Stone Masters and Crystal Gardening

[Bill]

I'm considering adding the option to magically grow gem-quality crystals to a stone master's class abilities. It seems thematically appropriate and addresses the issue of maintaining a supply of gems for the character's powers. I'm leaning toward it requiring a continuous P.P.E. source, like a ley line and for it to take a variable amount of time to create a usable product based on the desired mineral's utility (how many powers it gives the stone master access to and how many uses he or she can squeeze out of it); from days up to years for especially powerful options.

What other costs and limitations would you suggest incorporating into the ability?

[Jorick]

I'm considering adding the option to magically grow gem-quality crystals to a stone master's class abilities. It seems thematically appropriate and addresses the issue of maintaining a supply of gems for the character's powers. I'm leaning toward it requiring a continuous P.P.E. source, like a ley line and for it to take a variable amount of time to create a usable product based on the desired mineral's utility (how many powers it gives the stone master access to and how many uses he or she can squeeze out of it); from days up to years for especially powerful options.

What other costs and limitations would you suggest incorporating into the ability?

I had a similar idea, but the requirement is a pyramid. I imagine that stone magic is the equivalent to Lemurian Biomancy, in that Atlanteans not only make stone weapons and PA and such, but also the pyramids are designed to help create the necessary elements. Examples of such things exist in the South America book.

A player might have to set up a "home base" that includes a small pyramid (just like one may require a TW to have a lab/workshop). The pyramid could provide any number of benefits (including transportation), thus making a stone master a pretty cool thing to have in a party.

[drewkitty ~..~]

In my Opinion it would require a specialized magic pyramid that was dedicated to nothing but growing the crystals. WIth the lower quality stones being easier to grow then any of the gemstones.
With the caveat that magical minerals couldn't be grown.

[eliakon]

This should take months or years to grow IMHO.
Look at the Herbalists their class also depends on materials, but they can't just 'poof' I have what ever plant I want. And those are things that just take months or years normally....your talking stuff that takes centuries to millions of years......

And with gems you have the added issue of Techno-Wizards and just the sheer "I am raising gems to sell"

Thematically I think the idea that they have to rely on natural gems isn't really that much of a limit. I have never seen a player be short on gems unless the GM is trying to restrict the supply to be honest. And if the GM is trying to restrict the supply....then your not going to get to grow them anyway.

Just my 2cents. (not trying to be the 'no you cant' person here. Just thinking of some of the down sides to this if it was implemented...so that any ripple on effects can be addressed ahead of time, instead of afterwards.)

[Library Ogre]

I would allow them to grow crystals OFF a pyramid, but make it slower.

So, the standard grow set up is going to be a room in a pyramid. Give them a set amount of time to grow based on the value of the crystal and the power of the spell(s) available from it. A set-up that would take longer would be a cave on a nexus; even longer would be a cave on a ley line.

With a "gardener", they can grow relatively fast, but without only, they grow haphazardly.

In short, I'd allow it, but I'd have to fiddle with numbers.