GURPS Thaumatology.Qxp
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
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 1 2 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 . 103 The Unarmored Wizard. 28 Sanctity . 68 Priestly Spell Lists . 69 Alchemical Gadgeteering. 103 MAGIC BASED ON OTHER ATTRIBUTES . 29 Critical Failures on Clerical Magic. 69 Herb Lore . 104 Problems and Solutions . 29 Herb Uses and Rarities . 105 Critical Successes With Spells . 30 Example: The Temple of Hephaestus . 70 Priest-Wizards . 71 Consuming Multiple Elixirs . 106 Critical Magical Failures and Luck . ..