Magic school: Entomancy

[DatsVatSheSaid]

This spell school has equivalency with Transmutation.

Entomancy 1

SPOILER: Click to show

Infest
Entomancy 1
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 15
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Attack, Combo-OK, Somatic, Ranged Touch, Physical, Rending
Duration: Instant
One Target within 30m takes 1k2 damage with the Infest property. +1k0 per raise on the Focus test, +0k1 for every Two raises on the Focus test.

Hardshell Shield Bug
Entomancy 1
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 10
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Somatic, Verbal
Duration: One round per level
This spell calls to your aid a hardshelled bug that attaches to your hand and acts as a shield with the following profile: 0k1 I/Melee/Pen 0/Defensive, Anchored, Organic(Power Field).

Blade Bug
Entomancy 1
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 10
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Somatic, Verbal
Duration: One round per level
This spell calls to your aid a bladed bug that attaches to your hand and acts as a sword with the following profile: 2k2 R/Melee/Pen 4/Anchored, Organic(Tearing)

Lesser Swarm
Entomancy 1
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 15
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Material, Somatic, Verbal, Physical, Rending
Duration: One scene
Conjure a minion squad within 30m with Size, Speed, Threat and Damage Rating equal the number of the raises made on the focus power test.
Material: a handful of Preserved Insect eggs.

Entomancy 2

SPOILER: Click to show

Plague of Spiders
Entomancy 2
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 25
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Combo-OK, Verbal, Somatic, Physical, Rending, Material
Duration: One round per Level
Conjure a minion squad within 30m with Size, Speed, Threat and Damage Rating equal to 1 + number of the raises made on the focus power test. They have the Snare Property.
Material: A handful of Preserved Spider eggs

Botfly Infestation
Entomancy 2
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 20
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Ranged touch, Somatic, Physical, Rending
Duration: Instant
One Target within 30m takes 1k2 damage with the Infest property. +1k0 per raise on the Focus Power test and +0k1 for every two raises on the Focus Power test. If the Target dies to this spell, conjure a minion squad with Size, Speed, Threat and Damage Rating equal to the size of the Target with the Infest Property from the target's corpse.

Stamina Parasite
Entomancy 2
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 25
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Combo-Ok, Somatic, Saving Throw
Duration: Indefinite (E)
One Target within 30m must make a Constitution test versus the focus test result of this spell or be infested with a Stamina sapping parasite. While they are bonded with the parasite, they must repeat the Constitution test at the start of each turn or gain a level of fatigue. A TN 15 Medicae test removes the parasite, but it must be made by someone other than the target.

Proboscis Lance Bug
Entomancy 2
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 20
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Somatic
Duration: One round per level
This spell calls to your aid a Proboscis Lance Bug that attaches to your hand and acts as a melee weapon with the following profile: 3k2 R/Melee/Pen 4/Anchored, Reach Organic(Sapping).

Stinger Shot Bug
Entomancy 2
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 10
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Somatic
Duration: One round per level
This spell calls to your aid a Stinger Shot bug that attaches to your hand and acts as a ranged weapon with the following properties: 3k3 R, Pistol, S/-,Clip 6, Pen 4. Anchored, Organic(Toxic, Shocking).

Entomancy 3

SPOILER: Click to show

Verminform
Entomancy 3
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 15
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Focus, Somatic, Verbal
Duration: One Scene
This spell temporarily transforms the caster into an insectoid hybrid creature. While they are transformed, gain Armor Plating equal your Entomancy level, a bite attack that deals 2k2 R damage with the Brawling and Toxic properties, Quadraped, and +1 to each of their physical stats.
Focus: A cockroach shell

Parasite Paracide
Entomancy 3
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 25
Action: Full Action
Keywords: Combo-Ok, Somatic, Saving Throw
Duration: Indefinite (E)
One Target within 30m must make a Constitution test versus the focus test result of this spell or be infested with a Stamina sapping parasite. While they are bonded with the parasite, whenver they roll a 1 on any test they take 3k2 R damage with the Tearing property. A TN 20 Medicae test removes the parasite.

Mosquito Swarm
Entomancy 3
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 20
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Material, Somatic, Verbal, Physical, Rending
Duration: One Scene
Conjure a minion squad within 30m with Size, Speed, Threat and Damage Rating equal to the number 1+ of Raises made on the focus test. Targets dealt wounds by the Mosquito swarm must make a TN 15 Constitution test or suffer Blood Loss.
Material Component: A vial of blood

Entomancy 4

SPOILER: Click to show

Thousand Eyes
Entomancy 4
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 30
Action: Full Action
Keywords: Focus, Social, Somatic
Duration: Concentration (Reaction)
The user goes into a trance as they link their mind with their swarm. The Caster may perceive through the senses of any of their swarms or through the eyes of anyone currently hosting a Parasite. You may not perceive through your own senses while concentrating and you may only perceive through one target's senses at one time, but may switch freely among viable targets at any time while doing so.
Focus: A small hive large enough to at least sit on the palm of your hand.

Drillworm Infestation
Entomancy 4
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 25
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Ranged touch, Somatic, Physical, Rending
Duration: Instant
One Target within 30m takes 6k4 damage with the Infest property with +1k0 per raise on the Focus Power test and +0k1 for every two. The Infestation has the Toxic property.

Hoverback Bug
Entomancy 4
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 30
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Somatic
Duration: One Scene.
You call to your side a Hoverback bug that attaches to your back and carries you around via it's large wings. You gain the Flyer trait but use Entomancy + Composure instead of Dexterity and Strength to determine your base Speed.

Entomancy 5

SPOILER: Click to show

Arachnogenesis
Entomancy 5
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 45
Action: Full Action
Keywords: Material, Somatic, Touch, Verbal
Duration: Instant
The Caster imbues a mass of Spider Eggs with fell power and savagery, inspiring growth. One Gorgonling is summoned to serve the caster for the duration of the scene. For each raise on the focus test summon an additional Gorgonling.
Material: A large mass of spider eggs large enough to be held in two hands.


Form of the Swarm Lord
Entomancy 5
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 45
Action: Full Action Action
Keywords:Focus, Somatic, Verbal,
Duration: One Scene
This spell temporarily transforms the caster into a massive insectoid monsters. While he's a Swarmlord, gain +3 to Size,-1 to Dexterity, +2 to Strength, a bite attack that deals 2k2 R damage, Flyer equal to twice your Speed,and additional arms to hold, carry or use objects and is always teamed up with a minion squad with a threat rating equal to your caster level.
Focus: the carapace of a dead Vermiurge

[ScrapyardDragon]

You should probably add links to all those weapon properties. the durations should list whether its character level or Entomancy level. Why can't the victim of parasite paracide remove the parasite themselves?

All of this is still cool though, these are just first-glance nitpicks.

[username]

Interesting stuff! If Swords can get their own spell school, bugs can too why not. I like that it uses Composure. Be the Bee Beard. As you requested I'll comment on it here rather than elsewhere, so lets look at the spells.

Entomancy 1

Infest is strong and solid. A very good all around spell. It seems like it might be a bit too good, extremely strong early on. Someone that intends to invest in Entomancy could probably get a 30 on their roll every time, enough to deal 5k4 damage. It is physical and single target however. It's not broken, seems alright. You might want to spell out that the +1k0 and +0k1 are actually damage though.

I'm surprised that Hardshell shieldbug and Bladebug spells don't require verbal components. Buzzing or some such for the "calling". TN 10 for all of these seems a bit low compared to other spells in books 1 and 2. The only ones that low are Shield (which is also opposed so it hardly counts) and Armoring Aura, which requires raises too. I'd probably make Hardshell shieldbug and Bladebug TN 15.

Lesser Swarm doesn't really work currently. Raises/3 for Size, TR and DR? It's TN 15, but doesn't do anything until you get at least a 30 on your roll, where it would make a size 1 TR 1 and DR 1 minion swarm. A full size 6 minion squad would require a roll of 105 or higher!

Entomancy 2

Plague of Spiders has an issue similar to Lesser Swarms in that despite the TN being 25, it doesn't do anything unless you get a 35 (except use up your spider eggs). You'd probably want to make these start with at least TR,Size and DR 1.

Botfly Infestation seems pretty okay, what I said for Infest goes for this as well. Being based entirely on the size of the target and the minion swarm apparently being permenant makes it much better than the plague of spiders or lesser swarm spells though.

Stamina Parasite seems overpowered. It's a Spell+Characteristic to cast, but pure characteristic to resist so pretty much no one is ever going to succeed. I'd remove the bit about making someone else remove it. Since it's Medicae it does require advanced training to even try, so I would say that is enough. It also doesn't give an action timing to removing the bug.

Proboscis Lance Bug seems alright.

Stinger Shot Bug seems alright too, although the TN is very low. Might be better as a level 1 spell, although even then it hardly seems to compare with just casting Infest.

Entomancy 3

Verminiform is ridiculously over the top powerful. That extra half action with no downsides alone makes it probably better than Dragon Form. Only a half action to cast too so it might as well be free action. The Bite at 2k2 doesn't have brawling, although that might be intended. I believe it's to mimic the Dragonform phrasing, but I'd spell it out.

The same things I said for Stamina Parasite go for Parasite Paracide as well. 1k2 damage with no inherent way to boost it is a bit silly too.

Mosquito Swarm is pretty nasty since Bloodloss is hard to get rid of during combat and will murder you right dead with surprising speed. The complaints I made for the other Swarm Spells go here though, where it doesn't do anything at the Focus Power test you need to cast it.

Entomancy 4

Thousand Eyes seems alright. How exactly does it work? Presumably Line of Sight and Line of Effect still apply here. It doesn't have an actual Target either, do you view through all the angles at once or do you pick one at a time? Do you pick it at the time of casting the spell? Do you need to know they have a parasite? Might want to limit it to bug parasites, so things like microscopic organisms don't apply since pretty much everyone has those.

Drillworm Infestation has a Material component but it isn't listed. It is also missing the Attack keyword and it probably should have a Ranged Touch attack to mimic Infestation and Botfly Infestation.

Hoverback Bug is good because flying is good but a 4th level spell giving Flyer and nothing else seems to be fine. It mentioned speed is based on Entomancy + Composure, does that mean it is Entomancy + Composure or Entomancy+ Composure times 2 due to the Flyer trait itself?

Entomancy 5

Arachnogenesis is bad since it gives no save at all. I know Web doesn't already but Web is already busted. Perhaps have them save with failure being Immobilized and success only being Restrained? It also runs into the same problem the other swarm summoning spells have though. You should probably rebalance the Swarm summoning spells.

Form of the Swarm Lord is okay. Perhaps a little too hard to cast for what you get, the Verminiform spell at level 3 is better. Best use of Form of the Swarm Lord I can see is to have a Daemonhost cast it, boosting their caster level to 10 so they can have a TR 10 minion squad to give +10 to all skill tests.

[Lestat]

Arachnogenesis
Entomancy 5
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 45
Action: Full Action
Keywords: Material, Somatic, Touch, Verbal
Duration: Instant
When you cast Arachnogenesis, choose a point within 25m. All creatures within 15m of the point are Immobilized for a number of rounds equal to your caster level and a number of minion squads is conjured per target as if Plague of Spiders had been cast.
Material: A large mass of spider eggs large enough to be held in two hands.

Arachnogenesis either doubles the number of squads you make each round because the minions you create get affected next cast for more minions, or multiplies them by an insane factor depending if you make squads for each individual minion affected in a squad. Because of the increase in TN you will either create a small number of weak minions, or an exponential number depending on how high you can reliably stack your Focus Power test making it range from fluff to gamebreaking.

Mosquito Swarm
Entomancy 3
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 20
Action: Half Action
Keywords: Material, Somatic, Verbal, Physical, Rending
Duration: One Scene
Conjure a minion squad within 30m with Size, Speed, Threat and Damage Rating equal to the number 1+ of Raises made on the focus test. Targets dealt wounds by the Mosquito swarm must make a TN 15 Constitution test or suffer Blood Loss.

Mosquito Swarm has a Material component, but the component isn't listed, they should also probably say they can fly/move in three dimensions.

Form of the Swarm Lord
Entomancy 5
Test: Entomancy + Composure
Target Number: 45
Action: Full Action Action
Keywords:Focus, Somatic, Verbal,
Duration: One Scene
This spell temporarily transforms the caster into a massive insectoid monsters. While he's a Swarmlord, gain +3 to Size,-1 to Dexterity, +2 to Strength, a bite attack that deals 2k2 R damage, Flyer equal to twice your Speed,an additional half action due to your increased arms and is always teamed up with a minion squad with a threat rating equal to your caster level.
Focus: the carapace of a dead Vermiurge

Form of the Swarm Lord poops on Dragon Form because it's almost the same thing, but it's also Haste with no real duration and doesn't fatigue/steal actions at the end. Haste can be cast on friends and stuff, but I've moved it from 3 to 4, and I've been thinking about moving it from 4 to 5, and cutting Time Dilation Zone (AoE haste/slow) because Haste is already in competition with the best spells in the game by itself. Dragon Form might feel underwhelming, but almost anyone with access to it would cast it because it's a stat boost, a resilience boost, and a speed boost with x2 flying all in one. If Form of the Swarm just wanted to emulate the extra arms it could just give extra arms like a race bonus. Currently the cost of Full Action vs Half Action compared to Dragon Form isn't a real downside because of the action boost. Extra arms would still be better than Dragon's free flamer and 2k2 natural weapon.

[ScrapyardDragon]

question; what are the various proficiency types for the different bug-weapons?

[DatsVatSheSaid]

May 25, 2019 10:05:36 GMT -6 ScrapyardDragon said:

question; what are the various proficiency types for the different bug-weapons?

I'd say either Ordinary or Syrneth, up to your DM

[GuardianTempest]

You're the one in charge of this thread though, you could spell it out in the description itself.

[ScrapyardDragon]

here's a crazy idea; make attacks with entomancy given weapons use animalKen+(attack skill). So if you have animal Ken 3 and ballistics 4, you'd roll 7k4.