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Ehran
Acolyte
Canada
2 Posts |
 Posted - 31 Jan 2005 : 04:54:48
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This goes back a ways but in second ed in volo's guide to all things magical there was a section describing some really useful magical properties of gemstones. in 3rd ed so far the only mention of this was a throwaway about using gems much like scrolls to record spells on for later casting. does anyone have any idea if the 2nd ed rules will be restated in 3rd ed terms or have they been turfed altogether?
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6680 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2005 : 06:32:57
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Many observers regarded the gem 'powers' showcased in "Volo's Guide to All Things Magical" as a bit too easy to use/access. One gem, I can't recall which one off hand, gave you immunity to 'temporal stasis'-type effects just by carrying it (Eric Boyd used this property for his "Sleep of Ages" DUNGEON adventure), which was considered a tad overpowered.
I believe that the gem powers should remain, but that the gems need to undergo an alchemical or magical process to 'awaken' them and let their powers come 'online' as it were. In other words, there should be a cost to the individual seeking to use these (some quite powerful) gem powers.
As for the 3E Realms, there has been nothing done to translate this stuff for the updated setting. Might make a good DRAGON article ...
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2005 : 07:37:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Ehran
does anyone have any idea if the 2nd ed rules will be restated in 3rd ed terms or have they been turfed altogether?
As I recall, the team over at EN World put together a rather impressive tome on GEM MAGIC a while back. It's apparently received some grand reviews and there were also some threads on the EN World message boards that detailed explorations into using the tome in different settings.
I suggest you pay EN World a visit once their site comes back online.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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tauster
Senior Scribe
Germany
399 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2005 : 10:12:43
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i like george“s way of using alchemical or magical treatments to limit the "accessibility" of a gem“s magic property.
another alternative might be to houserule that only some rare exemplars of those gems exhibit magic properties.
another question: are these gems magical in the way of the detect magic- spell? in other words, if i analyze such a gem with a detect magic- spell, does it "glow"?
...and assuming i use the housrule above ("...only some have magic properties."), would they glow under the spell? |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4693 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2005 : 10:36:08
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quote:
Originally posted by tauster
another question: are these gems magical in the way of the detect magic- spell? in other words, if i analyze such a gem with a detect magic- spell, does it "glow"?
...and assuming i use the housrule above ("...only some have magic properties."), would they glow under the spell?
They appear to be subject to detect magic, certainly sould when active. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36875 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2005 : 11:24:42
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Ehran
does anyone have any idea if the 2nd ed rules will be restated in 3rd ed terms or have they been turfed altogether?
As I recall, the team over at EN World put together a rather impressive tome on GEM MAGIC a while back. It's apparently received some grand reviews and there were also some threads on the EN World message boards that detailed explorations into using the tome in different settings.
I suggest you pay EN World a visit once their site comes back online.
Perhaps when it comes up, you could provide us with a link to this article? It'd make it a lot easier for us curious sorts...  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2005 : 14:20:40
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I had intended to do that earlier. However, as I understand it, the team over at EN World are still deep in the process of changing over to their new servers... so it'll likely be a few more days before the site is once again as it was.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Ehran
Acolyte
Canada
2 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2005 : 02:02:40
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quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
Many observers regarded the gem 'powers' showcased in "Volo's Guide to All Things Magical" as a bit too easy to use/access. One gem, I can't recall which one off hand, gave you immunity to 'temporal stasis'-type effects just by carrying it (Eric Boyd used this property for his "Sleep of Ages" DUNGEON adventure), which was considered a tad overpowered.
I believe that the gem powers should remain, but that the gems need to undergo an alchemical or magical process to 'awaken' them and let their powers come 'online' as it were. In other words, there should be a cost to the individual seeking to use these (some quite powerful) gem powers.
As for the 3E Realms, there has been nothing done to translate this stuff for the updated setting. Might make a good DRAGON article ...
-- George Krashos
my gm thought muchly along those lines and while i cannot fault his basic instincts i believe he got a wee bit enthused about making it difficult to do.
once i discovered the lore about gemstones in a library in undermountain in the long lost citadel of a dwarven clan (melairkin sp?) i then had to develop a gem lore skill so that i knew it was possible to do something with a particular kind of gem. I then had to develop a proficiency which allowed me to "sing" to the stone to awaken it and which allowed me to know how to cut the stone in order to let it express its magical essence. then i had to develop gem cutting to actually make the stone magical. flub any of the rolls and the stone was ruined for those purposes. i spent the best part of 3 years real time patiently meeting the prereq's to use this nifty kind of magic and then the game died and 3rd ed came along.
at the time i thought it was quite a stiff lot to develop especially starting as a mid level character but looking back for the power it granted it wasn't too much. |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6680 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2005 : 05:20:49
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I think you've got a cool DM.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36875 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2005 : 05:42:11
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quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
I think you've got a cool DM.
-- George Krashos
I'll agree. That's a very good way of handling it, though I might have done a couple t'ings a bit different. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2005 : 22:42:43
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| 3rd-Edition rules for Gem Magic can be found in Magic of Faerūn p. 13,14 Unfortunately these pages are pure crunch with absolutely zero realmslore to be found, nor do they describe the innate magical properties of individual gemstones as can be found in Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36875 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2005 : 05:30:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Realmslore
3rd-Edition rules for Gem Magic can be found in Magic of Faerūn p. 13,14 Unfortunately these pages are pure crunch with absolutely zero realmslore to be found, nor do they describe the innate magical properties of individual gemstones as can be found in Volo's Guide to All Things Magical.
And that was one of my fave parts of that tome. Volo's Guide to All Things Magical (formerly a suppressed work  ) had so much lore in it... I rank it as one of the best FR products, ever. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2005 : 21:20:13
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| While Magic of Faerun doesn't hold much Fluff about Gem Magic, Lost Empires of Faerun mentions a nice piece of Fluff to go with the Crunch. Calishites in Netheril... hmm... recipe for disaster... |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6680 Posts |
Posted - 13 Mar 2005 : 23:41:48
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Yeah, it's amazing what a one-line reference from Ed in VGttN can generate ...
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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LetumLux
Acolyte
17 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2009 : 06:57:54
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Hi everyone.
So, I've been looking into Gem Magic and trying to build together some solid causality to it be (re)discovered. From the blurbs about it in relation to the Netherese and the mechanics, it doesn't strike me as something non-intuitive to a spell-caster who is already comfortable with the concepts of imbuing and crafting magical items. If anything, it seems like a very natural progression in the course of research.
What's the community's thoughts on that?
Also, are there any other 2-3.5 edition sources on Gem Magic that I should take a look into, or are the sources cited above about all there is for it?
Thanks in advance! |
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Gem Magic Lore
