Phasing Ship
(Abjuration, Alteration)

Range:  10 feet
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  1 week per level
Casting Time:  1 day per 3 tons of ship
Area of Effect:  3 tons of ship per level
Saving Throw:  None

This spell can give a ship up to the maximum effect of the spell caster the ability to phase out of view like a phase spider (it stays until it has attacked and then phases out). This ability can be used at the command of the captain, who has to be within range of the spell as it is cast and he has to stay on board of his ship throughout the duration; otherwise it is cancelled instantly. If the captain is slain, knocked unconscious, feebleminded, or disabled in his free will in any way, the spell is cancelled, too. The whole ship including crew, cargo, and atmosphere phases out at the command of the captain. This phasing out ability causes the ship to be completely invulnerable for any ships that cannot also phase out. This phasing ability only works within crystal shells. Anyone who has initiative before the ship with the phasing ability has the possibility of attacking before it phases out. The other possibility to attack is to phase out also, but in that case the only damage possible would be with either magical weapons (which cause only their magical bonus of damage if they hit) or by ramming. As phasing out means entering the ethereal plane, all missiles and other combat changes are affected by the laws of the ethereal plane. The phasing ability works automatically while the ships is at interstellar speed. But the phasing does not prevent the slowing down of ships as they meet in wild space. Thus, it could be as helpful as dangerous (it could help to phase through those dangerous explosive flaming lifeboats left over by some ships, but it could be very dangerous if one phases in right in the centre of a sun in the company of a sun dragon...). Normally, the captain and the crew can look from the border of ethereal to the prime, but there may be some significant factors which prevent that.
The material components are one completely preserved dead body of a phase spider per 3 tons of ship to phase out. In addition, one dose of oil of ethereality has to be applied to each crew member during the casting for the phasing ability to work. Once the spell is cast, any additional or new crew members don't need this oil applied until the spell runs out or a new spell of the same kind is cast.

