The Arcanaflow magic "system" is being introduced and detailed for the first time in print. It hasn't been playtested in the strictest sense and will undoubtedly be targeted for criticism. That's okay. Arcanaflow casting is an option for the setting and might not suit everyone's style of play.
Along with the "new" magic rules come two "new" magic-user PC classes. Both treat Flowcasting in different ways and both are doubtlessly overpowered. Again, neither has really been playtested in depth. Honestly, I just really like arcane magic and enjoy tinkering with the entire concept within a fantasy setting. Future development might see significant changes to Flowcasting and those that utilize it. Or, we may just go renegade with it all.
For now, let's leave this entry with a partial list from the book itself.
GETTING SPELLS TO
MAGIC-USERS:
During the course of the game, there may not be many opportunities to consult
selected tomes from a magical library for new spells. Even scrolls might be
precious and few, or simply not of sufficient variety. An adventuring
magic-user in search of new or replacement spells may have to stay sharp and
take opportunities as they come. What follows are (D20?) suggestions for giving
magic-users the chance to discover additional spells while “on the job.”
1. Loose spellbook pages found with other treasure or the
remains of a deceased adventurer.
2. One or more spells scrawled by some mad wizard on a
dungeon wall, door, or other surface.
3. Pages of a spellbook used to line a monster’s nest or
bedding.
4. Spellbook used by some ignorant rube as a journal or
notebook. Some spells have been ruined, but a few remain.
5. The last great spell researched by some (in)famous
wizard beautifully engraved upon the lid of his/her sarcophagus, in memoriam.
6. Scrolls given as rewards by employers or patrons.
7. Triggering ancient glyphs cause a spell to 'leap' into
the closest wizard's mind, filling an equal spell slot (shunting another spell
out if no empty slot is available). Must be scribed to avoid loss when cast.
8. Trading with monsters or NPCs for spellbooks that they
don’t understand or want.
9. Malfunctioning magic item (such as a Ring of Spell
Storing or Staff of Wizardry) discharges a spell directly into the user’s mind.
The only way to release the spell is to scribe it.
10. Imprisoned wizard has been blinded to prevent the use
of the one or two spells tattooed onto his body.
11. Ancient Magic Mouth spell speaks a unique spell formula out on a misfire, instead of pronouncing the spell as an attack/curse/whatever.
ReplyDelete12. Undead NPC provides unique/ancient spell as payment for services rendered or for sparing its unlife.
13. PC on a special divine (or infernal, etc.) quest for their deity are granted access to prayers not otherwise available to the clergy at large (yes, this is clerical, not magical...).
14. Spell is inscribed as a triptych screen in three different locations so some assembly required.
15. Spell is audible as a forlorn echo from where its inventor perished in the casting (works better as a spontaneous spell a la Ars Magica or 3.x Epic rules vs. as a written-form spell).
16. Spell is inserted into the caster's mind a la parthenogensis by an outside force. Whether that force is acting in the best interests of the caster is, perhaps, questionable....
Allan.
Nice.
ReplyDelete17. Undead creature mumbles (just audibly if you listen carefully) spell over and over again, like a record player that skips. Maybe it is complete, maybe it contains just enough to misfire in some (random?) fashion...
ReplyDeletePlease keep these coming... 8^)
ReplyDeleteWhich? Supplements? Progress updates? Blog posts in general? How can I help?
ReplyDelete18. In a treasure trove, there is a beautiful and well protected scroll made from the skin of an exotic and very rare creature. The scroll appears to be totally blank. Also in the treasure trove is a jar labeled as containing the blood of the same creature. It now contains only an ornate paintbrush and the barest powdery dregs of the creature's dried blood, as the stopper long ago failed to keep the seal and the blood evaporated. There is only one way to reveal the spell on the scroll: apply the blood of another of the creatures whose skin was used to make the scroll. Adding water to the powdered dregs of blood in the jar and applying with the brush to the scroll will reveal part of the spell (there is not enough blood for the whole spell). I guess the party will have to locate more of the creature's blood by some other means...
ReplyDelete19. A skeleton (animated or not) has a spell inscribed on/carved into its bones (either on the outward facing side or on the inward facing side). It could even be on a well kept set of (unanimated) ribs that have gotten out of order and need to be put back in the correct order somehow...
ReplyDelete20. There is an ornate stone carving with a bird. Every morning, the bird animates - an alarm clock. During the relatively short time of its animation, a hidden compartment may be accessed. It contains one or more scrolls.
ReplyDelete