OF MAGICK & MAGICIANS,
an addendum by Bernard Kaufmann
Casting Spells, trying to be precise at last
This reviews sections 9.05, 9.06, 18.03, 18.09, 18.19 of the rules and clarifies them
(hopefully)
The procedure for casting spells indicated in
section 18.03 is the following:
1. The magician has first to remember the
spell
2. When this is completed the spell is
considered as being cast.
The whole casting resides then in
• The remembering
• The incantations
• Gestures or other physical
manifestations of the casting that have
to occur during the remembering
process, and can be thought as
necessary remembering tools as well as
a focus for the magical forces.
Let's recapitulate the sequence of spell casting:
1. Decision/choice of spell
2. remembering
• Chance of success = (IQ ability
- 5%x(spell lvl-1) + reflection
(1% per minute, or 5% per
minute at a cost of 1 fp/min)
• Time spent is 1 turn (5 min)+
reflexion. MKU has to express
his concentration in his
particular mode, and display his
focus if used.
OR
3. Reading can be substituted to
remembering
• Success = IQ ability
• Duration is
• 60 min-IQ if first
reading and fluent
• (60min-IQ)/2 if first
reading and learnt as
native
• 30min-IQ, if known text,
+5 minutes
4. Casting the spell, effect immediate.
Targeting.
For example, an IQ 23/ WIS 21/MKL13 hex
master tries to cast from memory the spell
CONFUSION, COMMAND. lvl 5 that he
perfectly knows, with the help of his focus (a
wand) at two goblins of low level. He will try
to remember it, chanting and waving his wand
at the targets. He basically has 110%-
20%=90% to remember, but decides a hurried
1 min. quick thinking to boost his chances to
95% at cost of 1 FP. The total takes him 6 min.
He rolls with success. Then the spell is cast at
targeting % of 80% (minor arcane vs Inferior
goblin)+ 1% for WIS 21, the goblins are
stationary and in view thus +10%, so targeting
is at 91%. The goblins save at command LVL
4 (area targeting).
Importance of physical manifestations of
concentration/remembering/spell casting
Each mage type has its own way of
dealing with them, and the ways may
vary with the spell types.
Primitive Talent
Some kind of gesture, like sniffing for
detection spells, use of voice for
command spell, briefly the most intuitive
method for doing something.
Drug Trance
Through drug induced trance
Dance/chant
Through possession by totem, and focus
(drum) is used only to summon totem
Shaman
Have to incantate or dance or sing or be
in a trance
Medium Through trance or through crystal
ball, used by peering into it and/or stroking it.
Alchemist/healer
Some gesture is here required, like
imposing hands to heal, or hold part of
the body to diagnose
Diviner
Foretelling should be made by drawing
cards (tarot or others), examining
entrails, flight of birds, etc following the
particular type of diviner he is.
Hex Master
The Hex Master has the greatest freedom
in spell casting. He should optimally
both incantate and gesture, but it is
possible for him to utter his incantation
in his head or at a very low voice, and
without gesturing: In this case
remembrance chance is minus 25% (-
40% if neither sound, nor gesture).
When using the focus, the focus should
be waved around and pointed at the
target.
Enchanter
As explained in the rules, the Enchanter
must sing or recite through all the
remembrance process and the spell
casting; the Focus must be played if
used.
Conjuror
The Conjuror never needs to remember
spells before casting, the intake of a
potion rendering spell casting
immediate.
Thaumaturgist
He must use a physical support to cast
spells and incantation and gestures are
necessary in the same way as for Hex
Master.
Necromancer
They also have to incantate and gesture,
and their focus is used like a hex
master's wand (use of displays same as
for hex master)
Power Word
They have to incantate the whole spell
while remembering and the spell is cast
at the utterance of the final, single
WORD. They can bypass the rest of the
incantation at -40% in remembering.
They have to wave or stomp their staff if
using it
Symbolist
The symbolists have to remember the
spell before casting in either the normal
or the fast method, but they don't have to
utter any sound or make any movement,
they remember visually how to form the
right glyph.
Magick Square
As described in the rules, and they have
to wear their focus and grip it when
casting through it.
How to use magical devices of power
Magical devices of power and focuses
usually require some specific handling
techniques if to work in the expected
way. The way to use them is related to
the type of the device and its intended
use.
Magical devices of power (and also
simple magical devices) discharge their
spells instantly, without the mage having
to remember the spell, but with the mage
having to perform the expected sequence
of movements or wordings or whatever.
For example, the magical harp that is the
focus of an enchanter has its spells going
with pre-chosen melodies or short
groups of notes; one has to know the
melodies in order to use the device.
The same is true for wands which have
to be waved or tapped or rubbed in
specific ways (the freedom of the mage
putting the spells into it), rings to be
pointed at or turned around the finger
(but rings, armbands and other pieces of
jewellery or clothing allow for less
variation so one just has to know which
spells are contained to cast them (but it
makes very hard to try to find out
randomly what's in the device)).
Some devices may have very
complicated mechanisms. This is why
one must really have precise information
about a device before using it (special
handlings may hide traps).
Casting spells under stress
Breaking concentration of a mage while he's
trying to remember or cast a spell results in
stopping the spell short, the mage having to
restart the whole remembering in order to cast
the spell. Any kind of disturbance can distract
a mage, depending on the mage's ferocity,
wisdom and sometimes constitution. A mage
in a trance cannot be disturbed. If the nature of
the disturbance is non-threatening for the
mage, just noise or people, then a WIS CR is
called for, with minuses reflecting the intensity disturbance causes the mage to roll a WIS CR,
or the surprising quality of a disturbance. If the which he succeeds. Then the apprentice starts
disturbance is of a frightening or scaring to talk to him, not having noticed his master
nature, then a FER CR must be played with was casting. This calls for a second WIS CR,
appropriate minuses. One can also choose to which the mage also succeeds. The apprentice
go on trying with a disturbance acting: in this then gets closer to his master and trips in a fold
case a minus is applied to the remembering of the carpet spilling the boiling tea all over
chance, ranging from -5% to -50%. his master, causing him to abandon his
remembering or rolling a WIS CR-10 and a
For example, a mage is trying to cast a spell,
CON CR-7 (and taking some fatigue damage
quietly sit in his usual armchair at home. He's
due to the boiling water). If the mage succeeds
in the second minute of his remembering.
and is not disturbed any further, his
Quietly the door opens to let his apprentice in,
remembrance chance is subject to minus 35%.
carrying a tray of good hot tea. This slight
As a guideline for minuses
WIS CON FER Rem
Disturbance
CR CR CR Spell
Background noise -0 -5%
Movement around caster -0 -5%
Uncomfortable heat/cold -0 -0 -5%
Noise, voices, movement near caster -2 -5%
Hot/cold surroundings -1 -1 -10%
Water trickling on caster -2 -1 -10%
Loud noise -4 -20%
Someone touching caster -5 -20%
Very hot/cold surroundings -3 -3 -20%
Frightening sight like enemies rushing towards, common
-3 -3 -20%
monsters, a danger nearing
Pain (normal hit Fatigue Expended) -7 -5 -1 -35%
Someone shaking caster -7 -3 -35%
Monster, grave threat -5 -5 -35%
Great pain (crit. hit) -10 -7 -5 -50%
Awful threat -7 -7 -50%
The CR is applied for each disturbance, the minus to Remember Spell, only for the gravest
disturbance.
If the mage has to concentrate on something else he cannot start remembering a spell unless he is of
IQ 20+, and even then at a price of halved Remember Spell chances.