Difference between revisions of "Mage Awakening Spellcasting Steps"
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==Step One: Declare Spell== | ==Step One: Declare Spell== | ||
<div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | <div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Nicodemus''', an ''Acanthus Silver Ladder'', is going to work a spell against a trio of enemies that threaten him and his cabal. He has Death ••••, Gnosis ••••. |
<hr /> | <hr /> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Example:'''<br>"I cast ''Rotting Flesh'', a Death ••• spell. The primary factor for this spell is Potency, and it has no Withstanding. I have a Gnosis of 4 and a Death Arcanum 4, giving me a dice pool of 8. I have open Spell Control slots."<br>(Dice Pool: 8) |
</div> | </div> | ||
* '''Spell & Arcanum Rating:''' Declare the spell, by name and arcanum rating. | * '''Spell & Arcanum Rating:''' Declare the spell, by name and arcanum rating. | ||
− | |||
* '''Primary Factor:''' Declare the spell's primary arcanum. | * '''Primary Factor:''' Declare the spell's primary arcanum. | ||
* '''Withstanding:''' Declare what trait the spell is Withstood by, if any. (This is marked with a (W) in the spell header.) | * '''Withstanding:''' Declare what trait the spell is Withstood by, if any. (This is marked with a (W) in the spell header.) | ||
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==Step Two: Declare Cost== | ==Step Two: Declare Cost== | ||
<div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | <div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Example:'''<br>"This costs me ''1 Mana'', because Death isn't an Acanthus arcanum. I spend ''1 Reach'' to use the spell's extra Reach trait, which inflicts a -1 die to the target's Social rolls each rank of Potency inflicted, maximum of -3."<br>(Dice Pool: 8 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 1) |
</div> | </div> | ||
* '''Spell Mana Cost:''' Declare any Mana Cost listed in the spell description. | * '''Spell Mana Cost:''' Declare any Mana Cost listed in the spell description. | ||
* '''Non-Path Arcanum (1 Mana):''' If the arcanum used is not one of your Path Arcana, it costs 1 Mana. (Ignore this if the spell is a ''Rote'' or ''Praxis'' spell.) | * '''Non-Path Arcanum (1 Mana):''' If the arcanum used is not one of your Path Arcana, it costs 1 Mana. (Ignore this if the spell is a ''Rote'' or ''Praxis'' spell.) | ||
+ | * '''Free Reaches:''' Declare how many free Reaches this gives you (you gain 1 Reach for having the dot in the arcanum necessary to cast the spell, plus one additional Reach for each dot above that). | ||
* '''Spell Reaches:''' Declare any Reaches spent on spell traits. | * '''Spell Reaches:''' Declare any Reaches spent on spell traits. | ||
− | + | * '''Rote Spells:''' If the spell is a ''Rote'', reduce the Mana cost by 1 (min. 0). You are also assumed to have ''five dots'' in the Arcanum in question for the purpose of determining Spell Reaches. | |
+ | * '''Praxis Spells:''' If the spell is a ''Praxis'', reduce the Mana cost by 1 (min. 0). | ||
+ | |||
==Step Three: Declare Casting Time== | ==Step Three: Declare Casting Time== | ||
<div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | <div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Example:'''<br>"I spend 1 Reach to cast it as an Instant spell."<br>(Dice Pool: 8 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 2) |
</div> | </div> | ||
* '''Rituals (Default):''' All spells default to Ritual Casting. | * '''Rituals (Default):''' All spells default to Ritual Casting. | ||
+ | ** ''Extra Time:'' For each additional increment of Ritual Time (based on Gnosis), gain an additional +1 die to the spell dice pool (max. +5). | ||
* '''Instant Casting (1 Reach):''' Spend 1 Reach to cast a spell as an Instant Casting. | * '''Instant Casting (1 Reach):''' Spend 1 Reach to cast a spell as an Instant Casting. | ||
+ | |||
==Step Four: Declare Yantras== | ==Step Four: Declare Yantras== | ||
<div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | <div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Example:'''<br>"I am using only my Path tool, which gives me a +1 bonus to the dice pool."<br>(Dice Pool: 9 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 2) |
</div> | </div> | ||
* '''Determine Yantras:''' Declare which Yantras you will use, and how long it will take. | * '''Determine Yantras:''' Declare which Yantras you will use, and how long it will take. | ||
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** ''Additional Yantras:'' Each yantra after that takes one action to utilize. | ** ''Additional Yantras:'' Each yantra after that takes one action to utilize. | ||
** ''Ritual Yantras:'' Yantras other than High Speech add no time to Rituals. Using High Speech adds 30 minutes. | ** ''Ritual Yantras:'' Yantras other than High Speech add no time to Rituals. Using High Speech adds 30 minutes. | ||
+ | * '''Rotes:''' Add the rating of the Skill associated with the Rote to the spell dice pool as a Yantra. This is automatically the first Yantra for the spell, and still counts against the maximum number of Yantras. | ||
+ | |||
==Step Five: Declare Potency== | ==Step Five: Declare Potency== | ||
<div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | <div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Example:'''<br>"''Rotting Flesh'' has Potency as its primary Factor, and I have a Death ••••. That gives me a Potency 4. I'm going to increase it by two more steps, to Potency 6."<br>(Dice Pool: 5 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 2) |
</div> | </div> | ||
* '''Steps:''' If Potency is the ''Primary Factor'' of the spell, you start with a number of Steps down the standard Potency chart equal to the Arcanum used to cast it. | * '''Steps:''' If Potency is the ''Primary Factor'' of the spell, you start with a number of Steps down the standard Potency chart equal to the Arcanum used to cast it. | ||
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==Step Six: Declare Duration== | ==Step Six: Declare Duration== | ||
<div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | <div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Example:'''<br>"I have one Step of Duration. I will spend 1 Reach to increase Duration to Advanced, and increase Duration up one Step, to one day."<br>(Dice Pool: 3 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 3) |
</div> | </div> | ||
* '''Steps:''' If Duration is the ''Primary Factor'' of the spell, you start with a number of Steps down the standard Duration chart equal to the Arcanum used to cast it. | * '''Steps:''' If Duration is the ''Primary Factor'' of the spell, you start with a number of Steps down the standard Duration chart equal to the Arcanum used to cast it. | ||
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==Step Seven: Declare Scale== | ==Step Seven: Declare Scale== | ||
<div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | <div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Example:'''<br>"I have one Step of Scale, using Subjects. I will spend 1 Reach to increase Scale to Advanced. Since I am targeting 3 enemies, one Step of Advanced Scale is 5 Subjects, so I don't increase it any more."<br>(Dice Pool: 3 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 4) |
</div> | </div> | ||
* '''Steps:''' You have one Step down the chart. | * '''Steps:''' You have one Step down the chart. | ||
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==Step Eight: Declare Range== | ==Step Eight: Declare Range== | ||
<div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | <div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Example:'''<br>"I will cast this spell at Sensory Range, spending 1 Reach."<br>(Dice Pool: 3 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 5) |
</div> | </div> | ||
* '''Default:''' You may cast this spell on yourself, or someone that you touch, or as an ''Aimed Spell''. | * '''Default:''' You may cast this spell on yourself, or someone that you touch, or as an ''Aimed Spell''. | ||
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* '''Sensory Range (1 Reach):''' Spend 1 Reach to cast it on any target you can pinpoint within range of your senses. (Lose 2 dice from casting pool if you are relying on non-precise human senses, such as hearing or smell.) | * '''Sensory Range (1 Reach):''' Spend 1 Reach to cast it on any target you can pinpoint within range of your senses. (Lose 2 dice from casting pool if you are relying on non-precise human senses, such as hearing or smell.) | ||
* '''Sympathetic Range (1 Reach, Space ••):''' If you have ''Space ••'', spend 1 Reach to cast a spell sympathetically. (Sympathetic Withstanding applies.) | * '''Sympathetic Range (1 Reach, Space ••):''' If you have ''Space ••'', spend 1 Reach to cast a spell sympathetically. (Sympathetic Withstanding applies.) | ||
+ | |||
==Step Nine: Paradox== | ==Step Nine: Paradox== | ||
<div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | <div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Example:'''<br>"I spent 5 Reaches, but gain 2 for free, which means I invoke Paradox. Half of my Gnosis is 2, and I need to do it 3 times, so that's a Paradox Pool of 6 dice; I used my Path tool as a Yantra, so that is reduced to 4. I will spend 3 Mana, so that is reduced to 1 die. I will Contain the Paradox."<br><br>(The Storyteller rolls one die, gaining 1 success; and Nicodemus' player rolls his Wisdom of 4, gainin 2 successes. Nicodemus' cancels out the Paradox success, and takes 1 point of resistant bashing damage.) |
</div> | </div> | ||
* '''Paradox Pool:''' If you spent more Reaches than you gained for free in Step One, your Narrator will create a Paradox Pool. | * '''Paradox Pool:''' If you spent more Reaches than you gained for free in Step One, your Narrator will create a Paradox Pool. | ||
** This dice pool consists of a number of dice equal to half Gnosis rating (rounded up) for each Reach beyond your Free Reaches spent. | ** This dice pool consists of a number of dice equal to half Gnosis rating (rounded up) for each Reach beyond your Free Reaches spent. | ||
** Reduce this dice pool by 2 if an Order or Path Tool was one of your employed Yantras. | ** Reduce this dice pool by 2 if an Order or Path Tool was one of your employed Yantras. | ||
+ | ** You may also spend 1 Mana to reduce your Paradox Pool by 1 per Mana spent (but if you spend more Mana than you can spend in any turn, you have to take multiple turns to cast it). | ||
** Add 1 die to this pool for each additional Paradox Pool you have generated this scene. | ** Add 1 die to this pool for each additional Paradox Pool you have generated this scene. | ||
** Tell your Storyteller if you are ''Releasing Paradox'' or ''Containing Paradox''. | ** Tell your Storyteller if you are ''Releasing Paradox'' or ''Containing Paradox''. | ||
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** Roll your mage's Wisdom. Each success cancels one success from the Paradox Pool, but inflicts 1 bashing (resistant) damage to the mage. | ** Roll your mage's Wisdom. Each success cancels one success from the Paradox Pool, but inflicts 1 bashing (resistant) damage to the mage. | ||
** If there are leftover Paradox Pool successes, the mage gains a Paradox Condition. | ** If there are leftover Paradox Pool successes, the mage gains a Paradox Condition. | ||
+ | |||
==Step Ten: Roll Spell Dice Pool== | ==Step Ten: Roll Spell Dice Pool== | ||
<div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | <div style="float: right; width: 350px; border: 1px black solid; background: white; margin: 10px; padding: 10px;"> | ||
− | ''' | + | '''Example:'''<br>Nicodemus' player spend a point of Willpower, giving him 6 dice to roll. He rolls, and gains 3 successes, which is a success. (If the spell were a ''Praxis'', it would be an exceptional success.)<br><br>With a Potency of 6, he inflicts his Nimbus Tilt on anyone with a Resolve of 5 or lower, for five total turns (because of five Reaches). |
</div> | </div> | ||
− | * Roll remaining dice in spell dice pool, determine whether ''exceptional success'', ''success'', ''failure'', or ''dramatic failure'' result. | + | * '''Willpower Boost:''' You may spend a point of Willpower to add +3 to the dice of your spell dice pool. |
+ | * '''Spell Test:''' Roll remaining dice in spell dice pool, determine whether ''exceptional success'', ''success'', ''failure'', or ''dramatic failure'' result. | ||
+ | * '''Praxis:''' If the spell is a Praxis, you gain an ''exceptional success'' on three instead of five successes. | ||
+ | * '''Nimbus Tilt:''' If Potency of spell cast is greater than Resolve of someone in the area, they gain a specific Nimbus Tilt for one turn per point of the spell's total Reaches. |
Latest revision as of 18:59, 9 July 2018
Step One: Declare Spell
Nicodemus, an Acanthus Silver Ladder, is going to work a spell against a trio of enemies that threaten him and his cabal. He has Death ••••, Gnosis ••••.
Example:
"I cast Rotting Flesh, a Death ••• spell. The primary factor for this spell is Potency, and it has no Withstanding. I have a Gnosis of 4 and a Death Arcanum 4, giving me a dice pool of 8. I have open Spell Control slots."
(Dice Pool: 8)
- Spell & Arcanum Rating: Declare the spell, by name and arcanum rating.
- Primary Factor: Declare the spell's primary arcanum.
- Withstanding: Declare what trait the spell is Withstood by, if any. (This is marked with a (W) in the spell header.)
- Dice Pool: Declare your starting dice pool, which is your Gnosis + Arcanum of the spell being cast.
- Spell Control: If you have enough Spell Control slots, you can cast the spell. If all your spell control slots are filled, you must spend 1 Reach per spell you currently control in excess of your limit.
Step Two: Declare Cost
Example:
"This costs me 1 Mana, because Death isn't an Acanthus arcanum. I spend 1 Reach to use the spell's extra Reach trait, which inflicts a -1 die to the target's Social rolls each rank of Potency inflicted, maximum of -3."
(Dice Pool: 8 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 1)
- Spell Mana Cost: Declare any Mana Cost listed in the spell description.
- Non-Path Arcanum (1 Mana): If the arcanum used is not one of your Path Arcana, it costs 1 Mana. (Ignore this if the spell is a Rote or Praxis spell.)
- Free Reaches: Declare how many free Reaches this gives you (you gain 1 Reach for having the dot in the arcanum necessary to cast the spell, plus one additional Reach for each dot above that).
- Spell Reaches: Declare any Reaches spent on spell traits.
- Rote Spells: If the spell is a Rote, reduce the Mana cost by 1 (min. 0). You are also assumed to have five dots in the Arcanum in question for the purpose of determining Spell Reaches.
- Praxis Spells: If the spell is a Praxis, reduce the Mana cost by 1 (min. 0).
Step Three: Declare Casting Time
Example:
"I spend 1 Reach to cast it as an Instant spell."
(Dice Pool: 8 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 2)
- Rituals (Default): All spells default to Ritual Casting.
- Extra Time: For each additional increment of Ritual Time (based on Gnosis), gain an additional +1 die to the spell dice pool (max. +5).
- Instant Casting (1 Reach): Spend 1 Reach to cast a spell as an Instant Casting.
Step Four: Declare Yantras
Example:
"I am using only my Path tool, which gives me a +1 bonus to the dice pool."
(Dice Pool: 9 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 2)
- Determine Yantras: Declare which Yantras you will use, and how long it will take.
- Reflexive First Yantra: You may use your first Yantra (except for High Speech) as a reflexive action, as part of casting your spell.
- Additional Yantras: Each yantra after that takes one action to utilize.
- Ritual Yantras: Yantras other than High Speech add no time to Rituals. Using High Speech adds 30 minutes.
- Rotes: Add the rating of the Skill associated with the Rote to the spell dice pool as a Yantra. This is automatically the first Yantra for the spell, and still counts against the maximum number of Yantras.
Step Five: Declare Potency
Example:
"Rotting Flesh has Potency as its primary Factor, and I have a Death ••••. That gives me a Potency 4. I'm going to increase it by two more steps, to Potency 6."
(Dice Pool: 5 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 2)
- Steps: If Potency is the Primary Factor of the spell, you start with a number of Steps down the standard Potency chart equal to the Arcanum used to cast it.
- Otherwise, you have one Step down the chart.
- Increasing Potency (-2 dice/step): For each additional Step down the Potency chart, subtract 2 dice from your dice pool.
- Advancing Potency (1 Reach): If you wish to use the Advanced Potency chart, spend 1 Reach. You keep the same number of Steps.
Step Six: Declare Duration
Example:
"I have one Step of Duration. I will spend 1 Reach to increase Duration to Advanced, and increase Duration up one Step, to one day."
(Dice Pool: 3 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 3)
- Steps: If Duration is the Primary Factor of the spell, you start with a number of Steps down the standard Duration chart equal to the Arcanum used to cast it.
- Otherwise, you have one Step down the chart.
- Increasing Duration (-2 dice/step): For each additional Step down the Duration chart, subtract 2 dice from your dice pool.
- Advancing Duration (1 Reach): If you wish to use the Advanced Duration chart, spend 1 Reach. You keep the same number of Steps.
Step Seven: Declare Scale
Example:
"I have one Step of Scale, using Subjects. I will spend 1 Reach to increase Scale to Advanced. Since I am targeting 3 enemies, one Step of Advanced Scale is 5 Subjects, so I don't increase it any more."
(Dice Pool: 3 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 4)
- Steps: You have one Step down the chart.
- Increasing Scale (-2 dice/step): For each additional Step down the Scale chart, subtract 2 dice from your dice pool.
- Advancing Scale (1 Reach): If you wish to use the Advanced Scale chart, spend 1 Reach. You keep the same number of Steps.
Step Eight: Declare Range
Example:
"I will cast this spell at Sensory Range, spending 1 Reach."
(Dice Pool: 3 • Mana Spent: 1 • Reaches Spent: 5)
- Default: You may cast this spell on yourself, or someone that you touch, or as an Aimed Spell.
- Aimed: After casting the spell, make a reflexive Gnosis + (Athletics or Firearms) - Defense of the target. Target benefits from cover. Range is Short (Gnosis x10), Medium (Gnosis x20), Long (Gnosis x40).
- Sensory Range (1 Reach): Spend 1 Reach to cast it on any target you can pinpoint within range of your senses. (Lose 2 dice from casting pool if you are relying on non-precise human senses, such as hearing or smell.)
- Sympathetic Range (1 Reach, Space ••): If you have Space ••, spend 1 Reach to cast a spell sympathetically. (Sympathetic Withstanding applies.)
Step Nine: Paradox
Example:
"I spent 5 Reaches, but gain 2 for free, which means I invoke Paradox. Half of my Gnosis is 2, and I need to do it 3 times, so that's a Paradox Pool of 6 dice; I used my Path tool as a Yantra, so that is reduced to 4. I will spend 3 Mana, so that is reduced to 1 die. I will Contain the Paradox."
(The Storyteller rolls one die, gaining 1 success; and Nicodemus' player rolls his Wisdom of 4, gainin 2 successes. Nicodemus' cancels out the Paradox success, and takes 1 point of resistant bashing damage.)
- Paradox Pool: If you spent more Reaches than you gained for free in Step One, your Narrator will create a Paradox Pool.
- This dice pool consists of a number of dice equal to half Gnosis rating (rounded up) for each Reach beyond your Free Reaches spent.
- Reduce this dice pool by 2 if an Order or Path Tool was one of your employed Yantras.
- You may also spend 1 Mana to reduce your Paradox Pool by 1 per Mana spent (but if you spend more Mana than you can spend in any turn, you have to take multiple turns to cast it).
- Add 1 die to this pool for each additional Paradox Pool you have generated this scene.
- Tell your Storyteller if you are Releasing Paradox or Containing Paradox.
- Releasing Paradox: The mage allows the Paradox to flee their control, escaping into the environment.
- For each success on the Paradox roll, take a -1 penalty to the spellcasting dice pool. If this results in a dramatic failure, gain a Paradox Condition.
- The Storyteller may change one die of penalties into one Paradox Reach instead. May spend Paradox Reaches to alter how the spell functions or to create Anomalies.
- Containing Paradox: The mage internalizes the Paradox, preventing it from escaping into the environment.
- Roll your mage's Wisdom. Each success cancels one success from the Paradox Pool, but inflicts 1 bashing (resistant) damage to the mage.
- If there are leftover Paradox Pool successes, the mage gains a Paradox Condition.
Step Ten: Roll Spell Dice Pool
Example:
Nicodemus' player spend a point of Willpower, giving him 6 dice to roll. He rolls, and gains 3 successes, which is a success. (If the spell were a Praxis, it would be an exceptional success.)
With a Potency of 6, he inflicts his Nimbus Tilt on anyone with a Resolve of 5 or lower, for five total turns (because of five Reaches).
- Willpower Boost: You may spend a point of Willpower to add +3 to the dice of your spell dice pool.
- Spell Test: Roll remaining dice in spell dice pool, determine whether exceptional success, success, failure, or dramatic failure result.
- Praxis: If the spell is a Praxis, you gain an exceptional success on three instead of five successes.
- Nimbus Tilt: If Potency of spell cast is greater than Resolve of someone in the area, they gain a specific Nimbus Tilt for one turn per point of the spell's total Reaches.