Exploring Galileo's Forbidden Magic: A Journey into the Unknown

During the 16th and 17th centuries, a period known as the Scientific Revolution, a conflict emerged between science and religion. One prominent figure at the center of this conflict was Galileo Galilei, an Italian astronomer, physicist, and mathematician. Galileo's groundbreaking work challenged the traditional beliefs of the Catholic Church, particularly in the field of astronomy. His observations and experiments using the newly invented telescope led him to support the Copernican heliocentric model of the solar system, which claimed that the Earth revolved around the Sun. This contradicted the Church's geocentric view, which held that the Earth was the center of the universe. As Galileo's ideas gained popularity, he faced increasing opposition from the Catholic Church.

Ah! There it is! Thanks! So technically it;s 16497

There are several tricks, one of which, IIRC which allowed a wizard to get their strength to the low 50s and then get their free wishes, using stuff like the Blood Reservoir of Physical Prowess. That means your opponent will have an opportunity to respond to the ability before you make that choice and before the 1 1 counters or Servo tokens exist.

As Galileo's ideas gained popularity, he faced increasing opposition from the Catholic Church. In 1616, the Church declared heliocentrism as heretical and prohibited the teaching or defense of the Copernican theory. Galileo was subsequently warned not to promote these views and was placed under house arrest for the remaining years of his life.

Fabricated using magical prowess

There is a spell by the name of Blood Money (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/b/blood-money) found in Rise of the Runelords. I intend to make an argument why this spell should be banned from your game and that the creator had very low system mastery.

The spell in question is fairly overpowered, and the more I looked into it, the more ridiculous it became.

To start, the tradeoff is exceptionally low, and you can heal the damage caused to you with lesser vigor and a simple low level healing spell, both of which have no cost. The second, and more important fact is that there's no clause to prevent you from using the spell with Fabricate. By using this spell you can generate as many items as you want for no raw material cost, requiring only a few low level spell slots a day.

Further, the author demonstrates a lack of thought:

"(so a component worth 500�999 gp costs a total of 2 points, 1,000�1,500 costs 3, etc.)"

When it should read 1,000�1,499.

"For example, a sorcerer with the spell stoneskin prepared"

when sorcerers don't prepare spells. That's a pretty big mistake. I couldn't even fathom how that could have gotten into print.

In any case, I've since banned the spell and everything that comes from the book is subject to my own approval. I just wanted to let everyone know they should probably do the same if they're inclined to rubber stamp everything because it's official Paizo content. That's not a mistake I'll be making again, that's for sure.

Just chipping in briefly:
#1: Blood Money is found in one singular place in the RotRL campaign, if I remember correctly - in the spell book of the BBEG of the entire 6-book campaign - a 20th level Wizard. Ergo, access to the spell should be difficult, if not straight up nigh-impossible, by any stretch of an argument.

#2: I don't think Lesser Vigour is a PF spell.

#3: I really don't hope that the 1 gp difference and whether Sorcerers prepare spells or not, was the straw that broke the camel's back in regards of the inherent ridiculousness that is Blood Money.

But yes. Blood Money is ridiculous for what it does - enough that even I, who consider myself a lover of every advantage that's possible to squeeze out of a given circumstance - wouldn't touch this spell with an 11' pole. Good call.

Just chipping in briefly:
#1: Blood Money is found in one singular place in the RotRL campaign, if I remember correctly - in the spell book of the BBEG of the entire 6-book campaign - a 20th level Wizard. Ergo, access to the spell should be difficult, if not straight up nigh-impossible, by any stretch of an argument.

I nabbed it on my Shaman through one of the Lore Hexs to facilitate free reincarnations in a game I am currently playing. This is balanced somewhat by the DM removing restoration and it's versions (and all other ability damage healing spells).

And we are all incurably sick.

Access being used as a reason that a spell isn't broken is like saying that the rules work by DM fiat. Yes, you are not wrong per say, but that doesn't solve the problem.

Just chipping in briefly:
#1: Blood Money is found in one singular place in the RotRL campaign, if I remember correctly - in the spell book of the BBEG of the entire 6-book campaign - a 20th level Wizard. Ergo, access to the spell should be difficult, if not straight up nigh-impossible, by any stretch of an argument.

The spell in and of itself has no restrictions.

#2: I don't think Lesser Vigour is a PF spell.

I meant lesser restoration.

#3: I really don't hope that the 1 gp difference and whether Sorcerers prepare spells or not, was the straw that broke the camel's back in regards of the inherent ridiculousness that is Blood Money.

Nah, the abuse is more than enough. It was just a way to point out that the spell was created without putting much thought into it at all.

I'm just curious. Can someone give me an example of the ridiculousness that can be achieved with blood money, assuming a wizard with a 12 strength?

I once set up a TO build to abuse blood money to mass produce simulacrums. You are one level shy of that one. You take 1+1HD of strength damage and produce a copy of yourself that you can control for free with no control cap.

If you can't think up a use for 2 6HD copies of yourself a day, you are not trying.

Animating the dead is also an option.

I'm just curious. Can someone give me an example of the ridiculousness that can be achieved with blood money, assuming a wizard with a 12 strength?

A wizard with 12 Strength could reduce his strength score to 1, meaning he has 11 points of strength to spend. The formula for determining the most gp you can use is (500*Strength - 1). If you permit him to cast Bull's Strength first, then it's 15 points of strength to spend.

So the Wizard can then use 5499 gp worth of material to craft. Using the Fabricate spell, that means you make an item worth 11,998 gp. Now cast lesser restoration a few times (or hell, just craft a wand of it) to heal the ability damage and then cure light wounds a few times to heal. Tell the fighter he can enjoy his new Mithral full plate, free of charge.

I'm just curious. Can someone give me an example of the ridiculousness that can be achieved with blood money, assuming a wizard with a 12 strength?

Well you can comfortable go down to 8 strength, only melee touch spells really suffer. SO are there any spells you would cast were it not for the expensive material component? If yes, then you can now.

A wizard with 12 Strength could reduce his strength score to 1, meaning he has 11 points of strength to spend. The formula for determining the most gp you can use is (500*Strength - 1). If you permit him to cast Bull's Strength first, then it's 15 points of strength to spend.

So the Wizard can then use 5499 gp worth of material to craft. Using the Fabricate spell, that means you make an item worth 11,998 gp. Now cast lesser restoration a few times (or hell, just craft a wand of it) to heal the ability damage and then cure light wounds a few times to heal. Tell the fighter he can enjoy his new Mithral full plate, free of charge.

IF the party cleric is standing by to support you he can cure ALL the ability damage in a single casting of restoration. You need 1000gp worth of diamond dust.

Fabricate can make diamond dust and it doesn't have a clause stating you cannot make spell components. You first fabricate up to your strength score's GP worth of dust, then you start cranking out items of whatever value you like. Just cast from a prone position and have the cleric restore your stat to functional with a readied action.

A wizard with 12 Strength could reduce his strength score to 1, meaning he has 11 points of strength to spend. The formula for determining the most gp you can use is (500*Strength - 1). If you permit him to cast Bull's Strength first, then it's 15 points of strength to spend.

So the Wizard can then use 5499 gp worth of material to craft. Using the Fabricate spell, that means you make an item worth 11,998 gp. Now cast lesser restoration a few times (or hell, just craft a wand of it) to heal the ability damage and then cure light wounds a few times to heal. Tell the fighter he can enjoy his new Mithral full plate, free of charge.

Okay, Bulls Str on round 1
Blood money, followed by Fabricate on the chunk of adamantine which appears there.
Followed by a week or more to roll the craft check (the casting time of fabricate varies and requires a craft check to create the item in question)

That's an advantage id the wizard has craft weapons and armor (the non magic kind), yes. But.

Also, Fabricate components cost "the original material, which costs the same amount as the raw materials required to craft the item to be created." So i don't see how 5499 turns into 11,998. How does it?

I'm just curious. Can someone give me an example of the ridiculousness that can be achieved with blood money, assuming a wizard with a 12 strength?

There are several tricks, one of which, IIRC which allowed a wizard to get their strength to the low 50s and then get their free wishes, using stuff like the Blood Reservoir of Physical Prowess.

Also, Fabricate components cost "the original material, which costs the same amount as the raw materials required to craft the item to be created." So i don't see how 5499 turns into 11,998. How does it?

Isn't the raw material cost to craft a non-magical item 1/3 of the items market value?

Isn't the raw material cost to craft a non-magical item 1/3 of the items market value?

Ah! There it is! Thanks! So technically it;s 16497

Isn't the raw material cost to craft a non-magical item 1/3 of the items market value?

Isn't that only for magical items? I thought nonmagical was 1/3.

Isn't that only for magical items? I thought nonmagical was 1/3.

It's 1/3 (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/craft). :)

It's 1/3 (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/craft). :)

Sweet, even better then.

There are several tricks, one of which, IIRC which allowed a wizard to get their strength to the low 50s and then get their free wishes, using stuff like the Blood Reservoir of Physical Prowess.

The Blood reservoir I can follow, but how does it get to the low 50's?

And lastly, I've been on this site a while, I've seen the term IIRC several times but. I have no idea what it means.

Sorry, newbie questions. lol.

And lastly, I've been on this site a while, I've seen the term IIRC several times but. I have no idea what it means.

If I Recall Correctly.

If I Recall Correctly.

Wow. I feels dumb now. lol. Thanks though.

The Blood reservoir I can follow, but how does it get to the low 50's?

And lastly, I've been on this site a while, I've seen the term IIRC several times but. I have no idea what it means.

Sorry, newbie questions. lol.

If I Recall Correctly, just a general disclaimer that I was working off memory.

And here's the recipe, from Anzyr (http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2p569?Blood-Money-Wish-almost-free-wish-Am-I#40)over on the paizo forums:

9 Base STR
+10 size Form of the Dragon 3
+10 morale Blood Rage
+2 profane Succubus Boon (Ideally off a Simulacrum, but a quick summon works to).
+6 enhancement (Belt of Physical Perfection, make it yourself on the cheap.)
+8 inherent Blood Reservoir of Physical Prowess is a +8 Inherent option for 2k Price on the cheap.)
+6 Ring of Inner Fortitude (effectively) =
51 or 25,000 worth of material components and 1 STR left (cause it would suck to fall to 0 while casting).

Now, this is, IMHO, an unreasonable measure to go to, but it does nicely illustrate the abuse you can get out of Blood Money if you set your mind to it.

If I Recall Correctly, just a general disclaimer that I was working off memory.

And here's the recipe, from Anzyr (http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2p569?Blood-Money-Wish-almost-free-wish-Am-I#40)over on the paizo forums:

Now, this is, IMHO, an unreasonable measure to go to, but it does nicely illustrate the abuse you can get out of Blood Money if you set your mind to it.

And, there we have unlimited wishes.

Yup. I'm sold. Blood Money is Broken.

I nabbed it on my Shaman through one of the Lore Hexs to facilitate free reincarnations in a game I am currently playing. This is balanced somewhat by the DM removing restoration and it's versions (and all other ability damage healing spells).

This conflict between Galileo and the Church symbolizes a clash between science and religion, with Galileo representing the pursuit of knowledge through empirical evidence and the Church representing religious doctrine and authority. Galileo's work challenged the Church's power and authority in matters of science, and the Church responded by suppressing his ideas and limiting his influence. However, despite the Church's attempts to suppress Galileo's ideas, his work ultimately had a profound impact on the development of modern science. His observations and experiments laid the foundation for the scientific method and our understanding of the natural world. Galileo's courage and determination to pursue scientific truth despite the opposition he faced serves as an inspiration to future scientists and thinkers. In conclusion, Galileo's forbidden magic refers to his revolutionary ideas and observations that challenged the traditional beliefs of the Catholic Church. Despite facing opposition and persecution, Galileo's work paved the way for modern science and our understanding of the universe. His story serves as a reminder of the importance of questioning established beliefs and pursuing knowledge through empirical evidence..

Reviews for "The Forbidden Spellbook of Galileo: Secrets of a Renaissance Magician"

1. John Doe - 2 stars - "I was really disappointed with 'Galileoo Forbidden Magic'. The writing was subpar, filled with grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. The plot seemed promising at first, but quickly fell apart with inconsistent character development and a lack of depth. The world-building was weak and it felt like the author didn't put enough thought into their magical system. Overall, I found the book to be a frustrating read and would not recommend it."

2. Jane Smith - 3 stars - "I wanted to like 'Galileoo Forbidden Magic', but I found myself struggling to get through it. The pacing was too slow, with large sections that felt meandering and unnecessary to the overall plot. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with any of them. Additionally, the dialogue was often stilted and awkward. While I appreciate the author's attempt at crafting a unique magical world, the execution fell flat for me. Overall, it had potential, but it was ultimately a disappointing read."

3. Michael Johnson - 2 stars - "I found 'Galileoo Forbidden Magic' to be a tedious and confusing read. The writing style was convoluted, with excessive description and a disjointed narrative structure. The author attempted to create a complex magical system, but it was poorly explained, leaving me feeling lost and disconnected from the story. The characters were forgettable and their motivations were unclear. The plot lacked cohesiveness, with too many subplots that went unresolved. I struggled to stay engaged and ended up skimming through large portions of the book. Overall, I was left feeling frustrated and unsatisfied with this novel."

4. Sarah Thompson - 1 star - "I regret picking up 'Galileoo Forbidden Magic'. The writing was amateurish, with numerous spelling and grammar mistakes throughout. The dialogue was cringe-worthy, filled with cliches and unrealistic conversations. The plot had potential, but it was poorly executed, with plot holes and a lack of satisfying resolution. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked complexity. Reading this book felt like a chore, and I would not recommend it to anyone."

5. David Brown - 2 stars - "I had high hopes for 'Galileoo Forbidden Magic', but unfortunately, it didn't deliver. The world-building was weak and felt underdeveloped, leaving me wanting more. The plot was slow-paced and meandering, with too many tangents that didn't add anything to the overall story. The characters were difficult to connect with, as their motivations were unclear and their actions felt inconsistent. While the concept of forbidden magic was intriguing, it was poorly explored and left me wanting a more satisfying exploration of the magical system. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied with this book."

Forbidden Magic in the Life of Galileo: Decoding the Enigma