Casting Spells

Casting Spells

In order to cast a spell a character must know the spell and have at least as many magic power points as the cost (which by default is the level) of the spell they want to cast. Some spells may have additional specific requirements detailed in the spell's entry. Finally the caster must also have at least one hand free.

A hand is considered free if there is nothing held in that hand and the arm has free unrestricted movement. You must be able to fully raise your hand and can't hold anything between your arm and your body. When using an item to cast a spell if that item is not worn on your body you must have it in hand, in which case it does not count against your hand being 'free'. If the target of a spell is an object the caster has in hand, that does not count against your hand being 'free'. Characters with both arms wounded cannot cast spells. Worn gear never hinders casting by itself (such as armor and passive bucklers).

If these conditions are met, the player will then make a incantation for the spell. After this has happened the magic power points for the spell are consumed and the spell is successfully cast. If the spell requires a flag you must provide it at this time.

Spells have ranges to determine what they can affect. You are not required to be able to see your target in order to cast a spell.

• Tag Bag: This is the longest range a spell can have. These spells are delivered by a tag bag which is thrown at the target.
• Touch: A touch effect is delivered to a willing or helpless target by "touch"
• Self: A spell with a range of self can only benefit the caster. When a consumable is made from a spell with a range of self, only someone who knows that spell can use that consumable.

All spells have a duration they will last. When the duration runs out the effect is over. Each spell's description will indicate how long that spell lasts. Spells last their full duration unless the effect is dispelled first. A caster can voluntarily dispel a spell they have cast at any time by touching the spell's target. If the target is conscious and unwilling to have the effect dispelled then they may not be dispelled this way. If the caster of a spell dies, spells they have cast continue functioning as normal. A spell that is dispelled ends immediately as if its duration ran out.

After a spell is successfully cast you may need to explain to the target what effect the spell will have. Combat related spells typically explain what they do through combat calls made, other spells may require more explanation because players should not be required to know the effects of every possible spell. Try to be especially patient when explaining effects to new players who may be required to break character in order to understand what effect a spell will have.

Related Rules

Verbal Components for Spells

One of the requirements for cast a spell is for a character to speak an eight word (minimum) verbal incantation. The name of the spell must be used in the incantation and counts towards the eight word minimum.

An incant should be spoken loudly and clearly enough that players standing 10 feet away know that a spell is being cast. A gag will prevent a character from casting spells. Incants do not need to be spoken word, they can be sung, chanted, or otherwise role-played. You may not bluff one spell then cast a different one (such as by putting multiple spell names in your incant), the incant must clearly convey EXACTLY what you are casting. Likewise a spell cannot be gibberish or worked into a conversation, it must both be clear that you are casting and what you are casting.

If the incant is partially finished and a player takes a hit, the spell being cast is interrupted. This includes a hit that you are immune to. The assumption is that even if you are immune to a gout of flame (or whatever) it still is disrupting to be hit by it. Pausing in the middle of an incant for more than a moment will also cause an incantation to be interrupted. When an incant is interrupted nothing is lost, but the incant must be restarted from the beginning.

Written items such as scrolls, rituals, and tomes have a fixed incant written down on them. When using one of these items you must read the incant exactly as it appears in writing. Even if you have these words memorized you are required to have enough light to read the text by and are expected to role-play reading the text from the paper. For some rituals this also requires knowing the appropriate language for texts not written in common. Scrolls only ever require read magic to read.

Abilities listed as being used "at will" can be cast or used with no incant.

Categories: Magic Rules | Terminology