Gem Questions/Concerns

First of all, let me say this: while magic should be very loose and up to their respective Players and GMs, I believe that Gem Activation Effects alone should be a lot more specific in certain aspects to avoid confusion. This mostly just depends on the Gem in question though.

In this list of stupid questions and ideas, I want to make known that I also bring forth proposals to change a certain exsisting Gem Activation Effect, Bismuth, and questions on Gem Capacity and Activation before I delve into each specific Gem.

Right, so gems require five Activated gems to be able to start the process of Activation+, although the maximum capacity of gems a pony can hold is only four, for Earths. Now I suppose that Unicorns can use TK to activate the five gems, since they wouldn't be touching them technically and wouldn't be Overloading as a result. With that said, does that mean Pegasi and Earths can't try Activation+ at all, as they mostly need to touch their gems to activate them? At least from the knowledge I've gained from Oaken, we need to exert some force in the process of Activation, hence why TK and smooshing them together physically work.

That said, there's also been mentioning of wanting to "lessen the grind" a bit, so I propose a few things here. The first one, may be a bit unfair to Pegasi however, being that Activation+ just requires one less gem. As a result, Earths can still touch the four gems required and activate them, this being as their gem capacity is the max of four. Unicorns and Earths would be able to aid in Activation+ but not Pegasi, as their gem capacity is only three, but seemingly have to try activating gems the same way as Earths. My other solution to this may have been making a Gem Magic 5B perk, in which anyone with that perk would only need four gems for Activation+ and make it available to all races, just as Gem Magic as a whole has become recently.

Another thing I'm worried about however is with stacking certain gems, although it'd be hard to stack Activated+ gems with them being such a rarity nowadays. With that said, a lot of the "specifics" on gems effects can be dealt with when they're brought up. That is, if they ever even do.

Also, Crystal Rot with Dragon Heart sounds like a method of torture. That is all.

Rose Quartz - How long does one have to heal a major wound? Can an Activated+ RQ restore one's limb if it was just recently dismembered? I'd imagine it can't dissipate old scars as they've already "healed," but if an Activated+ RQ does heal a major wound, is a scar left behind? Although it probably wouldn't be able to heal old scars, would it still be able to restore limbs lost long ago and restore eyesight? That is, if the target wasn't born blind or through other means. I'd imagine that's classified as more of a disease however, and not a major wound. Now, it also only says "major wound," so does that mean you can't use the Activated+ effect to heal smaller cuts and bruises if the normal Activated effect runs out for the day?

Agate - "Gives an energy burst and heightened speed" - is this sort of like a sugar rush of sorts? I see no real problem with Agate's activated effect- just curious. Being able to stay awake for a whole week with no side-effects, though- does sleeping normally and for only one day allow its user to stay awake for a whole week again, or do they have to sleep even longer to compensate for that? I'd imagine that taking off the gem after a couple of days with no sleep wouldn't make you instantly crash or something, but was just wondering. No real problems with this gem, otherwise.

Amethyst - I figure the Activated+ effect also doesn't work indoors.

Amber - Its Activated+ effect, being two guaranteed "hits" - does that mean that Amber can only guarantee a successful dice roll in combat, or with weapons? Say, one can't use an Activated+ Amber for successfully baking a cake, activating a gem or crafting a wand, but can use Amber's effect when throwing a grappling hook out of combat, shooting a gun or hitting an enemy with magic. I'd also imagine critical hits aren't possible, although one may be able to charge up with Bide for a guaranteed Heavy Weapons double damage roll on the next turn. That, and also two other guaranteed hits with Unarmed 5B in one turn, although it seems as if Highlander still wouldn't be able to be used with Amber, as it requires the user to pass a Heavy Weapons roll specifically. Would Amber with Light Weapons 3B only require a single charge to guaranteed hit all three targets? I suppose we can cross these bridges when we reach them, though, since only one player on the game has an Amber+ anyways.

Garnet - Are the bonuses to "defense" a raise in AC or a bonus whenever one tries to block an attack with whatever means they use?

Aquamarine - Nothing too crazy about it, but might wanta buff in the future. That's a list for another day, though.

Topaz - No issues with this one, but would someone with multiple Topazes be able to charge two or more at the same time? This goes for a couple of other gems as well, actually, but I'll only mention it here this one time. That is, being able to charge multiple gems in the same instance (turn).

Bloodstone - It states that I can drain physical energy from "another" (so not able to absrib my own HP I assume), but is it possible to use Alexandrite in order to drain your clone's HP as a result? Also, there doesn't seem to be a max capacity of HP this gem can absorb. Could I stockpile HP into this gem over the course of days, weeks, months, and release a one-shot literally anything beam with the gem's Activated+ effect? That's pretty cool, but, uh, also just plain broken.

Carnelian - No pressing issues.

Tiger's Eye - Activated effect just seems like a better Agate, or exactly the same effect depending on the GM. Also, could the Tiger's Eye+ effect be set to ponies- and then, with several Tiger's Eyes, one could potentially have a +4 in hitting other pony players. Then again, though, Activated+ gems are pretty tough to get nowadays, so stacking Activated+ gems are no real issue. At least, not for another few years or so.

Chalcedony - Activated effect allows its user to walk on clouds, so I'd imagine that this gem, whilst activated, can normally rest on clouds- including anything made of the activated gem. That said, the only other way non-Pegasi ponies could use this gem is while getting a lift up! Might get stuck up there, though. As a result, I'd imagine one with this gem would be able to play with clouds and push them into shapes. Otherwise, it's fine- not a real issue with a Pegasus or Griffon around, or a Unicorn that can teleport.

Tourmaline - No pressing issues.

Citrine - No pressing issues.

Peridot - No issues, and I like how this gem's effects are explained out. It's not too long, brings up a situation in which the gem may or may not work, and clarifies its capabilities clearly.

White/Black Opal - No issues, but I like how there's two different variations for the gem's opposite effects. Perhaps the same can be done with other gems in order to gain an opposite effect by digging up another variation! Such as Fossilite- why not have a second variation of the gem that has the same description, but for aging rather than making more youthful? Could be neat.

Jasper - No pressing issues.

Kunzite - No pressing issues.

Lapis Lazuli - Can we choose what sort of water- as in, fresh or sea water? Considering it tastes like ocean water, it's probably salty. Blegh.

Turquoise - No pressing issues.

Sapphire - No pressing issues.

Ruby - No pressing issues.

Spinel - Four normally activated Spinels. Put them all on your neck at once. Yell. Profit. No pressing issues with Activated+ effect.

Serpentine - No pressing issues.

Rhodonite - The gem's Activated+ effect could potentially create turmoil with relationships, but nobody is going to do this as they'd face OOC scorn, so, er... hurray!

Moonstone - No pressing issues.

Diamond - No pressing issues.

Obsidian - No pressing issues.

Emerald - Does the Emerald+ effect work on Leshies, since they're technically plants? Might need to inquire with Fine about this one...

Alexandrite - Alright, so... phew. Let's start with the basics, here. This gem allows its user to split themselves up, in hive-mind fashion. As a result, the clones deal 1/x damage, x being how many of yourself there are. With this in mind, that's all the explanation there is. As a result, right, that means that I could use this gem to have a fifty HP meatshield, as damage taken isn't split. Does the clone have the same amount of HP as you upon splitting? When one clone dies, it apparently returns to the other, so I'd assume that you'd have the same HP as before once your clone remerges with you. With that said, when you do split, do your items also split? I wouldn't think so. A bit more clarification on skill usage would be nice as well. Then, with Strength 1B, I myself could potentially get an additional +2 on my Strength roll, adding up for a base +10 on both of my Strength rolls if both clones help each other out, not counting other bonuses. With a Alexandrite+, an additional +4 instead, as the only roll that is halved is damage according to the explanation. Alexandrite could probably do with some more rules for clarity- I can also understand why melee attacks might be halved, but why ranged attacks too? That just seems a bit odd, as something like shooting a gun has nothing to do with your strength, but you get the point. This gem needs some looking at, even if the clone is only around for an hour, or three turns in combat.

Moldavite - No issues, now that meteor shards have been edited in the Wand Document, no longer being a Masterwork resource (at least, to my knowledge).

Antidite - Can the Activated effect of Antidite absorb magic natural elements as well, such as fire and water, as long as its source is magical? That is, from a Unicorn horn or gem. Could it negate an attack by Torchlight, with a fire spell- or Bubbles' fire magic with her bracelet? Now, with the Activated+ effect, can Antidite cancel out enchantments, magical potions, gem effects, and so on? I don't think this would reverse effects of already used gems, as in, things like Fossilite. Say, if Fine entered a Antidite field, he wouldn't be back to his original age, but if someone took a passive effect gem inside the field, it wouldn't be useable once outside the Antidite+ field. I'd imagine that all magic becomes unusable as well, meaning possibly to the point of which races cannot use their race magic whilst inside the field, possibly? That is, Weather Magic, Nature Magic, and all Unicorn spells. This also mean, possibly, that a Unicorn inside the field cannot cast a spell at all, including being unable to alter anything or create magic outside of the non-magical field, whilst inside the field.

Sunstone - No pressing issues, but, er, doesn't sound like anyone would ever really take up a gem slot for this gem, or take the time to make it. Especially since the effects only last a month or so before the gem stops working. Which raises up issues with that one recharging gem, but we still have a dozen or so to go through before that...

Nephrite - No pressing issues.

Weatherstone - With its Activation+ effect, the gem allows its users to stop and change the weather as they see fit. Specifically, the weather they "desire," although that makes me wonder if this gem could create tornadoes or make it hail massive chunks of ice. Perhaps even something like chocolate rain? This is really just up to GM discretion anyway, though.

Beryl - No pressing issues.

Labradorite - No pressing issues.

Amazonite - Activation+ allows one to make themselves or other twice their size. Perhaps a bit more clarification on this, along with any bonuses one would get from doubling in size? I'd imagine your Strength and Endurance would get a small boost, or maybe just one's health, but not double entirely since that'd be a bit broken.

Split Rock - I imagine both effects only work when the target is near you, even if the states you just have to focus on the person.

Rainbow Flourite - No pressing issues.

Rose Stone - No pressing issues.

Snowflake Obsidian - No pressing issues.

Onyx - No pressing issues.

Black Lady - No pressing issues.

Morganite - No pressing issues.

Stellite - No pressing issues.

Bismuth - With Blossom's recent ghost quests, it's apparent that we no longer need gems to see ghosts. That, and, this other suggestion I have for Bismuth's effects might be easier than having to establish rules for this spiritual plane of ghosts. Instead, why not move the Activated+ effect of Bismuth into its normal Activated slot, then have the Activated+ effect allow its user to phase through objects once a day like a ghost or something? For any established rules off the bat, I can imagine that the phasing cannot work through blood, but not all organic life as to let users phase through vegetation and the like. That said, the gem would probably only allow its user to phase through objects that aren't too thick, either. Just some base rules, though- this is subject to change, and needs a bit more details if approved.

Csarite - No pressing issues.

Ametrine - No pressing issues.

Cithyst - I would hope that using this gem's Activated effect would make it so that the gem also turns invisible. Otherwise, that'd be a bit silly. Now, this gem obviously makes you and the gem invisible, then, but nothing else. Thankfully, the gem doesn't show your digesting foods floating about in the air, though that begs the question then. Could I hide something in my mouth, and would it be invisible? A sword entirely made of Cithyst, handle and all would become invisible as well, since it'd all be a part of that one Activated Cithyst. Also, its Activated+ effect seems a little lackluster, unless you naturally just have super bad luck.

Corundum - Does the gem's Activated effect work on gems that stop working once all their charges are gone? That is, gems like Reversite, Fossilite. That also raises an important issue on certain gems that have more than one charge before stopping to work. If you only use one charge of Reversite, and keep the other, it still technically "works," so I could keep charging Reversite and using its Activated effect every week. Also, does its Activated+ effect not allow its Activated effect to work anymore once the Corundum is "no longer usable?" I suppose that's what it implies...

Skilltrine - No pressing issues.

Ametron - No pressing issues.

Creamion - No pressing issues.

Astrolite - No pressing issues, although using its Activated effect for Stardust Wand materials are still in question. For what it is right now though, the gem cannot be used for that purpose.

Dragon Heart - No pressing issues, but if it requires gloves to even hold since its so hot, Dragon Heart Crystal Rot sounds terrifying. Does this also mean that normal Dragon Hearts are hotter than Activated Rubies? Would they passively gain the burn damage of a Activated Ruby? Probably not.

Glowpaz - No pressing issues.

Cosmic Spectrum - No pressing issues.

Crackle - No pressing issues.

Fossilite - No pressing issues.

Reversite - No pressing issues.

Future changes and ideas to come.