Magic (Legacy of the Ancients)
Contents
The Two Powers of Magic
The magic of the world is divided into two powers: Divine and Arcane. Divine magic is fueled by belief in the Ancients. Arcane magic is drawn from the very power of the land itself. These two magical powers are unique, and mastery of one conflicts with mastery of the other.
OOC
Arcane versus Divine magic: The types of magic are unique from each other. Mastery of one will tend to limit one's ability in the other. Some ways in which this manifests in the game are:
- The Stilling: For every level of Stilling you have, you are considered 1 level lower to determine Divine spell effects.
- Clerics: For every level of Divine spell that you are capable of casting above 1 reduces your effective caster level by 1 for determining Arcane spell effects. Clerics of the Maker are the only exception, in which case it is every 2 spell levels above level 1 that you are capable of casting reduce your effective level for arcane spell casting.
- Wanderers: Every time your hand to hand damage increased, your effective caster level for determining arcane spell effects is reduced by 1.
- Paladins: For every 4 full levels of Paladin, your effective caster level for determining arcane spell effects is reduced by 1.
- Rangers: For every 4 full levels of Ranger, your effective caster level for determining arcane spell effects is reduced by 1.
- The Detect Magic spell will only detect magic of the form it was cast. This rule applies to various other Divination magic spells that analyze magical properties, such as Identify. Clerics of the Maker are the only exception, and can choose to cast their detection spells to detect Arcane magic.
- Dispel Magic and other anti-magic spells will always work, regardless of the origin of the spell or the magic they are attacking. While you cannot detect the magic, you can still affect it.
Divine Magic
To achieve Divine magic one must experience a Divine Epiphany, to open yourself to the divine power. Once touched by a specific Ancient you are forever changed, and can only draw on that Ancient for power.
Arcane Magic
Arcane magic is channeled through the user and has its own risk. A phenomena called the “Stilling” has been observed by the practitioners of Arcane magic, so named for its initial effect of slowing aging. It is the “Stilling” and the uncertainty associated with it that has lead to the denouncement of the use of Arcane magic by Divine practitioners.
Focists
Focists are arcane spell casters that rely on the Foci that they construct to cast their spells.
OOC
Focists use the Sorcerer class template with the following modifications:
- All Focists begin with the Craft Focus feat, allowing them to learn the skill of the same name.
- Spell casting for Focists is based off of Intelligence, not Charisma.
Free Mages
Free Mages are arcane spell casters that are not bound by foci, channeling their arcane power though themselves.
OOC
A Free Mage uses the Wizard class template with the following modification:
- The Free Mage's unmodified number of spells they can cast per day is used to determine the “Prepared Spells” list. They chose a number of spells of the appropriate levels from their repertoire. They may then cast spontaneously from this list of Prepared Spells as if they were a Focist, up to their maximum number of spells per day. Metamagical feats must be applied when preparing this list and cannot be used on the fly.
