What magical properties do gemstones have in your settings and how do you use them in your games ?
>>98543885By nature, they have none. However their crystalline matrix makes them useful as foci and occasionally vessels for certain spells or other energies. I used to have a convoluted system for what gems could correspond to what spells, but my players didn't care so I dropped it for a system where its either a gold sink, a fulcrum for leverage by npcs over the players or a reason to fuck off to location X. It also functions as a reason why the players or npcs have access to certain magical solutions that should upend the pseudo-medieval economics of the setting, but commoners dont. Yes, replication magic is extremely powerful but you cant replicate 4+ carat flawless rubies that you use up in the process. So you get one or two goes in a campaign, maybe three if you bleed for it... And the general economy gets fuckn zero.Only one player has ever noticed that there used to be a system and that I seemed to contradict it more "recently". I handwaved it to be down to "misunderstandings and gaps in knowledge of application methodology by the particular sage" that could possibly be remedied by "centuries of study that would often force heretical or maddening beliefs on the students, and whose written accounts tend to be so far removed from commonly accepted magical traditions that they are either denounced as mad ramblings, heretical drivel or simply itself misunderstood and wrongly applied to disasterous results. Their innate right or wrongness is impossible to discern for you."
>>98543885They look far tastier than they actually are.
>>98543885I'm playing a game taking place in the Stormlight Archive setting, and there happens to be a bunch of rules about gemstones in the setting: there's about 10 types of gems, known as Polestones, that can house the magic energy that powers most of the setting. Each stone is associated with a different type of substance (as there's a magic device called a Soulcaster that can turn any type of matter into a specific one associated with the types of gems housed within it). The usefulness of these substances in turn decides the worth of the associate gems; Emeralds, which can produce grain, are the most prized in the war-focused society of the setting. To facilitate the ease of using magic, the currency of a majority of the world are spheres, which are glass spheres of a uniform size who have a gem inside them, with larger gems inside increasing the worth of the gem. The sphere with the largest size of gem is called a broam, and an emerald broam is worth hundred times a diamond chip (the smallest size and the most worthless of the gems for Soulcasting). These gems, whether found in a sphere or kept in a vault, share the same ability to store stormlight, the aforementioned magic energy of the setting. Stormlight is delivered roughly every 5 days by a giant everpresent storm known as the Highstorm, and gems left out in the storm fill up with Stormlight, and produce a light when filled. Since they fill with magic if they're the correct type of gem, it serves as a measure of anti-counterfeit, as a dun gem in a group of otherwise lit ones is suspect. Gems that are cut better hold Stormlight for longer, but most gems start to dim by the 4th day since a storm.
>>98544359Underrated.
>>98543885They can only be used by women with the exception of the rare JO breed of crystal and don't do much besides making them feel happy if a bit smug
>>98543885I dunno what about you???
They can be used to store enchantments. I mostly use this to explain why magic weapons and armor are all jeweled up
>>98543885Some crystals contain souls and a crystal based race needs those to reproduce, or at least expand the numbers of their race. Naturally they became far traders, bankers and marketeers to make sure they can collect any and all that happen to pop up on the markets.
I won't answer until you offer your own thoughts and start responding to the other people in this thread by discussing their ideas.
>>98543885it's not really about the stone, it's how the wizard would enhance it's given properties, the enchantment per sefound this one in my mom's dresser like a year ago, still trying to find a trustworthy and proficient ... well uh idk what you'd call it, a lapidary who can identify magical artifacts... really been wanting to know what enchantment this is under. feels solid
>>98543885they have no effect but all people who matter think they do like in real life.
>>98545876It does just seem like authors and hollywood leeches use this site for their own money making ideas doesn't it. Especially since that Obsession movie.
>>98544359Why would anyone try eating them?
>>98549590Why would anyone bump a thread from page 10 with a retarded question? Life is full of mysteries.
>>98546035So basically a placebo, got it.
>>98549590Eating and tasting are not the same thing, retard. I bet you never licked an eraser in elementary school
>>98543885there is a type of crystalline mineral found deep underground that glows with a blueish light, colloquially known as glowstone.but when exposed to sunlight it loses this property, becoming not too dissimilar to quartz.there are a few workshops that makes lanterns capable of completely encasing the stone, to protect it during the day.but these have not seen widespread use outside of major cities.they are quite costly due to the difficulty and danger of procuring sizeable quantities for manufacturing.but quite sought after by adventurers for their practical advantages over torches or conventional lanterns.
>>98543885What are some crystals that can boost different magical elements besides just using rubies for flame magic, sapphires for water magic, and emeralds for earth magic? Maybe diamonds could boost light magic, and amethyst darkness magic for example.
>>98553837From >>98545894
>>98553837do you have an autistic obsession with elements because your brain can't handle phenomenon being uncategorized?
>>98553494placebo is an effect anon.
I got yer magical properties right here
>>98543885Why ARE we so obsessed with magical gems? Does a part of our brains just go “ooh shiny”?
>>98557103We are like magpies (or bowerbirds or whatever).
In my homebrew setting various gems reduce the mana cost of elemental spells by a small amount.I'm trying to have crafting be a proper thing in my system and allowing for exotic materials be used to speed up enchanting magic items, modifying spells to some minor degree, or reducing the mana cost of spells and martial abilities.Diamonds are a catch-all for all the elements to get a minor cost reduction but because they get used a lot for resurrection and enchanting effects most mages don't bother to go with the "all-rounder" gem and instead focus on 1 or 2 elements - and by proxy, those 1 or 2 gems in their spell focuses.
>>98555274So just being really hard, lol?
>>98555031It's not, if it was it would have "effect" in the name.
>>98557103Gems are cool and honestly feel kinda magical. Like flowers, but more mysterious.
>>98543885They can, as it requires time being infused with magical and elemental properties. Some hold it better depending on how and what type of magic you infuse it with. For example a red ruby is great to store and enhance fire magic compared to using jade. Which is better with nature and earth magic. However you can force it and you might get some magical quirks if you pull it off.
gem thread
>>98575278>you might get some magical quirks if you pull it offLike what precisely?
>>98578402Like using a sapphire for fire magic. The fire you cast is blue and can do more damage but higher chance of a misfire.
>>98555274this dumbass brings a sword to a slingfight, smdh ngmi gg
Agate: SleepAlexandrite: LuckAmber: Protection from DiseaseAmethyst: Protection from poisonBeryl: Defensive BoostCarbuncle: Enhanced SightCarnelian: Protection from EvilCat's-Eye-Agate: Protection from planar OutsidersChalcedony: Ward against UndeadChrysolite: Bonus to will power and defense against possessionChrysoprase: InvisibilityCoral: Calms weather, and ensures safety from environmental hazardsDiamond: Invulnerability to UndeadHematite: Aids Fighting-Men and Heals WoundsJacinth: Luck for travel, protection from fireJade: Skill in performance and musicJasper: Aids in venom attacksJet: Aids the transfer or capture of soulsLapis Lazuli: Bonus to moraleMalachite: Protection from Fall DamageSunstone: Boosts magic defense and spell resistanceMoonstone: Activates lycanthropy and aids in damage against were-creaturesOlivine: Protection from passive and Area Effect spellsOnyx: Causes confusionPeriodot: Wards against enchantmentRuby: Wards against bad luckSapphire: Boosts magic ability, aids in knowledge checksSard: Benefits WisdomSerpentine: Adds to cunning, guile, and deceptionStar Sapphire: Protection from natural abilitiesTopaz: Allows sight of unwanted spiritsTurquoise: Aids mounts in all waysStone colorsBlack: Earth, Darkness, NegationBlue: Heaven, Truth, SpiritGray: Sun, luckGreen: Reproduction, resurrection, sightRed: Blood, HeatWhite: Moon, Enigmas, KnowledgeYellow: Secrecy, Illness, Medicine
>moon exploded>planet now covered in moonstone>makes flying islands and air ships possible because moonstone kept the moon in the sky
>>98543885you can use them to trick people with cold hands and baldspots to give you food and steel and horses.
>>98586574Stealing this and you're not going it back.
>>98543885What are some particularly iconic powerful gems/crystals in existing settings that you can steal for your own besides the Marvel Infinity Stones?
