Spell Construction - seeking advice

[prestidigitator]

I believe I converted Prestidigitation as something like a 1d6 Minor Transform with the target widened to anything and the All or Nothing Limitation (flavor as desired for your particular magic system).

[Archon]

Okay, with all of that in mind, here's my current "Prestidigitation" model:

Prestidigitation
1d6 Cosmetic Transform (5 AP), No Combat Effects (-1/2), 1 Charge Lasting One Hour (-1/4), Gestures (-1/4), Incantations (-1/4) (2 Real Points) PLUS, Telekinesis 2 STR (3 AP), No Combat Effects (can neither throw nor deal damage) (-1/2), Effective STR -20 (-1/2), Gestures (-1/4), Incantations (-1/4), 1 Charge lasting one hour (-1/4), Requires Concentration to Move Object (1/2 DCV) -1 (1 Real Point) PLUS Summon (5 AP), Inanimate Objects Only (-1), No Combat Effects (-1/2), Only For Decorative Purposes (-1/2), Gestures (-1/4), Incantations (-1/4), One charge lasting one hour (-1/4) (1 Real Point) Total: 13 Active Points, 4 Real Points.

This spell is one of the first taught to young casters; it covers a minor range of effects, which are generally for entertainment purposes and studying the effects of magic on things. For the duration of the spell, the caster can alter colors, flavors and smells - he can improve the taste of food, enhance a dull flower, clean up a small bit of dust, and so on. None of the effects of the spell are enough to fool anyone or bring them to any harm. Changing the taste of food with Prestidigitation could not mask the taste of poison. Items summoned are small, fragile and useless as anything other than a moments decoration.

Why I built it: Because one of my PCs has this spell, and uses it for... everything. It's a staple of her character concept. In d20, the changes are instant and unresisted; in my campaign I'm using a house rule which states so long as the caster has time, they can get the 'maximum effect' out of spell; for example, a Simple Healing would recover full BODY and STUN so long as the character had Extra Time. The same applies to Presto - so long as you have the time, you can make a cosmetic change to anything, or move a small brick, and so on.

Why I'm doing it: Because one of my players has this as a signature spell; she's used to being able to clean her clothes, alter the taste of her food, create minor, meaningless objects, all on a whim. I don't mind it per se, but it has occassionally gotten out of hand. The spell is referred to as a 0 level Wish, because it's so dern handy to have around.

Also, the same player has insisted that when the Final Battle between Good and Evil occurs, his character will win the game... with a cantrip.

You need to add an advantage to the summon and transform, +1 any minor change/+1 summon any minor item.

[Thia Halmades]

Wow. Third time I've had to write this post in the last five minutes. Now I'm late AND cranky.

Archon: You note that both sections of the spell should take the advantage, "any minor item" or "any minor change." However, the campaign has a 15 Active Point per level cap on spells, and I'm recreating Cantrip as a 0 level spell, which shockingly keeps it more balanced than its d20 counterpart. Giving both spells a +1 would put the active cost to 25, no can do.

However, I'm curious as to why you suggested it - in fact, I don't want any minor item summoned; I only want small, decorative useless items summoned.

Presto: What is All or Nothing? My understanding is that you get one roll and if the spell doesn't work, there's no change. This would be too nerffity IMO - can you explain your reasoning?

[prestidigitator]

Presto: What is All or Nothing? My understanding is that you get one roll and if the spell doesn't work, there's no change. This would be too nerffity IMO - can you explain your reasoning?

Without it, there's nothing to keep you from doing humongous things with a little 1d6 Transform; it just takes more time (i.e. more rolls), as Transform is cumulative by default.

You might even get away with making it a Cosmetic (rather than Minor) Transform if the changes/creations are really not going to have much system effect. Up to you.

[Archon]

Wow. Third time I've had to write this post in the last five minutes. Now I'm late AND cranky.

Archon: You note that both sections of the spell should take the advantage, "any minor item" or "any minor change." However, the campaign has a 15 Active Point per level cap on spells, and I'm recreating Cantrip as a 0 level spell, which shockingly keeps it more balanced than its d20 counterpart. Giving both spells a +1 would put the active cost to 25, no can do.

However, I'm curious as to why you suggested it - in fact, I don't want any minor item summoned; I only want small, decorative useless items summoned.

The reason I suggested the advantage is by strict rules without the advantage a summon may summon 1 thing. For example, summon blue china cup. To get a blue china plate, you would need 2nd summon. But with a +1/4 advantage, group of related items, you could summon a blue china cup, then a blue china plate, etc. However, if you're working with a 15 pt cap, I've changed my mind. Don't worry about it. After all, it's in the VPP and you'll keep control of what the player does with the spell, and the spell is fairly minor.

Although, when I played in d20 one of the first things my group would get was a magic item that cast Prestidigitation. We found so many uses for that spell. We even found a few useful combat applications.