The Path of Will, A new magical path Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Outline Switch to: Standard Switch to: Linear+

[Azrael]

A discussion during my groups last session regarding the limitations of magic users led me to draft a rough outline of a new magical path that we are will playtest sometime in the near future. The benefit of the path is the ability to cast any spell - no need to learn. The drawbacks are less consistency in spell casting, lower force spells (generally) and the real chance that the caster could cook their brain if they through too many dice at a spell.

The inspiration for it was the "will and the word" magical philosophy from David Eddings's Belgariad series.

I'm posting it here such that if anyone is willing to throw constructive critism or suggestions at it - it would be much appreciated.

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The Path of Will

The Path of Will is based upon the premise that some magical individuals are able to cast spells by force of will alone, without learning the spell. A regular character will study a spell and expend karma to learn it. When this character casts the spell, the energy is controlled and the force of the spell is guaranteed (its success though is not). A spell cast by a character following the Path of Will are initially chaotic, being moulded on a case-by-case basis by the character. Liken it to the first character connecting a hose to a tap, turning the tap on then directing the hose where they want, whereas the second character turns the tap on full, then tries to connect the hose.

This gives the magic user greater flexibility, at the cost of consistency – no two attempts at casting the same spell are likely to be the same. Also, the amount of energy put into casting in this fashion creates a definite impression on the astral. As a result, the astral signature of anyone following this Path is quite unique, and the target number for any assensing tests are reduced by 1 or 2, dependent on the power of the magic cast.

Magicians following this Path approach magic in a fashion closer to that of a mage than a shaman, hence for instances where this is an issue treat them as a mage. With the exceptions of spellcasting, a magician following this Path may perform all other magical acts in the same Path that a mage does i.e. conjuring, foci, enchanting, astral projection, initiation. For any of these acts that require a formula to be designed, determine the target number for the design test and resolve it in a similar fashion to that used below for sorcery, applying the appropriate skill and resolving the formulation / magical act in the same action.

They do possess a sorcery skill for game purposes, but they differ in theory just as a magus’s sorcery skill differs from a houngan’s. For these magicians, the Magic Pool is equal to their Magic attribute.


Spellcasting Procedure:

1. Choose the spell, note the drain code and allocate a desired force.

2. This step determines how well the spellcaster pulls the spell out of thin air (literally). The pool of dice for this test is equal to the caster’s willpower increased or reduced by a number of dice equal to their sorcery skill. Magic pool dice may also be used for this test. The target number is the drain target number at the desired force, decreased by 1 if the drain code is “L” and increased by 1 if the drain code is “D”. The number of successes on this test is the actual force dice that are used for the spell success test.

Sounds easy? Here is the catch – if the number of successes rolled is greater than the desired force, the drain becomes physical. This is because the caster has put a little too much effort into the spell and lost control of some of the energy, which will ground out through their physical body.

If the number successes are greater than the caster’s sorcery skill, then the spell goes wild. Resolve drain as if the force is equal to the number of successes and have fun J.

3. Conduct the spell success test using the above dice and resolve as per a normal spell (also with same limits to magic pool).

4. Roll the drain test as normal, noting if the drain is physical because the force exceeds the caster’s magic attribute or the number of successes rolled in step 2. The target number for the drain test is the force that the spell was actually cast with, not the desired force.

Once initiated, a magician of this Path may use successes from a centering test to reduce the target number in step 2 by one for every 2 successes, to a maximum value of half their initiate grade.