My buffs are virtually irrelevant to combat. Even "Body of the Warrior" just helps me a little with the NAR because I try really hard to not be in combat, as I am way too squishy. But changing back to my natural appearance everytime I start to sweat is annoying. And it seems like in any negotiation/diplomatic type scene it might have a negative effect to say, "Hi! Before we talk about whether you are going to eat me, let me go in the corner and cast some spells!" So that I can get a bonus on the negotiations. If I didn't come into the encounter with that up, it sort of makes it a lost cause to try to cast it then. ("No, No, No! I wasn't casting an attack spell, Honest! Just one that would help me lie my ass of to you! Why are you still drawing your weapons?")

Good Morning

I wanted to chime in here on "pre-buffing"

when I designed the magic rules took the time to look long at hard at the 3.5 buffing paradigm. Specific classes gave a parties a significant edge (extended great magic weapon, magic vestment, and so on) which forced us, as designers, to give the NPC's buff spells though potions and spells.

it became an arms race.

So, having a chance to create a new system I wanted to nip it in the bud...

Enter Scene duration spell...

The design concept behind Scene duration spells was to eat up an action during an event... much like "hulking out" the caster takes a moment to "buff up"

I also limited the amount of longer duration buffs though specific spells and the binding spell mechanic.

Their are times that a character may have a moment (right before the Martial character kicks down a door, or the heroes are setting up an ambush) where a caster may come into a combat buffed up... but these circumstances are left up to the GM.

but for the most part such buffing takes place in the midst of combat.

Now, talking about harvesters.

Harvesters can seance active magic within a limited range, but that is not the only means of detecting they possess... Every Harvester possesses a network of informants, these informants are constantly on the look out for casters and will report any strange happenings to their contact knowing that if it leads to a successful harvest they can make a few gold coins in the process.

fair warning, I use to have a practice of "harvesting" heroes at major conventions..... GMs start telling me about players openly using magic in public with complete disregard.. expect me to come to your table and pull you aside after the round..

I'm at Origins this year......

And don't worry, you can bring a few friends.... be for warned they don't always help.

I have witnessed more then one "friend" run for his life as soon as a harvester with a brood of thralls appear out of mid air, all looking right at the offending caster. (and how do they do that anyways?!?)

and by the way, we are also discussing standardized rules for optional harvester encounters to be placed in each and every adventure....

keep casting all those spells in public my friends... keep casting

dammit pedro, where is the like button already!

So is a psionically active Val in more danger of being Harvested walking around with his eyes showing his awakened status, or walking around with Alter Appearance active to hide it?

The Harvesters are not interested in Psions, at least as far as anyone knows, at this time.

Psionics are rarely a priority for the Harvesters (only in one mod IIRC), but that is not to say that a powerful Psion or one showing unique abilities could not interest them in the same way a magical beast would. If a Harvester is looking for magical might, to me detecting a magical effect on you is more telling than seeing the eyes (after all, it is hard to make out eyes from 60' away). Also, if you are actively trying to hide yourself, what else are you hiding?

So given Pedro's post and the responses, will this be implemented at ArcaniCon? No precasting buffs unless they are bindings? I think it is critical that all tables are run the same at the convention.


John

Correct,

It would be a VERY rare case that a psion would garner the attention of the Harvesters...

Just one more advantage those pesky Vald have over everyone else

John

Given the network of informants, vals would be hosed otherwise. The clear eyes is a permanent mark that can only effectively be hidden with an active spell. At least if you're going to interact with anyone you don't implicitly trust. Members of the Sanctorum have to be careful about where they cast, but aren't otherwise marked in such an obvious manner.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul