Preview: ABC's of Magic (part 7)

The final three spells to be previewed in Path of Iron are featured below. I hope you've enjoyed reading up on some of these new options and are as excited as I am for the final release of Path of Iron!


UNMAKE

School transmutation; Level druid 5, sorcerer/wizard 5, vanguard 5, witch 6
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target one object, structure, or construct (see text)
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Fortitude negates (object) or Will half, see text; Spell Resistance yes (object) or no, see text
This spell reduces a created object, construct, or structure into its base components. An object falls apart into a scattered mess as its individual parts become undone; worked metal becomes clumps of ore, rope unravels into strands of fiber, carved stone becomes slabs of rough earth, glass is reverted to sand, and so on. A magic item can be targeted by this effect, though it gains a bonus on its saving throw equal to half its caster level (max +10). An artifact or similarly unique item cannot be targeted by this spell.
If used on a construct, the spell instead wracks the target with destructive force, dealing 1d6 damage per caster level (max 20d6) and affects the creature as if the spell did not allow spell resistance. A Will save halves the damage. Should this damage be enough to destroy the construct, it is reduced to its base components (as described above).
When used on a magic item or construct, only the materials composing its actual structure remain; material components used during the enchanting process or animation of the construct are not produced by unmake.

VORPAL EDGE

School transmutation; Level antipaladin 4, bloodrager 4, cleric 5, inquisitor 5, magus 5, sorcerer/wizard 5, vanguard 5
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range touch
Target slashing melee weapon touched
Duration 10 min./level or until discharged
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless, object); Spell Resistance yes (harmless, object)
You pass your hand over the targeted weapon, its edge shimmering and wavering. With a final touch, the weapons edge begins to gleam with deadly power, its bearer feeling a subtle pull towards the necks of creatures with each strike.
The weapon you target with this spell gains the vorpal weapon property, causing it to decapitate victims on a natural 20 critical hit. The vorpal effect can decapitate a number of victims equal to one-quarter your caster level (max 5), after which the spell is discharged.

WEAKEN STRUCTURE

School transmutation; Level bloodrager 2, cleric 2, druid 2, shaman 2, sorcerer/wizard 2, vanguard 2, witch 2
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target section of an object or structure within one 5-ft.-cube/level (S)
Duration 1 min./level
Saving Throw Fortitude negates (object); Spell Resistance yes (object)
This spell reduces the structural integrity of an object or a structure. Weaken structure affects one 5-foot cube of material per caster level; if the target is too large to fit in this area, only the portion within the area is affected.
The affected portion of the object or structure is made more vulnerable to damage, reducing its hardness by 10 (minimum 0) and reducing its hit points to 10 per inch of thickness; if the object already has less than 10 hit points per inch or thickness (such as ice or leather), it is reduced to 1 hit point per inch of thickness.
The effects of weaken structure are removed after the spell ends, but any portions of the structure damaged or destroyed during the spell remain that way.

Preview: ABC's of Magic (part 6)

How about some utility-based spells, or those with a more niche application?


REFINE ORE

School transmutation [earth, metal]; Level sorcerer/wizard 2, vanguard 2
Casting Time 1 minute
Components V, S, M (a lump of coal)
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target unrefined ore with a total volume less than 5 cu. ft./level
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
You turn unrefined ore into usable materials. Refine ore smelts all metals within the ore into usable ingots, and pulls out all valuable gems without damaging them (though it leaves the gemstones rough and uncut). The amount of ore and gemstones found within the ore is subject to GM discretion.
The spell generates no heat, and the stone that would be left behind after the metal and gems have been extracted is compacted into 1-foot cubes for transportation. Refine ore can only be used on ore that has been mined out and separated from the surrounding stone; you cannot cast it on the walls of a mineshaft and extract any materials, for example.

SQUIRE’S AID

School conjuration (teleportation); Level antipaladin 1, bard 1, cleric 1, inquisitor 1, magus 1, paladin 1, vanguard 1
Casting Time 10 minutes
Components V, S
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target unattended objects within a 10-ft. cube
Duration 8 hours until discharged
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
A handy spell when ambushed during a rest, squire’s aid packs up belongings and equips creatures.
All objects to be targeted by squire’s aid must be within a 10-foot cube at the time of casting. All objects are then marked with a small arcane mark that is unreadable, except by means of a read magic spell, to anyone but you. Once the objects are marked, they can be thereafter moved about without any issue.
At any point during the spell’s duration, you can use a standard action to trigger the effects of squire’s aid, after which the spell is discharged. All marked objects are packed into their respective containers; bedrolls are rolled and bound, mess kits are cleaned and packed, and bags of supplies are repacked for transportation. Any wearable equipment can be packed in an organized fashion or equipped to nearby creatures, donning the armor and clothing neatly and appropriately for the creature. A creature is aware of what gear you are equipping it with and can prevent you from doing so should it not want you to (no check needed).
All objects that you wish to pack or don or any creatures you wish to equip must be within range of the spell at the time of you triggering these effects, otherwise the effect fails on that particular object or creature.

TRANSFER ENHANCEMENT

School transmutation; Level bard 5, magus 5, sorcerer/wizard 5, vanguard 5
Casting Time 1 hour
Components V, S, M (gold dust worth 50 gp or more, see text)
Range touch
Target one magic item and one non-magic item of a similar kind touched, see text
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
This spell allows you to permanently transfer the magical properties of a magic item to a different item. The item to be transferred to must be of a comparable type; you could transfer the magical properties of a sword onto a spear, but not from a bag of holding onto a pair of gloves.
Any incompatible enhancements, such as trying to transfer the keen property from a sword onto a club, are lost forever in the transfer and cannot be restored. Should you try to transfer the magic properties onto an item that has additional costs for enhancing (such as a cold iron weapon), you must pay that cost as an additional material component unless the item you are transferring the enhancements from is made of the same material.
You cannot target an artifact with transfer enhancement.

Preview: ABC's of Magic (part 5)

The new classes in Path of Iron get their own unique line of spells, much like the Nightblade of Path of Shadows did with its "Umbral" spells. In this case, the Saboteur has access to "trap extensions", traps that by themselves do nothing, but instead enhance the function of another trap placed in the same location. The Vanguard has access to "discharges", each of which require you to be using a resonance to activate and swiftly create an effect within 20 feet of your construct companion.


OBSERVATION TRAP EXTENSION

School divination (scrying); Level saboteur 3
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components S
Range see text
Effect one trap extension
Duration see text
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes
An observation trap extension allows you to modify the next trap you place in the same square to create a scrying sensor upon triggering.
You first place the observation trap extension as a saboteur trap in a square adjacent to you, just as you would any other saboteur trap. At any point within the next minute, you must place a second trap in that same square (either a saboteur trap or a mundane trap). This effect supersedes the normal rule that two saboteur traps cannot be placed in the same space. The observation trap extension merges with the second trap, enhancing its function. A trap that is enhanced by an observation trap extension notifies you mentally when it is triggered, similar to the mental alarm provided by an alarm spell but out to any range. You are not given any information about the triggering creature.
At any point within 10 minutes of receiving the alarm, you can choose to observe the creature that triggered the trap, as a scrying spell. The creature gets a Will saving throw against this effect (you are considered to have firsthand knowledge of the target, as described in the scrying spell). The scrying effect lasts for 1 minute per caster level.
The observation trap extension lasts until the trap is triggered, disarmed, or breaks apart (if the trap does so, as a saboteur trap does). Only one “trap extension” spell can be added to a particular trap.

PROTECTIVE DISCHARGE

School abjuration; Level vanguard 5
Casting Time 1 swift action
Components V
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area 20-ft.-radius burst
Duration 1 round
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)
You must have a resonance in effect to cast this spell. With a single command you release the resonant energy built up between you and your companion in a wave of protective energy, ending the resonance immediately. Each ally within 20 feet of your construct companion gains a deflection bonus to AC equal to your caster level (max +20) for 1 round.
The magical effect of the resonance allows it to discern between friend and foe; enemies are not affected by the protective discharge.

QUICKSILVER

School transmutation; Level magus 4, sorcerer/wizard 4, vanguard 4
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a drop of mercury)
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target non-magical object weighing no more than 5 lb./level
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Will negates (object); Spell Resistance yes (object)
You cause an object to lose its shape, briefly flowing like water before becoming solid again. This has no effect on the object’s temperature. The object flows for a few seconds before solidifying again, most likely in the form of a puddle on the floor. The solidifying of the object does not hinder any creatures or objects within the area of the liquefied “object”. A liquefied object cannot be repaired by normal means or by spells like mending and make whole, though a reconstruct, limited wish, wish, or miracle spell can repair it.
Only attended objects are granted a saving throw.