Entry #10, Day 81
Foreword:
As my student has yet to reveal the full scope of her methods and the secrets of Materia, the remainder of this entry will thus be guest-written by Eclipse Flash, as she is currently these relics' only expert. I would prefer it if none who read this tome "spoil" it for me, as I plan on discovering their secrets for myself.
The most important thing about Assisted Spellcasting is that you still have to be capable of the spell. The way these gems work, they carry an imprint of their creator casting it, which is briefly impressed on the user. If you lack the magical power or skill needed to cast the spell, the gem won't work. It's been suggested that I attempt to store multiple, escalating spells in a single materia, so that the user can gain access to stronger magic as they "grow into" using a particular kind of magic, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet.
The way you activate the spell is easy enough. You just need to focus on it, Weiss complains that I don't announce the spell's name when I use it, but he's a dork, so I would ignore him if he tries to tell you that. You don't actually need to shout it out loud, you just need to focus on the gem. After that, you should feel something weird, that's the gem releasing the imprint it has stored of a different pony casting the spell. Let that feeling do what it needs to do, and you'll be able to match it, draining some of your magic to follow through with the spell.
The way to create an Assisted Spellcasting Gem is fairly simple. First, you need a specific type of crystal. Some ponies are already growing them, so you shouldn't have a problem getting one if you really need it. Then, you take the Timeshift Crystal and you cast a spell into it while touching it. The crystal has to be a perfectly round sphere though, or it won't work. And it has to be the right size, too. Bigger spells need a bigger Timeshift Sphere. When you do all of that, the sphere absorbs the spell's imprint, and can be used for Assisted Spellcasting.
I got the first Timeshift Crystal from using Black Flames on Frozen Stone, I thought I was going to get something else, but Weiss said not to talk about what it was supposed to make, and also to stop trying to make it. After that, we've just been growing them from seed crystals. The crystal farmers have apparently been messing with them a bit, seeing what they can do. And that's cool, I guess.
I don't really think Timeapples are going to be that popular, though.
I also found out, due in no small part to Weiss's interference, that Materia Assisted Spellcasting Gems can be used even if they aren't touching your body directly, as long as they're socketed firmly enough in an object laced with Timeshift Crystals. This means if you ask the carvers, they might be able to help fix up something nice to keep your Assisted Spellcasting Gems in!
I've been making some of the gems myself, being able to cast really exacting spells without much variation is actually really useful, with some creativity. Like, some of the decorators have gems with one specific carving spell in them shaped like a cool tile, so they just cast it over and over, and carve tiles into the floor in a snap! And the soldiers have been practicing with these really accurate needle launching spells, since they can do it exactly the same every time, instead of having to spend so much time focusing on aim.
The gems I keep on me have a bit broader applications, though. I've been keeping a gem for "Bellowbore's Strength of Limb", "Surefire's Lucky Shot", and of course, a Crystal Growth spell on me at all times. It's pretty handy when I need to climb up shelves or put away my books, since I can just jump up there, and kick my books right where they should be. My friends all keep a Lucky Shot gem too, for similar reasons, since it's normally a hard spell for an Earth Pony to cast. It's just so much more useful though, when it's easier to cast like this!
This might be conjecture. In fact, it probably is, but I also noticed that the more you use a particular gem, the easier and faster it is to use. Before, I had to take a five minute break after using Lucky Shot to put up all my stuff, but now I don't need a break at all. I guess practice makes perfect. I don't know if the same thing happens with other Assisted Spellcasting Gems, but It's worth keeping in mind, I guess.
One thing that's kind of annoying, we can't take Timeshift Crystals above a certain elevation without permission, since if you break one near snow, the snow turns into saltwater for a while. I don't know why it happens, but when Weiss found out, he looked really annoyed for some reason. Maybe he doesn't like saltwater? It turns back into snow when the time magic wears off though. He said he was going to "Get his dudes to work testing some stuff", but I don't know what that means.
The point is, if you don't have some of these, you should get some. Weiss made it so you can get some for free from some distributors in every zone, though the really high quality ones you still have to pay some GP for. I think it's worth it. Some of the Assisted Spellcasting Gems that everypony's been making are really cool and useful, and even though it doesn't help you learn the spell for real, it's a good way to help ponies really see what they're missing. Maybe this will make more ponies become interested in learning spellcraft themselves, when they can give magic a trial run like this? I sure hope so.
Neat, so what those GP stand for again?
9689659
Gold Pieces. Weiss has had coins minted using the gold he makes with Black Flames.
I wonder if Weiss has made an artifact or spell study that lets a pony trade trait? I imagine the spell is temporary and a ritual is a more consenting of both parties the uses are almost changeling magic like I bet but more solid stuff!
I got the idea to ask cause the comic when dash wings were stolen it was messed up but kind of cool {x} <<link here for it.
So either that snow was ocean water previously in the water cycle, or ponyland had a wind waker/waterworld style apocalypse at one point.
The magic system you are developing is excellent.
9690180
It might be because I'm a bastard most of the time but he isn't really that unlikeable, he can be a bit smug sometimes but the way he took care of the ponies under him and his seemingly good intentions in the long run is what makes the belittlement he's received feel undeserved. Especially the way he swore he would help Zecora out, he seems like a good hearted dude.
The only thing that he's done that I guess could be considered a bit assholeish is what he did to Gilda, but look where that got her? She has friends for the most part now.
9690216
He can be a bit antagonistic sometimes but it feels like for the most part he's on the receiving end alot more then is strictly necessary. Like with Celestia for example, he does prank her a bit here and there but her reactions are a bit overboard. The Celestia in this story in general feels a bit more aggressive then her show counterpart.
On the other hand I actually would like to know what you meant by "he cheats". He stumbles into spells alot but I wouldn't say that is cheating necessarily, he's not stupidly powerful and doesn't really use alot of the things he learned just for himself.
9690226
Well in Past Celestia’s case he’s still a dark wizard she hasn’t caught red handed yet and in Present Celestia’s case he spent a minimum of several decades pulling clown costume shit on her. And also, Past Celestia is a Celestia who hasn’t had a conveniently non-lethal superweapon and a thousand years of peace to soften her.
As for cheating I mean stuff like the danger room and the golems and to some degree the Vacian magic and shadow clones. Cheap tricks that need a lot of prep and, for the first two examples, probably will only work once on a given opponent. Celestia is strong because she’s a physical god who can summon stellar plasma at will.
9690313
Past Celestia had a bit of a reason to act like that, present Celestia has no real reason to act so aggressively towards him. Especially since he has helped them in the past alot
Speaking of how Celestia is depicted in her more 'God' like image in this story I feel as though one would be hard pressed not to at least understand his need to 'cheat' unless Celestia crush him without resistance.
To me it doesn't really feel cheaty considering what he is up against in terms of power, but I guess that's just our difference in opinion on what we consider 'Cheaty'.
9690347
I'm not saying he shouldn't cheat, I'm saying that he needs to cheat and Celestia could turn him into a smear on the ground so it makes sense he'd fold so easily.
As for Present Celestia, what specific over aggressive actions has she taken. The property damage was a running gag between them. Not to mention how casual Equestrians are about property destruction. Rainbow Dash regularly breaks windows, ceilings and walls and it's never a serious issue.
9690628
Aggressive may not have been the word to use for the present Celestia but hers and some others attitude towards Weiss seem unusually bitter or biting I guess
I don't know, in general everyone just seems to like to take shots a Weiss any chance they get, and instead of coming of as a good natured back in forth, as I guess it is supposed to, it just comes of as mean spirited or unnecessary jokes at his suspense. Maybe if Weiss shot back alot more it wouldn't feel that way but alot of the time he just sits there and takes it, in a few scenes it seemed to have actually scratched a nerve to.
9690701
I mean, the statues were pretty good.
9690313
To our knowledge, Celestia is not actually capable of summoning stellar plasma at will.
That is AWESOME!!! I think that after enough time casting with these, it would A: become second nature, and B: possibly allow them to learn to do the spell without the crystal.