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    • daermadmD
      daermadm DM @halfgiant
      last edited by

      @halfgiant said in Cubes:

      That is an interesting take, I’ll look to Cloud to determine if and when he wants to integrate cube magic tech into the game (and as part of discovered treasure). As a newly minted Artificer i am keenly interested in it, and the game mechanics but it does sound like the idea may need to bake a little longer.

      Basically I like the idea but still have to think about implementation.

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      • halfgiantH
        halfgiant PC
        last edited by

        How does one go about refilling a cube?

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        • dwarfD
          dwarf PC
          last edited by

          can’t remember how they were refilled originally - but logistically speaking i’d think the ole’ dweomerflow method would still work fine.

          obelisk could flash-fill 'em, obviously - though you’d better bribe him with “candy” beforehand or he might eat a few

          so long as a single “charge” remained in the cube, it would slowly refill in the Manaverse - much quicker if taken to the Manethereal plane (kinda like how a magnet slowly attracts iron filings and particulates out of smoke) - like draws like, and whatnot

          and then there’s the alchemical ways… >:) heh heh heh. you’d be surprised at the uses for highly magical blood - which is why Dregnoth spends an inordinate amount of time plotting to acquire bits of Sorvani

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          • halfgiantH
            halfgiant PC
            last edited by

            So in the case of a rod of absorption, drawing spells or spell-like abilities into itself i assume such a device would be filling cubes? Once a cube is filled in this case i believe 50 spell levels tops off a rod, can those cubes be recycled into other devices such as wands or a staff?

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            • dwarfD
              dwarf PC
              last edited by

              • zap blows the dust off a folder *

              well back in the old 2e cube days, the majority of ‘charged’ magical items would only hold 1 or 2 cubes at most - each level of wizard spells and cleric spells produced different colored cubes. 1st lvl wizard spells made orange cubes, for example, and could be plugged into things like wands of magic missiles. (( orange cubes were the ones my idiot fighter Trog liked to chew on )). a cube held 10 charges of whatever level/color magic it was tuned to

              back then, the rod of absorption was often used several different ways - it ALONE amongst the rod/staff/wand category could hold twice the standard number of cubes (4) and could channel captured magic into any of the cubes that were empty or matched the incoming spell level

              i remember there were also “special” colored cubes - like the ones that powered wands of wonder, which resembled a kaliedoscope of chaotic colors…

              staves of magi could also absorb, but only held 2 cubes and so were often carried with one full and one empty. i seem to recall the staffs of magi and power shared a common BLACK cube that only a staff of magi could make - requring it to absorb several different spell colors in a kind of spell recipe.

              to answer your 2nd question, yes - cubes were universally interchangeable and could be switched between wand/staff/rod/certain rings/etc at any time, regardless of whether FULL or not. one thing i always waited for someone to do was try to shove an 18th lvl cube into a wand of magic missles or fireball wand - but, given the propensity back then for things to go grandiosely explosive, its probably better that never happened, at the time 😉

              being a vastly older and wiser dwarf than my teenage self, i must admit there needs to be a better/easier/more generic way to charge the ruddy things - prolly one of the reasons the original idea never seemed to “gel” and got left by the wayside…

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              • daermadmD
                daermadm DM
                last edited by

                I always liked the cube concept for powering charged items. Ever since restarting this game in the manaverse and being reminded of cubes, I have been thinking about how to implement them.

                My rough thoughts are all charged items that exist here are cube based.

                Cubes are made with manacite ore of varying density (age) as a base. The more dense the manacite, the higher power (spell level) the cube.

                Manacite is not a rare substance in lower density. It is the higher density manacite that is so rare as it takes a thousand years or more to form.

                Cubes exist from 0th level to 9th level (and beyond as we get into artifact class gear).
                Cubes also exist in self recharging and non-self recharging. Self recharging requires small amounts of higher density manacite during creation to maintain the connection to the manatheareal plane.

                Self recharging will recharge at a rate of 1 spell point per hour.
                Non-self recharging will recharge at a rate of 1 spell point per week.

                Self recharging costs about 10 times a non self recharging to create due to the cost of the denser manacite.

                I have still to set costs for manacite…

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                • halfgiantH
                  halfgiant PC
                  last edited by

                  Now thats interesting, self recharging will recharge at a rate of 1 spell point per hour, and non-self recharging will recharge at a rate of 1 spell point per week. I like the idea of that, is there going to be a craft cube feat?

                  Cubes exist from 0th level to 9th level (and beyond as we get into artifact class gear), I assume in the case of staves that have multiple power options, the cube of the highest level of spell is what you load it with, or do staves take multiple cubes for each power?

                  How readily available is manacite, high quality and low quality? Can you make heavy manacite? And can a rod of heavy manacite be used in a mana reactor? Has any one made a Manacite Mythaller (manacitealler)?

                  So if i have cubes i use in my wand of magic missles, I stick it in my rod of absorption and blast a bunch of magic missles at it filling up the cube I should be able to swap it back in the wand…and i’m good to go again. Agree? Disagree? Or alternatively i could wait for it to naturally recharge.

                  Are cubes based on spell levels, and school of magic? Like 3rd level Divination cube? or a 5th level Evocation cube?

                  Anyone ever make a Golem out of Manacite?

                  daermadmD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • daermadmD
                    daermadm DM @halfgiant
                    last edited by daermadm

                    @halfgiant said in Cubes:

                    Now thats interesting, self recharging will recharge at a rate of 1 spell point per hour, and non-self recharging will recharge at a rate of 1 spell point per week. I like the idea of that, is there going to be a craft cube feat?

                    Yes

                    Cubes exist from 0th level to 9th level (and beyond as we get into artifact class gear), I assume in the case of staves that have multiple power options, the cube of the highest level of spell is what you load it with, or do staves take multiple cubes for each power?

                    You have to use the cube for the highest level ability if I recall correctly.

                    How readily available is manacite, high quality and low quality?

                    Learning about the mining and processing of Manacite was the reason for the alliance with the island kingdoms.

                    Can you make heavy manacite?

                    You cannot make manacite. Could you make it reactive/heavy? You are hurting my brain.

                    And can a rod of heavy manacite be used in a mana reactor?

                    Eventually

                    Has any one made a Manacite Mythaller (manacitealler)?

                    Yes, you have not met them yet.

                    So if i have cubes i use in my wand of magic missles, I stick it in my rod of absorption and blast a bunch of magic missles at it filling up the cube I should be able to swap it back in the wand…and i’m good to go again. Agree? Disagree? Or alternatively i could wait for it to naturally recharge.

                    You do not have blast magic missiles. You have to jsut blast any spell. It will store each spell level as a charge. So your empty 1st level cube will gain 3 charges if your rod absorbs a lightning bolt.

                    Are cubes based on spell levels, and school of magic? Like 3rd level Divination cube? or a 5th level Evocation cube?

                    Spell levels, not schools

                    Anyone ever make a Golem out of Manacite?

                    I am sure.

                    dwarfD 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • dwarfD
                      dwarf PC @daermadm
                      last edited by

                      Has any one made a Manacite Mythaller (manacitealler)?

                      Yes, you have not met them yet.

                      the alchemist grins and nods “I made a very, very tiny one - yes. It keeps my plants growing, pots stirring, fires burning, water running and other minor stuffs. Carved a heart out of manacite and animated it. Wanna see ? Right this way…”

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                      • dwarfD
                        dwarf PC @daermadm
                        last edited by

                        Can you make heavy manacite?

                        You cannot make manacite. Could you make it reactive/heavy? You are hurting my brain.

                        And can a rod of heavy manacite be used in a mana reactor?

                        the alchemist glares at you
                        you been sneaking into my portable cottage to read my gnotes ?? we’re not making HEAVY manacite, we’re building a decalcinator to make compressed and compacted manacite, cranking its grade up to higher than exists naturally.

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                        • halfgiantH
                          halfgiant PC
                          last edited by

                          Those are very interesting answers, so many options and paths to take. Much much to do.

                          Another question given the formation of manacite due to extreme exposure of the manathereal plane over eons, what about gemstones or other forms of ore found in these areas, have they been affected as well?

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                          • halfgiantH
                            halfgiant PC
                            last edited by

                            Dwarf,

                            I distantly remember in a far, far off time you had something written down about the cubes, and their colors. I don’t suppose that is lying about for you to post?

                            daermadmD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • daermadmD
                              daermadm DM @halfgiant
                              last edited by

                              @halfgiant said in Cubes:

                              Dwarf,

                              I distantly remember in a far, far off time you had something written down about the cubes, and their colors. I don’t suppose that is lying about for you to post?

                              I have found documents! info to come.

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                              • daermadmD
                                daermadm DM
                                last edited by

                                This is base don the old 2e modified spell list that went from 1-18 / 1-14

                                Spell Level Wizard Cleric
                                1 Orange Green
                                2 Red Brown
                                3 Yellow Pink
                                4 Light Blue Indigo
                                5 Dark Blue White
                                6 Violet Rust
                                7 Maroon Lavender
                                8 Dark Green Platinum
                                9 Beige Chromatic
                                10 Pale Yellow Black & White
                                11 Navy Blue Black & Red
                                12 Turquoise Red & White
                                13 Gold Incandescent Rose
                                14 Bronze Blood Red
                                15 Silver
                                16 Brass
                                17 Copper
                                18 Steel
                                Power Level Wizard Cleric
                                ------------- ---------------- --------
                                Lesser Dark Gray ?
                                Medium Glowing Purple ?
                                Greater ?Black? ?
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                                • daermadmD
                                  daermadm DM
                                  last edited by

                                  This is not what will be implemented. THis is for historical reference.

                                  I will be implementing cubes. My goal is by CabinCon.

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                                  • daermadmD
                                    daermadm DM
                                    last edited by daermadm

                                    Colors might change, but this is my plan.

                                    Spell Level Color Cost Empty Per Charge Creation Cost
                                    1 Orange 1000 100
                                    2 Brown 2000 200
                                    3 Yellow 3000 300
                                    4 Blue 4000 400
                                    5 Pink 5000 500
                                    6 Violet 6000 600
                                    7 Maroon 7000 700
                                    8 Green 8000 800
                                    9 Beige 9000 900
                                    10 Steel 10000 1000
                                    11 Rust 11000 1100
                                    12 Turquoise 12000 1200
                                    13 Gold 13000 1300
                                    14 Bronze 14000 1400
                                    15 Silver 15000 1500
                                    16 Brass 16000 1600
                                    17 Copper 17000 1700
                                    18 Platinum 18000 1800
                                    19 White 19000 1900
                                    20 Blood Red 20000 2000
                                    Low (1-3) Black & White
                                    Medium (4-6) Red & White
                                    High (7-9) Black & Red
                                    Good (10-12) Black & Gold
                                    Excellent (13-15) Red & Gold
                                    Exceptional (16-18) Gold & White
                                    Planar (19-20) Gold & Platinum
                                    Variable - Low (1-9) Chromatic
                                    Variable - High (10-18) Iridescent Chromatic
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                                    • daermadmD
                                      daermadm DM
                                      last edited by

                                      I’m fairly solid on the costs above. Those are retail.

                                      I would be interested in some help in costs to make.

                                      Also for discussion, should wand/staff/rod creation make max cubes? Or only enough for the sockets.

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                                      • daermadmD
                                        daermadm DM
                                        last edited by

                                        @dwarf have you ever thought about letting cubes be destroyed if used for an “11th” charge?

                                        I would think only for say up to spell level 3 or 4 lower effects?

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                                        • dwarfD
                                          dwarf PC
                                          last edited by

                                          not really - it’d kinda be like loading empty brass into a gun and hoping for an extra shot 😉

                                          just FYI - in the old 2e game, empty cubes were unleveled… you could take a freshly emptied orange out of your wand of magic missiles and jack it into a staff of power to start absorbing spells and have it wind up a black cube (or whatever the hell color it was back then)

                                          i THINK the core idea actually came from the old Transformers cartoon, where they’d produce empty energon cubes and just fill 'em with high-voltage electricity from most anywhere (dams, power plants, etc) 😜

                                          yeah, we’re OLD…

                                          daermadmD halfgiantH 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • daermadmD
                                            daermadm DM @dwarf
                                            last edited by daermadm

                                            @dwarf said in Cubes:

                                            not really - it’d kinda be like loading empty brass into a gun and hoping for an extra shot 😉

                                            Except they have mana of some level in and of themselves as they are magic items. but was just floating ideas as they crossed my mind.

                                            just FYI - in the old 2e game, empty cubes were unleveled… you could take a freshly emptied orange out of your wand of magic missiles and jack it into a staff of power to start absorbing spells and have it wind up a black cube (or whatever the hell color it was back then)

                                            Correct and I am not changing that.

                                            i THINK the core idea actually came from the old Transformers cartoon, where they’d produce empty energon cubes and just fill 'em with high-voltage electricity from most anywhere (dams, power plants, etc) 😜

                                            And after reading that, some cells fired and I have a vague memory of that.

                                            yeah, we’re OLD…

                                            don’t need reminded…

                                            dwarfD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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