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RavensN'Pennies:Designer'sNotes:MetatronicGenerators
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Thursday,August28,2014

Designer'sNotes:MetatronicGenerators

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Thisisoneofmyfavoritearticles(sofar)thatI'vewritten.IfeltalittleiffyaboutitfirstjustbecauseIwas
moreorlesstakingaideaanotherauthorhadwroteandexpandingitoutofproportionoftheoriginalscope.
ButIdiditanywaysbecauselikeeverythingIwriteI'mnotsureifit'sanygood(that'swhyIrelyon
reviewers).Ittookmealittleover90hourstofinishandIwroteWAYmorethanIeverneededtoobecause
themusehitmewithabrick(assheoftendoes).Theoriginalarticlehadasystemforbattlesuits(partof
whichmadeitintheissueasanAppendixZ),variantbatteries(includingamagicalone),andahugebox
aboutusingmetatronicgeneratorswithRitualPathmagic.Ihadtocutmostofit,thoughIreallywishIhad
leftintheboxaboutPowerBatteries.Itwassmallandcouldhaveeasilystayedin.Ohwell,Hindsight,20/20,
allthat.Battlesuitsbecameitsownarticle,buthereareafewoddsandendsthatdidn'tmakeitin.

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November2014(14)

GeneratorsasPowerBatteries
Thoughitsnotstatedinthearticle,buyingaEnergyReserveasageneratorispossibleandcoststhenormal
amount.Theyretypicallyrings,amulets,orothersmallconcealableobjectsthatareplacednexttothecasters
skin.Forexample,PowerLad'spowerresidesalmostentirelyinhisPowerRing,whichallowshimtostore
energytousehisabilities.Withoutithecannotaccessanyofhispowers.HebuysthisasaTinyGenerator
thathasEnergyReserve(Super)(Apparatus,+0%)asitsbaseability.

VariantTechnologicalBattery
Ifmagicalenergycanbeharnessedandusedtoperformfeatsotherthanmagical,anewformofbatterymight
beinorder:

MagitekBattery(TL^)
http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2014/08/designersnotesmetatronicgenerators.html#.WIa6kVj57IM

October2014(16)
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RavensN'Pennies:Designer'sNotes:MetatronicGenerators

MagitekBattery(TL^)

Gamemaster's
Guidepost:
MetagameTraitsor
Impulse...

Amagitekbatteryissimilartoamundanebatteryorpowercell,exceptthatitcanberechargedusingmagical
energy.Thisdoesntrequireanyparticularspellorability,insteaddeterminethemagesmagicalSTby
addinghisMagerytohisIQ.Afullchargerequiresthemagetoconcentrateconstantlyfor3,600secondsx
(batteryweight/magicalBasicLift).AMagitekbatterycoststwiceasmuchasanormalbatteryorpowercell
ofthesamesize."Respooling"thisenergyintoFPispossible,butnotveryefficientmagitekbatteriesyield
FPequaltotheirweightx3topowerspells,rituals,etc.LC4.

Gamemaster's
Guidepost:Cthulhu
MythosSpells,Par...
GURPS101:Howto
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VariousModifiers
Ileftoutafewnewmodifiersthatwereaddedafterallotherswerecalculated.Whileuseful,Ijustdidn'thave
room.

Gamemaster's
Guidepost:I'mOn
theHuntandAfter
...

Limited/Loyal:Thedeviceisloyaltoaparticularpersonorhasacodetouseandcannotbeusedby
anyoneotherthantheauthorizeduser.Thismaybeswitchedbythecurrentauthorizeduser.+1CF.Ifit
cannotbeswitchedtoanewuserusethefollowingtabletodetermineit'slimitation:

Gamemaster's
Guidepost:AGM's
GuidetoRitual
Pat...

Onlyforaspecificnation,religion,orrace:AddaCFof0.2

GURPS101:Evaluation
AsaSkillRoll

Onlyforaspecifictypeofcreature,orfolkofacertaincity:AddaCFof0.4
Onlyforallmembersofonespecificfamily:AddaCFof0.6
Onlyforonespecificperson:AddaCFof0.8
SelfHealing:Thedevicecanhealitself,maybeit'sbioorganicormagicallyselfsustaining.Whateverthecase
thedeviceheals1HPofdamageperdaywithoutrepair.Thisaddsa+0.25CFtothefinalcost.Ifthedevice
mustmeetwithcertainrequirementsthataredifficulttoarrangeortimeconsuming,thanhalvethefinal
modifier.Examplesincludeenvironmentalneeds(ithastobeleftinsunshine)orspecificelements(needsto
bepluggedintohousecurrent).HigherlevelsarepossiblewiththeGM'spermission.Ifithealsat1HPper12
hoursthentheCFis+0.5,ifit's1HPperhourthenit's+1CF,1HPperminuteis+4CF,and1HPper
secondis+19CF.

July2014(13)
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May2014(11)
April2014(10)
March2014(18)
February2014(14)
January2014(9)

ReducedBattery:Thedeviceisapowerhog,reduceoperatingdurationorshotsbyhalf.0.2CF.Higher
levelsmaybepossibleiftheGMallows.Foronequarterdurationorshotsadd0.4CF,oneeight,0.6CF,
andsoon.Minimumoperatingdurationis1secondor1shot.

2013(43)

Resilient:Thedeviceisparticularrugged,doublebothDRandHP.Thiscosts+1CF.GMsmayallowhigher
levels,eachlevelincreasingtheDRandHPbyafurthermultiple.TripleDRandHPcostsx3,Quadruple
costs+4CF,andsoon.HalvethisifitonlydoublestheDRorHPoftheobject.

Labels

Rugged:Thedeviceisparticularlyrugged.AllgeneratorsstartwithaHTof12,buteachlevelofthismodifer
increasesthisby+1andcosts+0.5CF.
Unique:Thedeviceisaoneofkind(justlikethegadgetmodifieronp.B117)andifbrokenorstolencannot
bereproduced.1CF.

NewSize:Diminutive
DiminutivegeneratorsarSM10,weight0.0015lbs.,require1AAcellperweek,haveaLCof3,Bulk0,
andanegligibleSTrequirement.Costis$4,500xpointcostandrequireeitherTL10orhighertechnologyor
thattheybeselfpowered.

InterpolatedValues
Whatifyoudon'twantaSM6Minigenerator?WhatifyouwantaSM7?Thisispossiblewiththecurrent
system,simplyaddthestatsofthetwodevicestogetherandthenaveragethem(roundingup)andusethe
bestbatteryrequirementForexample,aSM7Minigeneratorwouldcost$3,250perpoint,need2xAA/24
hours,weigh0.17lbs.,beLC3,haveaBulkof2,andaSTof2.

GeneratorsasRitualPathMagicItems
Idon'tusuallypullstraightfromtheforumstopostonmyblog,butthisonehasgottenenoughmileagethatI
thinkitmightbeusefultohaveelsewhere.Asweallknow,RitualPathmagichasitsownenchantmentand
magicitemsystem...butsomefolksdon'tlikehowtospendpointsforgear.Nowusually,Iamoneofthem.I
don'tthinkyoushouldpaypointsforgearunlessitisasuperuniqueunreproducibleobject.Ifitisn'toneof
those...youshouldbeabletobuyitifit'savailableinthecampaignsetting.That'sjusthowIfeel.Irunmy
gamesthatway,Iwritethatway,Igiveadvicethatway.Thatsaid,IdolikethemagicitemsystemforRitual
PathmagicitmakessenseandI'veuseditbeforewithmuchsuccess.SometimesIliketochangethingsup,
I'vegotsomethinglike22differentvariationsofamagicalitemsystemforRPMabouthalfofthemwork
okayandmaybeaquarterofthemworkwellenoughthatonedaytheymightseethelightofdayina
Pyramidarticleorsupplement.Oneofthemthatworkedfinewas"MagicItemsasMetatronicGenerators"
whichIreleasedontheforums.Anyways,I'veincludedsomeimprovementsI'vemadefrommyowngames.
Hopeyougetsomeuseoutofthem.You'llneedbothGURPSThaumatology:RitualPath
MagicandPyramid#3/46:WeirdSciencetogetfulluseoutofthispost.

2012(27)

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TheBasics
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TheBasics

RavensN'Pennies:Designer'sNotes:MetatronicGenerators

InsteadofusingElectronicsOperation(Metatronics)useThaumatologyinstead.GMsmay
allowPathskillrollsinsteadifthatmakessense.Forexample,aWandofFireballsmight
requireaPathofEnergyrollinsteadofThaumatology.
TreatCriticalfailuresasabotchonaspellandmakeaHTroll.
UsetheExtraEffortrulesnormally,butmakeaWillBasedThaumatologyroll.
RitualPathmagicgeneratorscanbecumulativewiththewearersabilitiesbutonlyforMagical
Tools(seeGURPSThaumatology:RitualPathMagic,p.33).
RitualPathmagicgeneratorsuseMagicalasastandardpowermodifier.
DonotusethemodifiersunderEnchantedLimitations(GURPSThaumatology:RitualPath
Magic,p.33),theitemsgadgetmodifiersarealreadytakenintoaccountusingthePower
Table.
Unprotectedobjectsusetheregularcosts(andanyonecanusethem),butprotectedobjects
requireincense,specialoils,etcequaltoonehundredththefinalcostofthegeneratorandthe
expenditureofcharacterpointsequalto(onequartertheFinalCostdividedCampaignStarting
Wealth).SoaTL8RitualPathmagicgeneratorthatcost$80,000wouldrequire$4,000in
specialmaterialstobindittoyourauraandthepermanentexpenditureof1characterpoint.No
onebutyoucoulduseitanditwouldoccupyoneofyourConditionalSpellSlots.

DesigningandBuilding
MostRitualPathmagicgeneratorsaregoingtobeapparatuses,formagicalstaves,swords,andthelike,gothroughtheregular
designprocess.

UsingtheGenerator
Thisisprettymuchthesame.Forpowerringsandthelike,usetheInnateAttackskilltohitinsteadofThaumatology.

PoweringaGenerator
EnergymaybeaccumulatedtopayageneratorsFPcostusingthefollowingformula:5x
normalFPcost.ThisusesthePathofMagic(exactlyasifyouwerefillingyourmanareserve).
Forexample,ageneratorthatcosts1FPtouse,caninsteadbepoweredby5pointsof
accumulatedenergy.
CapacitorsbuyEnergyReserve(ManaReserve)at3pointsperlevel.Ifagivengeneratorcan
onlyuseacapacitor,usetherulesforthebuiltinER.Ifageneratormustuseaccumulated
energy,addAccessibility,FPcostsmustbeaccumulatednormally,5%.
SelfPoweredgeneratorsaccumulateenergyovertime,assumeaPathofMagicskillof15and
rolleachturn.Thisisexactlyasifyouwerefillingamanareserve.ForaPathofMagicskillof
20,quadruple,notdoublethefinalcostoftheitem.Alternatively,theitemmayrecover1point
ofenergyper10minutesasafeature(thoughitstillcostsdoubleasaselfpowereditem).
Itisntsuggestedthatbatterycostsbeused,butiftheGMwantstoohellneedtofigureout
howmuchFPisineachbatterytypeandshape.Seemagitekbatteriesaboveforaexample.

GeneratorExamples
Tinygenerators:rings,circlets,etc.
Minigenerators:wands,daggers,etc.
Smallgenerators:staves,rods,etc.
Portablegenerators:armor,swords,etc.
SemiPortablegenerators:cloaks,robes,etc.
Largegenerators:vehicles,golemhorses,etc.

RitualPathMagicGenerator"MagicItem"Examples
AmuletofNthrki(ABoundSpell)
Thisdevicegrantsthewearerapowerfulnecromanticaurathatdrains1d2pointsofHPfromalltargetswithintwoyardsifthey
failtowinaQuickContestofWillwiththewearer.ThewearerhealsthesamenumberofHP(regardlessofhowmuchheactually
drained.ActivatingthedevicerequiresaPathofUndeadrollinsteadofThaumatologyduetoitsinsidiousnecromanticnature.
Mini,$690,000,0.3lbs.SelfPowered.LC1.

Statistics:Leech1d2(minimumof1point)(AcceleratedHealing,+25%AreaEffect,2yards,+50%Aura,+80%Magical,
10%Malediction1,+100%MeleeCompatible,reachC,+10%)[115].

StaffoftheMagi(AMagicalTool)
Thisstaffmakesturnsthebearerintoapowerfulcaster!ItgrantsthefollowingabilitiesinadditiontobeusedasaFine
BalancedStyled(+3)quarterstaff.

Absorbsthefirst10pointsofdamagefrommagicalattacksandreducesArmorDivisorsbyone
step.Additionally,everypointofdamagethisstopsheals1pointofthestaffsmanareserveor
yourmanareserve.Youcanevenholdontoexcessivemagicalenergythatexceedsyourreseve,
withexcesspointsbleedingawayatonepointpersecond.
GivesEnergyReserve30(ManaReserve).

http://www.ravensnpennies.com/2014/08/designersnotesmetatronicgenerators.html#.WIa6kVj57IM

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RavensN'Pennies:Designer'sNotes:MetatronicGenerators
ImprovesMagery(RitualPath)byfivelevels.
BestowsMagicResistance5(Improved).
GivesRitualAdept(ifthecasterdidntalreadyhaveit,ifhediditaddsfouradditionallevelsof
Magery(RitualPath)instead!).
RetributiveStrike:Ifacasterisdesperate,hecansacrificethestaff,destroyingitpermanently
intheprocess.Thismagicalstrikedoes23dburningexplosivedamagetoeverythingbutthe
casterina16yardradiusandhasaArmorDivisor(2).Thisburningdamagetreatsthe
flammabilityclass(MakingThingsBurn,p.B433)ofallsubjectsasfourstepslowerthanit
actuallyis!
IthasaPathofMagicskillof20fordeterminingrechargetimestoitsEnergyReserve.Small,$2,810,144,
5lbs.SelfPowered.LC2.
Statistics:DamageResistance10(Absorption,HealsManaReserve*,+80%),ForceField,+20%,Hardened1,+20%Limited,
Magic,20%)[50]+EnergyReserve30(ManaReserve)[90]+Magery5(RitualPath)[50]+MagicResistance5(Improved,
+150%Magical,10%)[24]+RitualAdept(Magical,10%)[40]orMagery4(RitualPath)[9]+RetributiveStrike[18].
*ThishealstheERofthestafffirstandthenyourownmanareserveinsteadofHPorFP,andcanoverchargeyourmanareserveifitisfull,withapointoveryour

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normalManaReservemeltingawayeverysecond.
ThisisaalternateabilityofRitualAdept.

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BurningAttack23d(AreaEffect,16yards,+200%ArmorDivisor/2,+50%Backlash,InstantDestruction,300%Cosmic,HigherlevelsofIncendiary,+300%
Incendiary4,+40%Magical,10%)[18].ThisisbothaOneUseAbilityandaAlternateAbilityofEnergyReserve,resultingina1/25thofadiscount.

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PostedbyChristopherR.Riceat9:43PM
Christopher
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Labels:Designer'sNotes,magic,magicsystems,RitualPathMagic,writing

6comments:
Anonymous October19,2014at8:00AM

NotafreakingcommentI
canmakehere.
twitter.com/WAVY_News/s
tat
20m

About magitek batteries. Using my character as an example: IQ 13, Magery 0, recharging 1 lb (2C cells) takes
only106secondsandnomentionofpersonalcostslikeFatigue.Thatseemsabitperpetualmotionytome.Any
ideasonhowtoreignitinformorerestrainedsettings?

Christopher
@Ravenpenny
twitter.com/tarastrong/sta

Reply
Replies
ChristopherR.Rice

1h

October19,2014at8:28AM

I'mextremelyhesitatetoopenthecanofwormsthatis"HowmuchFPdoesthisbatteryhave?"That
said,youcouldchargedoubletheFPyoucouldpotentiallydrawfromabattery(6FPperpound)and
changesecondstominutestoincreasetherechargetimes.
Reply

Christopher
@Ravenpenny
Onepillmakesyou
grower
taller....cdn.emgn.com/wp
content/upl
19h

Christopher

Anonymous October20,2014at5:59AM
So for my character a nontiring way to get 6 FP / 106 minutes? That should keep it from being faster than
simplecastandrest.Nice.
Ialsoamputtingalimitonnumberoffullcyclesmysettingsbatteriescanhandlebeforeneedingtobereplaced.
Iwanttokeepthemfrombeinghasslefreelikepowerstones.
Reply

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ChristopherR.Rice

October20,2014at2:13PM

I'd require a HT roll every time the battery is charged. Start them at HT10 and every time it's
recharged add the following penalties: 1 for a success on your roll, 2 for a failure, and +1 for a
criticalsuccess.Criticalfailureruinsthebatterycompletely.
Reply

MichaelKeenan June21,2015at4:51PM
"Unprotected objects use the regular costs (and anyone can use them), but protected objects require incense,
special oils, etc equal to one hundredth the final cost of the generator and the expenditure of character points
equalto(onequartertheFinalCostdividedCampaignStartingWealth).SoaTL8RitualPathmagicgenerator
thatcost$80,000wouldrequire$4,000inspecialmaterialstobindittoyourauraandthepermanentexpenditure
of1characterpoint."

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Areyousureaboutthatmath?Isn't80000/100=800,not4000?
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RavensN'Pennies:Designer'sNotes:MetatronicGenerators
ChristopherR.Rice

June21,2015at5:26PM

Aye,that'samistake.
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