Magic

The following rules govern magic and any other supernatural ability or effect. The section describing what magic can do is also used for creating special abilities.

What is magic?

Magic in Swords of Infinity refers to any of the eldritch abilities wielded by wizards, sorcerers, witches, and the like. It is the most versatile force in the game, capable of controlling the elements, summoning creatures from other planes, and much more, but the rituals that enable its use can become very expensive. These Magic rules do not cover the sleight of hand and tricks performed by a stage magician, but instead those would be covered a combination of Skill Checks.

Storyteller's Note: These rules are also used for any other form of special ability that resembles magic, such as psychic powers or a martial artist's ability to manipulate Qi.

How to Cast a Spell

The steps require to cast a spell are very similar to making physical attacks and are detailed below.

1. Before a character can cast a spell they must perform a ritual that enables spell casting. The ritual costs one action, during which the spell caster can sacrifice any number of Value Levels in items or currency. For every Value Level sacrificed in this way the character can cast spells for 10 rounds.
   • This ritual does not need to be performed before each spell cast, but must be repeated when the character's spell casting ability expires.
   • Partial Value Levels can be sacrificed to gain spell casting ability for less than 10 rounds (e.g. a half value level would give 5 rounds of spell casting ability).
2. Once the ritual is complete the player must make an intelligence based Success Check. The target number is the character's Intelligence, plus any modifier from the character's spell focus, plus any intelligence specialization in the specific School of magic being used.
3. If the Success Check is successful the player may then make a personality based Power Check. The maximum power of the spell is the Character's Personality, plus any modifier from the character's spell focus, plus any personality specialization in the specific School of magic being used. The results of this Power Check determine the effects of the spell.

Modifying Spells

By default a spell only affects one target for one round. However, a spell caster can spend gain additional targets and duration by reducing the power of her spell as described below.

Modification	Power Cost	Outcome
Duration	10	The spell lasts for an additional round
Area of Affect	5	The spell affects an additional target

What can magic do?

As virtually limitless as magic is from a narrative perspective, in Swords of Infinity it can cause the following mechanical effects described below.

Cause or Heal Damage

Spells can cause or heal damage equal to the result of the caster's Power Check.

Schools of Magic

Biomancy

Life magic

Metamancy

Transformation magic

Necromancy

Death magic

Enviromancy

Elemental magic

Psychomancy

Mind affecting magic

Astromancy

Spacial magic, including summoning and teleportation

Photomancy

light magic, including illusions

Divinimancy/Diablomancy

Channeling the abilities of a greater being, the actual capabilities depend on the entity