Re: MEPBM Artifact Powers

From: bailey@hagar.ph.utexas.edu (Ed Bailey)

Date: Fri, 24 Jun 1994 19:59:26 +0000

In article <2u7gdj$pbd@news.doit.wisc.edu>,
Samuel Freeman <freeman@cae.wisc.edu> wrote:
> I have some questions about secondary powers of certain artifacts.  Some
> secondary powers are "latent" (bonus vs. dragons), and some give the holder
> access to certain lost spells.  Now I've hear of Tarondor using the Ring
> of Axardil (access to Teleport spell) to teleport around Middle Earth.
>  Can other secondary powers be used by non-mages?

There are two different types of spell-related secondary powers.

Some allow you access to the spell.  Thus they can be used to have a Mage
learn a Lost List spell.  Some allow access to an entire list, some only
a single spell.  For example, Nallaguruth #86  and E Mere Vardo #188
allow acess to Spirit Mastery.  These artifacts are described as "Allows
access to [spell or list]" by a Research Artifact spell.

Once the mage has learned the spell, he can (of course) pass off the artifact
to another mage who can also learn the spell.

Other artifacts allow you to cast the spell.  These can be used even by
non-mages.  For example, the Ring of Axardil #6 allows the casting of
Teleport, and the Yellow Hammer #73 allows the casting of Major Return.
These artifacts are described as "Allows casting of [spell]" by a Research
Artifact spell.

You use these by issuing the appropriate "Cast Foo Spell" order.
Since the character doesn't "know" the spell, he has to keep the artifact
in order to use the item.

> Also, if the artifact gives a character access to a
> spell, but the artifact is later transfered or lost, will the character
> still have access to that spell?  For example, could a curses squad be
> made from one artifact with access to Spirit Mastery (one mage gets it,
> learns curses, then passes it to another mage, and repeat)?

Yes and Yes.  Curses groups are a time-honored tactic.

Hope that helps,
Ed Bailey
Northern Gondor #111
Witch-King #153
--
Ed Bailey                | Voice: (512) 471-4198   Fax: (512) 471-6715
Inst. for Fusion Studies | Internet: bailey@{hagar,ziggy}.ph.utexas.edu,
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Austin TX  78712         | "No pithy quotes.  Just email addresses."

References

MEPBM Artifact Powers
freeman@cae.wisc.edu (Samuel Freeman)
Tue, 21 Jun 1994 19:52:19 +0000