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The Sign of Chaos
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I rewrote my Sorcerer Class over the holidays and added a spellcheck to cast spells based of this old blogpost by Ode to Black Dougal. I wanted to illicit some anxiety when spells are cast, for all the players not just the caster. Sorcery should be dangerous after all.
SORCERER (Magic-User)
LEVEL |
XP |
FLESH
|
GRIT
| IMPRINTABLE SPELL LIMIT |
|---|
1st Tier | 2nd Tier | 3rd Tier | 4th Tier | 5th Tier | 6th Tier |
|---|
1 | 0 | 1d6 +/- CON | 1d6 +/- CON | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
2 | 2500 | +1 | +1d4 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – |
3 | 5000 | +1 | +1d4 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
4 | 10000 | +1 | +1d4 | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
5 | 20000 | +1 | +1d4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – |
6 | 40000 | +1 | +1d4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | – | – | – |
7 | 80000 | +1 | +1d4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | – | – |
8 | 160,000 | +1 | +1d4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | – | – |
9 | 320,000 | +1 | +1d4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | – |
10 | 480,000 | +1 | +1d4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | – |
11 | 640,000 | +1* | +1* | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
12 | 800,000 | +1* | +1* | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
13 | 960,000 | +1* | +1* | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
14 | 1,120,000 | +1* | +1* | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
15 | 1,280,000 | +1* | +1* | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3
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*Modifiers from CON score no longer apply.
-Saves as Magic-User (B/X--OSE)
-THAC0 as Magic-User (B/X--OSE)
-Can use any weapons or armor.
-STARTING SPELLS-
-IMPRINTING SPELLS-
A Sorcerer may imprint a number of spells from their spellbook onto their brain equal to their Imprintable Spell Limit.
A Sorcerer may not imprint the same spell more than once.
Spells may be imprinted upon the brain once each day after 8 hours of uninterrupted rest.
Imprinting spells takes 1 + 1 turn per each Spell Tier above 1.
-CASTING SPELLS-
Sorcerous Spell Check (Roll 2d6 + INT MOD)
SPELL
TIERS | SORCERER LEVEL |
1-2 | 3-4 | 5-6 | 7-8 | 9-10 | 11+ |
1st | 6/9 | 5/8 | 4/7 | 3/6 | -/5 | -/4 |
2nd | - | 6/9 | 5/8 | 4/7 | 3/6 | -/5 |
3rd | - | - | 6/9 | 5/8 | 4/7 | 3/6 |
4th | - | - | - | 6/9 | 5/8 | 4/7 |
5th | - | - | - | - | 6/9 | 5/8 |
6th | - | - | - | - | - | 6/9 |
RESULTS: Delayed Casting/Successful Casting
DELAYED CASTING: The sorcerer may spend another round to successfully cast the spell.
The spell is not lost if the caster chooses to not continue casting.
SUCCESSFUL CASTING: The sorcerer casts one of their imprinted spells.
The cast spell is not lost.
FAILED CASTING: If the roll is less than the Delayed result the spell is negated and has no effect.
The spell is released from the caster’s mind and must be imprinted again to cast.
CHAOS LASH: The sorcerer must roll on the CHAOS LASH TABLE if a “natural 2” is rolled.
The spell is released from the caster’s mind and must be imprinted again to cast.
OTHER PENALTIES: Heavy Armor (Chain/Plate) bestows a penalty to spell checks equal to their AC Bonus.
THE STYGIAN CYPHER
Range: Self | Duration: 1 Turn | AoE: Special | Save: Special |
By means of the Stygian Cypher, the caster can read sorcerous formulas, inscriptions, scripts or runes, as follows: |
Inscriptions:
Runes or magical words inscribed on an object or surface can be understood. |
Scrolls:
The eldritch script of a scroll of sorcerous spells can be understood. The caster is then able to activate the scroll at any time in the future. |
Spellbooks:
A spellbook written by another sorcerer can be deciphered if a save vs spells is passed. Sorcerers lay mental traps and labyrinths within their spell books to snare would be spell thieves. A failed save requires the caster rolls on the Sorcerer’s Lament Table. |
Reading again:
Once the caster has successfully read a piece of sorcery they are thereafter able to read that particular writing without recourse to the use of this spell. |
CHAOS LASH
Roll 2d6 | RESULT |
2 or Less | THE VEIL IS SUNDERED! A tear manifests in reality that leads to the astral plane.
One of the following occurs:
1-3, A torrent of poisonous miasma floods the area. Take 1d4 Flesh Damage for each level of the attempted spell. Save vs Spells for half damage. 4, 1d6 Accursed Spirits escape! 5, An astral being(s) emerges from the tear. 6, All the above.
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3-5 | IMPRINT LAPSE
All your imprinted spells are released into the void and must be imprinted again. |
6-8 | SYSTEM SHOCK Your circulatory system experiences a massive swell of chaos energy that causes 1 Point of Flesh damage equal to the attempted spell. |
9-11 | SORCEROUS STIGMATA You gain a mark of one who dabbles with chaos. -1 to Reaction Rolls. |
12 | CHAOS BLESSES YOU!
Gain a +1 to spell checks until another Chaos Lash is rolled. |
For someone with just B/X rules, would you suggest the basic MU/Elf spell list, or did you have a special spell list for sorcerers in mind?
ReplyDeleteStandard MU Spell List. For my personal campaign I use a expanded spell list with all the b/x spells renamed for Sword and Sorcery flavor. Thanks for reading & reaching out!
DeleteLink to the Ode to Black Dougal post is broken so maybe they discuss the choice, but what made you decide on 2d6 for the spell check? Certainly fewer crit fails on 2d6 than a d20.
ReplyDeleteChainmail uses a 2d6 spellcheck system, which is the one blackdougal ports over for his sorcerer class. As for why I chose it too, I want magic to feel dangerous but only rumors and whispers of how dangerous it is. I think that'll make it spookier in the long run.
DeleteUsing 2d6/Nat 2 as failure makes it about 1/2 as likely to get a misfire than d20/nat 1. I've mostly played with misfires in DCC and they are certainly an event but aren't scary, which is probably due to the more gonzo feel of DCC.
DeleteI like the tone you're capturing with your misfire table, I think definitely suits your goals of making magic feel scary/dangerous.