Home Brew Magic Systems

[Ndreare]

I shared this a while back and wanted to share it again. This time I wanted to see what other magic systems are out there or if anyone had used this system did they find anything broken, under or over priced? I have made some edits and changed the cost of the talent for magic based on in game experience showing the higher cost reducing the power of mages two much.

 

This is the magic system used in my home campaign in the world of "Core".

 

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The Known Domains of Magic

 

Gaining access to the gift of magic is not as easy as one might think it is more than learning a simple spell and moving on. A character must purchase a different skill for each of the nine magic domains. A character may choice to buy the skills up directly or to buy skill levels for them. However there are some rules on how this works. A character may buy skill levels for magic skills as they are simply purchased as “Skillsâ€. A character may even purchase the familiarity level with his magic skills.

 

• Alteration: Used for spells that change the shape or nature of physical objects and/or beings.

• Awareness: Used to affect the mental and/or spiritual plane. Also used for all sensory powers except magic.

• Creation: Used for spells that summon energy into creation such a fire balls and Illusions.

• Dimensional: Used for spells that break physical laws of space or time.

• Enchantment: Used to perform enchantment and focus related magical feats.

• Essence: Used most “Adjustment†powers.

• Necromancy: Used touch the negative plane.

• Summoning: Used for summoning spells (does not confer control over the entity, for control use Awareness.)

• Warding: Used for defensive and protective spells.

 

 

What Domain Do I Use?

 

Often a question that comes up is “what domain do I useâ€. The easiest way to determine what domain a power fits in is consider what exactly the power does. For example to create a fire ball you are basically wanting to create energy so that would be the Domain of Creation. Other times special FX would run into more than one Domain. An example of this would be if a character wanted to create a “Dimension Blade†this is both a Creation and Dimensional power as the character would both need to create the dimensional energy and shape/control it. The answer then is that the character has to use the lowest of his skills that are required. This is one of the reasons most skilled wizards by up there skill in more than just one Domain.

 

 

Basic Game Mechanics

 

All magic as a default has the following limitations. Some of these may be over come but that will be covered latter. (RSR and Side Effects may never be overcome unless the character buys the power out rite.)

 

All Powers Automatically have

-1/2 : Concentration 0-DCV

-3/4 : Extra Time; Full Phase, Delayed Phase

-1/4 : Gestures

-1/4 : Incantations

-1/2 : Requires Skill Roll.

-1/2 : Side Effects; (1D6 Normal Damage per every point skill is missed by. This Damage Explodes at -4DC)

 

Over Coming the Limitations of Magic

 

The limitations are actually not so much limitations as obstacles. A character who wants to overcome the limitations of magic such as casting with out gestures or casting in less time may do so by pushing their skill. For every -1/4 the character wants to ignore/overcome the character suffers a -1 to his/her skill roll.

 

Example 1: Nero wants to Cast a Fire ball but because he wants it to go off before the knight attacks him he is going to push off the limitation of “Extra Time; Full Phase, Delayed this is a ¾, so to instant cast his spell he will have to roll at -3. This is in addition to any other penalties such as Active Points.

 

 

Counter Spells & Magic

 

Often in books and games one character begins casting a spell and an opponent hopes to interrupt him or shield him from the mystic flows he is attempting to wield. In game this is resolved as a contest of skills between the characters. In a contest of magic skills the caster uses the base Domain for the spell he desires to cast, the disruptor uses either his “Source Domain†or the Same Domain as the target spell Disruptors choice. The disruptor is at the same casting penalty as if he were casting the Target Spell him self. The character should know the exact spell being he is trying to disrupt. If the Disruptor does not know what spell he is disrupting he may only use “Source†and he has an additional -2 to skill. A character may try to divine what spell is being cast via a KS Magic roll at -1 per 10 AP or a KS Type Magic roll at -1 per 20 AP. Legendary spells may already be known.

 

 

Access to the Schools of Magic

 

Not just anyone can use magic. Only someone born with the “Gift†may actually channel the forces of magic. Unfortunately not all people are born with the gift at its full power. The following is a summery of the different levels of “The Giftâ€.

15 : The Lesser Gifted

20 : The Greater Gift

25 : The True Gift

 

Definition of the different levels of “The Giftâ€.

The Lesser Gift: An average weaver can cast spells from up to four “Domains†but they must all fit into a narrow category of special affect such as Air, Earth, Fire, Water or Animal Magic. Many Warlocks and Shamans fall in this category.

The Greater Gift: A typical magic user these people have the Gift at such a level that they may cast from all but two of the known “Domainsâ€. They must select at the time of creation which Domain they are unable to cast from. (Remember to select two Domains that cannot be learned.) Most “Magesâ€, Necromancers, Alchemist, Technomancers ext… fall in this category.

The True Gift: A true Arcane Lord in the traditional sense these people have the Gift at such a level that they may cast from all of the known “Domains†with full power. There are no restrictions as to which Domains this character may study and/or master.

 

 

Arcane Talents

 

Sometimes in addition to just being able to weave and use magic a person will be born with other more limited gifts such as a predisposition to one Domain or an Elemental inclination. These characteristics are always born into the character and never acquired later although it is not unheard of for a character to live out his life and die never having known of his magical gifts. The following are some samples of the known and most common of magical talents.

 

 

1 Arcane Dedication: This character has devoted so much of his time and energy into his Arcane Gifts he has come to truly master them. The character with this “Talent†is actually just purchasing skill levels & as such follows all the rules for skill levels.(Note: The 5 point or higher related groupings include KS and PS that are magic related.) Cost: Varies.

2 Elementalist: These characters are inherently inclined to one FX over another. Determine what fx they are inclined to, the character is then considered to have +3 to all his magic skills when working in that FX unfortunately the character is considered to be at -3 for all other spells and may not cast spells considered to be of opposite nature. Cost: 10 (Note may only be selected by characters with the 25 or 35 point Gifted levels.)

3 Focused Study: Some characters are so good at casting their spells that they do not have to do the simple things most mages consider necessary. An example of this would be a character who has spent months mastering his talents so he may cast without his hands or even without using power words. This character may ignore a single -1/4 worth of penalty to casting for each level purchased. A character purchasing this talent must name it in such a way as to clearly identify which limitations he is overcoming. Cost: 3 the cost of this talent is based on buying limited 5-point skill levels.

4 Inherit Power: Some characters seem to have unexplained levels of power that exceed what should be their limits. These characters were born with the raw talent of magic well above the limits of their mind & will. For every level of this talent purchased the character may increase his Base Point limit by 5 AP. Cost: 2

5 Mana-Blank: This character is completely immune to direct affect magic. They were born without any Mana at all and cannot be aided or attacked directly from magic. Although indirect effects still can have affects on the character such as a created wall of stone would still be seen as a stone wall and would still need climbed or overcome. Often times characters with this talent do not relies that indirect magic such as hurled objects can affect them until it is to late do not let players assume that their characters are experts on magic just because they know the rules. Cost: 50

6 Trigger Master: This character has mastered the principle behind triggered powers like Enchantment and Spell Holding. This character may double the number of triggers active at any given time for every level or this talent purchased. Cost: 10/LVL. (Some GM’s may wish to limit this talent to one or two levels as it can be so easily abused.)

7 * Others: Since no man can think of everything we must consider there are talents we have not covered. Cost: Unknown

 

 

The Strength of Magic

 

A caster with access to a domain of spells may try to weave anything he desires that fits within his skills. However some things are harder to do than others. To represent this we use the standard rule from 5th ED of -1 to your skill roll for every 10 AP of the power.

 

A character may try any spell he knows however there are certain restrictions on the game mechanics to help maintain balance and represent the different “Strengths†of different weavers.

1: First of these is “Minimum Base Point†restrictions, all powers have a minimum Base Point level of 10 Character Points. This means that if a character wants to create a “Wings of The Raven†spell with flight he must have a minimum of 5†in raw flight before any advantages or limitations are applied.

2: Second is “Maximum Base Points†the maximum Base Points in a power +/- adders before applying advantages or limitations is equal to the lower of the characters INT or EGO attribute times 2.

3: “Active Points†there is no hard AP limit for casting a spell.

 

The maximum total bonus a character may add to a Magic skill by any & all known means is equal to a bonus of his highest complimentary skill being used or +3 whichever is more. So a character with a base skill of -18 & Circle Casting of -13 can not have an effective skill before penalties of higher than -31.

A mage may learn new spells through use of the Inventor: Domain Type skill or be taught new spells from other magic users. There is no limit to the number a spells a magic user may know and a sufficiently skilled master may seem to know every spell conceivable from his Domain of mastery.

 

 

What if You Want To Cast A Spell Beyond Your Skill?

 

Some times a character will want to cast a spell that is so powerful, that his skill roll would drop to unreasonable levels. Well the good news is there are ways to fix that. The character wishing to cast spells that are to powerful to be casually slung may choose one or more of the following options each of which will make the casting easier. Although there is still no guarantee that the spell will go off as desired it certainly help to use these tools.

 

1 Extra Time: By using a PS: Ritual Caster skill a character may add +1 to his skill for every additional step down the time table beyond the base time of spell. This does not usually require a roll unless the character is distracted or otherwise disturbed. A spell cast using PS: Ritual Caster always requires gestures and incantations throughout.

2 Extra End: AKA pushing your limits, for every +1 END multiplier the character may add +1 to his effective skill. This has the side effect of any failure while a character is pushing also has its Backfire Damage Class pushed by the same multiplier as the END was pushed by. (This follows the normal rules for pushing.)

3 Complimentary Skills: There are two different Power Skills that can be helpful to a spell caster they are Symbol/Rune Casting and Soul Casting, although not actually arcane skills these magic related skills can help a caster in very significant ways but each has its own limits. The limits of the two skills are as follows. Symbol/Rune Casting requires the character create physical marks focusing the magic involved. The minimum size of these marks are 1†square per active point in the spell cast, plus the character still has to roll his Symbol/Rune Casting skill in addition to making his normal roll to cast the spell. Soul Casting, this vile magic requires the character to spend 2 body for every 10 active points or portion their of in the spell. This magic drain on life cannot be restored in any magical or known way other than normal healing time. If the character does not want to use his own life energy he may choose to use the life energy of another by doing body damage to them in a ritual casting while they are prone with a contested Skill vs. Ego roll. The benefits for using these skills follow the standard complimentary skills.

4 Casting Circles: Casting circles are handled quite easily. The character leading the circle gets a +2 to his skill & strength for every doubling of casters with all the relevant skills. A character with only four domains in a circle can only add to the skill of others in those same skills. The only real requirement is that all caster involved must be with in 1†of another caster in the circle and no character may have more assistants in a circle than his skill in Circle Casting.

5 Casting Aids: Such as a Wizards Staff or Crystal. (These are bought as Arcane Devotion with Limitations such as Focus, Charges and Extra Time.) All foci must be designed in such a way as to mentally represent the desired spell. In example a spell of fireballs could not use a glass of water but instead would need something like coal, ruby dust and/or maybe salt peter.

6 Alchemy Aids: Such as a potion or scroll, these devices make it easier to use spells but each one typically only has one power. The benefit of this method is that it allows the character to make his magic roll in the safety of his laboratory. Alchemy Items count towards the standard Triggered powers limits. Items with charges count as one trigger slot for every 8 charges stored/created in the item or for every 5 minutes worth of continuous. (This system uses the 5th edition recommended Skill/5 limit for maximum number of triggered spells prepared.)

7 Technomancy Constructs: A Technomancy Construct is fashioned in a laboratory were the character is safe and later provides the caster with the ability to use a predefined spell. The benefit of a Technomancy item is the character is allowed to use his Alchemy/Technomancy skill to activate the spell even when it is from a different Domain. (Example Darith has a Technomancy of -19 and a Fire Pistol, his Creation Skill is only -8 normally to use the Fire Bolt spell (5D6 EB) stored in the pistol he would have to roll vs. his Creation skill as fire ball is magically created energy however since he built it into a Technomancy item he may use his Enchantment skill of -19. Technomancy items count towards the characters triggered powers limits even though they technically do not use the triggered power advantage the way alchemy items do.

8 True Enchanted Items: These are objects bought in the normal method of foci purchasing in the Hero system. Enchanted items built with the “Technomancy†fx do not count towards the characters triggered power limits. Although you do have to pay full points for them.

 

In all cases the character still rolls on the Domain skill that the spell would come from when creating/using the item (Exception is Technomancy in which case the character only rolls in the base domain at object creation). He simply gains benefits from having the object focus his spell. It is not uncommon for an Enchanter/Alchemist/Technomancer to have a very high Enchantment skill and very low skill (-11 to -15) with the other Domains making it so that days or even weeks can be spent creating magic items. The character also need to have the appropriate PS skill for crafting whatever object he hopes to focus his powers through such as brewing, Armor Craft or Literacy. A rarely chosen exception is to have someone else craft the object in your presence as you cast the magic.

 

 

Extraordinary Skill

 

Characters with Extraordinary Skill may use their magic skills at passive levels. This is done by treating their skill as if were only half its full level. The advantage is it represents a mages passive ability to resist the spells of other wizards or sense magic casually. A Character never suffers spell back fire from passive skill he either innately resists/senses or casually creates or he does not. This is the effortless level of mastery a normal person uses breathing.

 

 

Special Exceptions to General Rules

 

Always Using The Lowest Skill

• Magical Defenses: A character may use either Essence or Warding his choice for determining inherent PowDef.

• Magic Perception: A character may use either Awareness or Essence his choice for magic perception.

• Necromancy: A character may use his skill in necromancy for the following powers that would fall in other Domains Animate Dead, Create Zombie, Control Dead, Repel Undead & Sense Necromantic Energy.

• Adjustment Powers that affect the Magic Skills or the “Gift†Talents Directly are automatically at X4 to skill penalty.

 

Holy Ground & Other Places of Magic

 

Mana Wells: Wells are treated as environmental conditions that provide bonuses to magic for either all magic skills or for limited magic skills based on the type. Common types of Mana wells are Elemental, Necromancy, Healing, Protection ext…

 

Dark Magic Zones: These areas are treated as environmental penalties to limited magic or all magic similar to Mana Wells. It is possible to have the two different types over lapping such as Holy Ground that will have bonuses to all healing/divine fx spells and negatives to all necromantic spells.

 

Wild magic zones are areas of such increased magical energy that channeling is at -8 to skill and all successes are critical with double power while all failures are critical with double the normal amount of backfire.

 

 

Perceived Power Levels

 

Something that should be addressed is how much power do I need to represent certain power levels. So I give this chart of perceived power levels from the perception of the Adinari Guild of Magic.

• Apprentice Skill of -8 through -15

• Wizard Skill of -16 through -20

• Master Wizard Skill of -21 through -25

• Arch Wizard Skill of -26 or higher

• Circle of Nine Seat Holder Skill of -20 in 6 Domains & -30 in Domain of Holding

 

 

 

END NOTES: In games that use ER. Add (AP of ALL Extra Talents/5) + (Highest Magic Skill/2) + (Total Levels of all Magic Skills/10). So a character with INT 10, + True Gift (No other Talents) + 3 points in eight magic skills for an 11 + 13 points in Creation for a 16 would have 0+8.8+8=16.8 added to their ER.

 

Starting Spell selection: Although a magic user may know any number of magic spells and learn them from other casters at no cost. A recommended limit of one spell known for every two points spent on magic skills is suggested for starting characters. This would mean a beginning Wizard with three points in six Domains would know about nine spells at character creation. This limit should not be taken as an absolute and is instead only a guideline to help leave room for character growth and progression.

[Ndreare]

Re: Home Brew Magic Systems

 

The original post can be found here.

http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=718735#post718735

[Storn]

Re: Home Brew Magic Systems

 

I prefer Side Effects: Appropriate to the spell attempted.

 

That way, you don't have a Illusion (Creation) spell create an explosion.

 

I think Illusions should fall under Awareness, not Creation. As Creation is physical things mutating. Illusion is playing with the perception of hte universe. Sure, they are the same thing in a way... but hey... its magic.

 

 

But otherwise, looks doable with a player who is really interested in exploring magic in that Ars Magica mold. I would be one such player, but I play with several who would find this complicated and not worth the investment to learn.

[Frenchman]

Re: Home Brew Magic Systems

 

I prefer Side Effects: Appropriate to the spell attempted.

 

That way, you don't have a Illusion (Creation) spell create an explosion.

 

I think Illusions should fall under Awareness, not Creation. As Creation is physical things mutating. Illusion is playing with the perception of hte universe. Sure, they are the same thing in a way... but hey... its magic.

I gotta agree with Storn here - this magic system looks awesome, and I'm definitly bringing it to the table next time we start a new game - But I'd prefer side effects to be different for each domain (I don't think I'd go so far as each spell) So while creation may be 1d6 EB which explodes at 4+ DCs, necro may be 1/2d6 EB that Does Body at 4+ DCs, and others would all do different things

[Ndreare]

Re: Home Brew Magic Systems

 

I like the idea of Awareness taking over illusion as it already covers perception.

 

As for the side effects change, do you think it should be written in stone what it does for each or should I just leave it as a 1 DC effect for every point the skill is missed by and let GM arbitration control what it does?

[Ndreare]

Re: Home Brew Magic Systems

 

I was working on this based on wanting to create a magic system for a Wheel of Time meets Sword of Truth type game. Then after I got started I decided I liked my magic more than I liked the Wheel of Time Magic. as the world fleshed out and we started playing we never really wrote down the details any more than we have here based on the PC's sticking heavily to pre built spells.

 

After a while our adjustment were verbal and we failed to document them.

 

 

Another change we made that I was thinking of is after we played it a while we decided to make it were each spell fell under a specific skill. This way a wizard would not have to buy up every skill and instead could specialize. The example of Dimension Blade would have fallen under the Dimension Domain even if it was the higher of the two skills.

[Storn]

Re: Home Brew Magic Systems

 

As for the side effects change, do you think it should be written in stone what it does for each or should I just leave it as a 1 DC effect for every point the skill is missed by and let GM arbitration control what it does?

 

As a GM and as a person who loves magic... it makes fantasy... my philosophy is LESS control is better. Magic is wild, unpredictable...even when constrained by rituals and knowledge and experience... it can still bite ya in the ***.

 

If you DON'T write down the effect... then there is much more flexibility.. and get AWAY from the idea of the side effect doing damage. I used to just rough estimate the Side Effect to 30 active pts or 60 active pts and not really worried about even that.

 

I recently had a fight with a mage in my fantasy game that I was GMing. He screwed up his "Spell of Scales" (ie, get armor) roll as he was ambushed by the PCs in his cabin on a ship. Now, I am using Savage Worlds... where are "1" on the spellcasting die is a critical failure. But it could easily have been a Hero Games miscast roll.

 

Instead of blowing him up with "oh, he takes damage" which would have ended the fight too early in the scene... I had him armor up everyone in the room...so all the PCs got the benefit of the spell as did he. My players liked that. It really frelled the bad guy as the PCs then mobbed him w/o regard as only the magic sensative PC knew what had happened...and the other PCs thought they had been cursed!

 

If you get away from the concept of Side Effect = damage... then a whole world of possiblities opens up. A botched Summoning Spell turns sidekick, mage casting or other PC invisible (he moves a 1/2 dimension in vibrational space) for a couple of hours.

 

Side Effects then move from just a combat mechanic to something more....This can be funny. It can be socially akward. It can be deteremental on a battle field... Glowing during a night raid is pretty bad thing... yet no dice of damage was applied (directly) to the mage... but those arrows coming his way now...well... that is a different story.

 

My beef with Fantasy Hero is that magic feels too mechanical... too dependent on the superheroic power engine. By doing Side Effects this way... it makes it more "magical" for me. It becomes more about roleplaying and storytelling when it is open to interpertation. Botching a casting of Clairvoyance should have a different side effect when trying to impress the Princess and the court and when trying to suss out what is behind the trapped lock door as guards are pressing on your friends. Duress and situation should color how the Side Effect is applied, IMO.

 

Your own mileage may vary. But that is where I'm coming from.