Spell: An Eagle's Life (1st Abstraction attempt)

[Kudzu]

I've been re-reading "A Wizard of Earthsea," and I thought I'd take a stab at the spell Ged uses to turn himself into an eagle (or falcon or other bird of prey). It's hell as an Abstraction, though! I used the new Distillation rules posted by Abzu.


An Eagle's Life
Effect: The sorceror transforms himself into a Great Eagle (I used the stats for a Great Eagle Mount as posted by Kublai (http://www.burningwheel.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=273); ostensibly a "regular" eagle or other bird of prey would have lower Physical stats, thus lowering the high Obstacle). The spell lasts as long as it is sustained.

Element: Anima (Ob 5, Syllables 10)
Impetus: Transmutative (Ob 12*, Syllables 48 )
Origin: Personal (Ob 0, Syllables 2)
Duration: Sustained (Ob 2, Syllables 4)
Area of Effect: Caster (Ob 0, Syllables 2)

* based on the rules and the "Polymorph Other" spell discussion in the forum, I got the Transmutative Obstacle as Caster's highest Physical Stat (B5 average for distillation) + "Target" Creature's highest Physical Stat (B6) + 1 = Ob 12

Abstraction (Ob 19, Syllables 66)

1st Distillation: Transmute Anima
Transmute Anima (Ob 9.5, Syllables 29)
Personal (Ob 0, Syllables 2)
Sustained (Ob 2, Syllables 4)
Caster (Ob 0, Syllables 2)

2nd Distillation: Personal-Sustained
Transmute Anima (Ob 9.5, Syllables 29)
Personal-Sustained (Ob 1, Syllables 3)
Caster (Ob 0, Syllables 2)

Sigils:
Capstone (Cap): -1 Ob

Finalization:
An Eagle's Life (Ob 5, Syllables 12 = 6 Actions)

Commentary:
While the finalized spell is MUCH more manageable (espcially casting Carefully and Patiently), how could your average Sorceror manage to successfully cast such an Abstraction properly the required number of times? Can Helping be used for Formalizing Abstractions?

I realize that a GM could just add this spell to his campaign's "known spells" as distilled (and that's sort of the point of Distilling spells, right? It's the Magic Burner, after all. :) ), but I was just curious.

This topic might need to be forked off into its own thread, I suppose.

Any and all commentary/criticism appreciated!

[Kublai]

I don't recall the exact facets, but Luke himself Abstracted just such a spell and is including it in the Revision!

[Kublai]

Also, your abstraction brings to mind my biggest gripe with the suggested Obstacles. Formalizing this spell would be impossible in-game. It is Ob 19, which may be possible to cast, but utterly impossible to resist the Tax, even by taking advantage of the special P+C rules for Abstractions. And note that the use of sigils during the Formalization process is not allowed.

If a PC sorcerer asks in character "How was this spell created and by whom?" there's no in-game answer to give as such spell would be impossible to create. That is, unless you give the answer that all such spells were formalized by a sorcerer with a G9 skill and G9 Will and Forte who had accumulated vast amounts of Deeds points.

[Kudzu]

Also, your abstraction brings to mind my biggest gripe with the suggested Obstacles. Formalizing this spell would be impossible in-game. It is Ob 19, which may be possible to cast, but utterly impossible to resist the Tax, even by taking advantage of the special P+C rules for Abstractions. And note that the use of sigils during the Formalization process is not allowed.

Right, which is the same problem I have with it, too. There doesn't seem to be any way around that, though, based on what seem to be the Abstraction rules regarding the Transmutative facet. The rest of the Abstraction is really reasonably priced.

You could crank the Obstacle down by transforming into something less tough than a Great Eagle, but it still wouldn't be cheap enough to be remotely safe. I'm all about Magic being costly and dangerous (it's one of the things that makes the BW Magic system so freakin' cool), but it's frustrating.


If a PC sorcerer asks in character "How was this spell created and by whom?" there's no in-game answer to give as such spell would be impossible to create. That is, unless you give the answer that all such spells were formalized by a sorcerer with a G9 skill and G9 Will and Forte who had accumulated vast amounts of Deeds points.

Right! There has to be a "Gandalf-y" type sorceror running around your campaign world (or used to be) in order for there to be an in-game explanation for it.

I don't recall the exact facets, but Luke himself Abstracted just such a spell and is including it in the Revision!

I'm curious to see how Abzu Distilled that spell! I fully realize this was my first attempt at Abstracting and Distilling a spell, though. Maybe I can come up with a more reasonable way to do it after some more experience.

[Kublai]

He actually used a "revised" Wheel of Magic to work the spell. In it, the transmutative Obstacle is flat and the Anima obstacle is based on the the stat or trait cost that is the highest! It's pretty cool, but I don't know if it's ready for beta just yet. Oh, he also only made the transmutation into a falcon, and not a great eagle.

[Kudzu]

He actually used a "revised" Wheel of Magic to work the spell.

:: Looks around :: Where's that damned drooling Smiley? :)


In it, the transmutative Obstacle is flat and the Anima obstacle is based on the the stat or trait cost that is the highest! It's pretty cool, but I don't know if it's ready for beta just yet.


That definitely sounds cool. Can't wait to see it!

Oh, he also only made the transmutation into a falcon, and not a great eagle.

Right, and that fits the purpose of my Spell, too. I just happened to come across the Great Eagle stats in a quick search of the forums because I don't have my books with me (assuming there are eagle/falcon stats in there, or I could just burn up one).

Thanks for the feedback!

[Thor Olavsrud]

Yes, Transmutative is now flat Ob, flat actions, which makes working with them much easier. I believe Luke plans to post revisions of the Abstractions shortly after the Revision itself becomes available, but don't take my word for it.

In any case, I think your numbers more or less worked out correctly. Luke's spell came out Ob 4, 12 Actions. That's essentially your Finalized spell, but with an added Extension Sigil.