Spells and Magic

            Sorceror:
• New spells for sorcerors can only be learned either by being taught or by long experimentation during the character's previous level(s) at the risk of magical backlash - this should be reflected in their interests and their in-game behavior (don't just say your character adventures during the day and then practices controlling the weather in her spare time - beef it up).
• Sorcerors gain Eschew Materials as a bonus feat.
• Sorcerors are drained by their channeling.

Wizard:
• All wizards must specialize in a school of magic. In addition, they must choose two opposing schools.
• Wizards gain bonuses within their school of magic and penalties outside of it:
  • Wizards gain Arcane Defense as a bonus feat (CoAr.73).
  • Wizards cast spells of other schools as though they were 1 caster lvl lower.
• Because a wizard's spells are based on extremely complex arcane rituals, they are dependent on having their spellbook(s) with them, in which the various steps of their rituals are recorded. A traveling spellbook has 50 pages, and a spell generally takes up one page/lvl.
• New spells can only be learned by being taught by a master, finding and learning it on your own (more difficult and dangerous), or investing significant time, effort and money in research (the most difficult and dangerous way (subject to magical backlash)).

            Wizard spells require the wizard to perform a prescribed set of actions in order to access the Weave safely. The knowledge is a secret handed down through the ages from master to apprentice, and the process itself is difficult and dangerous, for it must be completed perfectly. Wizards use a combination of strange symbols and materials, gestures that move threads of the Weave that only they can see, and words of power in languages so ancient that their true meaning is lost to the world. A slightly incorrect gesture, a flawed material, or a word spoken with an incorrect inflection can cost them their magic, their sanity, their lives. Therefore, wizards must carefully go over the complex rituals each and every time they wish to cast a spell.
            This requires that they keep their collection of arcane knowledge with them even when they travel. Travelling with a heavy tome or grimoire is not only cumbersome but dangerous to the book itself, so most wizards keep a smaller tome, carefully inscribed with a few select spells they think might be useful - often the little spellbook apprentices scribe with the occult lore their master has taught them is the only tome they have, and so guarded with their lives.
            Often the magic must have a focus that allows it to take effect long after the ritual itself. For example, a spell of protection would be a ritual with a person or place as its focus, around which the wizard would inscribe occult runes and commands; a fireball spell would be imbued on a wand, staff, arrow or stone that would provide the focus for the spell to take effect later under a certain condition (such as a command word being spoken, the object being thrown, etc). Since spell components of acceptable quality are not always so easily found (and their quality may mean the difference between a successful spell and one that fails - or worse), travelling wizards also often keep a supply of such materials with them, aquiring them when and where they can - such things are not always the type of item one finds at the local market, and peasants keep a (at best) wary eye on those who traffic with mysterious forces.

Ritual magic vs. symbolic ritual:
            Ritual magic requires a special ritual or ceremony to be performed to take effect. While ritual is often a traditional part of the prayers, ceremonies and sacrifices a cleric might perform, the value of those rituals lie in their symbolism, rather than any occult knowledge.

Spell preparation: Channelers don't have to prepare their spells ahead of time.

Material components are part of the traditional ritual accompanying some prayers for clerics.

To cast a spell:

• If he succeeds in casting a spell, there is a drain on his inner strength, which eventually changes his condition. (Lvl.0 spells don't cause drain.)
• If he fails, the spell isn't cast, and he suffers no drain. However, sorcerors suffer the effect of a wild surge.

• When the channeler has cast 50% of his spells (not counting lvl.0 spells), he becomes Tired (treat as Sickened).
• When the channeler has cast 75% of his spells (not counting lvl.0 spells), he becomes Fatigued. Stacks with Tired, but -4 to Will/Fort saves.
• When the channeler has cast 100% of his spells (not counting lvl.0 spells), he becomes Exhausted. -6 to Will/Fort saves.

• Minor vows deal with the rules of the Church the cleric belongs to, and are meant to show loyalty to that Church. Breaking them will result in trouble from the Church if it's witnessed and reported.
• Sacred vows are the prohibitions and requirements that must be followed to properly venerate a deity and remain in good standing with the faith. They represent the covenant between the deity and the mortal. Breaking them can result in Church sanctions and a fall from grace.
• Mortal vows form the very core of the faith. Breaking one results in instant excommunication and loss of cleric status; the cleric is consider damned (one of the False) if they don't atone.

            Beyond the vows required to retain their deity's attention, clerics can improve their standing by proving their greater faith to their deity via ceremonies and sacrifices. This may lower the DC of their next spell or all their spells for that day (until they rest), or if they're engaged in an activity that lies within the domain of their god, the DC of whatever check they might need to make.

Examples of sins and acts of faith Failure to keep minor vows poor standing with the Church Failure to keep sacred vows Church sanctions, +2 spell DC Failure to keep mortal vows excommunication, loss of cleric status (changes to relevant other/NPC class) Perform a special ceremony or sacrifice (such as sacrificing a life or taking a vow of poverty - cannot be encompassed by existing duties/vows) DC of spells that day drops (-2 to -20) according to importance of ceremony/sacrifice Sacrilege - anything from desecrating a shrine or other sanctified thing (including those of allied - and depending on the god, even rival - deities) to breaking a taboo ("Gods above! He ate the liverwurst!") to participating in the rituals of an enemy or rival deity. +2 to +20 according to importance of sacrilege Form/tend a congregation (QC pg.42) -2 spell DC that day for forming congregation, -2 DC every day they're tended (non-cumulative) Destroy a rival deity's congregation (ie. make them lose faith) -2 spell DC for a month Actions are meant to (and do) benefit the deity's worshippers (not everyday actions) -2 DC next spell Actions are meant to/do harm the deity's worshippers +2 DC next spell Actions are meant to (and do) harm the plans/worshippers of an enemy deity -4 DC next spell Actions are meant to/do aid the worshippers of a rival/enemy deity +4 DC next spell Convert a member of an allied religion -2 DC spells that day Convert a heathen -4 DC spells that day Perform a great deed and credit your deity -8 DC next spell Convert a priest of another god -5 DC spells that day Convert a cleric of another god -6 DC spells that day Found a church -2 DC spells that ride (10 days) Convert a priest of an enemy god -10 DC spells that day Convert a cleric of an enemy god -20 DC spells that day Cleric is casting in a place holy to the faith, or strongly associated with it (a graveyard for a death god, a pool for a water god, etc.). -5 DC spell in question Cleric is casting in an unholy place, or one strongly opposed to their faith (in magical darkness with a god of light, a desert with a water god, etc.). +5 DC spell in question Desired effect involves something the deity is associated with, such as starting fire for a fire god, sowing deceit for a god of mischief or offering guidance for a god of wisdom. -2 DC Desired effect involves something the deity is opposed to, such as starting fire for a water god, or killing for a god of life. +2 DC Cleric is engaged in a situation favorable to their deity, such as haggling under a merchant god or fighting for a war god. -1 DC Misrepresenting the faith (i.e. misusing their secular power), speaking the deity's name in vain, or otherwise being disrespectful +5 to +10 DC checks that day Calling on divine miracles to ease everyday life, such as dealing with recalcitrant merchants or stubborn guards, healing mounts, easing personal discomfort. Calling on the gods should never be a first resort - deities like their followers to serve them, not the other way around. +6 DC that month

Circle magic effects             Each circle bonus level may be used to accomplish the following effects: Increase the circle leader's caster level by one for every bonus level expended. Add Empower Spell, Maximize Spell or Heighten Spell feats to spells currently prepared by the circle leader, even if he doesn't know those feats or if they'd push him over his normally allowed spell level. Each circle bonus level counts as one aditional spell level required by the application of a metamagic feat to a spell. Increase the circle leader's level by one for every circle bonus level in regards to level checks.             These effects last 24 hours or until expended.

Maximum circle distance             Circle members must be within this distance of the leading caster. If any one member leaves the circle, the leading caster risks losing control of the spell - possibly spectacularly. Leading caster level Distance 1-4 Touch 5-9 About 10' 10-12 About 15' 13-15 About 20' 16-20 About 30'