Notes on Magic
Note on Magic: I use a mana system. Spells are slots and may be picked at will or
precast. Precast spells are like standard AD&D spells--you spend the hour doing
the ritual, then cast the last bit when you need it. Picked spells take as long to cast as
they would to memorize, but may be chosen from whatever spells you know.
Components: Magic is underground, so there is no rampant inflation for the wizard
trade, and likewise substitutions are possible. Without the demand, a pinch of diamond
dust does not cost 50 gp. and likewise, rural witches would usually substitute moonwort
gathered on the night of the full moon.
Mages wish to make substitutions for the components in any given spell may
make a spellcraft roll (assuming they have this ability), and, if they
succeed, will be able to devise an appropriate substitution, ie. moonwort
gathered on the night of the full moon works just as well as diamond dust
(and vice versa). Failures merely indicate that the mage is unsure whether
a given component will prove useful and will have to resort to
trial-and-error to see whether or not it works. A minor botch on such a
spellcraft roll means that the mage is certain that a given substitution will
work, when in actual fact the spell will fizzle, while a major botch means
that the mage is still equally certain, while the true fact of the matter is
that the mage has actually discovered a completely different spell. Most
such "discoveries" are either useless or outright dangerous to the
spellcaster, but on rare occassions, the mage will have discovered a spell
that other mages would actually like to know. In this case, it will take a
second spellcraft roll for the mage to figure out what he actually did
right, ie. Was it the moonwort, the full moon, or the fact that a werewolf
had recently pissed on the bush, and the secret ingredient is actually
dried werewolf urine and not moonwort at all?
The popular versions of many spells--in particular Identify with
its "I'd swallow a goldfish to figure out what this does" component--is a
product of the sophomoric humor of many older mages. If you're pestered by
an apprentice who wants you to teach him a spell, which would you rather
see--The boy having a nice cup of tea and reading the leaves, or watching
him gag down a live goldfish? You get the general idea. There are better,
or at least more stylish, variants for every spell, verbal and somatic in
addition to material. Likewise, there are some which are more subtle than
others, and in a world where magic is illegal, these go at a premium.
Trading down: The 2nd level spell slot may be used for two 1st level spells, or for one
double-strength 1st level spell. 1st level spells can be burnt to make one mega-strength
cantrip.
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