Magic items and magic tattoos
Jan. 15th, 2021 05:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccaelizabethSmall phone calls take up huge time, including waiting and chatting to mum after, so I have not got much done today.
But the phone call thing proceeds at best available pace.
I have instead been thinking on what kind of wizard I would be.
I decided I would much rather make magic tattoos than magic wands, because the best wands are Divine stuff. And tattoos seem to be able to be All The Things, just costing twice as much. Which is fair because you can wear ordinary magic items on top.
That means you can get the must have magic items that give you basic plus numbers to your saves etc, but also have interesting weird stuff.
If the GM wants to allow, obvs.
The usual reason not to use magic tattoos is wealth by level is how much you can expect to have to work with, you can't just set up shop selling magic tattoos and make a mint. So you want the cost effective methods ie wands and items with slots that give you twice as much magic for your money.
I just feel it's awkward if you really think about it to have to wear a certain set of items 24/7 forever.
I would want magic tattoos of the kind of thing that has Consequences if you take it off, like the mantle that neutralises aging penalties but hits you with an entire age category at once if you take it off.
Also if you use the Transfer Tattoo spell then the one who can do tattoos can work on someone else and then move the whole thing when it is done. Rather than trying to ink their own back. Which could maybe be possible with magic, since cantrips can lift things, but I personally would not want to try it.
Transfer Tattoo only works on dead things for an hour per caster level, so you couldn't tattoo some leather and transfer it from there, *unless* you used Gentle Repose or possibly Preserve to make, er, pre leather, that stays fresh.
er, that was cut because a bit gruesome.
also it probably would work because "Both you and the recipient of the tattoo (if the recipient is not yourself) must be present during the entire tattooing"
so if you want to tattoo yourself and move it that seems likely allowed, or tattoo someone else you have persuaded to stay still for you, but not just make an item.
... magic tattooists assistant could be like a whole job.
ANYway
Magical tattoos can include a Caster's Tattoo that allows you to cast a spell both Still and Silent, instead of the usual song and dance. Very sneak.
Lots of other specific magical tattoos as well.
Including one that increases your Diplomacy by hypnotism. Which seems mean.
or one that makes your own shadow to walk around in, which seems,like every vampire would pay for it.
Spell Tattoos are wearable scrolls. Single use, but easy to carry. Ouchie to get, if you use them up a lot.
You cannot put a tattoo in the Headband slot, which I guess doesn't necessarily mean you cannot put the same spells on yourself, but the strong recommend about Headbands is GMs shouldnt let a custom magic put the same thing elsewhere because balance.
So a Headband of Vast Intelligence is a permanent feature once you own it.
One bit of treasure for the Silver Ravens I think implies even belts and headbands can have unique aesthetic properties ie have Silver Ravens on these ones but no other.
... Ravens for intelligence seems appropriate but I still prefer abstract swirly patterns.
It's be annoying keeping your hair cut without removing your magic headband or scratching it up.
Maybe wizards grow their hair out.
Things that PCs do and things regular people would put up with seem like a venn diagram but not a circle.
Magic tattoos dont get stolen without more magic, though they can get erased. They're comfy to wear. And they can be pretty much anything.
Seems like the easiest way.
If I was a Wizard I'd want to make magic items and not go out having adventures.
... which is not a surprise really.
If I was a Wizard I would be too aware that there is no GM calculating challenge ratings, so stuff can just happen.
Games are fun because you know you always have a good chance of winning. And making a difference.
So, that's today's rambly thought.
But the phone call thing proceeds at best available pace.
I have instead been thinking on what kind of wizard I would be.
I decided I would much rather make magic tattoos than magic wands, because the best wands are Divine stuff. And tattoos seem to be able to be All The Things, just costing twice as much. Which is fair because you can wear ordinary magic items on top.
That means you can get the must have magic items that give you basic plus numbers to your saves etc, but also have interesting weird stuff.
If the GM wants to allow, obvs.
The usual reason not to use magic tattoos is wealth by level is how much you can expect to have to work with, you can't just set up shop selling magic tattoos and make a mint. So you want the cost effective methods ie wands and items with slots that give you twice as much magic for your money.
I just feel it's awkward if you really think about it to have to wear a certain set of items 24/7 forever.
I would want magic tattoos of the kind of thing that has Consequences if you take it off, like the mantle that neutralises aging penalties but hits you with an entire age category at once if you take it off.
Also if you use the Transfer Tattoo spell then the one who can do tattoos can work on someone else and then move the whole thing when it is done. Rather than trying to ink their own back. Which could maybe be possible with magic, since cantrips can lift things, but I personally would not want to try it.
Transfer Tattoo only works on dead things for an hour per caster level, so you couldn't tattoo some leather and transfer it from there, *unless* you used Gentle Repose or possibly Preserve to make, er, pre leather, that stays fresh.
er, that was cut because a bit gruesome.
also it probably would work because "Both you and the recipient of the tattoo (if the recipient is not yourself) must be present during the entire tattooing"
so if you want to tattoo yourself and move it that seems likely allowed, or tattoo someone else you have persuaded to stay still for you, but not just make an item.
... magic tattooists assistant could be like a whole job.
ANYway
Magical tattoos can include a Caster's Tattoo that allows you to cast a spell both Still and Silent, instead of the usual song and dance. Very sneak.
Lots of other specific magical tattoos as well.
Including one that increases your Diplomacy by hypnotism. Which seems mean.
or one that makes your own shadow to walk around in, which seems,like every vampire would pay for it.
Spell Tattoos are wearable scrolls. Single use, but easy to carry. Ouchie to get, if you use them up a lot.
You cannot put a tattoo in the Headband slot, which I guess doesn't necessarily mean you cannot put the same spells on yourself, but the strong recommend about Headbands is GMs shouldnt let a custom magic put the same thing elsewhere because balance.
So a Headband of Vast Intelligence is a permanent feature once you own it.
One bit of treasure for the Silver Ravens I think implies even belts and headbands can have unique aesthetic properties ie have Silver Ravens on these ones but no other.
... Ravens for intelligence seems appropriate but I still prefer abstract swirly patterns.
It's be annoying keeping your hair cut without removing your magic headband or scratching it up.
Maybe wizards grow their hair out.
Things that PCs do and things regular people would put up with seem like a venn diagram but not a circle.
Magic tattoos dont get stolen without more magic, though they can get erased. They're comfy to wear. And they can be pretty much anything.
Seems like the easiest way.
If I was a Wizard I'd want to make magic items and not go out having adventures.
... which is not a surprise really.
If I was a Wizard I would be too aware that there is no GM calculating challenge ratings, so stuff can just happen.
Games are fun because you know you always have a good chance of winning. And making a difference.
So, that's today's rambly thought.