Notes on Magic 2

What Causes Destabilization

Range of Destabilization

Reduction of Destabilization

Special Cases for Destabilization

When Destabilization Occurs

• A magical surge doing 1d6 S.D.C.^tm or M.D.C.^tm per level of the spell(s) that burst to everything within the destabilized area. This damages everything, and there is really no defense against it.
  
  
• A random spell of the same level as the one cast affects the target.
  
  
• The spell creates the desired effect but is merely an illusion. Or, an illusion spell can somehow become real.
  
  
• The spell effect can become permanent (maybe good, maybe bad).
  
  
• The spell dissapates, P.P.E.^tm is lost, and nothing happens.
  
  
• A rift is torn open, or a creature is rifted in from a random location.
  
  
• The spell functions at double the damage but half the range or something similar.
  
  
• A spell cast upon a target could suddenly change into another spell that would last as long as the first one, like blindness suddenly becoming a magical curse or something. A victim of this could get confused, first being muted, then having a luck curse, then sticking to the ground, and finally having superhuman speed all within the duration of the original spell.
  
  
• The spell affects an area and not a person, or vice versa.
  
  
• All the caster's P.P.E.^tm dissapates. Since this is dangerous to casters, the GM might consider a constructive use for the vanished P.P.E.^tm
  
  
• If you have the book Through the Glass Darkly, see page 34. Random Manifestations of Magic could certainly occur from intense or prolonged destabilization.

Bend - To alter or reshape a spell energy, whether done by metamagic or by skill.
Bomb - When a spell bursts and causes a large amount of physical damage.
Bounce - To reflect a magic spell in some way, as opposed to negating it.
Burst - This happens when an area is destabilized and a spell causes a magical disruption in the area.
Fizzle - A spell that causes a destabilization and simply evaporates harmlessly without any interesting effect. Has also been used as a derogatory term describing a neophyte or washed- up mage.
Fuse - To combine spells through improvisation to create a new spell.
Glamour - A pre-Rifts term for an illusion.
Jumble - A verb, 'to make an error in the casting of a spell.' As an adjective, it is also applied to a faulty, incomplete, or ruined spell formula like that which would be produced from a bad copy of a scroll.
Light Show - An eruption of light and energy created by a spell bursting. Relatively harmless.
Loose Spell - This is a spell that the casting magician has lost control over. Most loose spells function to full duration, then vanish.
Mystic - This is the general term for a magician that uses magic power bestowed by some unknown force (whether a Warlock, a Priest, a Witch, or whatever). For these magicians magic is about intuition and emotion, not hours of studying.
Necro - A shortened term for Necromancers, animated dead, zombies, mummies, and necromancy in general.
Scrip - A verb, 'to learn a spell by copying it from a scroll.'
Sorceror - This is a magician that specializes in common spell magic, but knows enough about magic to learn a few tricks from other disciplines. His study is hermetic - time is spent researching, reading, and theorizing.
Trash - A verb, 'to negate a magical effect.'
Warlock - A magician whose spellcasting powers are drawn from one or two of the elemental forces.
Wild - A spell goes wild when it is cast and does not produce the exact desired effect (maybe stronger, maybe weaker, maybe the wrong target, etc). Unlike a loose spell, the mage doesn't lose control over the wild spell.
Wizard - Same as Sorceror.

Removal of Residual P.P.E.^tm

Effects of Residual P.P.E.^tm

01-20 No effect: The stray magic energy doesn't cause any problems when there is this little of it.

21-30 Spell Echo: 1d20 minutes after casting a spell, a first level version of that spell will randomly (as in the target is random) manifest itself in the area of its initial casting, as long as sufficient magic energy is present to be drawn. This drain is pretty much automatic, whether drawn from a P.P.E.^tm storage battery, a magical haze, a child, a pet, non- sentient supernatural entity, senile wizard, etc. The drain is often spread out amongst several energy sources.

31-40 Magical Haze: The casting of spells has caused everything in the area of casting (or a magician's clothes and jewelry) to become magically charged to a small degree. The haze is barely visible as a bluish- white glow. Magicians can draw off 1 P.P.E.^tm per two levels of experience per hour from the area/ possessions. If this P.P.E.^tm isn't drawn on, it will tend to build up - each week of existing haze triggers a +3% bonus when rolling on this table, plus this magic energy can fuel other buildup effects.

41-50 Law Weakening: All casters of magic (or the single afflicted wizard or magic object possessor) lose a -3 on their spell strength when casting certain kinds of magic (just illusionary magic, just barrier spells, just body affecting spells, etc). If a spell strength drop isn't appropriate, cut the spell duration or distance by 10%.

51-60 Stray Thoughts: Residual P.P.E.^tm causes the people in the area (or a person, if that is the focus) to have distracting thoughts (ones that belong to the original possessor of the P.P.E.^tm!) Every time a skill is attempted, the character must roll a save vs insanity. Failure means a -5% penalty is incurred on that roll.

61-70 Mystic Drain: Magic usage causes an additional 1d4 P.P.E.^tm to be lost (poof! gone!) in addition to the magic's casting cost. This energy will eventually fuel wild magics in the area, cause Magical Haze and Spell Echos, and also attract supernatural creatures.

71-80 Random Spell Effect: A single spell cast often in the area (or by the caster) will take effect at random, when enough magic energy is accumulated to activate the spell. This is very, very common in areas where magicians were using combat magic, since they tend to utilize a couple favored attack spells.

81-90 Creature Attraction: A minor supernatural being migrates to the area. This will probably be some sort of psychic, astral, or Dreamstream^tm entity with anywhere between 1 and 50 P.P.E.^tm

91-100 Law Breaking: The Laws of Magic are warped and broken to some degree, causing the caster of any magic spell, circle, ritual, etc. to roll against his Principles of Magic skill (a penalty is the GM's option) to successfully cast magic. Failure means the magic goes wild.

101-125 Stray Thoughts: As before, residual P.P.E.^tm causes the target or those in the area to think strange things. Every time a skill is attempted, the character must roll a save vs insanity. Failure means a -10% penalty is incurred on that roll (can't focus). Everyone in the area will think about depressing, irritating, or out- of- character things, resulting in a -1 to M.E. and -2 to M.A. while affected, and meditation becomes difficult (half the normal rest, P.P.E.^tm, and I.S.P.^tm is recovered).

126-150 Random Psychic Effects: Every six hours, the area's inhabitants (or the afflicted caster) must save vs magic - failure means that the stray P.P.E.^tm triggers latent or even existing psychic power and causes a random minor psychic power to take effect equal, to a first level psychic. People in the area might report bouts of miraculous healing, seeing auras or strange visions, levitation, recovery from illness, being able to hear another's thoughts, etc. In some cases this can be scary or dangerous, especially if supernatural forces have been attracted to the area.

151-175 Creature Attraction: A major supernatural being migrates to the area. This will probably be some sort of psychic, astral, or Dreamstream^tm entity with anywhere between 51 and 150 P.P.E.^tm or a variety of supernatural abilities (like minor demons and minions).

176-200 Chance of Failure: Any time a spell is cast in the area (or by the afflicted magician), there is a 2% chance per spell level of the spell inexplicably failing! Also, ranged attack spells like Energy Bolt and Fire Ball suffer a -2 to strike penalty (the former gets a standard -2 penalty while the latter means that a 16 can dodge it instead of an 18).

201-250 Law Disruption: All casters of magic (or the single afflicted wizard or magic object possessor) either lose a -2 on their magic strength when casting any magic, lose 25% of the range of the magic, or lose 1d4 levels in strength (for combat and defense spells). Roll randomly or choose how/ when this affects magicians.

251-300 Mystic Afterimage: Magic energy binds itself into a cohesive form and takes on independent thought (instinctive or intelligent)! The magic might make itself into a copy of the spellcaster, or will possess an animal or child to create a Channeler type character, or will become a replica of something that the caster or the area's inhabitants spent a lot of time thinking about, etc. There are many mages who have tried to develop magics to harness and control this effect, but none are known to have succeeded.

Spell Magic: Base save difficulty of 12, plus any spell strength bonuses. No special things to remember, other than that most forms of magic qualify as spell magic.

Scroll Magic: Scrolls are simply spell incantations written with magic. The scroll does not get the spell strength bonus of its creator, so all scroll magic can be saved against with a roll of 12 or better.

Ward/Rune Magic: Base save difficulty of 14. A person with experience might have bonuses to ward/rune strength (as opposed to spell strength).

Circle Magic: Base save difficulty of 14. A person with experience might have bonuses to circle strength (as opposed to spell strength).

Ritual Magic: Base save difficulty of 16. A person with experience might have bonuses to ritual strength (as opposed to spell strength).

Glyph Magic: Base save difficulty of 16. A person with experience might have bonuses to glyph strength (as opposed to spell strength).

Line Magic: Base save difficulty of 12, plus any line magic strength bonuses. Experts with lines have bonuses to cast line magic.

Alchemal Potions: Base save difficulty of 12. No magic strength bonuses can be used to save.

Mystic Herbology Potions: Base save difficulty of 14. No magic strength bonuses can be used to save.

Chi Spell Magic: Base save difficulty of 12. Those with experience get bonuses to cast Chi Spells.

Celestial Calligraphy Magic: Base save difficulty of 10. No spell strength bonus can be transferred to Celestial Calligraphy.

Mind-Altering Magic: Spells like Domination and Charm spells should be saved against as a psionic attack, but instead of adding M.E. bonuses add in the save vs magic bonuses. So, a master psionic would only have to roll a 10 so save against a Domination spell but his P.E. of 12 and ignorance of magic don't give any bonuses. Consider this a special sub-class of magic and all spells, magic circles, spells, runes, and objects follow this rule.

Scroll Conversion

Scroll Reading

Purchasing Scrolls

Creating Scrolls

Access to Specialized Magic

1. No Wizard or Specialist can invent an entirely new specialized spell unless that category of magic is fully understood - at least first level proficiency must have been attained in the special magic O.C.C. that uses the specialized magic.
   
   
2. When a Wizard desires to learn a Specialist's spell, or vice versa, consider the spell to be learned five levels higher than it actually is (some spells might be exceptions to this). So, a level two Mirrormage^tm spell would be as difficult for a Wizard to learn as a common seventh level spell incantation. The specialized magic spells also require double the normal P.P.E.^tm to cast.
   
   After a Wizard knows six spells from a specialized magic discipline he gains enough familiarity that the specialized magic spells are only considered two levels higher for learning purposes. The spells are still difficult, but the Wizard knows what is going on. He can also cast the spells at the normal P.P.E.^tm cost. For a Specialist still learning to cast common spell magic, the same holds true.
   
   
3. No spellcaster may take a specialized spell as a free spell gained upon achieving a new level of experience unless explicitly stated in the O.C.C. description. To learn a specialized spell requires independent research or tutoring. In some cases a spellcaster may not be able to learn common spell magic without a tutor, which reflects the limitation of studies normally part of the O.C.C. Mystic magicians, due to their intuitive use of magic, may or may not follow this rule and could select any spell or ritual (up to the GMs discretion).
   
   
4. Each time a magician attempts to learn a spell that is specific to a different kind of magician a roll under or equal to the I.Q. on a 1d20 must be made. The roll suffers a penalty equal to the actual level of the spell in question (fifth level is a +5 penalty). Failure means the magician may not learn that particular spell until another experience level or 25,000 experience points is gained (whichever might come first).
   
   
5. Magicians who do not use spell magic can learn spells, but have similar limitations - this applies primarily to circle masters, Diabolists, and herbalists. For the purposes of learning new spells, I go by the assumption that one 4th to 6th level spell is approximately equal to the standard rune that a Diabolist would learn and also to a simple magic circle.
   
   A Specialist of this type, one with no training in casting spells, would have to attempt to figure out an existing spell. For the Specialist's first attempts at this, I'd even impose another -5% penalty to the success roll (inexperience). Once the character succeeds in learning one spell, all others can be learned without the inexperience penalty of -5%. All spell magic cast by the non- spellcasting magician costs double the normal P.P.E.^tm until the Specialist has learned eight magic spells - after that, the process is familiar enough that it is cast at normal cost. Circle and rune users rarely study spells other than common ones. For them, the circles and runes are the main course and common spell magic is the dessert.

Cost

Time Requirements

• Percentage for figuring out existing magic spells: Add the I.Q and M.E. attribute, 1/10 of the character's Principles of Magic skill (ignore fractions), and the character's experience level. If a spell similar to the one being studied is known, add the spell level to the success ratio (for multiple spells known, add only the highest spell level). A penalty of -3% is incurred for each spell level above 9 that the target spell will be. A week of study is required for each level of the target spell. Roll once per month of full- time study (28 hours of study every 4 days).
  
  
• Percentage for developing variants of existing magic spells: Add the I.Q and M.E. attribute, and 1/10 of the character's Principles of Magic skill (ignore fractions). A penalty of -3% is incurred for each spell level above 9 that the target spell will be. Cut the success ration in half when making a spell more potent (more damage, range, penalties, etc.) and add +10% to the roll when making the spell less potent. Usually, two weeks of study per spell level is required. A variant spell is always one level higher than the original, even with a minor modification or two. Lots of variation results in a spell 2 to 6 level higher. Weaker spells might be a level or two lower.
  
  
• Percentage for developing a specialized version of an existing magic spell: Add the I.Q and M.E. attribute, and 1/10 of the character's Principles of Magic skill (ignore fractions). Again, a penalty of -3% is incurred for each spell level above 9 that the target spell will be. Time requirements are one month per level of the spell being converted or varied. This is a process that specialized spellcasters, such as Necromancers, Cybermages^tm, and Fleshsculptors^tm, must usually go through to convert a conventional magic spell into one based on the priciples of the character's O.C.C. Failure in this pursuit means that a studying character must gain another experience level (or 25,000 experience points, whichever comes first) before further insight can be attained.
  
  Note that not all spells require the development of a specialized version - just those spells that have no basis in the character's area of expertise. Anything being learned that relates to something known doesn't require this reverse engineering. Once a Specialist becomes a competent caster of common spells (six or more common spells are known), specialized versions need no longer be developed. If a Specialist can select common spell magic as part of his initial spell repetoire or as the additional spells gained for extra levels, then he is assumed to have the knowledge needed to cast common spells and doesn't have to do any reverse engineering of common magic spells (maybe others, though).
  
  
• Percentage for developing a new magic spell: Add the I.Q and 1/10 of the character's Principles of Magic skill (ignore fractions). Again, a penalty of -3% is incurred for each spell level above 9 that the target spell will be. Three weeks of study per level of the spell must be dedicated to develop it. Failure means that a studying character must gain another experience level (or 25,000 experience points, whichever comes first) before further insight can be attained.
  
  
• Bonuses and Penalties: I would, as a GM, allow anywhere from a small penalty to a moderate bonus (-5% to +15%) to the final ratio for the use of an incomplete spell text, formula, or description (or whatever). Having a complete spell formula gives at least a +10% bonus, maybe up to +25%. Having access to a library of magical texts could give a bonus based on the amount of time spent studying (perhaps +1% or +2% per 10 hours, limit of +6%). Having a mentor avaliable could provide insights into problems, as well as getting advice and tips worth an extra +1d4+1% bonus. Having an actual tutor is the preferred option, which adds a +15% to +30% bonus depending on the tutor's expertise and teaching ability. I would even go so far as to allow the addition of a +1% bonus per spell sucessfully created/ developed, with an upper limit of +5%. For developing simple spells (several levels below that of the caster), add a +10% bonus.
  
  As for penalties - making spells dealing with summoning, conjuration, temporal/ spatial alteration, energy manipulation, and combat are always more difficult than normal. Apply a -5% to -30% penalty depending on the complexity of the work. Rush jobs and making stronger spell variants cuts the success ratio by -50%.

The Final Touches

Failure

GM Information

• Is the player trying to develop a spell that already exists? Perhaps he should consider paying someone to teach it to him instead. Mages guard their secrets selfishly, and this may not always be possible. Trading is always an option and a lot of mages are open to it. If the magician can, he should try to talk to someone about the finer points of the spell (range, duration, damage, etc.) so he can nail down the basics. Then he should try to research similar spells, draw knowledge from his own spell (or circle, ritual, ward, etc.) repetoire, and even find written accounts regarding the spell.
  
  
• How powerful is the spell? If it is too strong a GM should make the possibility of success very low (let the player know this) and suggest alternatives. Weak to moderate spells with only one or two effects are easier to create than a powerful spell with great range and several spell effects.
  
  
• Did the player work hard? If the player spends a lot of time and resources on a laboratory, study time, magical protections and played the game well, take that into account. It should at least give the character a greater chance of success and protection from failures, if not some added bonuses if the player is successful.
  
  
• How complex is the spell? A spell that performs one or two effects and a P.P.E.^tm cost within the character's P.P.E.^tm base should only need to be successfully cast a couple times. A multiple effect spell or high-level spell could take large amounts of P.P.E.^tm and require several successful castings before the formula is determined. Let the player know that a lot of research can reduce the number of spell tests, reducing the total P.P.E.^tm cost.
  
  
• What about the spell formula itself? A long range nuclear fireball might be too long range, or too nuclear, or too long range and too nuclear. Let the player know that if they maybe reduced the power level they desire it would probably be easier to determine the formula. GMs should use this as a means of persuading the player when the player wants to design an ultra-powerful spell.
  
  
• Failure - it is a lesson. If a player persists in trying to lock down the secrets of that ultra-powerful spell that you think would unbalance the game, let them try to beat the odds. If they fail they have to suffer the consequences. The player should live another day and remember what was done wrong. More research, less impatience, and better judgement will be learned and the player may eventually create that ultra-powerful spell if they work for it. Constantly attempting to make a superspell could eventually kill the character - be sure to let the player know. Or, you could use the direct approach. Tell the player you won't allow a spell that powerful into the game. He may argue, whine, and question your judgement but if you're both reasonable you can come to an understanding.