How Does Detect Even Work?

How Does Detect Even Work?

So, I got into another rules argument (first with a friend, then with myself) that left me buttblasted and made me once again realize one of the flaws of GURPS - it's been made by multiple authors, like Freddy Krueger, the bastard son of 100 maniacs. My friend pointed to one of my Detect-based spell builds and said "What the hell is going on here? First it says that it detects every appropriate object nearby, but then  it says that a successful roll detects the nearest one." I already started typing up a response, saying "Eat sh-" but then I thought "Wait a second, he might be right. I better research the topic before telling him to kick rocks." Oh boy, I was expecting a mess, and my expectations were exceeded.

Wizardry: Complete Scoundrel Spells II

Wizardry: Complete Scoundrel Spells II

Evacuation Rune is a very complicated spell. At first, I wanted to skip this spell, but then decided that if you massage RAW a little bit, you can get something workable.

Fatal Flame makes a creature explode upon death.

Mimicry is basically the Mimicry advantage.

Scry Location is a variant of Scrying that is tied to a location instead of a creature. In addition, the sensor cannot move, and a failed casting makes it impossible to scry on anything within a mile for a day.

Siphon lets you drain charges of a magical item to replenish your own magical energies.

Spell Theft lets you steal an ongoing spell effect. Yeah, One Power, Spells, -50% is a bit off, but I don't care.

Wizardry: Complete Scoundrel Spells I

Wizardry: Complete Scoundrel Spells I

It really seems that the dice want me to complete the "Complete" series of books. Complete Scoundrel is next in the queue (with only Complete Champion left), and this one has a relatively short spell chapter, but an interesting one.

Animate Instrument makes an instrument play by itself.

Aquatic Escape is a spell that quickly transforms you into a small fish for a short time.

Assassin's Darkness is a spell that creates an area of darkness that you can see in normally.

Blockade creates a short-lived block of wood. Originally, this was a 5-by-5-by-5 feet cube, but I had to include an alternative hexagonal version to make it work better on combat maps in GURPS.

Catapult is a spell that I find interesting - it lets you throw an object/weapon using Innate Attack (Projectile) instead of the usual skill, and possibly with higher ST than you have.

Create Fetch is an interesting spell that is somewhat similar to Create Servant from GURPS Magic. And yes, the HP casting cost is intentional.

Enlarge Weapon increases a weapon's SM by one. Prepare to unzip those scaling rules.

Wizardry: Miscellaneous Spells IV

Wizardry: Miscellaneous Spells IV

I do have another book with spells in the queue, but before I go there, I have to add some miscellaneous spells.

Analyze Portal is a complex spell that really shouldn't be one. I had to stretch RAW a bit here to get the desired effect.

Detect Gems is a simple detection spell that detects gems. I need it because the gold dragon has it as an innate spell-like ability, and I see no reason for it not being a generic spell available to wizards.

Shape Metal is a metal version of Stone Shape.

Arena: Let's try out Expanded ANTOG

Arena: Let's try out Expanded ANTOG

Not that long ago, A New Take on Grappling from Pyramid #3-34 got expanded. Let's give it a run. For this example, I'll do something relatively simple - a one-on-one fight between a sumo wrestler (after all, the Grand Tournament is in two weeks or so) and an orc with a knife. I will be using the optional rule that deemphasizes ST outlined at the end of the document.

Sumotori

ST 14    HP 18      SM+0

DX 11   BS 5.5     thr/sw 1d/1d+2

HT 11   FP 11       BL 39 lbs.

             Basic Move 5

             Dodge: 8

             Parry: 10 (sumo wrestling)

Sumo Wrestling-14

Typical Grappling Contest Scores: Sumo Wrestling (ST/HP-based): 21/23.

Punch (11): thrust 1d-1 crushing, Reach C.

Kick (9): thrust 1d crushing, Reach C-1. Roll against DX on a miss or dodge to avoid falling down.

The sumotori is naked, and hence has +1 to Escape rolls.

In addition, he's wearing a mawashi (the belt) that counts as a good handhold if you manage to grab it. It probably should also give DR to the groin, but that probably won't come up.

Orc

ST 13    HP 13      SM+0

DX 12   BS 6     thr/sw 1d/1d+1

HT 12   FP 12       BL 34 lbs.

             Basic Move 6

             Dodge: 9

             Parry: 9 (knife); 10 (wrestling)

Knife-14; Wrestling-14

Typical Grappling Contest Scores: Wrestling (ST/HP-based): 20/20.

Large Knife swing (14): swing 1d-1 cutting, Reach C-1.

Large Knife thrust (14): thrust 1d impaling, Reach C.

Punch (12): thrust 1d-1 crushing, Reach C.

Kick (10): thrust 1d crushing, Reach C-1. Roll against DX on a miss or dodge to avoid falling down.

The orc is wearing regular clothing.

Blood Magic: Vile Spells

Blood Magic: Vile Spells

Obviously, Book of Vile Darkness had some spells that are appropriate to blood mages. Thus, here's a quick conversion of them for this spellcasting tradition.

Index: Miscellaneous Posts

Index: Miscellaneous Posts

I'm encountering a problem that I remember I wrote something that is useful to me, but I cannot find it. It's time to create an index.