View source for Charge Item (517)

{{spell 
| mnemonic = CHARGEITEM
| type = Utility
| duration = Variable
| skill = None
| components = Special
| availability = Caster only
| navigation = {{Major elemental navigation}}
}}
__TOC__
'''Charge Item''' allows a properly trained [[wizard]] to place more [[charges]] into a magical item and [[recharge]] items that react to the spell.  Experience is gained at 10 xp per charge restored, with a 500 xp cap per hour.

The three skills that directly aid in success are, in order of importance: ranks in the [[Major Elemental]] [[spell circle]], [[Magic Item Use]], and [[Elemental Mana Control]] (EMC).  Being in a [[magical workshop]] will also add a bonus to success.  Other factors, skills, and societal powers that do not directly influence the success of the spell, but may be useful otherwise, include the value of the gem, [[Harness Power]], [[Spiritual Mana Control]], [[Sign of Wracking]], [[Symbol of Mana]], and [[Sigil of Power]].  Charge Item is recommended to be a group activity as a lot of mana is required.

== Mana Cost (Mana Control Benefit) ==
The mana cost for charging a spell varies based on the type of spell and ranks in Elemental Mana Control.  With twenty-four (24) ranks in EMC, charging a spell from within an Elemental [[sphere]] will cost the same as the spell.  A Spiritual or Mental spell will cost three times as much as the spell, and a [[Sorcerer Base]] spell will cost twice as much.  For example, when charging a blue crystal ([[Spirit Strike (117)]]).  This spell costs 17 mana to cast and is a spiritual spell.  Thus, it would require {{mono|17 &times; 3 <nowiki>=</nowiki> 51}} mana to increase the charge on the blue crystal by one.  Further training in Elemental Mana Control will reduce this cost by 1 point per 5 ranks in Elemental Mana Control.

e.g. With 100 ranks in Elemental Mana Control, the cost to increase the charge on the blue crystal will be {{mono|(17 &times; 3 - (100 &divide; 5) <nowiki>=</nowiki> 31}}.  To reduce the cost to charge the crystal to the base cost of 17, 170 ranks of Elemental Mana Control are needed.

In the case of a ruby amulet ([[Wall of Force (140)]]), 40*3 = 120 mana is required to increase its charge by one.  However, using the equation {{mono|(40 &times; 3) - (X &divide; 5) <nowiki>=</nowiki> 40}}, where X is the amount of EMC ranks needed to reduce the mana cost, X is 400.  However, since the maximum amount of EMC ranks is 202, the minimum cost is 80 mana.  The absolute minimum cost for Wall of Force would be 70 mana if the wizard is fully enhanced to 252 ranks of EMC.

== Components and Valid Items ==

An [[orb gem]] worth at least 1000 silver, a [[grot t'kel potion]], and a magical item that can be charged are all required to use this spell.  This includes some common items such as [[small statue]]s (older statues may have to be used once first), [[heavy quartz orb]]s, [[dull gold coin]]s, [[blue crystal]]s, [[ruby amulet]]s, and nearly every [[wand]]. Note that [[white crystal]]s and [[black crystal]]s are not chargeable in their natural state. (The difference being that some of these items are generated at their capacity while others are not.)

The more charges attempted to add into an item, the more difficult it is to succeed, and the more severe the failures will be. The maximum number of charges any item can hold is forty (40).  In addition, higher level spells and non-elemental spells are also more difficult to charge.  Failures with the spell vary.  The most extreme failure is complete destruction of the item, though a more common failure results in "greening" the item, setting the charges to 0 and preventing it from ever being charged, rendering it into useless junk.  Other failures include loss of mana points or injury to the caster.

==Other Helpful Factors==

;*Value of the [[orb_gem|Orb Gem]]
:Though not a determinant to success, more valuable gems will last longer as orbs, allowing more charges to be placed in an item if desired. The value and/or quality may also limit the amount of charges that can be added to a single item.

;*[[Harness Power]]
:By increasing the wizard's mana capacity, more charges may be placed into an item before the orb explodes.

;*[[Spiritual Mana Control]] (SMC)
:This allows the charging wizard to receive mana from classes that employ Spiritual Mana, such as clerics and empaths.

;*[[Sign of Wracking]], [[Symbol of Mana]] and [[Sigil of Power]]
:These [[Society|societal abilities]] provide the wizard with more mana.

== Process and Messaging ==

The stages of charges are outlined below.

=== Gem Preparation ===

To begin, pour the [[grot t'kel potion]] on the [[orb gem]], then cast [[517]] at the gem. After casting the spell, the gem will be replaced with a pulsating orb which appears on the ground. It can not be retrieved. If the potion evaporates, the gem is ''not'' an [[orb gem]].
<pre{{log2}}>
>pour my potion on my ruby
You pour your potion on the ruby.
You carefully work the liquid in until it is all absorbed.
You have 4 doses left.

>prep 517
You recite a series of mystical phrases while raising your hands, invoking Charge Item...
Your spell is ready.
>cast my ruby
You gesture at a star ruby.
<b>The star ruby quickly expands into a blue pulsating orb!</b>
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
</pre>

<pre{{log2}}>
>look
[Wizard Guild, Workshop]
You notice <b>a pulsating orb</b> and a sleek wood owl.
Obvious exits: northeast, southeast

>take orb
You can't pick that up!
</pre>

=== Orb Preparation ===
In order to prepare the pulsating orb for charging, the charger must cast [[517]] at the orb repeatedly until it begins "flickering in color and humming tones of enchantment." If the orb gem continues to grow in size, it is approaching preparedness. Note that these successive casts of [[517]] only cost 1 [[mana point]], as opposed to the full 17 of the initial cast.

<pre{{log2}}>
>prep 517
You recite a series of mystical phrases while raising your hands, invoking Charge Item...
Your spell is ready.
>cast orb
You gesture at a pulsating orb.
You gesture over the pulsating orb while muttering a few arcane phrases.
'''The orb resonates in response to each of your gestures and words.'''
'''It grows in size!'''
</pre>
<pre{{log2}}>
>prep 517
You recite a series of mystical phrases while raising your hands, invoking Charge Item...
Your spell is ready.
>cast orb
You gesture at a pulsating orb.
You gesture over the pulsating orb while muttering a few arcane phrases.
The orb resonates in response to each of your gestures and words.
'''It shines brightly for a moment, flickering in color and humming tones of enchantment!'''
</pre>

The following message indicates that the pulsating orb was already sufficiently prepared for charging:

<pre{{log2}}>
>prep 517
You recite a series of mystical phrases while raising your hands, invoking Charge Item...
Your spell is ready.
>cast orb
You gesture at a pulsating orb.
'''The orb is already prepared for enchanting.'''
</pre>

Each cast of [[517]] has a chance of failure and may reduce the size of the pulsating orb. Additional casts of [[517]] will be required in order to prepare the pulsating orb for charging:

<pre{{log2}}>
>prep 517
You recite a series of mystical phrases while raising your hands, invoking Charge Item...
Your spell is ready.
>cast orb
>You gesture at a pulsating orb.
You gesture over the pulsating orb while muttering a few arcane phrases.
'''You are unable to concentrate completely.'''
'''The pulsating orb shrinks somewhat.'''
</pre>

=== Item Charging ===
Once the pulsating orb is sufficiently prepared for charging, the pulsating orb must be rubbed with the item to be charged in the character's right hand. When charges are successfully added to the item, [[mana]] will be drained from the character. The following messaging indicates that charges have been successfully added to the item:

<pre{{log2}}>
>glance
You glance down to see a <b>blue crystal in your right hand</b> and nothing in your left hand.

>rub orb
You gesture over the pulsating orb while holding a blue crystal near it.
A strand of pure essence leaps from the orb and onto the crystal!
'''The blue crystal glows with a bright hue as the fingers of essence caress it.'''
</pre>

If the character does not have sufficient mana to place a charge into the item, the following message will be received (no [[mana]] will be drained from the charger in this case):

<pre{{log2}}>
>rub orb
You gesture over the pulsating orb while holding a blue crystal near it.
A strand of pure essence leaps from the orb and onto the crystal!
'''You do not have enough mana.'''
Nothing else seems to happen.
</pre>

Additional minor failures to charge are evident by the following messaging:

<pre{{log2}}>
>rub orb
You gesture over the pulsating orb while holding a blue crystal near it.
A strand of pure essence leaps from the orb and onto the crystal!
'''You are unable to properly channel the flows.'''
</pre>

Major failures can also occur. This causes the caster to lose all of their mana and the item will permanently be marked as unsellable, lose all charges, and become unrechargable. This is commonly referred to as "greening" an item. Messaging is as follows:

<pre{{log2}}>
>rub orb
You gesture over the pulsating orb while holding a blue crystal near it.
A strand of pure essence leaps from the orb and onto the crystal!
'''It flares a sickening green and then goes dim.'''
</pre>

Catastrophic failures have a rare chance of occurring. This causes the caster to lose all of their items entirely and if it is a container, everything in it as well. Messaging is as follows:

<pre{{log2}}>
>rub orb
You gesture over the pulsating orb while holding a blue crystal near it.
A strand of pure essence leaps from the orb and onto the crystal!
'''It begins to shake violently and then suddenly disintegrates!'''
</pre>

When the character can no longer place charges into a magical item, due to a low value orb or the item has 40 charges, they receive the following message:

<pre{{log2}}>
>rub orb
You gesture over the pulsating orb while holding a blue crystal near it.
A strand of pure essence leaps from the orb and onto the crystal!
'''You are unable to add any more charges.'''
Nothing else seems to happen.
</pre>

The message that follows indicates that the pulsating orb is not sufficiently prepared for charging:

<pre{{log2}}>
>rub orb
'''The orb isn't properly prepared for recharging.'''
</pre>

=== Orb Maintenance ===
During the charging process, the pulsating orb will reduce in size and require further preparation for charging. The character must monitor the ambient messaging of the pulsating orb in order to properly maintain it for use (the shrinkage messaging is ambient, rather than triggered by any direct character action). When this occurs, the character should return to the [[517#Orb_Preparation|orb preparation]] stage of charging, casting 517 at the pulsating orb until it is once again ready for charging. The same failure messaging, success messaging, and mana point cost applies. A shrinking orb is evident by the following messaging:

<pre{{log2}}>
The pulsating orb shrinks somewhat.
</pre>

Eventually, the pulsating orb will expire with the following messaging. The [[orb gem]]s (and therefor pulsating orbs) are consumable and the eventual expiration of pulsating orbs is natural. Note that the pulsating orb will also expire with the same messaging if it was never [[517#Orb_Preparation|sufficiently prepared]] for charging.

<pre{{log2}}>
The pulsating orb suddenly implodes into nothing but some lingering smoke!
</pre>

== Resources ==
* [[Charge Item (guide)]]
* [[Workshops (saved post)]]
* [[Recharging crystals]]
* [http://www.play.net/gs4/info/spells/spelllist.asp?circle=2#517 Major Elemental Spell Circle: Charge Item], on Play.net
* [http://www.play.net/gs4/info/spells/charge-item.asp Charge Item Guide on Play.Net]

{{Wizard}}