STEVE JACKSON GAMES Ceremonial Castings
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Fantasy settings are defined by their magic . so different worlds need different magic systems. GURPS Thaumatology has GURPS Fourth Edition updates of the best Third Edition magic variants, plus many all-new options. This mighty tome includes: • Minor tweaks for the spell-based magic of the Basic Set: restructuring prerequisites and colleges, modifying Magery and mana, new magical energy sources, adapting spells on the fly, and more. • Radical revisions of spell-based magic, including detailed versions of the clerical and ritual magic options hinted at in the Basic Set, and the return of that Third Edition classic, “unlimited mana.” • Traditional alternatives to spells, such as ceremonial, spirit-mediated, and runic magic. • World-shaking freeform magic. • Magic as inherent powers. • An in-depth look at material magic, with new alchemy, herbalism, and enchantment options; rules for free-willed items and magical gadgets; and guidelines for “the stuff of raw magic.” • Notes on adapting real-world occult concepts – such as the Laws of Magic, astrology, and traditional material components – to any magic system. • Guidelines for running magic-oriented games, advice on combining magic systems, and detailed outlines for four distinctly different fantastic campaigns. GURPS Thaumatology requires the GURPS Basic Set, Fourth Edition. GURPS Magic is recommended but not required. The discussions of different magical styles would enhance any game that features magic. By Phil Masters Additional Material by C. J. Carella, Kenneth Hite, Steve Kenson, Robin D. Laws, Sean Punch, S. John Ross, William H. Stoddard, Michael Suileabhain-Wilson, Jo Walton, Ken Walton, and Jonathan Woodward Edited by Sean Punch Cover Art and Illustrations by Igor Kieryluk, Aaron Panagos, Bob Stevlic, and Chris Wood 1ST EDITION, 1ST PRINTING PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2008 ISBN 978-1-55634-758-0 9!BMF@JA:RSVTWOoY`Z^ZnZnZ` Printed in $39.95 SJG 01-0107 Thailand Written by PHIL MASTERS Additional Material by C. J. CARELLA, KENNETH HITE, STEVE KENSON, ROBIN D. LAWS, SEAN PUNCH, S. JOHN ROSS, WILLIAM H. STODDARD, MICHAEL SUILEABHAIN-WILSON, JO WALTON, KEN WALTON, and JONATHAN WOODWARD Edited by SEAN PUNCH Illustrated by IGOR KIERYLUK, AARON PANAGOS, BOB STEVLIC and CHRIS WOOD ISBN 978-1-55634-758-0 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 STEVE JACKSON GAMES Ceremonial Castings . 74 Known and Unknown Techniques . 74 Alternative Core Skills . 74 Divine Ritual Magic . 75 CONTENTS Wildcard Colleges. 75 Combining Ritual and Spell Magic . 76 INTRODUCTION . 4 Shapeshifters’ Choices. 34 THRESHOLD- LIMITED MAGIC . 76 About This Book. 4 Minor System Tweaks . 35 The Power Tally . 76 Publication History . 4 Conditional Negation . 36 Thresholds and Calamities . 77 About GURPS. 5 Minor System Additions . 38 Adjusting the Numbers . 78 About the Author . 5 Trading Energy for Speed and Skill . 39 New Advantages . 78 CAPPING SPELL SKILL LEVELS . 40 New Magery Limitations. 79 1. WHAT IS MAGIC?. 6 Skill- Based Limits . 40 Magic Items . 79 Thresholds and “Energy Spells” . 79 HE DEA OF AGIC . 7 Skills to Salvage Critical Failures. 40 T I M Options and Considerations . 80 Magic Seen as Real . 7 Magery- Based Limits . 41 Use With Standard Spellcasting . 81 Magic in Fiction . 7 CHANGING THE COLLEGES . 41 Clerics and Threshold- Based Magic. 81 Words for Magic . 8 Example: Tree Magic . 42 The Ogham Alphabet. 42 Use With Ritual Magic. 82 CONCEPTIONS OF MAGIC . 9 MANDATORY AND Magic as a Cookbook. 9 Alternative Elements . 47 Academic Terminology . 9 Elements and Medicine. 48 SIGNIFICANT MODIFIERS . 82 Magic as Engineering . 10 ETHICS AND SPELLS. 49 Using the Concept . 82 Magic as Art . 10 Suggested Spells . 49 Ceremonial- Only Casting . 82 Magic as Negotiation . 10 ENERGY SOURCES . 50 Astrological Modifiers . 83 Magical Invention . 10 Extra Fatigue . 50 Example: The Cabal . 84 Magic as Divine Favor . 11 Familiars . 50 Chinese Symbolism . 86 Magic as Reality- Shaping . 11 Energy Other Than Fatigue . 50 Magical Laws . 86 Casting Interdimensionally. 86 OURCES OF AGIC . 12 Powerstones . 51 S M Universes Where “Distance” Is Meaningless. 86 The Laws of Nature . 12 Mass Magic . 51 Other Potential Modifiers . 87 Places of Power . 12 Alternative Power Stores . 52 Modifiers and Magic Items . 89 Gods and Spirits. 13 Static Power Supplies . 53 The Voodoo Doll . 89 Ethical Magic . 13 Meditation, Holiness, or Study. 53 Example: A Modified Casting . 90 Colors of Magic . 13 Ley Spells . 53 Subjective Reality. 14 Sacrifices . 54 ASSISTING SPIRITS . 90 Sacrifice Values and Character Points . 55 The Concept . 90 LAWS OF MAGIC. 14 Spell Slots . 56 The Agreement . 91 MAGIC- WORKERS . 15 The Casting . 92 Natural Ability . 15 MANA . 58 Mana Levels . 58 The Price of Power. 93 Dumb Luck . 16 Starting With Spirit- Assisted Magic . 94 Secret Supernatural Favor . 16 Non- Mages Casting in Lower- Mana Areas . 58 Mana- Related Traits. 60 Supernatural Inspiration. 17 4. MATERIAL MAGIC . 95 Education . 17 Technology Disrupts Magic? . 60 Physical Initiation . 18 Eliminating Mana . 62 INHERENT MAGIC . 96 MAGIC RESISTANCE AND THE MAGE . 62 Materials for Wizards . 96 Celtic Tree Talismans. 97 INOR PELL ARIANTS Magic Addiction . 63 2. M S V . 19 Natural Medicines . 98 LIMITED AND MODIFIED MAGERY . 20 Magic- Rich Minerals . 98 Wizardly Weaknesses . 22 3. MAJOR VARIATIONS. 64 Clerics and Magery 0. 65 Mana Organs . 99 Special Limitations . 23 Gemstones . 99 Visible Magical Gifts . 25 Varieties of Magery . 65 ALCHEMY . 100 Spell Signatures. 25 CLERICAL SPELL- MAGIC. 65 Concepts of Alchemy . 100 Other Appropriate Limitations . 26 Clerical Spells . 66 Alchemy and Special Modifiers . 101 Unusable Prerequisites . 26 Requirements . 66 Schools of Alchemy . 102 Buying Off Limitations on Magery . 27 Power Investiture (Shamanic) . 66 Laboratory Procedures . 102 Magery With Enhancements. 28 Ceremonial Castings . 67 Alchemical Inventions . ..