1

Contents
INTRODUCTION - 4 ENEMIES - 56
The Premise - 6 Overview - 58
The Definitive Edition - 7 How Enemies Work - 60
The Story - 8 Creatures - 62
The Players - 10 Machines - 68
The Game Master - 11 Undead - 74
Queer Liberation - 12
Basic Gameplay - 13 THE SETTING - 80
Your World - 82
CHARACTERS - 14 The Government - 84
By Adrian Lumm Character Creation - 16 Why MAGI? - 86
Roles and Classes - 18 The Shadow Lands - 88
Base Classes - 20 Penalties - 90
Party Composition - 21 The Community - 92
Layout and Design: Weapons and Items - 22 Public Opinion - 94
Adrian Lumm Weapon List - 24
Weapon Guidelines - 25 THE GM GUIDE - 96
Curatives - 26 GM Moves - 98
Artwork and Photography: Status Effects - 28 GM Move List - 99
via Canva Interactions - 31 Examples - 100
Missions - 102
COMBAT - 32 Player Safety - 103
Naming and Terminology: Combat Basics - 34 Mission Structure - 104
Jon East A Word on Death - 36
Player Phase - 38
Inciting Incident - 105
Preparation - 106
GM Phase - 39 Action - 107
System Design: Drops Phase - 40 Conclusion - 108
Spencer Campbell End-of-Round - 41
At 0 Health… - 42
What’s Next? - 109

Actions - 43

ACTIONS AND
This game is Illuminated, and is made ADVANCEMENT - 44
using the LUMEN system created by Basic Actions - 46
Casting Spells - 50
Spencer Campbell of Gila RPGs. This Crystalline Tech - 51
game is not affiliated with Gila RPGs. Advancement - 52
Taking a 3rd Role - 53
Advanced Classes - 54

2 3
 “You don’t get it, do you? Chapter I
You’re done. Your old life is
over. Whatever you were
before, you can’t go back to
that. You’re a MAGI.”
————— INTRODUCTION
“This is all I’ve ever known.
But is it all it could ever be?”
—————
“My parents kicked me out as
soon as they found out. Their
own flesh and blood, and it’s
all because of something I
didn’t ask for.”
 The Premise
This is a futuristic fantasy TTRPG set in a
highly advanced civilization (referred to as
“the City-State”) that has developed
wondrous technology thanks to the power
of mysterious crystals found throughout the
earth.
This society’s reliance on hovercars,
supercomputers, and crystal-powered
weaponry, however, has led to a
government and populace that fears
magic and the supernatural. Those with
the gift of sorcery are marginalized and
even hunted down and imprisoned or
killed for their fantastic powers.
The scientific term for these people is MAGI:
Magically
Attuned
Genoatypical
Individuals
In recent times, MAGI (or simply Magi)
have become increasingly prevalent. While
most hide themselves underground in
various subcultures and hideouts, their
presence is becoming impossible to ignore,
and fears of the Government taking action
are abound.
6 7
The Definitive Edition
What you hold in your hands is the definitive
edition of the original MAGI. This is the full
compilation of everything I’ve put into this
game, including content from the
Unleashed expansion and the various
updates the original game has received
since its release. It is meant to be a sort of
“Final Cut” of everything I’ve put together
combined into a single book, referred to
affectionately as MAGI: Unlimited.
If you’re familiar with this title, then you will
already have the gist of what the game is
about and how to play, but still! Check and
see what’s changed.
If this is your first time reading, then
welcome! This is a game I have put a lot of
my heart and soul into as an angry queer
person with a reverence for sci-fi fantasy
settings. If you’ve grown tired of soft queer
media and are looking for something more
angry and wrathful, where you play as
marginalized people fighting a tyrannical
government with swords, spells, and guns,
then this game is undoubtedly for you.
This game, more so than others I’ve made,
is a labor of love. I hope with all my heart
that you cherish it as much as I do.
 The Story
In this game, you play the role of various
Magi who fight the Government and its
oppressive regime, which seeks to
eradicate magic in all its forms and to assert
its hold over the City-State.
MAGI (or Magi) are neither born nor
created: It is completely unknown why
some develop the ability to cast magic
using the crystals. The ability can appear at
birth, or later in life. Some scientists believe
an inborn mutation of some kind is
responsible: Others avoid trying to use
science to describe an inherently magical
phenomenon.
One thing is known: Magi possess a fifth
nucleobase in their DNA: Magicine, which
appears throughout their genome when the
power of magic reveals itself. This is why the
G in MAGI stands for “Genoatypical.”
Whether it’s a mutation or caused by
an external force, Magi come from all
walks of life and social classes, but
are stigmatized all the same. Whether rich
or poor, a politician or a pauper, the fate of all
MAGI is the same: A harsh life of secrecy
and marginalization.
8 9
Magic is illegal within the City-State, and
Magi are quickly hunted down when
discovered. The Department of Magical
Phenomena (or the DMP) is tasked with
taking Magi into custody or killing them if
they resist. Most Magi live underground in
poorly patrolled areas of the city, choosing
to live in hiding places and meet at secluded
bars and lounges that are owned by Magi or
those sympathetic to their plight. These
businesses, however, are often raided by
the authorities.
With more MAGI surfacing within the city,
the Government has been conducting these
raids and investigations more frequently,
and public opinion is starting to sway in
favor of the Magi.
To consolidate power and reassert
control, the Government has met
resistance to anti-magic policies with
open warfare.
In addition, the inhospitable Shadow
Lands beyond the bounds of the city are
growing more and more dangerous, with
dark creatures taking the form of Undead
who frequently attack the city. The DMP
blames MAGI for their presence, using
propaganda to paint them as dangerous
malefactors who summon the dead.
 The Players
Players take the role of members of the
rising population of Magi looking to change
the world for the better. While the
Government believes that Crystalline
Technology (CT) should only be created
and distributed by those in power, Magi can
harness the power of the crystals that
power their technology directly by casting
spells. They seek freedom from an
oppressive regime that demonizes and
disenfranchises them at every turn.
Players will use their Daring, Alacrity, and
Grace to respond to state violence and use
their magic to provide aid, protect the
innocent, and do battle against the
Government directly.
A great many forces stand in their way,
including CT Troops, Government
officials, the DMP, and magic-fearing
vigilantes.
No matter who they were before, all Magi
are united by their ostracization and
experiences as second-class citizens.
Players cannot be cops, politicians, wealthy
elites, or anyone who benefits from the
current system in place, though they may
establish that they once were in their pasts.
10
The Game Master
One person in the group should take the role
of the Game Master (GM). The GM is
responsible for creating and guiding the
players along the missions that take place
throughout each session.
The GM adjudicates the rules, keeps the flow
of combat going, and narrates non-player
characters (NPCs), or, anyone the players
don’t directly control. This also means they
control the enemies during combat
encounters.
Overall, the GM lays the groundwork for
the story and what could happen over the
course of a session or campaign. The
players are responsible for determining
what actually happens, with guiding
pushes and consensual challenges
imposed by the GM.
Within this book are several tools that can
help the GM make decisions and rulings, as
well as help the group collaboratively create
their own setting for MAGI to take place.
A group should have 1 Game Master and at
least 2 players, but probably no more than
5 to keep the group and story manageable.
11
 Queer Liberation?
If you haven’t already noticed, this game’s
premise is meant to be an allegory for
queerness and the movement for queer
liberation. The idea of powerful
governments who believe society should be
built a certain way flexing power over those
who are extraordinary is meant to be a clear
parallel for how Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, and Queer people are
treated in many places around the world.
As such, this game is incompatible with
those who would oppose the liberation of
marginalized groups. Sexism, racism,
transphobia, homophobia, ableism, and
other forms of bigotry are not welcome
in the spirit of this game. You do not have
to be queer or marginalized to enjoy this
game, but if you oppose liberation through
direct action, community defense, and the
old adage of “BE GAY, DO CRIMES,” then
this game probably isn’t for you.
This game is about celebrating what makes
people different in direct defiance of bigotry
and oppression. It is about fighting against
oppressive power structures with violence,
rebellion, and direct action. Please ensure
you and your group are safe when exploring
these themes.
12
Basic Gameplay
A basic premise of the LUMEN system and
how it works in this game is as follows:
1. Players have 3 stats that represent their
approaches to a given situation. How you
describe yourself doing a thing matters
more than the specifics of the actual activity.
2. Each player character has 2 resources:
Health, which determines your ability to
stay in the fight, and Crystals, which are
destroyed to cast spells.
3. When you perform an action such as
fighting or breaking down a door, describe
your approach and roll a pool of d6’s equal
to the appropriate stat’s numerical rating.
Take the highest number and ignore the
rest. If the approach’s stat is 0, roll 2 dice
and take the lower result.
4. If the result is a 6, the action is
completely successful. On a 4-5, the action
succeeds, but it comes at a cost or there is
an unforeseen complication. On a 1-3, the
action fails, and consequences happen.
5. Some circumstances and spells will say
a roll gains an Advantage or Disadvantage.
An Advantage is a die you add to your pool,
while a Disadvantage subtracts a die.
These can stack and cancel each other out.
13
“We look after each other here. Chapter II
This is the only family lots of
us have. And we watch each
other’s backs.”
—————
“You good? Let me know if you CHARACTERS
need help with spells. They’re
kinda tricky if you don’t know
what you’re doing.”
—————
“So what’s your story? Got a
name, pronouns? We’re gonna
be working together, so we’d
best get to know each other.”
 Character Creation
To begin, players should each have a
character sheet and enough role sheets to
hand out to everyone who may need them.
Everyone should also have a handful of d6s:
At least 5-7 will do, possibly more.
Write your character’s name at the top and
their pronouns, if you wish. Skip over the
Roles and Class entries for now, and take a
look at your Vitals: This section has your 3
approaches as well as your Health and
Crystals.
Daring: Force and boldness. You use Daring
when doing rough, in-your-face action such
as kicking a door down, fighting with
ferocity, speaking bluntly, and taking loud,
proud initiatives.
Alacrity: Speed and flexibility. You use
Alacrity when doing fast, erratic actions
such as parkour, fighting with subterfuge,
improvising conversation, and thinking on
the fly.
Grace: Composure and level-headedness.
You use Grace when doing methodical,
careful actions such as picking a lock,
fighting with poise and technique, using
diplomacy, and slow, focused maneuvers.
16
At character creation, you start with 5
points to distribute between the three
approaches as you see fit, to a minimum of
0 and a maximum of 5. Feel free to create
any array you choose.
You will receive more points to add to
different approaches when you choose your
character’s Roles and determine their
starting Class.
On the other side are your resources:
Health: Your physical and mental well-
being. When this falls to 0, your character is
taken out of the fight and must be revived
with magic, medical treatment, or by
sacrificing Crystals.
Crystals: Chunks of magical stone that
come in various shapes and sizes. They are
ubiquitous throughout the City-State and
power all of its technology, but in your
hands, they are destroyed in order to invoke
magic. Casting any spell costs 1 Crystal.
All players start with 5 Health and a
maximum of 5 Crystals they can carry. As
with the approaches, you will gain more
depending on your chosen Roles.
17
 Roles and Classes
Once you have distributed your points
between your approaches and noted your
starting Health and Crystals, you must
choose which Party Roles you wish to
embody. There are 6 total, each with its own
approach to combat and favored stats. At
the start of the game, you will choose 2 to
begin with, and can later take a 3rd with
advancements.
Each Role has 6 spells listed on its sheet,
and confers bonuses to your approaches
as well as to your Health and/or Crystals.
Take a look at what each Role is about and
the kinds of spells it gives you access to,
and pick any 2 of them. Once you’ve done
so, take its associated Role Sheet and add
their listed bonuses to your Vitals.
Then, from each sheet, pick 2 spells to start
the game with. Check the boxes in the top
right to show that you’ve learned them. You
should start the game knowing 4 spells, 2
from each Role you possess.
Finally, look at the next few pages and
combine your two roles together and
determine your Class. These are purely
descriptive: You can play into as much or as
little of your Class’s name as you wish.
18
The six Roles are as follows:
Fighter (FGT): An offensive specialist who
deals damage with weapons and casts
spells to enhance their own damage-
dealing ability and control the battlefield.
Defender (DEF): A defensive specialist who
casts charms and shields to keep enemies
focused on them, soak up large amount of
damage, and keep their allies safe.
Blaster (BLA): An offensive caster who
blasts enemies with fire, ice, lightning,
water, wind, and earth to directly deal loads
of damage to their foes.
Enhancer (ENH): A defensive strategist
who conjures wards and bestows beneficial
status effects to support their fellow Magi in
battle, unleashing their full potential.
Wrecker (WRE): An offensive strategist
who casts various hexes and curses to
hinder and demoralize enemies, sabotaging
them and making them easier for their allies
to deal with.
Healer (HLR): A defensive caster who heals
the wounded and keeps the party standing
with powerful creation magic. They can
even create healing items and new crystals.
19
 Base Classes Party Composition
FGT/DEF: Knight Ideally, you should try to get all six of these
Roles into your party composition in some
FGT/BLA: Spellblade form or another. A group of 3 players can
form a well-rounded party by each taking 2
FGT/ENH: Arcanist unique roles so that there is no overlap
between them. With larger groups, Roles
FGT/WRE: Cursebinder overlapping will cause your party to be
stronger in some areas but weaker in
FGT/HLR: Warden others.

DEF/BLA: Herald If you’re playing with less than 3 players,

each member of the group starts the game
DEF/ENH: Theurge with 3 Roles instead of 2, and begins the
game with 6 spells, 2 from each Role. Solo
and Duo characters start the game more
DEF/WRE: Thaumaturge powerful to make up for their lack of
numbers.
DEF/HLR: Paladin
Check the Advanced Classes section later
BLA/ENH: Conjurer in the book to determine what your Class
will be.
BLA/WRE: Warlock
In normal groups of 3 or more, however,
BLA/HLR: Sage you will be able to take a 3rd Role by
advancing your character between
ENH/WRE: Mystic sessions. More on this will be detailed later.

ENH/HLR: Enchanter

WRE/HLR: Witch

20 21
 Weapons and Items
In general, you won’t have to worry about
worn gear or armor: Your Health is partially
representative of your level of protection.
Instead, weapons and curative items are
going to be what you track most when
playing MAGI.
The City-State is home to the most
advanced weapons technology in the
known world, though most of it is barred
from everyday citizens. When most people
think of weapons, they imagine Crystalline
Technology (CT) plasma weapons, which
fire beams of light at varying levels of
lethality with practically endless
ammunition.
CT weapons consist mostly of plasma rifles
and plasma swords, as well as cannons and
other guns. These weapons use crystals as
focusing lenses to fire beams of light that
can be set to lethal or non-lethal impact.
CT weapons are almost exclusively used by
CT Troops, police, military, and the DMP,
and are typically biometrically locked to
prevent unauthorized use. For this reason,
these weapons are usually out of reach for
most player characters.
22
Instead, Magi typically wield melee
weapons and conventional ballistic
firearms, which are far less regulated
throughout the city.
Each player can carry 2 weapons at a time.
When not actively on a mission, you can
swap out your weapon choices at any
time.
Weapons have a name, an effective range
they can be wielded in, a set amount of
damage they deal, and, optionally, certain
special qualities.
All weapons wielded by Magi deal Physical
damage by default.
In MAGI, range is abstracted between 3
range bands: Close, Mid, and Far. If a
weapon has 2 ranges listed with a slash
(e.g. “Mid/Far”), the weapon can be wielded
in either range effectively.
Close range is when someone is right next
to you or about 5 feet away at most.
Mid range is when someone is a short
sprint away.
Far range is anything farther away than a
short sprint but still able to interact with.
23
 Weapon List Weapon Guidelines
Name DMG Range Qualities Weapons do not have a definitive shape or
Spark Gloves 1 Close Shock, Critical appearance, and their titles are only meant
Knife 1 Close Sharp, Critical to invoke the “feeling” of the weapon. Your
Sword 2 Close Sharp, Messy character’s weapons can look however you
Stun Baton 2 Close Shock like.
Axe 2 Close Critical, Messy
An “Axe” might be a finely crafted futuristic,
Whip 2 Mid Critical “tactical”-looking weapon, or it could be a
Bludgeon 3 Close N/A simple firefighter’s axe. Even further, it could
Polearm 2 Close/Mid Messy be a broken street sign that’s been
Pistol 2 Mid/Far Aim, Loud sharpened into something that resembles
Shotgun 3 Close/Mid Loud, Messy and is wielded like an axe.
Auto Rifle 2 Mid/Far Aim, Loud, Critical
Sniper Rifle 3 Far Aim, Critical Money is not tracked in game, as it’s
Bow 2 Mid/Far Aim, Sharp, Critical assumed you only carry small amounts of
Sparkgun 2 Close/Mid Shock, Loud cash on you at any given time to keep
government eyes off your bank records.
- Aim: The weapon requires focused accuracy. Your weapons can be improvised,
Gain 1 Disadvantage when enemies are in Close purchased, manufactured, stolen, etc.
range of you

- Loud: The weapon alerts enemies within Far
range or closer of its use
- Messy: The weapon leaves blood, oil, and
other obvious signs of violence
- Critical: Deals +1 damage when a 6 is rolled
on the attack.
- Sharp: +1 damage to creatures
- Shock: +1 damage to machines
Describing your weapon as it appears to
others can add flavor to your character’s
personality. Is your “Knife” actually a pair of
twin daggers? Is your “Shotgun” a
homemade project made of pipes and
duct tape?
Ammunition for ranged weapons is not
tracked: It’s assumed you have as much as
you need for a given situation.

24 25
 Curatives Curative Effect
Liquid Luck Removes Curse
Curatives are consumable items that can
be used to provide a beneficial effect. Most Antihistamine Removes Weaken
curatives take the form of Purisol Removes Corrupt
pharmaceuticals found in drug stores and Antidote Removes Poison
other places that sell medicines.
Stimulant Recovers 5 Health
In this world, cure-all ointments and fast- Wound Gel Applies Regen with a strength of 3
acting oral painkillers exist, though they Steroid Applies Empower with a strength of 3
are heavily regulated to keep citizens reliant
on the companies that make them. For this Immune Applies Safeguard with a strength of
reason, they are popular items on the black Supplement 3
market. Painkiller Removes Pain
Rebalancer Removes Jinx
As such, curatives can be looted as optional
drops from fallen enemies, by using a Curatives come in all sorts of forms: Topical
special Acquire action, or handed out in ointments, aerosol canisters, tablets, liquid
the fiction as appropriate. medicine, and injection cartridges. There’s
no real limit to the amount of curatives
Using a curative in battle requires you to use you can carry, though, in general, they
your Action for the round to administer it. shouldn’t be so abundant or common that
You can use it on yourself or an ally who is in you have to consider hoarding them.
Close range. Unlike other actions,
administering a curative does not require Curatives can fill in for missing player roles
a dice roll, and instead instantly takes in case the party must split for whatever
effect. reason: For example, a group that lacks a
Healer might want to keep a steady supply
Curatives can often work like many spells, of stimulants, while groups without an
but they take an entire action to use and Enhancer may want to consider steroids
should only be relied on in dire need. and immune supplements.

26 27
 Status Effects
Status Effects are temporary
enchantments bestowed upon Magi and
enemies alike. They significantly increase
(or decrease) performance and are crucial
to most battles. One should not
underestimate the ability of Enhancers and
Wreckers to turn the tide of a fight.
When status effects are bestowed, they
each come with a “Strength” value of a
number between 1 and 5. The higher the
number, the greater the probability of the
effect lasting through the battle. When your
character receives a status effect, write the
strength of the effect in the blank on your
character sheet.
Each round of combat, at the very end of the
round, you will roll 1d6 for each status
effect currently active. If the result is equal
to or less than the effect’s strength, that
effect persists another round. If higher,
the effect immediately ends.
All status effects terminate at the end of
combat, unless another battle would
immediately follow.
28
Beneficial Status Effects
Safeguard: A magical ward is protecting you.
As long as it is active, you cannot receive
harmful status effects. This does not cancel
currently active harmful effects.
Resilience: You are invigorated, and your Max
Health is temporarily increased by +3.
Empower: Your attacks are deadlier. Weapon
attacks and spells that inflict damage deal an
additional +1 damage that matches its type.
Infusion: Your weapons are imbued with
elemental power. Check the Enhancer role
sheet for specifics. You can only have one
infusion at a time.
Shield: A magical barrier protects you from
physical harm: You take -1 Physical damage
from all sources, to a minimum of 1 damage.
Cloak: A magical veil protects you from crystal
energy: You take -1 Magic damage from all
sources, to a minimum of 1 damage.
Immortal: You become indomitable, and
cannot have less than 1 Health at any time.
Regen: Your wounds slowly knit closed, and
you recover +2 Health at the end of every round
of combat.
29
Harmful Status Effects
Weaken: Your physical body is debilitated and
is more susceptible to harm. All incoming
Physical damage you receive is increased by +1
Corrupt: Your soul is darkened and becomes
more susceptible to harm. All incoming Magic
damage you receive is increased by +1
Pain: Your body is wracked with intractable pain
and you cannot move. You cannot freely move
or perform actions in combat (you can still cast
spells).
Jinx: Your soul’s ability to interact with crystal
energy is jammed, and you cannot cast spells
or operate devices powered by CT, including
weapons, vehicles, etc.
Curse: You’re afflicted with a hex that impairs
your ability to focus and tampers with your luck.
All action rolls you perform gain 1 Disadvantage.
When applied to an enemy, all action rolls
against that enemy gain 1 Advantage.
Poison: Your blood is filled with deadly poison
that eats away at you from the inside. You take 2
damage at the end of every round. This damage
cannot be negated or reduced.
30
Interactions
Status effects interact with each other in a
number of ways. Several are diametrically
opposed to each other. Others build on each
other and add to their strength.
For the following effects, if one is applied
while the other is active, it dispels the
effect that was there first, and no new effect
is applied. These pairs of effects cancel
each other out:
• Shield/Weaken
• Cloak/Corrupt
• Regen/Poison
For all other effects: If the same effect is
applied to an existing effect, the effect with
the higher strength takes precedence. If the
strength of the effect is equal to or lower
than the existing effect, the strength instead
increases by 1, to a maximum of 5
strength.
For example, if you have Shield 3, and
another character bestows Shield 5, you
now have Shield 5.
If you have Shield 3, and receive another
Shield 3, you now have Shield 4.
31
 “When the bots try and kick
down the doors, we kick back. Chapter III
Hard. This is our city, and
these are our people.”
—————
“Are you just gonna sit around
and wait for shit to change, or
COMBAT
are you gonna get up and
be the change?”
—————
“I remember thinking, wow, I
guess I’m lucky it’s not me
they’re hunting. And then
suddenly it was. I’m not gonna
let them catch me.”
 Combat Basics
A CT Troop raid on a Magi-friendly business,
a peaceful protest turned violent, an
ambush by the DMP, or a supernatural
threat manifesting as an undead attack. All
of these can mark the start of combat in a
game of MAGI.
Combat is an important part of the game,
and is assumed to occur at least once every
session. In this city, violence against MAGI
is becoming more prevalent in response to
their rising numbers and increasingly
hostile propaganda pieces. Undead
wraiths and shades also frequently
manifest within the city for unknown
reasons and need dealt with.
Most of the enemies you encounter will be
machines and automatons built
specifically to enforce the will of the
Government, but you may also fight human
agents of the DMP who have dedicated
their careers to eradicating magic. The
threat of undead attacks is also constant
throughout the city at night.
These rules are meant to simulate high-
octane battles where swords, spells, and
guns go toe-to-toe with futuristic weapons
and technology.
34
When combat begins, the GM and players
will establish the positions of the player
characters and enemy combatants using
the 3 range bands (Close, Mid, Far) and
combat will begin.
There are 4 phases of combat, each
making up a “round:”
- Player Phase: The players control their
characters and narrate what they do, using
any of 3 possible actions. Here, players
make action rolls, cast spells, and adjust
their positioning. Enemies may react during
this phase depending on how the dice fall.
- GM Phase: The GM executes a limited
number of special moves that represent the
enemy adjusting their tactics and shaking
up the battle. Major changes to the battle
take place, new threats emerge, etc.
- Drops Phase: The GM rolls 1d6 for each
fallen enemy and calculates drops for
players to replenish their Health and Crystal
supplies.
- End-of-Round: The players and GM apply
any ongoing effects, and each roll 1d6 for
each active status effect against its strength
to see which status effects persist into the
next round and which terminate.
35
 A Word on Death
Before we get into the meat of the combat
system, I feel it necessary to take some
time to address the violent nature of this
game and to make a few clarifications on
how I feel about death, both as a concept for
player characters and for enemies you face.
Most combat encounters, as you might
surmise, are finished by reducing the
enemy’s Health to 0 and taking them out.
Whether this means incapacitating them or
killing them outright is up in the air.
Death is a very serious topic that needs
addressed when playing this game. Most of
the “grunt” type enemies are robotic
machines and mindless undead husks
that can be destroyed with little remorse. In
other cases, though, you may be dealing
with the possibility of ending human lives.
Mountains of literature have been written
about the morality and ethics of violence
and killing in the name of revolution and
liberation, and there is no easy answer to
the question of whether it’s acceptable to do
so here. This game assumes you are at least
okay with the idea of violence, but killing is
something you will need to consider as a
group before proceeding.
36
As for my own personal feelings on the
matter, I am generally against killing, even
in matters such as these, whenever it is
possible. I cannot, however, say with
certainty that it would never be okay in
every situation that may occur.
It is my belief and hope that people playing
this game would use it to roleplay
characters who use violence only as a
means of protecting themselves and
others and to neutralize immediate threats
rather than resort to wantonly killing anyone
who might stand in their way. And, in rare
situations where human lives may be
ended, those deaths are handled with the
maturity and respect the topic deserves.
Still, if your experiences and perspectives
differ from mine, I will not dictate what you
can and cannot do at your table.
As a general rule, though, player
characters cannot die by default, and
enemies are effectively taken out of the
fight when their Health reaches 0. If you’re
open to PC’s dying, or to enemies dying in
fights, that’s up for your group to discuss at
your own table.
With that addressed, let’s look at the
specifics for each phase of combat.
37
 Player Phase
At the start of a round, players rush into the
battlefield and start wrecking shop. Each
player has 3 possible actions they can
perform, and they can do any or all of them
in a single round:
• Action: The player can perform 1 Action
per round, usually involving a dice roll. This
typically comes in the form of a weapon
attack, but can involve other activities like
interacting with the environment.
Consequences from rolling 4s and 5s also
happen immediately.
• Movement: The Magi can move one
range band toward or away from a target, be
it friend or foe. You must be able to
physically move and cannot be inflicted with
the Pain status effect.
• Cast Spells: You can cast one or more
spells from your list of learned spells. Each
spell costs 1 Crystal to cast, and there is no
limit to the amount of spells you can cast in
a given round. Just be mindful of your
crystals.
Also, there is no set order that players must
act in: They can even break up and weave
their moves in-between each other’s, if
strategy demands.
38
GM Phase
Each enemy has a list of possible “actions”
it can perform during the GM Phase, in
addition to a list of basic GM moves. GM’s
can perform these enemy moves and shake
up the battle, whether it be by changing the
battlefield, introducing a new threat, or
causing important dialogue from NPCs to
occur.
GM’s can perform a number of GM or
enemy actions equal to the number of
players at the table. For example, if there
is 1 enemy and 4 players at the table, the GM
might choose for the enemy to act twice
and to use 2 basic GM moves, or they could
have the enemy act 4 times. Some GM’s
might not think that many actions is
necessary for a given round: This is fine.
The player count only indicates the
maximum amount of actions, not the
number of actions that must occur.
The GM Phase lets the GM readjust the fight
and set up further challenges for the players
to be wary of. It’s meant to make the battles
more interesting than just a few characters
trading blows with each other. Use the GM
Phase to set up interesting situations and
alternate win conditions for the fights to
have more meaning.
39
 Drops Phase
Once the players and GM have acted, it’s
time to roll for drops.
For each enemy felled in battle (as in,
dropped to 0 Health), the GM rolls 1d6:
• 1-3: The enemy drops a Life Gem
• 4-6: The enemy drops a Crystal
Life Gems are green crystals that spawn
from a being’s life force, and instantly
restore 1 Health when touched.
Crystals form when a being’s soul lingers
behind and coalesces into a crystalline
form. Players can pick these up and recover
1 Crystal to replenish their supply.
During the drops phase, players can choose
who gets which drops as soon as they are
rolled, and they are applied immediately.
Players cannot pick up drops if their
respective resource is at maximum, and if
no players can pick up drops, they
disintegrate at the start of the next round.
40
End-of-Round
At the very end of the round, when everyone
has acted and drops have been generated
and picked up, End-of-Round begins. This
is a phase where fallen players can be
revived, and when status effects are rolled
to determine if they persist into the next
round.
At each End-of-Round, players and the GM
each roll 1d6 for each status effect
currently affecting their characters. Roll
them all at once and use their orientations
on the table in relation to their position on
the character sheet for each status effect to
make this process faster.
If the die results in a number equal to or
less than the status effect’s strength, the
effect persists another round. If it is higher,
then the effect immediately terminates and
is erased.
If a player character has fallen to 0 Health,
then End-of-Round is when they can pick
themselves up. More details on how to do
this are presented on the next page.
Once End-of-Round has taken place, a new
round of combat begins, starting with the
Player Phase, until the battle ends.
41
 At 0 Health…
If your character’s Health falls to 0, they drop
and are “fallen.” You cannot perform any more
moves as you suffer a serious injury or are
otherwise taken out of the fight. All status
effects stay applied to you and are rolled each
End-of-Round as normal, but you receive no
healing or damage from Regen or Poison.
Fallen characters are still conscious and can
communicate with other combatants (e.g.
calling for help) unless it is more appropriate for
the fiction that they are knocked out.
You cannot pick up Drops during the Drops
Phase if your character is fallen.
At the next End-of-Round, you may convert at
least 1 Crystal in your possession into 1 Health
to get back up for the next round. You can
convert as many Crystals as you wish into
Health at a direct 1:1 ratio this way.
Other players within Close range of you may
offer their own Crystals to help you do this, but
they must do so willingly.
Healing effects from spells and stimulants do
not affect your character. Only a Healer with
the Resurrection upgrade casting the Heal
spell can revive you during the Player Phase. If
you are revived this way, you may continue
making moves as normal.
42
Actions
Actions are designed to be freeform and
flexible to meet the demands of the fiction.
What constitutes an “Action” is a risky
move that requires either Daring, Alacrity,
or Grace to succeed. If it feels important
enough for a dice roll to determine
success, it’s probably an Action.
The most common Action you’ll take in
combat is a Weapon Attack. This is when
you use your Action to strike or shoot an
enemy within your weapon’s range. Like all
Actions, Weapon Attacks succeed fully on a
6, partially succeed on a 4-5, and fail on a
1-3, and a consequences happens.
Consequences are usually given the form
of an action specific to that enemy, or they
can simply deal their base damage to you in
response to your attack. Making a Weapon
Attack typically takes the form of a trading of
blows where both parties attempt to injure
the other.
The next chapter will detail a non-
exhaustive list of Basic Actions your
character might perform in a typical game
of MAGI.
43
“Not everyone wants to hide it. Chapter IV
Not everyone can. If you
commit to this, you won’t ever
have to hide yourself again.”
————— ACTIONS AND
“Are you free next week? I’m
gonna practice in the alley. I
ADVANCEMENT
could use a training partner
and a second set of eyes.”
—————
“You’re getting better. Good!
Let’s grab a drink at Kim’s and
celebrate that new technique
you mastered.”
 Basic Actions
While Actions are intended to be come up
with on-the-fly, there are a few actions that
are considered so commonplace that they
can be explicitly detailed here. You can use
these freely or ignore them altogether.
These actions can be done in or outside of
combat.
Weapon Attack: You attempt to fight a
target within range using one of your two
equipped weapons. Describe your approach
and roll.
• On a 6, you deal your damage.
• On a 4-5, you deal your damage, but you
suffer a consequence.
• On a 1-3, your attack misses, and you
suffer a consequence.
Scavenge: Crystals can be found
everywhere in the city, so long as you’re not
afraid to do a little property damage.
Describe your approach to breaking a piece
of electrical technology and roll:
• On a 6, you find 2 Crystals.
• On a 4-5, you choose: Either find 2
Crystals and suffer a consequence, or find
1 Crystal.
• On a 1-3, you find no crystals, and suffer
a consequence.
46
Miscellaneous Magic: You are not limited
to the spells on your sheet: You can break a
Crystal to cause any non-combat magical
effect you desire. Spend 1 Crystal, choose
your approach, and roll:
• On a 6, your spell succeeds and
everything goes exactly as intended.
• On a 4-5, you succeed, but there’s a
complication or consequence.
• On a 1-3, your spell fails or spirals out of
control, or it doesn’t do what you
intended. Work with your GM to create a
consequence to your unstable magic.
Ritual: With time and focus, you can
attempt to harness a crystal’s energy
gradually without breaking it. Spend 1
minute meditating over a crystal you
possess and attempt to harness its power.
If in combat, this process takes 3 rounds.
Describe your approach, and roll:
• On a 6, your ritual succeeds, and the
crystal is not destroyed. Cast any spell
you know, but twist its effect to have a
more narrative purpose, or do a
Miscellaneous Magic as if you rolled a 6.
• On a 4-5, the same as above, but your
crystal is destroyed.
• On a 1-3, the ritual fails, and the crystal is
destroyed. Suffer a consequence.
47
Evade Danger: This is an all-purpose tool
for saving yourself from harm. You can use
this to dodge out of the way of a deadly
effect, fight defensively with intent to block
and parry rather than fight back, or deal with
environmental threats. Choose your
approach, and roll:
• On a 6, you negate any damage you
might have taken.
• On a 4-5, you choose: Either take the
damage, or negate it and suffer a
consequence.
• On a 1-3, you fail and take the damage.
You might also suffer additional
consequences as the fiction demands.
Acquire: When you are in need of an item,
curative, favor, or something important to
the story, you can use this move to search
for, purchase, steal, or otherwise gain
access to that thing. Choose your approach,
and roll:
• On a 6, you obtain the item with no
issues.
• On a 4-5, you choose: Either don’t
acquire the item, or acquire it and suffer a
consequence.
• On a 1-3, you are unable to get the goods,
and there’s a consequence.
48
Do The Impossible: This is a special action
that can only be used by one character,
once per session. Whoever uses it
unleashes all their power into doing
something truly amazing. Using whatever
methods are at your disposal, you seize
complete narrative control of a situation to
neutralize a threat, turn a hopeless situation
around, or unleash your magic in a way
others would think impossible. The exact
mechanical benefits vary wildly and are
subject to GM approval, but should be
undeniably badass and powerful. You must
have at least 1 Crystal to use this move.
Choose your approach, and roll:
• On a 6, You pull off the stunt perfectly and
come out unscathed. Consume all of your
Crystals.
• On a 4-5, you succeed, but the power
was too much for you: Lose all Health and
all Crystals.
• On a 1-3, you succeed, but your actions
come at great personal cost. Lose all
Health and Crystals. You suffer a dire
consequence that may lead to your
character’s retirement. Work with your
GM to come up with an appropriate cost
for this magic.
49
 Casting Spells
Magi use the power of the crystals to work
their magic. While the crystals’ energy can
only typically be harnessed by special
technological means developed by ordinary
humans throughout history, the presence of
Magicine in your DNA allows you to shatter
crystals to directly shape their energy into
fantastic effects according to your will.
When you cast a spell, your character
breaks a Crystal from their current supply.
This can happen any way you wish in the
fiction, from crushing it in your hands,
stomping on it, throwing it at an enemy, or
shooting it with a gun.
You can also flavor your spellcasting as
smashing technology in your
environment; CT is everywhere in the city,
used to power street lamps, traffic signs,
hovercars, screens, computers, and more. If
you like, you can roleplay your character
taking a sledgehammer to a parked
hovercar in order to cast a spell or
something similar.
As long as you spend 1 Crystal from your
character’s supply, you can flavor magic
however you wish. No other verbal or
somatic components are necessary.
50
Crystalline Tech
Crystalline Technology reacts to a Magi’s
presence in a variety of ways. Most
surveillance technology has sensors that
can detect MAGI just from how the crystal
energy fluctuates in their presence, and
thus, how CT reacts to player characters is
crucial to their discovery as a MAGI.
Most technology such as televisions,
hovercars, cell phones, etc., will function as
normal, though some occasional power
surges are typical. CT weapons such as
plasma rifles, however, are specially
designed to not work when in the hands of a
MAGI, taking these energy signatures and
immediately shutting themselves down
to prevent misuse.
Enemy DMP agents can harness MageTec,
an experimental technology where special
gauntlets containing crystals are used to
mimic the effects of spells. This “artificial
magic” speaks to the Government’s
hypocrisy of hating magic yet being more
than happy to harness its power in a form it
can control.
51
 Advancement
At the end of every session of play, your
character is entitled to 2 Advancements.
These are special points that are spent
towards upgrading your character’s arsenal
of spells and combat capabilities. You can
choose to spend your Advancements
immediately, or you can save them for later.
Most short-term campaigns (e.g. lasting
4-6 sessions) work well with 2
Advancements per session, while some
longer campaigns (7 or more) would benefit
from 1 Advancement per session.
Advancements may be spent as follows:
• 1 Advancement - Spell Upgrade:
Choose 1 upgrade for any spell you know,
and check its box. Each spell can only be
upgraded up to two times; On the 2nd
upgrade, mark the remaining box with an X.
• 2 Advancements - New Spell: Choose
1 new spell from any of your role sheets, and
mark it as learned.
• 3 Advancements - New Role: Choose 1
new Role to acquire, and follow the
instructions on the next page. You can take
this option only once.
52
Taking a 3rd Role
When you spend 3 Advancements to gain a
New Role, several things happen:
• You add that role’s Role Sheet to your
character record
• You immediately gain that role’s
associated stat bonuses to your approach,
Max Health, and Max Crystals.
• You do not learn any spells from your
new role, but future Advancements may
be spent on learning those spells.
• Your class upgrades to an Advanced
Class to reflect your progression and
combination of 3 roles.
The next page details the list of Advanced
Classes and their titles based on each 3-role
combination.
53
 Advanced Classes DEF/BLA/WRE: Wild Mage

FGT/DEF/BLA: Battlemage DEF/BLA/HLR: Invoker

FGT/DEF/ENH: Vanguard DEF/ENH/WRE: Channeler

FGT/DEF/WRE: Dark Knight DEF/ENH/HLR: White Wizard

FGT/DEF/HLR: Hospitaller DEF/WRE/HLR: Augur

FGT/BLA/ENH: Rune Knight BLA/ENH/WRE: Archmage

FGT/BLA/WRE: Dark Wizard BLA/ENH/HLR: Chanter

FGT/BLA/HLR: Avenger BLA/WRE/HLR: Grand Magus

FGT/ENH/WRE: Mystic Knight ENH/WRE/HLR: Oracle

FGT/ENH/HLR: Alchemist

FGT/WRE/HLR: Champion

DEF/BLA/ENH: Sorcerer

54 55
 “Okay, listen: Those aren’t
ordinary dogs. They were
made in a test tube specifically Chapter V
to hunt Magi.”
—————

ENEMIES
“They brought out a Caelum!
We need to get indoors, now!”
—————
“Look, rich boy, I know
everything’s so happy and
bright in the High Quarter, but
down here? We’ve got ghosts.
Vampires. Dark shit that
spawns from all the collective
misery down here in the
underground. Are you
prepared to deal with that?”
 Overview
While life in the City-State is largely safe for
its millions of common citizens, the same
cannot be said for the Magi who are
marginalized and forced into hiding. The
tools and agents used to apprehend you are
detailed here.
Enemies can be sorted into 3 distinct
classifications:
• Creatures: Organic beings, such as
humans and other biological weapons such
as lobos and goblins. The Government
typically only employs human DMP agents
to personally deal with Magi if other
methods fail.
• Machines: Mechanized automatons
created with CT that are used as the city’s
primary form of law enforcement and
control, such as CT Troops, mechs, and
drones. Machines are a common sight
throughout the city
• Undead: Supernatural beings formed
from the Shadow Lands outside the city,
such as wraiths, vampires, and shades.
Scientists believe they are manifested
negative emotions such as fear and despair
that take hold in the city’s worse districts.
Undead usually only appear at night.
58
Each enemy type has its strengths and
weaknesses, as well as the types and
amounts of damage they deal in combat.
• Creatures tend to deal Physical
damage with melee weapons, claws, and
teeth, though some humans wielding CT
weaponry will deal Magic damage.
Extreme cold dealt from ice magic is most
effective at breaking down organic tissue, as
are sharp weapons.
• Machines are typically equipped with CT
weaponry of their own and deal Magic
damage, though some mechs may have
mechanical melee weapons or ballistic
weaponry that deals Physical damage.
While weather resistant, most are not
waterproof and will short out with water
magic, and shock weapons can disrupt
their electrical processes.
• Undead can deal either Physical or
Magic damage with equal probability
depending on their nature and form. They
are spiritual beings that manifest physically,
but still hold much magical power. Undead
fear the day, and their only true weakness
is the daylight created from light magic,
which sears their skin and disintegrates
their essences.
59
 How Enemies Work
Throughout this list of enemies to
encounter, the information regarding them
will be presented in the following format:
• Name: The enemy’s name. Players
should know what these enemies are called,
even if their characters do not. Most enemy
types, however, are common knowledge to
most Magi.
• Health: The amount of Health an enemy
possesses. When these reach 0, the enemy
is immediately taken out.
• Damage: The amount of damage and
type of damage the enemy deals. If multiple
damages are listed, the GM chooses which
is the most appropriate to inflict as a
consequence depending on the fiction.
• Moves: Up to 3 moves the enemy may
use as a consequence or during the GM
Phase.
Some moves may call for status effects to
be bestowed or inflicted on that enemy’s
allies or on a player character. Any status
effects inflicted by an enemy move
have a strength of 3, though more
powerful variants can have strengths of 4 or
even 5 at the GM’s discretion.
60
During the Player Phase, enemies will
behave in accordance with how the dice fall.
When 1-3s and 4-5s occur, enemies will
typically act and respond to the players’
actions as a consequence, especially if the
dice roll in question was a weapon attack
aimed at them.
The most common way enemies will react
to a 1-3 or a 4-5 is to deal one of their
damage values to the player who made the
roll. Each enemy also has up to 3 moves
that may allow that enemy to use other
tactics like bestowing status effects,
adjusting their positioning, calling for
reinforcements, or put the players in a bind.
During the GM Phase, the GM gets a
number of actions equal to the amount of
players at the table, and they can use GM
moves, inflict damage on the PC’s, or use
an individual enemy’s moves to show how
the opposition adjusts their tactics.
During the End-of-Round, any enemies
who have active status effects will be rolled
by the GM to see if they persist, just like the
players. The same rules that apply to
players with how status effects and damage
types interact with each other also apply to
enemies, for ease of understanding.
61
 Creatures
DMP Agent
Health: 7
Baton - 2 Physical
CT Pistol - 3 Magic
Moves:
- Call for reinforcements
- Attempt to capture a MAGI
- Attempt to reason with a MAGI
An agent of the Department of Magical
Phenomena. They are more likely to attempt
an arrest rather than outright attack or kill
whom they still view as their countrymen.
DMP Elite
Health: 8
Baton - 2 Physical
CT Rifle - 4 Magic
Moves:
- Call for reinforcements
- Harness MageTec to hinder a MAGI
(Inflict Poison, Weaken, or Corrupt)
- Perform a risky maneuver on hoverbike
A high-ranking DMP agent. Their left hand is
adorned with a MageTec gauntlet, and they
are equipped with a hoverbike for pursuing
MAGI.
62
DMP Enchanter
Health: 6
MageTec Fire - 3 Magic
Moves:
- Harness MageTec to heal an ally
(self or ally recovers 5 Health)
- Harness MageTec to protect their team
(bestows Cloak or Shield to up to 3 allies)
- Manipulate the environment with
telekinesis via MageTec
A DMP agent who specializes in the use of
MageTec, and can weave a great variety of
effects that resemble powerful spells.
DMP Flyer
Health: 5
Dual CT Pistols - 3 Magic
Dual Swords - 3 Physical
Moves:
- Take flight out of enemy range
- Land and draw swords for close-range
combat
- Pursue an enemy at great speeds
A DMP agent equipped with a hoverpack on
their back for limited flight maneuvers
63
Manticore Lobo
Health: 7 Health: 4
Claws - 3 Physical Bite - 2 Physical
Moves: Moves:
- Attack with a poisonous sting - Surround and attack as a group
(Inflicts Poison) - Converge as a pack and protect each other
- Take flight or land (Bestows Shield on self or ally Lobo)
- Pounce on a target - Howl aloud and summon more Lobos

A deadly fusion of lion, dragon, and Domesticated peacekeepers that resemble

scorpion, the manticore is feared for its
debilitating venom and hair-trigger temper.
Troll
Health: 15
Hammer - 4 Physical
Stomp - 3 Physical
Moves:
- Harness MageTec to cast Weaken
(Inflicts Weaken)
- Harness MageTec to cast Regen
(Bestows Regen on self)
- Cause massive collateral damage
A towering monster who easily reaches
over 12 feet tall. Only employed in the most
dire of circumstances. It wields a large
hammer inlaid with crystals that allow it to
harness MageTec.
large, silvery wolves. Often released in
packs to realize their full potential on the
battlefield
Behemoth
Health: 25
Claws - 4 Physical
CT Blasters - 3 Magic
Moves:
- Unleash a deafening roar
(Inflicts Corrupt on up to 3 targets)
- Harness MageTec to protect itself
(Bestows Shield on self)
- Deactivate its restraints
(Bestows Empower on self)
A massive monster that is intelligent
enough to harness MageTec and CT
cannons mounted on a restraint collar
around its neck.

64 65
Harpy Chimera
Health: 6 Health: 16
Talons - 2 Physical Lion’s Bite - 3 Physical
Howling Gale - 3 Magic Flame Breath - 3 Magic
Moves: Moves:
- Grab and carry an enemy or item into the - Breathe fire all over the place, hitting up to
air 3 targets
- Blow enemies away with the beat of its - Coil an unsuspecting foe in its serpent tail
wings (Inflicts Pain)
- Take flight or land - Wreathes itself in flames
(Bestows Empower to self)
This terrifying monster resembles a cross
between human and bird. They carry prey A huge beast that bears the head of a lion,
and other tools of the enemy to great the body of a goat, and the tail of a snake. It
heights and drop them to the ground. breathes fire with reckless abandon and is
feared for its ferocity.
Goblin
Health: 5
Claws - 2 Physical
Moves:
- Steal a Crystal from a MAGI
- Leap and climb all over
- Swarm together as one hive unit

One of the first biological weapons

developed by the Government. Short, ugly
creatures that are enamored by the light of
the crystals and are primarily used to seize
contraband crystals from MAGI.

66 67
 Machines CT Mech Unit
Health: 30
CT Troop CT Cannon - 4 Magic
Health: 5 Arm Punch - 3 Physical
CT Arm Cannon: 3 Magic Moves:
Baton - 2 Physical - Blast the environment to prevent escape
Moves: - Set up a cloaking field
- Attempt an arrest (Bestows Cloak on self)
- Mobilize with the others - Force itself in between the MAGI and their
goal
The basic model of Crystalline Technology
Troop, a robotic police officer whose primary A huge, bipedal mech piloted by a human
function is to apprehend and subjugate. soldier that stands roughly 15 feet tall. It has
Equipped with a baton and a built-in CT powerful arms for punching, thrusters, and
cannon. a huge CT cannon in the torso.

CT Commander Security System

Health: 7
CT Arm Cannon: 3 Magic
Saber Arm - 3 Physical
Moves:
- Release reparative nanomachines
(Bestows Regen on up to 3 allies)
- Blast someone with an anti-magic beam
(Removes all status effects)
- Command other Troops
A more advanced model of CT Troop that
provides support and strips away protective
enchantments.
Health: 10
CT Cannon - 2 Magic
Moves:
- Raise the alarm for rogue MAGI
- Deploy a drone to provide support
- Scan the area for MAGI
A sophisticated security system that can be
installed in almost any area of the city
where MAGI are not welcome. Consists of
cameras, drones, and possibly a security
core with mounted CT cannons.

68 69
CT Caelum Unit
Health: 40
CT Cannon - 5 Magic
Railgun - 4 Physical
Mounted Turrets - 2 Physical
Moves:
- Soar overhead to change positioning
- Charge up a cannon blast
- Overwhelm an area with suppressive fire
A moderate-size aircraft equipped with a CT
cannon and several mounted firearms. Only
employed on particularly evasive targets
where bird’s eye vision is ideal for pursuit.
CT Terra Unit
Health: 35
CT Cannon - 3 Magic
Grenade Launchers - 3 Physical
Moves:
- Fire Flash Grenades to disorient foes
(Inflicts Curse on up to 3 targets)
- Remove or crush obstacles with its sheer
size
- Eject the pilot when destroyed
(DMP Elite)
A proper tank, only deployed in the most
dire of circumstances when entire streets
need controlled. Has a human pilot.
70
CT Grex Unit
Health: 10
Nanomachines - 3 Physical
Moves:
- Disintegrate physical matter it touches
- Reinforce and power up an ally
(Bestows Shield and Empower on an ally
that lasts until CT Swarm Unit is destroyed)
- Travel on or through walls and ceilings
While at first glance this looks like a mound
of autonomous, black ferrofluid, this mass is
actually a hivemind of millions of CT
nanomachines that, while deadly on their
own, are mainly used to fortify other units.
CT Sicarius Unit
Health: 12
Arm Blades - 4 Physical
Moves:
- Unleash a deadly poison spray
(Inflicts Poison and Weaken)
- Become invisible with thermoptic camo
(“Camouflaged” status effect)
- Quietly dash at incredible speeds
A specialized assassin android that packs a
punch and behaves almost animalistically
to track down and quietly deal with political
targets.
71
CT Drone CT Vespa Unit
Health: 3 Health: 7
CT Mini-Cannon - 2 Magic Prehensile Stinger - 3 Physical
Moves: Moves:
- Hover to take a blow for an ally creature - Fire a poisonous dart from its stinger
- Blast with an crystal-jamming cannon (Inflicts Poison)
(Inflicts Jinx) - Electrify an opponent with its stinger
(Inflicts Pain)
A small drone equipped with a tiny CT laser - Hover out of harm’s way
cannon that commonly accompanies
intelligent creatures to provide extra Resembling a giant, metallic hornet, this
firepower and support. flying machine wields a long, snake-like
appendage equipped with both shock
CT Canis Unit weaponry and poison.
Health: 6
Mounted Rubber Bullet Gun - 3 Physical
Headbutt - 2 Physical
Moves:
- Tackle a nearby opponent
- Wait for instructions from its controller
- Fire a canister of debilitating gas
(Inflicts Curse on up to 3 targets)

Once beloved by the public for resembling a

large, robot dog, this quadruped automaton
is now commonly employed in riot control.
It is armed with chemical weapons and
regular firearms.

72 73
 Undead Possessor
Health: 8
Ghost Slam Attack - 5 Physical
Health: 5 Moves:
Claws - 2 Physical - Possess a human or another creature
Moves: (Target is under Possessor’s control)
- Give a shuddering gaze - Taunt a MAGI to kill their captive body to
(Inflicts Weaken) release them
- Cling to a player’s clothes and body - Breathe poison breath everywhere
- Fling objects around in its vicinity (Inflicts Poison on up to 3 targets)

The most basic manifestation of Undead, a
ghastly humanoid shadow with claws and a
mouth.
Wraith
Health: 7
Black Magic: 3 Magic
Moves:
- Casts a powerful hex over an area
(Inflicts Curse on up to 3 targets)
- Assumes a shadowy, non-corporeal form
(Bestows Shield on self)
- Instantly dissolves into shadow and
reappears elsewhere
A wretched spirit that casts all manner of
curses while protecting itself from physical
harm by traveling through shadows.
A sadistic undead that possesses living
creatures to torture their loved ones. Can be
released by exposing the captive body to
bright light, whether electrical or magical.
Vampire
Health: 15
Life Leech - 5 Magic
Claws - 3 Physical
Moves:
- Entice a human with supernatural charm
(Inflicts Corrupt)
- Bite a human and infect it with disease
(Inflicts Poison)
- Turn into a bat to fly away
A seductive, intelligent undead that takes
the form of an unnaturally beautiful human
who preys on human life essence.

74 75
Banshee Shade
Health: 12 Health: 5
Claws - 3 Physical Scepter - 2 Physical
Moves: Shadow Magic - 2 Magic
- Call other undead with a horrid wail Moves:
- Instill fear with a loud scream - Turn invisible until the start of the next
(Inflicts Weaken on up to 3 targets) round
- Fly around the area screaming - Wrack a foe with terror and guilt
(Inflicts Jinx)
Known also as “weeping women,” these - Sap a foe’s strength and constitution
feminine-presenting undead howl grief- (Inflicts Corrupt)
stricken cries into the night that chill any
who hear them to the bone. A shadowy figure that preys on terror and
fear to heighten its powers. Able to
Daemon disappear at will, it incites panic from the
Health: 25 shadows.
Chains - 4 Physical
Shadowfire - 3 Magic Wight
Moves: Health: 12
- Summon lesser undead with its chains Greatsword - 4 Physical
- Ensnare a Magi Moves:
(Inflicts Pain) - Charge towards an unsuspecting foe
- Breathe black fire everywhere - Drink deep of its hatred
(Shadowfire up to 3 targets) (Bestows Immortal on self)
- Breathe a foul breath that saps power
A powerful undead being with a large, (Removes one beneficial status effect)
shadowy form and flaming red eyes. It is
covered in heavy chains that it uses to pull A rapidly decaying memory of a warrior
forth undead and to trap its victims. from ages past held together by sheer
hatred and bloodlust.

76 77
Wisp
Health: 3
Icefire - 2 Magic
Moves:
- Show someone the way towards death
- Split itself in 2, creating a new Wisp
- Burn someone with ice-cold flames
(Inflicts Jinx)
A wisp of blue flame that is cold to the touch.
They often appear at the site of someone’s
death, and are believed to guide souls to the
afterworld.
Lich
Health: 50
Necromantic Spells - 4 Magic
Staff - 3 Magic
Moves:
- Summon undead with a wave of its hand
- Cast a dark curse upon the entire area
(Inflicts Curse on up to 3 targets)
- Break magical defenses with an
unstoppable hex on one foe
(Removes Safeguard, Inflicts Corrupt)
One of the most powerful known undead. It
retains human-like intelligence and
commands armies of ghosts and wraiths. It
is said to have been a sorcerer of eld.
78
Strength in Numbers
You’ll notice that, for the most part, the rules
of damage and Health are fairly balanced
around the idea of damage symmetry: A
blow that is harmful for the enemies is
equally harmful for the players.
This is to instill a sense of desperation
when going against powerful undead,
government operatives, and mechanical
peacekeepers: The idea that you could get
lucky in a straight-up fight, but what makes
you powerful and able to take down airships
and behemoths is teamwork mixed with a
healthy dose of magical powers.
Your greatest strength is in numbers:
Namely, that you are a unified group of allies
with diverse areas of magical study using
their powers to work together and
overcome any obstacle.
Most combat encounters are not going to
be “balanced” in the traditional sense: Part
of the fun of MAGI is the power fantasy of
being able to blast hordes of enemies away
with ease. However, for an easier time, there
should generally be as many enemies as
there are players, if not less.
79
 “Where would we even go? Chapter VI
There’s nothing beyond the
wall. It’s a wasteland.”
—————
“Hope you like dealing in cash,
cause this job’s under the
THE SETTING
table. It’s rough, but it beats
going hungry.”
—————
“If they catch you, it’s game
over. You can’t ever cast when
you’re not here, and definitely
not when you’re alone.”
 Your World
The City-State was designed to be vague to
suit any group’s preferences. This chapter
serves as a guide establishing baseline lore
and for making it your own.
There are a few base assumptions,
however, that the system requires:
• All technology, no matter how
mundane or futuristic, runs on crystals.
A general rule of thumb is: If it would run on
electricity, batteries, or similar in our world,
it has a crystal inside it that powers it.
• Leaving the city is not an option. The
players can’t simply run away from their
problems: They have to either be part of the
effort to change the world as PCs, or live
within it to the best of their abilities as NPCs.
• Magic is illegal and MAGI are widely
feared. Society at large considers magic to
be dangerous or evil, and Magi are always
the underdogs trying to be free. While
there’s no easy answer as to whether Magi
are “born this way” or made so by unknown
environmental factors, it is plainly clear that
the gift of magic is not a choice one can
make: It is a part of who you are that cannot
be separate from you.
82
• MAGI are second-class citizens. No
matter who you were in your previous life,
whether rich or poor, the moment your
magical powers surface, you lose all of that
and must live the life of a MAGI.
• The system needs to change. The
current Government may already be
considered tyrannical by some, but to all the
Magi living in squalor by their design, it is
undeniable. One thing is certain: This cannot
continue the way it has been. The player
characters are people who understand this
problem and actively want to be part of the
solution.
While you can freely play around with these
ideas to suit your own vision of the game’s
setting, the above five statements are more
or less the foundation upon which this
game’s premise can function. I strongly
recommend keeping all of them in mind
when developing your world.
The following sections are worldbuilding
prompts for you and your players to think
about when designing your City-State. Each
has 3 examples that you can pick from or
use to inspire your own answers. Also note
the differing themes and questions each
section provides and how they may fit into
the stories you are trying to tell.
83
 The Government
While the DMP is the main arm of the law
that deals with MAGI and those who harbor
them, they are only a branch of the
Government that rules the City-State. How
is that Government structured?
• The city is ruled by an authoritarian
dictator, supreme leader, monarch, or other
central absolutist figure. The actual
governing body is fairly small but holds
massive power over its citizens.
• The government is a bureaucracy split
into an executive branch led by a prime
minister, a legislative senate, and a judicial
tribunal. All are aligned against the interests
of MAGI and are the architects of their plight.
• The city is a corporate oligarchy ruled
by a board of capitalist executives (known
collectively as “The Board”) who own the
businesses and land that keep the economy
going. Everything they do is in the interests
of profits and exploitation.
These examples are some ways you can
structure the Government depending on
how you feel about monarchy, bureaucracy,
capitalism, or all three. Feel free to invent
your own explanation if you wish.
84
Some ideas for characters the players
may need to watch out for…
• The Ruler of the City-State
• The Chancellor or other Second-in-
Command figurehead
• The head of the DMP
• The Informants and Spies who report
to the DMP
• Vigilante citizens who side with the
Government against MAGI
Some characters the players might
come to rely on…
• The head of a rival faction in favor of
Magi rights looking to seize power
• An elected official who holds secret
meetings with Magi to campaign for them
• A disgruntled corpo who secretly
harbors family who are Magi
• Community leaders who organize relief
efforts for struggling Magi
• Fellow Magi who cannot or do not wish
to fight and instead help the community in
other ways
85
 Why MAGI?
Magic is strictly illegal in the City-State, and
those who are capable of using it are denied
civil rights. But why does the Government,
and society at large, hold such antipathy?
• Corporate interests demand that magic
be harshly criminalized. Big Business sees
magic as a threat to the goods and services
they profit from, and open sorcery would
make them obsolete.
• The official stance of the Government is
that ancient societies were once ruled by
powerful wizards who subjugated those
who did not share their gifts. The City-State
reasons that it is protecting its citizens from
magocracy. How true this story is depends
on whom you ask.
• The dominant religion the City-State
follows proclaims magic to be an evil art
and that MAGI are touched by demons.
They believe that undead are a byproduct of
evil magical practitioners left unchecked.
Rationalizing bigotry is difficult, but knowing
why people hate magic is a good starting
point for changing people’s minds.
Sometimes, though, “because they’re
different” is good enough reason.
86
Some ideas for obstacles the Magi may
face in their struggle…
• Religious leaders who call for violence
• The actual power that Magi do indeed
hold, if only implicitly, over mundanes
• Acceptability politics, or, the idea of
making concessions to assimilate rather
than exist freely
• Magi who believe these ancient
magocracies had the right of it
• The court of public opinion and the
media waiting to sensationalize a Magi
messing up
Some ways characters can go about
helping people see the truth…
• Show that magic can be used for good
as much as it can be used for ill
• Research and expose the “magocracy”
conspiracy theories
• Use the media against those in power
• Take initiatives to investigate the undead
and work with mundanes to fight against it
• Expose companies that use magic as
part of their production processes
87
 The Shadow Lands
The City-State is a lone beacon of light in a
land surrounded by the inhospitable
Shadow Lands. What is the nature of the
world at large, and are any other human
civilizations left?
• As far as anyone knows, the City-State is
humanity’s last bastion of hope: The
Shadow Lands continue into eternity where
few dare to tread. As a result, the City-State
is trapped in perpetual night.
• There are other civilizations out there, but
none come close to the level of
technological progress as the City-State.
The “Shadow Lands” figuratively refers to
the rest of the world that lacks electrical
power and crystalline tech.
• There are other city-states that function
just like ours, but they are few and far
between, like points of light in a sea of
barren wasteland. Ruins of older
civilizations dot the landscape from before a
powerful curse left the land to rot.
Players cannot feasibly leave the City-State,
at least at first. Use these examples to come
up with your own version of the Shadow
Lands and why few, if any, ever return.
88
Some ideas for threats the Shadow
Lands may pose for players…
• Undead are constantly pouring into the
city from outside
• The Government has erected a massive
wall barring exit around the edge of the city
• Immigrants from the Shadow Lands
foretell of a great calamity that will befall
the City-State
• If not already darkened, the sun itself
seems to be fading
• Rumors of a neighboring nation
gathering forces to conquer the City-State
Some ideas for how players can use the
Shadow Lands in their missions…
• Collaboratively research a scientific or
magical solution to the impending darkness
• Try to capture and communicate with an
undead to learn more about them
• Learn about the curse that has befallen
the rest of the world and how to reverse it
• Discover the truth about the Shadow
Lands that the Government is hiding
• Look into ways to make contact with
anyone who lives on the outside.
89
 Penalties
MAGI are seen as undesirables throughout
the City-State and the use of magic is a
serious crime. The DMP actively hunts
offending magic-users, but what happens
when one is caught?
• MAGI suspected of casting spells are
incarcerated in special prisons called MAGI
Retention Centers, or MRCs. These low-
tech facilities are specially designed to keep
crystals out of reach of MAGI.
• MAGI are given a choice: They can join
the Mage Corps, a branch of the DMP that
helps capture other MAGI and develop new
technologies in service to the City-State, or
they are exiled to the Shadow Lands.
• The DMP itself does very little beyond
confiscating crystals, though they
register the MAGI’s name and particulars
into a public database that allows them to
be quickly identified and targeted for
discrimination and vigilantism.
How harsh these penalties are may
influence how easy it is to live life as a MAGI
who stays out of trouble. Bear in mind,
however you choose, player characters are
definitely not going to stay out of trouble.
90
Some ideas for how punishment for
magic might affect players…
• The need to use magic contrasted with
the threat of getting caught
• The uncertainty of how much you can
trust any given person with the knowledge
that you are a Magi
• How the threat of punishment can cause
many to lose hope or think little of death
• A trusted ally being captured by the DMP
• The struggle of choosing self-
preservation over the community
Some ideas for how players may fight
against this system…
• Convince Mage Corps operatives to
turn coat
• Mount rescue efforts to save prisoners
or exiles from their fates
• Destroy or hinder the MAGI database
• Campaign with the community to
protest against the criminalization of magic
• Mount defense initiatives to protect the
most vulnerable
91
 The Community
MAGI typically band together to form a
community of people hoping to make
things better, if not survivable. Others may
resist the Government’s rule and seek to
liberate MAGI from their oppression. What
is this community like?
• Mostly splinter groups and independent
networks of folks willing to open their
homes and provide supplies to Magi who
need them. There’s no official organization
yet, but that might be changing soon.
• There’s an underground resistance
known as Black Rose that is made up of
MAGI and mundanes who support MAGI
rights. They operate checkpoints and safe
havens while performing clandestine
operations to fight for MAGI liberation.
• Several pro-Magi organizations exist that
advocate for and campaign for Magi
representation in government, even if they
aren’t officially affiliated with the movement
itself. This committee focuses primarily on
raising awareness and influencing politics.
The community is the central framework
through which the player characters
operate. One or all of these may be true.
92
Some ways the community might be
threatened…
• Anti-MAGI groups might seek to
sabotage or intimidate the community
• The Government might conduct regular
raids on Magi-friendly businesses
• Harsher laws might be considered by
legislative officials in response to growing
numbers of Magi
• Supplies and funding may be running
low due to logistical complications
• The Government might employ more CT
security systems and Troop patrols
Some ideas for how the players may
seek solace in the community…
• Sympathetic mundanes might offer
shelter and supplies to weary Magi
• Magi may have an established home
base they can always rest and return to
• Leadership may provide missions and
give the Magi a sense of direction
• Politicians may provide invitations to
social events to improve Magi standing
• Magi may be provided codenames and
cover identities to help live normal lives
93
 Public Opinion
Magic is illegal and most are afraid of those
who can use it. But to what extent does
this fear take hold among common
citizens?
• Anyone identified as a MAGI instantly
becomes a target for violence and mob
justice. Those who don’t run away in terror
will take up arms against a perceived threat.
• Most MAGI are met not with antipathy,
rather indifference. Rumors might spread
and anonymous tips maybe filed, but few
people would directly confront Magi and
would rather just pretend they don’t exist.
• Most people, while afraid or hateful of
magic itself, don’t mind MAGI as long as
they are kept far away from them. Most
actually disagree with the Government’s
extreme stance and believe Magi should
be given equal rights so long as they don’t
cause trouble, but rarely have the ability to
say so openly. Many look the other way
when they see Magi casting openly.
The role of common citizens is very
important to how your characters act in
their everyday existence.
94
Some ways the public might cause
problems for the players…
• Citizens may scream and shout when
they see magic being performed openly.
• Someone who seems nice at first may
report you later to save their own skin
• Businesses may refuse to serve or hire
you, at least openly
• Friends and family members may be
woefully misinformed and turn on you
• Mundane citizens might ignore you or
refuse to help you with your problems
Some ideas for how the public might be
helpful to players…
• Heroic deeds might be met with people
looking the other way or even thanking you
• Citizens who witness police brutality may
be compelled to your defense
• Some anti-MAGI people may change
their minds after interacting with you
• Some citizens may choose to help you
at great personal risk to themselves
• Some citizens might have family or
friends who are MAGI and sympathize with
your plight
95
 Chapter VII
“I got a job from Command.
Looks like we’re breaking Safia
out of prison.”
—————
“How can we even be sure it’s THE GM GUIDE
safe? It could be a DMP trap to
get us all in one place.”
—————
“If everything goes right, it’ll
be a nice, calm demonstration.
If it goes wrong, well… Keep
your sword handy.”
 GM Moves
For the most part, consequences and
complications are free for the group to
come up with together, with the GM having
the final say. Any kind of story-driven
wrench you can throw into the mix works,
but when you need inspiration or are in a
combat situation and need a go-to, you can
use the GM Moves to shake up the fight.
GM Moves are mostly intended to use
during the GM Phase of combat when
enemy actions and damage aren’t
appropriate, but you may use GM Moves at
any time to make 1-3 and 4-5 rolls more
interesting on the fly.
When you use a GM Move, you may choose
to announce that you are using it, or you
can simply weave it into the narrative
without calling explicit attention to it. Some
groups enjoy more “gamey” feel to their
mechanics, and others might find it to be
more immersive not to invoke game terms
as often. The choice is yours.
GM Moves can be used during or outside of
combat as appropriate.
98
GM Move List
- NPC Reveal: It comes to light that an NPC
is not who they say they are or there is more
to them than meets the eye.
- Unfortunate Timing: A time-sensitive
situation is thrown off, whether too early or
too late.
- Foul Luck: A troublesome event happens
coincidentally. It need not be a direct result
of the action rolled.
- Change of Scenery: The scene carries on
to a new location, or the battlefield shakes
up and changes.
- Raised Alarm: A security system is
alerted to the players’ presence, or the
enemies raise an alarm.
- Change the Game: The goal or objective
changes, or a new obstacle to victory
presents itself
- Plot Twist: New information that throws
the whole situation into question is
revealed.
- New Threat: Reinforcements, a new
enemy, or a hidden danger is revealed.
99
 Examples
To get an idea of how GM Moves can be
used, see these sample narrations of GM
Moves in action:
Jamie and her team are trying to rescue a
group of captured Magi from a DMP
transport unit. They’ve managed to force the
hovervan to land, and have begun fighting
the agents driving it. During the Player
Phase, Jamie wants to use her action to
break open the doors to set the detained
Magi free. She forcibly tries to tear open the
doors, and rolls Daring. Her result is a 4:
Success, but with a complication. Fen, the
GM, decides to use the Raised Alarm GM
Move as a consequence: Jamie busts the
doors open, but a loud alarm rings out from
the hovervan, alerting any other DMP forces
in the area that a government vehicle is
being vandalized. The group can expect
reinforcements soon if they don’t hurry.
100
During an uprising, the DMP has authorized
the use of a Behemoth to quell MAGI
rebellion. Chase, Miriam, and Yuxuan do
battle with the Behemoth while the others
retreat. Once they’ve all acted during the
Player Phase, Anya, the GM, can perform
up to 3 actions during the GM Phase. She
decides for the Behemoth to fire its CT
blasters on Miriam, who takes 3 Magic
damage. Then, Anya has the Behemoth
unleash its deafening roar, inflicting Corrupt
on the three heroes. For a third action, Anya
uses the Change of Scenery GM Move: The
Behemoth, in its roaring rage, the massive
beast flings parked cars everywhere,
making the streets much more hazardous
to navigate for the next round.
André and Zahir are not in battle, but are
trying to hack a computer to reveal the
whereabouts of an important government
figure. Zahir is trying to crack through the
firewall as fast as he can, so he rolls Alacrity.
He rolls a 2: Failure, with a consequence.
Carolina, the GM, uses the Unfortunate
Timing GM Move to narrate Zahir being
unable to get into the system in time:
Security guards are patrolling the area, and
Zahir is forced to escape with André before
they are discovered. They’ll have to try
again later or come up with another plan.
101
 Missions
In a typical game of MAGI, the player
characters will be going on missions
throughout the City-State to fight for
freedom and justice. The exact nature of
these stories will vary depending on what
kind of stories you want to tell in this setting.
While some groups may wish to fight
through waves of CT Troops to destabilize
the Government’s hold on the city, others
might want to investigate the rising MAGI
population and the increasing prevalence of
undead appearing within the city.
Some might wish to embody “superhero”
type roles by showing the general public
that Magi are not to be feared. Others may
want to forget the public entirely and take
the fight to the DMP itself, which produces
the anti-magic propaganda in the first place.
Some groups may even want to tell stories
of espionage and subterfuge, of MAGI
who go on secretive, clandestine operations
to further the goals of the MAGI underclass
while remaining stealthy.
Make sure your group is all on the same
page as to what kinds of themes you want to
explore in this world.
102
Player Safety
As discussed earlier, player safety is an
important aspect of playing MAGI, where
real-world themes of oppression, police
brutality, class warfare, and bigotry may
come into play. Fictional, fantastic
bigotry can feel a lot like real bigotry,
especially in immersive role-playing
experiences, and so it is everyone’s
responsibility to make sure that the group is
exploring these themes safely and
respectfully.
Session 0 is a good method to ensure
everyone is on the same page about what
they can expect to explore during the game
and discuss which topics are off-limits.
Have an entire session before actually
playing dedicated to having these
discussions. You can also make characters
during this Session 0.
Lines and Veils are also useful when
defining what topics should never be
explored or even alluded to (Lines), and
which topics should be approached
cautiously and with as few details as
possible (Veils). Make sure everyone
(including you, the GM) make clear and keep
a record of what Lines and Veils your group
should be aware of.
103
 Mission Structure
A “mission” is a single job or operation the
player characters perform. Think of it as a
quest or a single objective that needs
fulfilled. You can have your entire session
revolve around one long mission, or you can
split your game up into multiple smaller
missions that tell a grander story.
Each mission should have the following
story elements planned out in advance for
an easy flow of the game:
• Inciting Incident: What kicks off the
story and causes the group to act?
• Preparation: How does the group
prepare for the upcoming conflict?
• Action: What does the group do to
complete their objective?
• Conclusion: Does the group succeed?
How do they deal with the ramifications of
their actions?
104
Inciting Incident
The Inciting Incident is what kicks off the
plot of the session, and is ultimately what
calls the group to action. During this
introduction of the mission, set the scene
for what kind of environments we might me
exploring in the session: Neon-lit back
alleys? A wealthy financial district? A sleazy
hotel?
Give your players the opportunity to narrate
where they are and what they’re doing: Ask
them what a typical day in their life looks
like. Let players collaborate and say who
they’re hanging out with, and run with it. Use
this information to help set up the incident.
Some examples of Inciting Incidents:
• A mutual friend has been arrested for
harboring MAGI
• An anti-magic crackdown is occurring
as CT Troops have begun scouring the
undercity
• A vampire is rumored to be preying on
the local population in a nightclub
• A news segment reports a new
experimental technology is being
developed to detect and apprehend MAGI
105
 Preparation
When the players are confronted with their
mission and meet to discuss what to do
next, Preparation begins. During this part
of the mission, players can change out their
weapon loadouts, Acquire resources,
talk to NPCs about their situation, etc.
Either have a place in mind or be prepared
to ask the players to come up with a safe
haven or home base they can plan their
approach in.
Preparation can take days, hours, minutes,
or even seconds depending on the urgency
of the situation.
Some examples of Preparation:
• Discussing a plan of attack at a Magi-
friendly bar or lounge
• Making a spur-of-the-moment
decision in an alleyway as violence
suddenly erupts
• Shopping at a local pharmaceutical
market for curatives while murmuring
their plans to each other.
• Meeting with other Magi and Magi-
sympathizers to gather information and
glean more knowledge about their target
106
Action
When everyone is ready, the mission proper
begins, and the Magi work to complete their
objective. Here is where most of the combat
and juicy story details take place. The player
characters will try to complete their
mission, while the GM, acting as the
Government and other enemies, will
challenge them with obstacles and
consequences. Here is where most of the
dice rolling and battles happen.
Have some twists and turns planned to
introduce in the story using the GM Moves
as prompts to reveal the information.
Some examples of Twists and Turns:
• What the players thought was the
objective actually turned out to be a
distraction
• Someone the players thought to be a
trusted ally sells them out to the DMP
• An intelligent undead reveals a
motivation that throws the mission into
question
• A Government official is revealed to be a
Magi themselves.
107
 Conclusion
It all comes down to this: The mission has
either succeeded, failed, or something in
between. The tension falls after a climactic
finish, and the group is left with the
consequences of their actions. Loose ends
are tied up, and the group celebrates a
mission or mourns its failure. This may
happen in a more secluded venue, or at
home as the characters reflect on their
accomplishments and/or failures, either
individually or together.
If any questions are not yet answered, they
may instead pave the way for a new
mission next time!
Some examples of Conclusions:
• Riding the getaway vehicle through the
skies as you disappear into traffic,
discussing your next course of action
• Reflecting on your failures as you are
thrown in jail and plan your escape
• Celebrating victory over a round of
drinks at a local dive
• Planning your next move on a rooftop
after your target escapes into the busy
streets
108
What’s Next?
Once the final scene of the mission has
played out, typically, you’ll want some time
to skip before the next mission.
If this is the end of your session, take time
as a group to have an out-of-game
discussion of where players think the story
will go and what they want to see in future
sessions. Talk about your favorite parts of
the game and what you hope to happen
next in the campaign (aka “Stars and
Wishes”).
If the session isn’t over, you’ll want to take
the information learned from the previous
mission and determine how it will play into
the next one. Have several in-game days
or weeks pass before any major
developments happen, and allow players to
fill in the blanks with their own narrations
of how their characters spend their time
when they’re not actively fighting for their
lives.
From there, you can start the next
adventure!
109
110