Magic

Introduction to Magic in TSS

Like most systems in TSS, the magic system is fairly unique. If not entirely ‘specific’ to TSS, it incorporates many tried and well loved features of other magic systems into one complete system. Because Mages will be very powerful, as they should be, the huge thing to keep in mind is balance. Mages were not found around every corner and under every stone. They were a fairly rare breed, and thus we do not want to see TSS overrun with magettes.

In an attempt to control this somewhat, the magic system at first will be pretty brutal to the character. But as they grow, they will be come more powerful and the character more enjoyable. With the system set up, many people will likely not make it past level 20 as a magic user if they do not –really- want to be one.

Those that do will be highly rewarded with a powerful and versatile character. When I say the system will be brutal, I do not mean that players will hate to be magic users, it will just be a bit of a challenge at the start. Though the magic system is –different- than any other a player may have used before, there are a lot of familiar elements that they will identify with and that will help them grasp the system better.

Magic is meant to be something special. It is meant to be something that is worked for and earned. Much like in the times of wizards, it took ages upon ages for a mage to truly come into their own. It will not take so long in TSS, but the first 20 levels will definitely be the maker of the mage.

Who Can Use Magic?

Since every race is a creation of one of the Gods, they all have the ability to use Magic. The question is, how. The tabs above provide a list of the classes that can use magic, and what type of magic they will use. There are subclasses within each class and the subclass that a character is will depend on the player’s choice of kits. Kits play a major part in defining your character and allowing you to make the decisions on what your character will do.

Art ©Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, and not exclusive to TSS. http://www.shadowscapes.com

A question that many people –should- ask when they are able to use magic is, “Where does it come from?” It is a question seldom asked, but one that we will answer anyway. Magic is in the world for a number of reasons. The history of the world has more to say about it, but a quick run down will occur here.

How magic got into the world

Mainly the magic comes from the ‘world’ itself. However, it is there because The Creators put it there. When they made the world, parts of their magic were left purposefully in the fibers to help hold it together and replace missing areas. This magic was largely untouched for thousands upon thousands of years. This magic continued to grow and became a very integral part of the world. Just like the soil, the air, the water, the world came to need it to survive, and to produce it on its own. Magic, having the distinctive habit of migrating toward other magic, soon collected mainly in the core of the planet.

From the core, the magic coursed through the lands. Much like veins carrying the lifeblood through the body, so did the magic flow through the world. Many people of the world of all races had the ability to sense that something was there, but never were able to quite ‘tap’ into the magic. Why is that? Well mainly because the magic was still under the control of The Creators. While it was free in a sense to do what it would, magic needs a master to exist, and thus the gods were the magic’s masters. No one could touch the magic while it had a master and thus no one of the world could use magic.

What changed? Xaltion chose the world of Xaltoria over his supremacy and his siblings. Tricking them into the core where he knew the magic was strongest, and where all their magics had combined to make a new and unique magic called World Magic, he planned to entrap his three siblings. Now, Xaltion could tap into this magic because part of it was his, and so could his three siblings, though none could fully control it. The difference was that Xaltion –knew- it was there and what it was. The other three didn’t care enough about the world to notice.

Xaltion was so saddened by what he was about to do, that it caused him to shed a tear. So powerful was that first tear ever shed by Xaltion, that when it hit the ground, a new magic was born to the world. That of healing. The reaction was astounding in that the tear itself was a new form of magic, that gave Xaltion the edge he needed to fully control the World Power as he had more part in it than the others. He seized the magic and molded it into spheres entrapping his siblings. When they tried to press their powers against the spheres, they were ultimately bound and seized by the ever hungry world magic as new sources of energy.

So as you can see, magic ultimately comes from the gods. However, the magic that the casters of Xaltoria will tap into is mainly World Magic in various forms. The magic is all the same. But every caster has a talent to extract something different from the magic. And this is where we learn about the types of magic.

Types of Magic

There is really only ONE type of magic, that being World Magic that casters tap into. They never have –complete- control over the magic, as they are not the true masters. Thus they need spells, rituals, reagents, and other focus materials in order to manipulate the energy. Every caster has an innate ability to manipulate energy into different forms. Being that magic is of no ONE real form, and just has different purposes for which it conforms itself, this is where we get our different ‘types’ of magic.

Elemental – Summoners are a classification of casters that can tap into the individual elemental representation of the world. Water, Earth, Fire and Water. Most Summoners only have the ability to tap into one type of elemental magic. Though limited, they gain a lot of power and ability with it. Some, however, have the ability to use all the elements. These generally do not become overly powerful in any ONE elemental type, but instead become capable users of all and powerful in their own right.

Necromancy – Necromancy is the type of magic manifestation that comes from Kezarai. Necromancy is the power over the cycles of life and death, decay and growth. Necromancers and Hell Raisers are the main classes that can tap into this type of magic and use it to control and summon the dead, as well as manipulate disease. They have a slight hold on insects as well, due to the fact they thrive on decay.

Nature Magic – Nature magic is a unique magic that is actually one that is related to no specific god. It is magic that used by the world for the purpose of making its natural features stronger. Animals, plants, water, rock, all the natural elements of the world use this magic to change, grow, evolve, and simply be. Druids and Rangers are the class of people that have the ability to tap into this magic.

Holy Magic – Holy Magic is that which is lent to a caster by his or her deity. Those who wield Holy Magic are not able to tap into any particular magic, but instead their prayers for intervention are answered by their gods and the power to perform the task granted.

Healing Magic – Healing Magic comes mainly from Xaltion. With his urge to care for and heal the land and his creations, those with similar tendencies are able to tap into this magic and wield it for the purpose of protection and healing.

Chaos Magic – Chaos Magic is magic in a raw and untamed form. It has no specific class or personality. It is difficult to capture and only certain classes have the ability to truly use Chaos Magic. Witch Doctors, Enchanters and Hell Raisers are examples of those classes that have learned to harness this strange and unpredictable energy.

The ‘Other’ Magic

There is another type of magic in the world aside from that which can be ‘tapped’ into and used to various ends. There is an ‘Inner Magic’ which all creatures posses, but like the World Energy, only some can actually feel and use. These classes use their Inner Magic for many different things. None so blatant as to throw a fireball or open a dimensional portal, but effective and helpful none-the-less.

Monks are the most powerful users of Inner Magic. Armsmen, Rogues, Bards, and many other classes use inner magic to perform amazing feats of body and mind. Allowing the Monk to create a shield of energy around his or her body and step from a sword wound without a scratch. Allowing the Rogue to make themselves invisible, and the Bards to use their voice in commanding ways. Armsman use their inner magic to perform great deeds in battle, often allowing them to survive normally insurmountable odds.

Pure Casters
Pure casters are those classes that have no real armor skill and no weapon skill. They depend entirely on magic for defense and offense.

Enchanters

Enchanters – Chaos Magic – Will be able to enchant items, and use magic for defense and offensive situations. There are three types of enchanters: Body Enchanter – Enchants items that will help the body attributes such as STR, DEX, and STA. Their offensive and defensive spells also deal mainly with affecting the body. Mind Enchanter – Enchants items that will help the mind attributes such as INT, WIS, and CONC. Their offensive and defensive spells also deal mainly with effecting and controlling the mind. Matter Enchanter – Enchants items and changes the way they work. For example they can enchant things to make them lighter, to make them hold more, to be stronger, to give a player invisibility. Their offensive and defensive spells also surround the use and manipulation of items.

Summoners

Summoners – Elemental Magic – Will be able to use elemental magic in one of its four forms to create offensive and defensive spells. They also will be able to summon pets and other helpful items. There are five kinds of Summoners. Summoner of Air – Focuses on using Air in all its various forms for offensive and defensive spells. Has basic summoning spells along with some extra special Air related ones. This class and their spells will especially benefit from the physics movement planned for air movement. Strong on illusion and DOT spells. Summoner of Water – Focuses on using Water in all its various forms for offensive and defensive spells. Has basic summoning spells along with some special spells. Strong on DOT spells and holding spells. Summoner of Earth – Focuses on using different nature orientated spells for offense and defense. Very strong on defense spells. Basic summoning with some extra special ones. Summoner of Fire – Focuses on using Fire in all the various forms for offensive and defensive spells. Has basic summoning spells along with some special spells. Very strong on offensive spells. Master of Elements – These are Summoners that can use all the elements. They never master any certain one, but their access to multiple elemental spells makes them an unpredictable and very prepared opponent.

Necromancy
Necromancer – Necromancy - Necromancers are the manipulators of death and disease. They can raise the dead and have them fight for them, and they can also use disease and decay in their favor. They are masters of the underworld. Their spell base focuses on disease and their defense surrounds their summoned guardians. Necromancy Subclasses Soon!

Hybrid
Hybrid Casters are those classes that have weapon and armor skill, but also magical skill. It is up to the player how much their character depends on magic over their melee abilities. Hybrids use both a 'Magic' of some kind as well as Inner Magic for some of their physical deeds.

Parson
Parson – Holy Magic - Parsons are a holy class found in Lazaron. What god they choose to worship and dedicate themselves to will largely dictate what kind of spells and rituals they have available to them. They have the potential to be the strongest healing class in Lazaron if they choose to worship an Aspect that supports that line of spells.

Druid
Druid – Nature Magic – Manipulates everything in nature to their will though with great care and respect to the living things of the world. Able to control animals, plant, predict weather, and even provide healing spells, a druid is a versatile casting type.

Holy Knight
Holy Knight – Holy Magic – A Holy Knight is something like a Paladin. Warriors of the gods, they generally pair nicely with the Parsons to provide a much needed guard. They can wear the heaviest of armors and use almost any weapon, and they have the basic spell line of the Parsons.

Ranger
Ranger – Nature Magic – A Ranger wields magic much like the Druid and can choose kits and train to be more or less magically dependable. While a Druid uses his or her magic to heal, nurture and cleanse nature, a Ranger uses theirs to guard and protect. Rangers are also masters at forest survival, tracking and ranged attacks to which they employ some Inner Magic to some of these feats.

Witch Doctor
Witch Doctor – Chaos Magic – Witch doctors use chaos magic much like a druid uses nature magic. Though they depend largely on astronomy, their spell styles can be mostly related to voodoo. They use a lot of herbs in their rituals and spells.

Hell Raiser
Hell Raiser – Necromancy – Much like the evil version of the Holy Knight, Hell Raisers often pair up with the Necromancers. They too can wear the heavy armors of the world and wield most weapons, and they also have access to the basic line of necromantic spells.

Dark Priest
Dark Priest – Holy Magic – The holy men and women of Karatta, Dark Priests have lines of spells identical to Parsons. It entirely depends on which gods they choose as to what spells they will get. Though both light and dark Aspects are available to all classes, Dark Priests tend to lean more toward the darker side of the Aspect spectrum.

Inner Magic
Inner ‘Magic’ Users These are classes that do not use spells, but rather ‘Inner Magic’ to perform amazing and otherwise impossible feats. Armsmen Monks Gypsy Bard Rogue More soon!

References

Schools of Magic

There will be different schools of magic. Spells will relate to a school and casters will gain levels in those schools when they use spells from that line. Exactly like a fighter gains skill in ‘Light Edged Weapons’ when using a dagger. And, like a fighter, as the caster gets better at a school of magic, their RT (Round Time or Action Time) drops for casting the spells and so does their mana requirement. Here is a list of the schools of magic and what they will pertain to.

Conjuration – Deals with spells that will ‘summon’ something. Be it pet, item, weapon, walls, whatever it may be. If the mage is summoning something where there was nothing, it falls under the school of conjuration.

• Teleportation – Portal, Gate, Summon Person, etc.

• Summoning – Summon pet, item, food, etc.

• Illusion – Any mirage or illusion conjuration spell

Major school for: Enchanters, Summoners, Necromancers, Hell Raisers

Divination – Anything that is an investigative or communication spell. This will affect the range at which a mage’s ‘find person or item’ spell would work within. How far they could cast ‘mind speak’ or how much information they get from Detect Magic are also good examples.

• Detection – Detect Magic, Trap, Hiding, etc.

• Commune – Mind Speak, Prayer Rituals, etc.

• Prediction – Predict weather, future, skills, etc.

Major school for: Enchanters, Druids, Parsons, Dark Priests, Witch Doctors

Alteration – Any spells that alter something or someone. So all your enhancement spells, levitate, and other spells that change the way a person or thing acts would fall under alteration.

• Mind – Any spell that affects a player’s mind.

• Enchantment – Any spell that changes a player or an item by adding to it.

• Curse – Mainly for witch doctor class. Their ‘curse’ spells will fall under alteration.

• Disease – Any spell that is a disease or poison based spell.

Major school for: Enchanters, Summoners, Necromancers, Bards, Gypsies

Abjuration – Most counter spells fall under abjuration, as do traps and wards. Healing spells, cure poison or disease spells would also be under abjuration.

• Wards – Any spell that is used to set on an area to alert of an intruder.

• Shields – Any spell that is used to shield something or someone.

• Healing – Any spell used to replenish hit points, cure disease or any other ailment.

• Traps – Magical trap spells.

Major school for: All casters derive most of their offensive spells from this school.

Evocation – Any spell that will do direct damage of any kind falls under evocation. If it is a wall of fire, it is an Evocation spell though it will look to the Channeling skill to determine how long the mage can hold the wall.

• Fire – Any attack spell based on fire.

• Water – Any attack spell based on water.

• Earth – Any attack spell based on earth.

• Force – Any attack spell that is based on force.

• Air – Any attack spell based on air.

• Electricity – Any attack based on electricity.

Major school for: All casters derive most of their offensive spells from this school.

All casters will have spells in all the schools. Some schools will just be more of a focus for certain classes mainly due to the nature of the class. For example since Enchanters are mostly altering things around them, Alteration is naturally one of their main lines.

Further, there are deeper definitions of spells within each school. They have no bearing on the success rate or failure of the spell, but do have bearing on identifying and resistance.

Spell Books

The spell book is the starting point for all mages. Like a cookbook, the spell book will hold all the spells the mage knows. This book will be bound to them, meaning they cannot lose it, even in death, and no one else can read from or use the spell book but the caster. Spell books will be able to have custom covers and casings. When a caster learns a spell, it will be placed in their spell book. They can scribe spells from the spell book and turn them into spell scrolls, but they cannot transfer the book or spells in it to anyone else.

Spell Scrolls

We move on now to the ability to scribe scrolls. Scribing would be a skill that the caster would need to possess in order to actually be able to succeed at scribing. Scribing would be a skill kit so not every caster would have it. Different level spells would require different types and quality of parchment. The scribe would need to have the mana and any needed reagents for the spell on them when they scribe it. Once the spell scroll is used, it will disintegrate. However, the higher the level of scribing the scribe has, the more times a scroll will last. The reader of the scroll would not need mana or reagents to use the scroll. The success at scribing the scroll would depend on the skill + CONC as a modifier. Should the caster fail, they will lose mana but none of the reagents. The parchment however, may disintegrate after so many failures.

Researching Spells

Much like one can combine ingredients to make a cake or a potion, a caster should also be able to combine ingredients to make spells. Instead of giving mages recipes so they know exactly how to do it, we give them research books in libraries with hints and references to things. These spells will be extra spells outside of normal spell sets and those that could be purchased in skill kits. They will be neat things like summon wine, double wide portal, grow hair, etc. They will be able to research, really research, inside in game libraries to create spells. This would earn them research points. Now should a caster get good enough at the whole spell research thing, they could submit a request for a custom spell. This would be done via a form on the website. It would be reviewed. If it was accepted, a certain research point value would be assigned to the spell as well as additional requirements like more time spent on researching it, etc. The spell would then be implemented but only the person who researched it would be able to have it in their spell book. They could scribe it on scrolls for others, but no one else would be able to learn the spell as it is that mage’s own creation.

Magical Devices

Magical devices pertain to different fields in the game. That of the skill and that of the item. Magical devices the skill has been mentioned previously. Magical devices the items will be addressed more here. Magical devices are specifically any device that has a magical effect stored in it, or actual mana. There are several ways that magical devices can be obtained. Through special in game festivals and merchants, created by certain caster classes, through quests, and in some cases summoned by Summoners. To use a magical device, first you have to be able to identify what it is. FOCUS <devicename> will allow you to make a connection with the device and see if you can get information about what it is. Once you have identified the spell the device carries, you can focus on the device, then INVOKE <spellname> while focusing on the device and the spell is prepared. Then you cast it at the target. The advantage to using magical devices is that the spell never fails, though it can be resisted. The drawback is that you cannot add extra mana to the spell to increase its effects. While the spell never fails, you CAN fail to focus properly on the device. This falls under the magical device skill and uses the percentage scale mentioned above.

Reagents

Reagents pertain to any material or item that is required by a spell to cast. Some spells do not require a reagent, but are more powerful with one. For example: You cast a fireball without sulfur, and do 22 points of damage. You cast a fireball with sulfur, and do 22 points of damage +8 for a total of 30 points. Some spells can have more than one reagent used for them. The different reagents have different bonuses to the spells effect. Those spells that require a reagent, will not cast if the mage does not have the ingredients in their reagent pouch or hand. To make life a little easier for a mage, a lot of spells have semi-permanent or permanent reagent materials that can be set into staffs, jewelry, belts, or other items that are specifically set as ‘reagent devices’. By setting them and then wearing them, the mage will always have that reagent as long as they are wearing their equipment. These types of items are rare, and usually result from questing. Most reagent items can be found quite easily at magic shops. Others are more rare and must be searched for or only grow in a certain place. Others still are so rare that they must be quested for.

A mage tower is something that can only be owned by pure casters. Summoners, enchanters, or necromancers are the only pure casters at this time. A mage tower is like a house, only it is a tower instead. It also has advantages for the mage. Towers will come three stories high to start, and two rooms ‘around’. A mage can expand his or her tower just like a player can add rooms on to their homes. The most notable feature of a mage tower is the orb that will be located on the top most floor. This orb can store unlimited amounts of mana for the mage to tap into should they need it for spell researching or defending their tower.

Mages will get a bonus to any magical works they do in their tower, and on top of all that, as they grow in level they will be able to teleport the tower to a different location though it will take absurd amounts of mana to do so. The orb will allow them access to the amount of mana it would take. To move it, they have to own a lot somewhere else that they can move the tower to.