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Mages, Magic Overview, Magic Pools, Spell Examples,  Magic Smithing

I have left the old magic system of AD&D far behind, and replaced it with what you see below. I would be very interested in comments on the system, as I have had little time to play test it. For the moment if you E-mail me with any comment at dm@guyendor.co.uk, and put Magic System in the subject I will be able to get back to you as soon as possible. Eventually I want to get a bulletin board up and running, so that I don't answer the same question too many times.

Thanks Guy.

This is a points based magic system written specifically for AD&D, but it may be possible, with a few alterations, to fit it into almost any system. The idea is to give the wizard the ability to design his/her own spells, whilst still giving the system as much structure as possible. At the beginning of the game a first level mage starts with his intelligence x 2 spell points. These spell points are used to buy magic pools and also to cast the spells later. There are 12 spell pools which a wizard can purchase at the cost of 2 points for the first, 4 points for the second, 6 for the third, 8 for the fourth and so on. Once a pool has been bought the wizard loses those points permanently, thus giving him fewer points to cast his spells. This gives the opportunity to have wizards who have access to many pools but can only cast weak spells, or access to only a few pools but have much more effective spells. Additional points are awarded at each gain in level, only the wizards intelligence worth. Thus a mage with intelligence of 15 would have 30 points to start, then gain 15 points every level thereafter. The spells themselves are a combination of the pools, using varying points within each pool. These points may be regained 1 point per level per hour of uninterrupted sleep. Casting times are 1 segment for each point used in the spell and ALL spells directed against a creature or inanimate object will be subject to a saving throw. If at anytime the mage falls to 0 spell points he will become unconscious. If the mage should try to overextend himself and be reduced to less than 0 he must make a system shock roll or die. If the mage should happen to survive this he may gain 1 spell point for every 4 hours. He will remain unconscious until he reaches 1 spell point. New magic pools take 4 months of intensive study (i.e. no adventuring) so choose your starting pools carefully.

Magic Pools
 

Duration	This pool governs the length of time that a spell is in effect, all mages must have this pool otherwise their spells simply don't work.
Spatial	The Spatial pool has two functions, the first is for the range of the spell, this can be given as an exact distance but this could lead to inaccurate targeting of a spell or 'I cast my spell at the minotaur', but this can lead to a spell caster using more spell points than he/she realized.
Time	The power to manipulate time has obviously powerful implications. As yet no one has found out how to reverse time but it can be speeded up or slowed down in a certain area.
Fold	Many think of this as teleportation, it is the ability to link two places on the same plane with a gateway. This allows people, items, sound, light etc. to pass from one place to another. But this power is an expensive one to use!
Phase	The dimensional equivalent of fold, this allows the caster to link two places on different planes. Again a powerful and expensive pool to have. Be warned creating the gate does not always guarantee what comes through, some protections may be necessary.
Heat	This pool creates heat (or removes it), this allows the mage to set light to combustibles, freeze liquids or cause damage to an enemy (remember though no spell pool may be cast within a living being except duration, spatial, time, magical and physical enhancements).
Water	This simply produces or removes a quantity of water from or to the elemental plane of water.
Air	Again this pool can create or remove air, it also has the ability to produce moving air (at extra cost) and thus can be used to move objects. A seond use of this pool is to create sound, very useful for illusions.
Earth	This, of course, produces or removes earth or stone, thus it is able to create new tunnels or block off old ones. Another use that has been found is to create stone armour - heavy but effective.
Light	Light has two main function, it can create a heatless light source or can manipulate light to create illusions. This does of course include the ability to bend light around a subject to make them invisible.
Physical Enhancement	The ability to enhance ones, or a colleagues, physical attributes is a great one. This allows a mage to give a warrior that 19 strength he always craved for.
Magical Enhancement	This, in game terms, affects saving throws. As every creature in the area of effect of a spell gets a saving throw - whether they want it or not - this will enable the recipient  to be either made more immune or more vulnerable. - Note later on that this pool is also used for detecting magic.

None of the above magic pools will work inside a living organism, with the exceptions of Physical Enhancement, Magical Enhancement, Duration, Spatial, and Time.
Thus an area of heat could not be created inside a human heart!!