Spells

Magic is a fundamental part of most high fantasy stories (though not all), and so spells are a wonderful way to increase a character's capabilities and enhance scenario progression. 

How To Cast A Spell

Casting a spell is a fairly simple process.  Spells are incanted (spoken) via words of power, and require no other component to fuel magic.  Spells take a specified number of actions to cast, which may span multiple turns.  With the exception of movement, no other action can be taken when casting a spell, including blocking or dodging.  Movement in this way refers to normal movement, and excludes swimming, jumping, and climbing.

Fighting Magic with Magic

Whenever casting a spell against another character, a contested roll of skill and wits is made to see who is better: the caster or the defending target(s).  Whenever the terms "caster's roll", or "Mystic roll" is used, it essentially means that the creature or character casting the spell is rolling against the target.  For this, the roll is always a combination of rolling your Mystic skill (from the rolling table) + your Intelligence level (just the value of the level itself).  

For example: Rolling to cast a spell with 3 levels in Mystic and 5 levels in Intelligence would look like this: (Mystic: 1d6+2) + (Intelligence Level: 5); 1d6 + 2 + 5; 1d6 + 7.

The defending targets will either defend with their own Mystic roll (also modified with Intelligence level), or some other attribute as the spell text dictates (such as Strength or Dexterity).

Some spells require Focus, which when spells require the caster to remain stationary, is unable to taken any other action, and must remain conscious to keep the effect of the spell active.  Spells that require focus can be broken in the following ways:

• At will.

• When the caster takes any other action including moving, dodging, or blocking.

• When the caster takes damage and fails a contested Intelligence roll to maintain the spell.

Magical Effects on a Battle Map

If a square is arguably at least half covered from a spell, the creature occupying that square is impacted.  

Cone Mapping

Unless otherwise stated, spells that target areas based on a cone shape are as wide at the base as they are long from the origin.

Line/Beam Mapping

Unless otherwise stated, spells that use the terms “in a straight line” or “beam” are inherently 5 ft. wide.