Magic

Rules of Magic

Some character classes can memorize and cast magical spells. A spell consists of a pattern of magical energy memorized in a character’s mind. When a spell is cast, the spell is erased from the character’s mind until it is memorized again.

Arcane and divine magic: Spells are either granted by a deity or higher power (divine magic) or learned by esoteric study (arcane magic).

Spell list: The character’s class determines which spells they can cast. Each class has an associated list of spells.

Spells in memory: The character’s level determines how many spells they can memorize at one time.

Reversible spells: As indicated in each spell’s description, some spells are reversible.

Memorizing Spells

Rest and time requirements: A spellcaster can memorize new spells after an uninterrupted night’s sleep. It takes one hour to memorize all the spells the character is capable of.

Duplicate spells: A character may memorize the same spell more than once if they can learn more than one spell of the given level.

Casting Spells

A memorized spell may be cast by precisely replicating the required hand gestures and mystical spoken words.

Once only: When a spell is cast, knowledge of the spell is erased from the caster’s mind until it is memorized again.

Freedom: The character must be able to speak and move their hands. A spellcaster cannot cast spells if gagged, bound, or in an area of magical silence.

Line of sight: Unless noted in a spell’s description, the intended target (a specific monster, character, object, or area of effect) must be visible to the caster.

Spell Effects

Selecting targets: Some spells affect multiple targets by area or Hit Dice total. If the spell description does not specify how targets are chosen, the referee must decide whether they are selected randomly, by the caster, etc.

Concentration: Some spells specify that the caster must concentrate to maintain the magical effect. Unless the spell description states otherwise, performing any other action or being distracted (e.g., attacked) causes concentration to end.

Cumulative effects: Multiple spells cannot increase the same ability (e.g., bonuses to attack rolls, AC, damage rolls, saving throws, etc.). Spells that affect different abilities can be combined. Spells can be combined with the effects of magical items.

Arcane Magic

Memorizing Spells

Arcane spell casters memorize spells from spell books (see Spell Books) and are thus limited to choosing from the spells in their spell book, which must be at hand.

Reversing Spells

A spell’s normal or reversed form must be selected when memorized. An arcane spellcaster may memorize both forms of a spell if the character can memorize more than one spell of the given level.

Divine Magic

Memorizing Spells

Divine spell casters memorize spells through prayer to their gods. When praying for spells, divine spell casters may choose any spells in their class’ spell list that they are of high enough level to cast.

Reversing Spells

Divine spell casters can cast the reversed version of a spell by speaking the words and performing the gestures backward when cast.

Deity Disfavour

Divine spell casters must be faithful to the tenets of their alignment, clergy, and religion. If the character ever falls from favor with their deity, penalties (determined by the referee) may be imposed. These may include penalties to attack (-1), a reduction in spells, or being sent on a perilous quest. To regain favor, the character must perform some great deed for their deity (as determined by the referee), for example, donating magic items or gold, constructing a temple, converting many people to the religion, defeating a powerful enemy of the deity, etc.

Spells and Deity Alignment

A divine spellcaster may draw disfavor from their deity when casting spells (or their reversed versions) whose effects go against the deity’s alignment:

• Lawful characters: Will only use reversed spells in dire circumstances.
• Chaotic characters: Will usually use reversed spells, only using the normal versions of spells to benefit allies of their religion.
• Neutral characters: Will favor either normal or reversed spells, depending on the deity served (no deity favors both reversed and normal spells).

Note: Entry included from Spells.

Spell Books

Arcane spell casters record the spells that they know in a spell book.

Number of spells: A character’s spell book contains exactly the number of spells the character can memorize (as determined by the character’s class and level).

Beginning Spells

Arcane spell casters begin with as many spells in their spell book as they can memorize. The referee may choose these spells or may allow the player to select them.

Adding Spells

When the number of spells an arcane spellcaster can memorize increases (e.g., by gaining an experience level), they can increase the selection of spells in their spell book. In this way, the number of spells in the spell book may be brought in line with the number of spells the character can memorize. This is possible in two ways:

• Mentoring: The character may consult an arcane guild or mentor to learn new spells. This process takes about a week of game time. The spells a character learns in this way are determined by the referee, who may decide to let the player choose.
• Research: It is also possible to add spells to a spell book using Magical Research.

Lost Spell Books

An arcane spellcaster can rewrite the spells in a lost or destroyed spell book:

• Cost: The cost per spell to be recovered is one week of game time and 1,000gp per spell level. For instance, rewriting two 1st-level and one 2nd-level spells will take four weeks and 4,000 gp.
• Sole activity: This activity requires complete concentration. The character may not engage in any other activity for the required period.

Captured Spell Books

Each arcane spell caster’s spell books are written so that only the owner can read the spells without magic.