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Chapter 5: Magic Spells
Known and Unknown Spells
Each character has a select number of Spell Categories. All of the Spells contained in the character’s Spell categories are considered known. The Spells in non-selected Spell categories are considered unknown. A character cannot cast spells that are unknown to them.
Knowing a spell is not a trivial matter. It often takes years of practice for a spell category to be considered known to a caster. However, characters that grow in experience are often able to master a few new Spell Categories over time.
Improving Magic
Bonus Magic Spell Category: At levels 6, 11, and 17 characters gain one new Magic Spell Category. It may be any Magic Spell Category. The new Magic Spell Category is at the same Power Stage as the character’s other spells.
In addition, character also gain 1 bonus Magic Point (MP) at levels 6, 11, and 17. For many characters, these few additional MP boosts will not be adequate.
Characters may gain additional Magic Points by selecting the feat
Spell Stages: Spells increase in power at set intervals called spell stages. Each spell description lists how the individual spell increases in power.
See Skill and Magic Advancement Table or descriptions.
Magic Point Exceptions
Free: There are a few times when a character will be able to cast a spell, and not have it cost them any Magic Points (MP). There are few combat spells, such as Fire Blast or Ice Blast that has a low power method of casting the spell. If a spell has such a method, it is mentioned within the spell under a heading of "free". The same section details the lowered results from the free method of casting.
The free methods were developed for a number of reasons. It is thought that they were initially developed as a form of practice. Students needed to be able to cast over and over certain spells in order to complete their magical training. Outside of training, having a no cost option can be useful for starting a quick fire, or keeping an enemy guessing.
Special:
- The Telepathic Communication spell is free to cast under certain circumstances: when the caster is attempting to contact another telepath.
- A dodged Death Ray does not cost the caster a MP.
- A resisted Slay Constitution spell does not cost the caster a MP.
- An initially resisted Blinding Light spell does not cost the caster a MP.
- An initially resisted Mind Grip spell does not cost the caster a MP.
Equipment: Within the Spellchrome world there is equipment that can help to reduce the amount of Magic Points spent.
For example, when a character is wearing and empowers a Mark-3 Mage Gauntlet, each time they cast a spell they also roll percentile. With the Mark-3, a result of 01-35 means that a Magic Point is not expended, but the spell is still cast successfully. A character needs at least 1 MP available to spend in order to try and cast a spell, even with the Mage Gauntlet.
Character Creation Option (Magic)
This optional character creation step allows a character to not know a spell. Maybe they didn't want to learn it, maybe they just couldn't ever get it to work. Either way, it adds a Magic Point.
Under the standard rules, if a character selects a Magic Spell Category, they gain all of the Spells within the category. If there are Spells that do not fit with a character concept, the player can either choose not to cast those Spells, or trade one of them away using this option.
Rules: Remove 1 Spell permanently (make an note that it is now considered unknown). Add 1 Magic Point.
They only way to recover a Spell is by using the Recover Lost Feat. This Character Creation Option (Magic) may be preformed once or twice.
Up Next: Chapter 6: Feats
