Levism84
2017-06-10, 12:38 AM
I was looking over the Material Manipulator (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/occult-adventures/occult-classes/mesmerist/archetypes/paizo-llc-mesmerist-archetypes/material-manipulator-mesmerist-archetype/) archetype for Mesmerist (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/occult-adventures/occult-classes/mesmerist) and it looks pretty fun. However, I was wondering how the Revision ability works, namely how the 10th level ability to adjust a target's age and the 20th level benefit of such an effect "last[ing] indefinitely."
At 10th level, he can adjust the target’s age, rewinding the target’s age to as young as a young adult (approximately 8 years old for a human) or progressing it to as old as venerable. This causes the target to gain aging bonuses and penalties and adjust its size as appropriate for its new age, but doesn’t confer any other benefits gained from aging (such as additional racial Hit Dice, supernatural abilities, and so on). This ability is a polymorph effect, and the subject of a revision cannot end the effect early by any means unless the material manipulator permits it. At 20th level, the effect lasts indefinitely. The mesmerist can dismiss this effect as a free action.
Six different ways to look at the wording of the ability:
Interpretation 1: The age effect is a permanent effect that can be dismissed by the material manipulator at any time. The target continues to age using their new age. If the effect is dismissed, they revert to the age they were at before the effect was imposed. Example: The target was 30 years old, revised to have their age at 21 years old, aged five years until they were 26 years old when the effect was dismissed and are now 30 years old again, the age they were before the effect was imposed.
Interpretation 2: The age effect is a permanent effect that can be dismissed by the material manipulator at any time. The target continues to age using their new age but also affects their original age. If the effect is dismissed, they revert to the age they were before the effect was imposed plus the extra years they experienced. Example: The target was 30 years old, revised to have their age at 21 years old, aged five years until they were 26 years old when the effect was dismissed and are now 35 years old (their original age plus the years they experienced).
Interpretation 3: The age effect is a permanent effect that can be dismissed by the material manipulator at any time. The target ceases to age using their new age. If the effect is dismissed, they revert to the age they were at before the effect was imposed. Example: The target was 30 years old, revised to have their age at 21 years old, spent 5 years being 21 years old when the effect was dismissed and are now 30 years old again, the age they were before the effect was imposed.
Interpretation 4: The age effect is a permanent effect that can be dismissed by the material manipulator at any time. The target ceases to age using their new age but keeps track of time using their original age. If the effect is dismissed, they revert to the age they were before the effect was imposed plus the extra years they experienced. Example: The target was 30 years old, revised to have their age at 21 years old, spent 5 years being 21 years old when the effect was dismissed and are now 35 years old (their original age plus the years they experienced).
Interpretation 5: The age effect is an instantaneous effect that cannot be dismissed by the material manipulator. The target continues to age using their new age.
Interpretation 6: The age effect is an instantaneous effect that cannot be dismissed by the material manipulator. The target ceases to age using their new age.
From the 'dismissability' of the effect, it looks like Interpretation 5 and 6 can be ruled out. The mechanics don't seem to support the idea that the target becomes ageless due to this ability, simply that they are "rewound" or "fast forwarded" to a particular age. This would rule out Interpretation 3 and 4. So, that leaves Interpretation 1 or 2: the target ages in their new category, but what happens when the effect is dismissed? Do they go back to their original age or do they experience the weight of the years they have lived added on to their original age? If you go back to your original age category, you could repeat the process not only to keep you eternally youthful but also your entire party... or all the rich nobles willing to pay for the luxury of turning back the clock. If you feel the weight of your years when the effect is dismissed, however, you still get the benefits of keeping yourself young and healthy... so long as you refresh yourself every now and again and don't accidentally dismiss the effect and age yourself to death. Of course, there is something to be said for those rich nobles, especially those who have used your "services" for so long they would age out of existence without an occasional check-up... or a regular deposit.
I am interested to see how others interpret the mechanics.
At 10th level, he can adjust the target’s age, rewinding the target’s age to as young as a young adult (approximately 8 years old for a human) or progressing it to as old as venerable. This causes the target to gain aging bonuses and penalties and adjust its size as appropriate for its new age, but doesn’t confer any other benefits gained from aging (such as additional racial Hit Dice, supernatural abilities, and so on). This ability is a polymorph effect, and the subject of a revision cannot end the effect early by any means unless the material manipulator permits it. At 20th level, the effect lasts indefinitely. The mesmerist can dismiss this effect as a free action.
Six different ways to look at the wording of the ability:
Interpretation 1: The age effect is a permanent effect that can be dismissed by the material manipulator at any time. The target continues to age using their new age. If the effect is dismissed, they revert to the age they were at before the effect was imposed. Example: The target was 30 years old, revised to have their age at 21 years old, aged five years until they were 26 years old when the effect was dismissed and are now 30 years old again, the age they were before the effect was imposed.
Interpretation 2: The age effect is a permanent effect that can be dismissed by the material manipulator at any time. The target continues to age using their new age but also affects their original age. If the effect is dismissed, they revert to the age they were before the effect was imposed plus the extra years they experienced. Example: The target was 30 years old, revised to have their age at 21 years old, aged five years until they were 26 years old when the effect was dismissed and are now 35 years old (their original age plus the years they experienced).
Interpretation 3: The age effect is a permanent effect that can be dismissed by the material manipulator at any time. The target ceases to age using their new age. If the effect is dismissed, they revert to the age they were at before the effect was imposed. Example: The target was 30 years old, revised to have their age at 21 years old, spent 5 years being 21 years old when the effect was dismissed and are now 30 years old again, the age they were before the effect was imposed.
Interpretation 4: The age effect is a permanent effect that can be dismissed by the material manipulator at any time. The target ceases to age using their new age but keeps track of time using their original age. If the effect is dismissed, they revert to the age they were before the effect was imposed plus the extra years they experienced. Example: The target was 30 years old, revised to have their age at 21 years old, spent 5 years being 21 years old when the effect was dismissed and are now 35 years old (their original age plus the years they experienced).
Interpretation 5: The age effect is an instantaneous effect that cannot be dismissed by the material manipulator. The target continues to age using their new age.
Interpretation 6: The age effect is an instantaneous effect that cannot be dismissed by the material manipulator. The target ceases to age using their new age.
From the 'dismissability' of the effect, it looks like Interpretation 5 and 6 can be ruled out. The mechanics don't seem to support the idea that the target becomes ageless due to this ability, simply that they are "rewound" or "fast forwarded" to a particular age. This would rule out Interpretation 3 and 4. So, that leaves Interpretation 1 or 2: the target ages in their new category, but what happens when the effect is dismissed? Do they go back to their original age or do they experience the weight of the years they have lived added on to their original age? If you go back to your original age category, you could repeat the process not only to keep you eternally youthful but also your entire party... or all the rich nobles willing to pay for the luxury of turning back the clock. If you feel the weight of your years when the effect is dismissed, however, you still get the benefits of keeping yourself young and healthy... so long as you refresh yourself every now and again and don't accidentally dismiss the effect and age yourself to death. Of course, there is something to be said for those rich nobles, especially those who have used your "services" for so long they would age out of existence without an occasional check-up... or a regular deposit.
I am interested to see how others interpret the mechanics.