

Obstructive Ice Block

Creo Aquam 30, R: Voice, D: Moon, T: Individual

This spell creates a large block of ice in a simple shape (walls, rings, arcs) and orientation chosen by the caster within range, up to 5600 cubic feet of ice; akin to a wall roughly 6 feet tall, 3 feet thick, and 300 feet long (roughly 90 yards); for the duration. A Finesse check is required for particularly fine placement or targeting specif people.

(Base 3, +1 simple shapes, +2 Voice, +3 Moon, +1 Size)

Then a spell similar to The Mystical Carpenter (ReTe25, Cov p.51) this effect is for carving and shaping ice to a desired shape using Rego magic. Combining that with a previous spell which makes the ice as strong as metal might grant some wider applications.

The Mystical Ice Carver

Rego Aquam 25, R: Touch, D: Momentary, T: Part

The targeted ice is shaped as if worked upon as an ice carving. The spell affects a large volume, or even a part of huge ice formations, up to 5600 cubic feet.

While the spell is intended to be used to carve specific useful shapes in the ice it is also possible to carve out space within the ice as a cavity or to destabilise an area of ice. A Perception + Finesse check is required to confirm the quality of the work, with an initial ease factor of 6 for simple shapes.

(Base 5, +1 Touch, +1 Part, +1 flexibility, +1 size)

A memory from a previous edition, is the effect to totally envelop the target in conjured ice. It has since also been made into a Magic the Gathering card, which is well, nice?

Encase in Ice

Creo Aquam 20, R: Voice, D: Sun, T: Indivdiual

The target is surrounded in ice, potentially encasing the target. Enveloped targets may attempt to break free, see Shackles of Frozen Ice (ReAq20, HoH:S p.35). If the target is too large the ice will cover an area up to 560 cubic feet.

(Base 3, +2 Voice, +2 Sun, +1 flexibility in shape)

Find these and many more new spells for Ars Magica in my grimoire.

Ice spells (part one) Transform ice

This quick post follows Ars Magica spells for the creation of The Wall from Game of Thrones, a series based on Frozen (posts 2, 3, 4), and a few spells for cold climates. These spells are more like the tools a wizard could have, rather than theatrical effects based upon TV and film.

Vacillate Between Earth and Ice

Muto Terram / Aquam 25, R: Voice, D: Diameter, T: Part

The Terram based material affected is briefly transformed into ice. The maximum target size is determined by material type, from ten cubic paces for earth, a cubic pace for stone, and a cubic foot for metals. If the selected material is larger than these limits, then only the smaller area is transformed.

(Base 3 to change earth to ice, +2 to effect metal, +2 Voice, +1 Diameter, +1 Part)

Transmute into Ice

Muto Terram / Aquam 15, R: Touch, D: Sun, T: Individual

The targeted object is transformed into ice, affecting up to a cubic foot of material. Requisites are required when cast for any non-terram components.

(Base 3, +1 for general approach, +1 Touch, +2 Sun)

Subsume the Frigid Beast

Rego Aquam 25, R: Sight, D: Concentration, T: Part

This spell alters the ice within the target area so that it is transformed into steam. Anything within the target area will fall as they lack support, and items resting upon these surfaces will be quickly encased when the spell is ended.

If the spell is targeted beneath a specific spot, such as beneath a particular creature a targeting roll is required. The effect is designed to affect a bowl shaped area, with a volume up to 5600 cubic feet, although the maximum volume is not required.

(Base 3, +3 Sight, +1 Conc, +1 Part, +1 size)

Object of Unbreakable Ice

Muto Aquam / Terram 15, R: Touch, D: Sun, T: Individual

The ice object touched is made very strong and non-brittle, gaining resistance to shattering and the resilience of stone. The object may be as large as a small pond.

(Base 4 for highly unnatural substance,+1 touch, +2 sun)

This might have been even lower level except using Concentration allows for the ice material to be moved as steam or have the spell end after only a moment and the ice returns.

Many hundred more new spells for Ars Magica are in the Grimoire.

Spells to Control Animals

The core spell String of the Unwilling Marionette allows for controlling human targets and there is no core spell to do the same to animals. In the Rego Animal guidelines the level 5 will paralyze an animal, 10 makes an animal passive, and 15 will allow commands to be issues and followed. Similar but not the same. Although it is not RAW I think a level 10 base is reasonable to control the major movements of an animal.

Leash for the Unwilling Puppet

Rego Animal 30, R: Voice, D: Concentration, T: Individual

The caster concentrates to control the movements of the target animal, including walking, running, or moving in place. If the animal tries to resist the movements appear jerky. This spell affects creatures up to size +4.

(Base 10, +2 Voice, +1 Concentration, +1 increase target size)

Leash for the Unwilling Herd

Rego Animal 40, R: Voice, D: Concentration, T: Group

The caster concentrates to control the movements of a group on animals, who must all be controlled in the same way. Movement includes walking, running, or moving in place. If the animals try to resist the movements appear jerky. This spell affects creatures up to size +4.

(Base 10, +2 Voice, +1 Concentration, +2 Group, +1 increase target size)

This and many other new spells for Ars Magica can be found here.

Milestone 600+ New spells for Ars Magica

From June 23 to August 5 to post another 50 spells, reaching 600 in total, and not just spells – this past three month over a dozen new magical items were detailed, and some observations on Ars, and a few new rules and guidelines too.

What’s in store for the spell list? Well, many more ice spells, more lost spells revised from older editions, notes on improving labs, more magical items, and a discussion of a few spell guidelines which have angles to discover.

I think I have around 30 spells ready to go, and far too many half written blog posts to scratch away at. Happy Ars Magica gaming folks.

Three Spells for Creating Firewood

Here are some simple spells to create cut timber, as a replacement for gathered firewood. Simple effects like this might form part of a justification for reduced covenant costs.

Two of the spells are written with a moon duration so the wood is available for a fair period of time. The spell with Sun duration may coincidentally make leaving fires overnight very safe as the fuel disappears at dusk or dawn.

Fuel for the Tired Travellers 

Creo Herbam / Perdo 5, R: Touch, D: Sun, T: Individual

This spell creates a small stack of cut timber, shaped to the casters desire. The stack is equivalent to wood from one cubic pace of wood.

(Base 2, +1 Touch, +2 Sun, +0 Perdo requisite)

Fuel for the Starving Stove

Creo Herbam / Perdo 10, R: Touch, D: Moon, T: Individual

This spell creates a small stack of cut timber, shaped to the casters desire. The stack is equivalent to wood from one cubic pace of wood.

(Base 2, +1 Touch, +3 Moon, +0 Perdo requisite)

Fuel for the Hungry Hearths

Creo Herbam / Perdo 20, R: Touch, D: Moon, T: Group

This spell creates a large stack of cut timber, shaped to the casters desire. The stack is equivalent to wood from ten cubic paces of wood.

(Base 2, +1 Touch, +3 Moon, +2 Group, +0 Perdo requisite)

Fire’s Perfect Fuel

Perdo Aquam / Herbam 15, R: Touch, D: Momentary, T: Group

This spell dries and ages the targeted wood, so it is very suitable for burning. The group is equivalent to wood from ten cubic paces of wood.

(Base 4, +1 Touch, +2 Group, +0 Herbam requisite)

These and many other spells are on the New Ars Magica Spells page.

More simple enchanted devices, which Redcaps might use

A quick post to share some more magical devices written up for a forum game a while ago.

Amulet of the Sleeping Werewolf – A solidly built bronze amulet shaped like a stylized moon setting over water, held on a leather strap. Intended as a broadly applicable defensive device.

(Call to Slumber for Men and Beasts (ReMeAn30), base effect as per Call to Slumber, modified to include animals: ReMeAn10, +10 for Unlimited uses, +10 for Penetration of +20).

The Traveler’s Sanctuary
A bronze belt buckle, which is touched at the same time as touching the target’s forehead to ward the target against wind and rain, all but the worst natural weather. The affected target may still have trouble seeing through squalls and strong wind, but their own person is protected. [Cost: 8 BPs].
Rego Auram / Aquam 15.

(Base 4 to protect from the wind and rain, +1 Touch, +2 Sun), +5 24 uses per day.

Blessed Ring of Warmth
A plain bronze ring with a small flame etched into the surface, as Creo Ignem 5, R: Touch, D: Sun, T:Individual = final level 10. The object touched becomes comfortably warm. A simple cantrip for traveling or cold winter’s nights.

(Base 2, +1 Touch, +2 Sun), +5 24 uses per day.

Ring of the Wayward Journey
An enchanted Personal Flight Item (ReCo 40 device)

(Base 15 to fly quickly, +1 Touch, +1 Conc, +5 Device Maintains Conc, +10 Unlimited uses),

Fantasy Runeblade built for Ars Magica

“The runeblade is an extension of your being. A death knight cannot battle without a runeblade.”

– Instructor Razuvious

Q. What would a runeblade be like if made using Ars Magica mechanics?

A. Incredibly nasty, especially if used against mundanes. As an-ex Wow’er this post has been a long time coming and I’ve enjoyed throwing all sorts of power descriptions below, and seeing which ones suit it best. For the purposes of this post the powers have been created using the Hermetic magic rules, while in-game an infernal equivalent is very reasonable. WoW and Ars Magica deal with

Runeblades are usually swords inscribed with magical or demonic runes that grant certain powers to the wielder. All high-ranking death knights wield their own personal, named runeblade, called vampiric runeblades. However, runeblades are not unique to the Scourge. Although Frostmourne was undoubtedly the most prominent runeblade in existence, there are quite a few additional ones.

– Wowikia

In game mechanically there is a magic resistance (MR) consideration for the invested powers which alter the runeblades but to not affect anyone hit with it; normally these would also be resisted by MR which in turn mean the weapon would be useless against any creature or person with MR. In my opinion and frequent house-rule is the non-material powers do not get stopped by MR. Likewise a power can be resisted and the physical sword blade can still hurt the opponent. The supernatural effect is resisted, but the steel is not. This is so that magical weapons do not need to be over engineered for the game and interactions with MR are simpler. YSMV.

Some sample powers might be:

Arcane Link – 1x pawn vis, as the runeblade is a fixed arcane connection to the owner.

Cause Fatigue – PeIg 38, (Base 4, +1 Touch, +1 Animal targets, +5 for 24 uses per day, +20 for Penetration +40, +3 specific owner only), if being held by the owner the next creature struck suffers a Fatigue level of exhaustion.

Dance and Float – ReTe28, (Base 4, +1 Concentration, +2 extra strength to stay in place, +5 device maintains concentration, +5 for 24 uses per day, +3 specific owner only), the sword may be commanded to float and dance in place, and cannot be moved by anyone else.

Dark Whispers – CrMe 43, (Base 3, +4 Arcane, +3 Moon, +5 for 24 uses per day, +5 for +10 penetration, +3 cannot affect owner), after touching blood the sword will whisper to the target who hears an eerie and disturbing voice in their mind speaking of their downfall or death.

Destruction of Men and Beasts – PeCo45, (Base 15, +1 Touch, +1 Animal targets, +10 unlimited uses, +10 for Penetration +20, +3 cannot affect the owner), inflicts a heavy wound on any human touched by the blade. This power may be resisted by powerful opponents, however it is designed to be devistating to lesser creatures.

Encase in Ice – CrAq30, (Base 3, +1 Touch, +1 Diameter, +5 for 24 uses per day, +17 for Penetration +34, +3 specific owner only), the next target touched with the blade is encased in ice, likely stopping all movement and soon to suffocate. Creature up to size +1 can be encased.

Eerie Light – CrIg17, (Base 3, +14 Constant effect), the blade always glows with an eerie blue and white light akin to torchlight.

Indestructible – MuTe24, (Base 4, +2 metal, +14 Constant effect), the blade is all but indestructible.

Wracking Pain – PeCo40, (Base 4, +1 Touch, +2 Sun, +3 specific user not affected, +10 unlimited uses, +17 for +34 Penetration), if touched by anyone except the owner the power inflicts pain upon them until the next sunrise or sunset.