How Spells Work

Spell Dice (SD)

You need a least 1 Spell Die to cast spells. They are D6s and you normally get them when taking levels in certain classes.

Whenever you cast a spell, you choose how many SD to invest into it. The result of the spell depends on the number of [dice] and their [sum].

If a SD rolls a 1, 2 or 3, you don’t lose it. Otherwise, you lose it until you get a night of sleep.

Every time you roll doubles or triples with your SD, you get closer to Catastrophe.

Spells

All spell schools originate from Wonders & Wickedness and Marvels & Malisons

Spells by magic school:

Animorphosis
Apotropaism
Cunning Craft
Diabolism
Elementalism
Mundane Tricks
Necromancy
Physiurgy
Psychomancy
Spiritualism
Translocation
Vivimancy

For the complete alphabetical list : All Spells

Lexicon

How to Read a spell

R : Range D : Duration

[dice] : the number of rolled dice.

[sum] : the sum of the rolled dice.

Sigil : Your unique symbol. It makes some spells permanent. It takes 10 minute to scribe and you can only have as many active ones as you have Spell Dice. If you cast a sigil spell above your limit, the oldest sigil fades, but leaves a visible trace behind.

Valuable / Treasure : Means the spell uses a component worth valuables or treasures.

HD : Means Hit Dice, the level of the monster, which the Referee knows. The minimum level is 1.

Catastrophe : Every time you roll doubles with your Spell Dice you gain 1 Doom Point. Roll a D20. If you roll equal to or below your doom score, you trigger a catastrophe. They will end your wizardly career if you don’t quest to avoid your doom.

Duration Philosophy : Each duration unit reflects the intended use of the spell:

rounds is for in combat.
minutes is for conversation and is measured in real time.
10 minutes is for exploration (a battle takes 10 minutes, exploring a room takes 10 minutes, etc).
hours is for between rests. A game session.
sigil is permanent, but is capped by the number of Spell Dice.

Range Philosophy : A human moves 30’ in a turn, so all ranges are in 30’ increments to ease calculation when playing without a grid.

Spell Schools

Animorphosis

Magic that relates to becoming like a specific animal species. Formorphosis is ant magic, mycomorphosis is fungus magic, etc. All iterations of [animal] should be replaced by a specific animal species when the spell is first found.

Apotropaism

Sturdy wards against curses and evil.

Cunning Craft

Old curses and nature magic from druids and witches.

Diabolism

The binding of angels and devils, creatures that make the laws of this universe.

Elementalism

Dealing with the capricious spirits of the land, which are the building blocks of all matter.

Mundane Tricks

The art of enchanting everyday objects in an utilitarian way. Include rope tricks, spoon tricks, painter tricks, etc.

Necromancy

The dangerous manipulation of life and death, usually traded one for one: one life for one life, one death for one death.

Physiurgy

Midwives’ brews and witch-doctors’ remedies.

Psychomancy

Mind tricks which provide temporary benefits.

Spiritualism

The study of magic itself.

Translocation

The paradox-prone manipulation of space and time.

Vivimancy

The gruesome science of flesh, growth and evolution.