Spontaneous Spellcasting
The process of spontaneously casting a spell not already
known by the spellcaster is as follows;
Select the appropriate spell
to be cast. Use spell lists where possible, as there is usually an appropriate
spell listed, which is much quicker than diving through the Grimoire to
design a spell.
Make a Magical Theory roll based
on the Drain Code (see the Grimoire, page 118), but instead of dividing
by 2, multiply by 2. One success only is needed. This is a Complex
Action. If unsuccessful then
you don't know how to cast the spell. Sorry. This Magic Theory roll is
used to establish a shaky link to the astral plane, configured in the correct
form of the spell required.
If successful, then make a normal
Spell Success Test, with any Magic Pool dice you wish to allocate, i.e.
treat as a normal spell.
Now comes the sting. Drain is
similar to that of the original spell, had it been learnt, except that,
due to the tenuous astral connection, the drain is at the Force of the
spell, not half
the Force.
Stand back and watch them fall.
Note: Totemic advantages/disadvantages apply to both tests.
Metamagic applies to the spellcasting only. Spontaneous spells cannot be
Locked, Quickened, or Hardened, due to their
tenuous or transitory nature. There are no bonuses to
learning a previously used spell at a later date.
Albion has been caught out (again).
Lets just say that irritating the Yakuza is not the wisest of natures pursuits.
He is currently running full tilt down an alleyway, completely
unarmed, and without a decent
spell to his name. He begins to think that disappearing might be a good
option, but– oops! no invisibility spell, Mom. He begins to
concentrate.
Albion has a Magic Theory of
6 and he wants a Force 6 Invisibility spell. The drain is normally [(F/2)M]
so his Magical Theory roll has a target number of 12 – (Force x 2).
He rolls 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 14-lucky,
but time consuming-1 Complex Action gone.
Albion has Sorcery 6 and a Magic
pool of 6, hence he can roll up to 12 dice, needing a target number of
4. He allocates 3, and rolls. He gets 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, and 11 - 4
successes, giving his pursuit
an extra modifier of +8 to their perception tests—they run right past (low
level goons—don’t you love em?).
The Yaks having gone, Albion
now takes drain as he drops the spell. He has a target number of 6, needing
4 successes to blank out the drain—no divider, remember.
He has a Willpower of 4, and
3 dice remaining, hence he has a grand total of 7 dice to roll. He gets
1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, and 6; oh dear, not good enough, but hey, what's a Moderate
Stun between friends? |
Lego Magus (Gathering Magic)
A mage with the Lego Magus power may enhance his spellcasting
abilities by "Gathering Magic". Once he has decided to cast a spell, and
specified a Force Level, he may attempt to
"Gather Magic" in order to make it more potent. To do
this he must meditate, connecting his mind to Astral Space. For every Complex
Action he spends in such meditation (up to a
maximum equal to his Magic Attribute) he may try to "Gather
Magic". Every action he may roll a number of dice equal to his Magic Attribute
- this represents him using his "sensitivity" to the threads and currents
of Astral Energy- to Gather Magical Force. Target Number is the Declared
Force of the spell. For every 2 success he gathers one point of magical
force. At the end, he MUST cast the spell at the declared force or loose
the spell and the Gathered Magic.
For every point the mage gathers his Drain Target number
goes down 1, thus possibly reducing a spell that would have caused physical
damage to stun damage.
EXAMPLE:
Say the mage has an Magic Attribute of 7. He decides to
cast a Force 9 fireball. Its combat time, and his crew is badly outnumbered.
He declares all this stuff and goes into astral space to Gather Magic.
He spends only 2 complex actions doing this (he's in a hurry) and gets
4 successes. Now he must cast the spell, which he does, his Drain Target
number is now 7. In
addition, he resists the spell as if he had cast it at
Force 7 (Drain is stun, not physical). |