Vancian Magic

Vancian Magic is the one-shot spell system used in the d20 system
and a few other games. A few World Tree mages have imported such skills,
mostly since they don’t use personal Cley: they tap into extradimensional
sources for Cley. Unfortunately, such spells demand LOTS of Cley - one per
“level” of the spell. The necessary Cley can be gathered, tied into spells (an
effect somewhat similar to spellbinding, hence it doesn’t lead to cley
overcharge), and stored, using the Runecraft skill - a relative of the Cley
Base skill. Sadly, trying to import Cley from extradimensional forces into
your own reserves ties you into those forces: attempts to do so tend to lead
to the would-be channeler vanishing into the interdimensional flux.

Off-tree magic has its advantages: it generally affects Durador

materials with no more trouble then anything else, doesn’t use personal
Cley, and doesn’t require god-connections. Of course, using it requires
reckless probing into other dimensions and a continuing tap into their
energies, it’s a major threat to prime dominance, and its side effects,
limitations, and dangers, are mostly unknown.

The various Rune- skills cannot be used unskilled. Acquiring them

requires instruction by someone who is skilled in the skill already, or at least
a book of instructions. Once a character has such a skill, however, it can be
improved normally.

Runecraft (Will): The number of ranks of prepared runespells you

can hold ready at one time. The highest rank of spell you can prepare equals
the square root of your total runecraft skill, rounded down. It takes 20
minutes of meditation per rank to build and store a runespell. In general, a
character can safely build a number of spell ranks equal to his or her
(runecraft skill rank + willpower) each day. Each additional (Willpower)
spell ranks built in a day causes the user trouble-1 for the rest of the day
due to overattunement to the dimensional flux.
Off-tree mages use complimentary skills tied to their gods or to
particular magical fields. It might be possible to acquire some such skills
(others are tied to local effects), but they drastically restrict the variety of
effects your runespells can produce and require considerable personal
dedication. Additional skills may be acquired to broaden your range again,
but such skills are not cumulative.
For example, a character who has Runecraft-16 and Illusionist-9
can store and use 16 ranks of general runespells or illusions spells and
another 9 ranks of illusion-spells only. The general spells may be of up to
rank-4 and any illusion spells may be of up to rank-5. If said character also
acquires a skill of Healing-4 this is not sufficient to allow the use of rank-5
healing spells, but the character may store up to 16 ranks of general spells
another 4 ranks which must be healing or illusion spells, and another 5
which must be illusion spells.
Taking a complimentary skill as an independent skill allows the use
of runespells within that field as spontaneous magic, but this permanently
blocks the use of the basic Runecraft skill. The total ranks available still
are not cumulative but no rolls are required. Rune magic generally does
not allow spontaneous magic otherwise.
Runemastery: This skill covers both Runic Enchantment and Runic
Ritual. Using Runemastery does not require Cley.
Runic Enchantment is roughly equivalent to Enchantment. The main
distinctions are that 1) You must know the Runespell you want to use, 2)
“pattern enchantments” can have several (Will + Runemastery) charges,
and 3) that fewer positive modifiers are available, hence most runic
enchanters have to spend experience points to buy positive modifiers to
make anything worthwhile. The performing enchantment total is equal to 2x
(Runemastery + Runelore + Will + Memory).
Runic Ritual allows the user to weave ritual spells with a base power
of (Runemastery + Will + Stamina + Dexterity + Gesture + Incantation +
s20) and an effective complexity of up to (Wits + Will + Stamina +
Runelore + Runemastery + Magic Theory). Unfortunately, this comes at the
price of the ritual taking weeks, months, or even years. In general, effects of
Com-10 or less require a day, 20 or less take three days, 30 or less take a
week, 40 or less take a month, 50 or less take three months, 60 or less take
a year, 70 or less take 3 years, 80 or less takes nine years, and so on. Such
rituals normally require about nine hours a day, but the ritualist will not be
able to undertake other projects that demand any kind of fixed schedule in
his or her remaining time: the ritual will fail, often with unexpected
consequences, if interrupted.
Unfortunately, characters must have a minimum skill rank of 5 to
make any use of Runemastery.

Runelore (Memory): The number of Runespells spells you know.

General guidelines for d20 spell translation
-Alignment Effects: The World Tree does not have any alignment
This will not profit from temporary enhancements however, since such
forces to act upon. These will not work. Spells which produce secondary
formula must be carefully worked out and committed to memory. Once
effects - protections vrs possession, protection versus attackers, etc, may
acquired, runelore spells are normally fixed - although you can voluntarily
inspire workable WT spells, whether runecraft of normal; they’ll simply
give up a level of skill to replace two of your remaining runespell formula.
have to use some other method of distinguishing between targets - if they
bother doing so.
Gesture (Stamina) and Incantation (Dexterity): Add these two skills
-Bonuses: 1 WT attribute/bonus point = 2 d20 attribute/bonus points.
plus twice its level plus an s20 to determine the effective power of a
-Caster Level = Approximately equal to (Power/5).
runespell. Bound runecraft spells (see: general guidelines for spell
-Casting Time: A free action = off-initiative action. 1 Action = 1
translation) get half power as usual.
Action, can be disturbed by people with held actions. Full Round = must be
worked on until your next initiative. If you’re disturbed before then, a
Special Bonuses: Spellcasters from worlds which normally use
concentration check is in order.
Vancian Magic can get substantial bonuses from taking Geasa - accepting
various restrictions on their actions, abilities, or the use of their magic. They -Complexity: For a rough approximation of a runespells complexity
also often have inherent knacks or bonuses. These generally aren’t available if it was a “normal” spell, use (spell level x 5). This is VERY rough.
on the World Tree, or at least no one really recognizes them if they are.
 -Enervation/Energy Drain: Positive and negative energy do not
exist on the World Tree. Spells based on them have no effect. Spells
intended to have equivalent effect induce trouble, whether short of long-
term. Some might even be permanent until healed. In general, each
“negative level” equates to trouble-1 which only goes away at one point per
day.
-Healing: Most offworld spells do True Healing, but cannot affect
hidden damage.
-Hit Dice = Life Base + Stamina.
-Hit Points: Three d20 HP = 1 World Tree HP. 1d6 d20 damage =
1 HP of WT damage.
-Resurrection (Various): Since World Tree spirits are not sentient
or conscious in the between-incarnation waiting places, and d20
resurrections require a conscious decision to accept them, these essentially
apply to the spirits god. If the god agrees, the spell will work nicely -
although the god may require some sort of service in exchange for this
favor. Versions which cause a “level loss” reduce the target’s six highest
skill ratings by two ranks each. If the spirit has already been reincarnated,
the spell has no effect.
-Saving Throw: Spells which allow a saving throw normally either
allow an Easy (> Pow/2) Magic Resistance check or may simply allow
-Shadow Effects: “Shadow” does not exist on the World Tree.
Things are generally either real or not real, there is no in-between state.
Shadow spells will not work. Of course, actually creating things is a lot
easier on the World Tree in any case.
-Speed: Runespells are Fast by default.
-Spellbinding: Normal spellbinding techniques can store one Cley.
First level runespells can be bound. Those of second level and above cannot
be bound by known techniques.
-Spell Durations: 1 Round = 13 initiative counts.
-Spell Level = Rank
-Spell Ranges: Touch, Close/Short, Medium, and Long ranges
translate directly.
-Spell Resistance (Yes): Allows a Magic Resistance check. Cley
may be spent as usual. Attacks may be 50% damage on success or they may
fail entirely; this depends on the spell description.
Specific d20 Spell Conversions
Antimagic Field: Rank-6. Negates World Tree space, time, matter,
and energy while the spell is active. The area affected essentially does not
exist for that period. Those partially within the area may make a magic
resistance check: on a success they’re outside, on a failure they’re inside.
“Normal” objects may be severed or damaged, enchanted ones usually
survive. [Range: Self (a problem on the WT), Speed: Fast, Dur: P Minutes,
Resist: As above].
Charm Person: Rank-1. All primes are “persons” for the purposes
of this spell, other creatures are not. S. feels that you are a good friend, and
will view your actions and requests favorably. [Range: Short, Speed: Fast,
Dur: P/5 Hours, and Resist: MR].
Note that this is not hidden: targets will be aware that you threw
some sort of spell on them even if they fail to resist.
Cure Light Wounds: Rank-1. Does 1d8+P/5 (+5 maximum) points
of True Healing. [Range: Touch, Speed: Fast, Dur: Instant, and Resist:
Auto].
Dispel Magic: Rank-3. The area-effect version disrupts all magic in
its area of effect. On the World Tree this is a supremely reckless thing to do;
its space, time, matter, and energy, is all built of magic. It will do quite a bit
of damage to everything in its area of effect, throw off wild, random, effects,
and throw off a massive wave of toxic, partially-disrupted, matter. It may
offend the noun gods as well. The exact effects are pretty random.
The single-target version is useful; it allows a skill-versus-skill roll
to try and dispel a target spell or causes Pow/10+s6 damage to a target
object or creature. World Tree magic is difficult to dispel however, so the
“defender” gets a +10 bonus on the skill-versus-skill roll. Still, it’s more
effective then ordinary destroc magiador spells are due to its alien structure.
[Range: Medium, Speed: Fast, Dur: Instant, Resist: MR ½]
Fireball: Rank-3. Blasts a 20-Ft radius with fire, inflicting ((Pow/5
+ s6 - Soak) damage to everyone there. [Range: Long, Speed: Fast, Dur:
Instant, and Resist: MR ½].
Greater Magic Weapon: Rank-3. Gives one weapon or up to 50
projectiles a bonus to attacks and damage equal to (P/15, 5 maximum). It
will not work on already-enchanted weapons. [Range: Touch, Speed: Fast,
Dur: As above, and Resist: N/A].
Lightning Bolt: Rank-3. Inflicts (Pow/5 + d6 - Soak [bypasses metal
armor]) damage to 5-foot path to medium range or a 10-foot path to half
that distance. [Range: Medium, Speed: Fast, Dur: Instant, and Resist: MR
½].
Mage Armor: Rank-1. Provides +2 Soak, but is not cumulative with
physical armor. [Range: Toucht, Speed: Fast, Dur: P/5 Hours, and Resist:
Auto].
Magic Missile: Rank-1. Inflicts (P/10 + d6 - Soak) weapon damage.
[Range: Medium, Speed: Fast, Dur: Instant, and Resist: MR ½].
Miracle: Rank-9. This requests direct intervention from a god. The
world tree gods will respond within limits as they will to the casting of any
other spell. If a Miracle spell invokes them, this is just a version of Wish. If
invoking an outside god, you may get a response if A) it has some reason to
respond to you, B) it happens to be visiting the tree at the time OR C) has
permission to interfere there, OR D) is willing to ask the gods of the tree
about it (this will likely result in considerable delay), OR E) is willing to
sneak into the World Tree just to do you a favor. The gods do have relatives
and friends, theology skill rolls might allow you to address a plea to an
appropriate and sympathetic god who has at least limited permission to
intervene on the tree. In this case the results, and the costs thereof, are
extremely unpredictable.
Power Word Stun: Rank-7. Target loses their actions and cannot
dodge for the duration. Those with 16 or fewer HP are affected for 4d4
actions, those with 33 of fewer lose 2d4 actions, those with 50 or fewer lose
1d4, and those with 51 or more hit points are not affected. [Range: Close,
Speed: Fast, Dur: As above, and Resist: MR].
Power Word Blind: Rank-8. Blinds one or more creatures within a
15 Ft radius with a total of up to 67 HP, lowest HP totals first. If the total
HP of the creatures affected is 16 or less the effect is permanent until
healed. If it’s up to 33 it lasts for 1d4+1 minutes. If it’s above that it lasts for
1d4+1 actions. [Range: Close, Speed: Fast, Dur: As above, and Resist:
MR].
Power Word Kill: Rank-9. Instantly kills - as per Shatter the Triune
Being - a target with 33 or fewer hit points or up to ten creatures within a
15-Ft sphere who have 7 or fewer hit points each. [Range: Close, Speed:
Fast, Dur: As above, and Resist: MR].
The Power Word spells aren’t especially powerful for their ranks.
World Tree creatures are simply physically and magically tougher then
those of most worlds and its magic is quite strong.
Spell Resistance: Rank-5. Provides a second magic resistance skill
equal to (12 + Pow/5). Both can be rolled, and Cley can be spent on each
roll if desired. [Range: Touch, Speed: Fast, Dur: Pow/10 minutes, and
Resist: MR ½].
True Strike: Rank-1. Provides a +10 bonus on an attack roll made
on your next action. This will only work 2d4 times per day for any single
individual. . [Range: Self, Speed: Fast, Dur: As above, and Resist: Auto].
Wish: Rank-9. This powerful spell can produce any effect of up to
Rank-8 runecraft or a Com-40 world tree spell, create items worth up to
25,000 lozens, or bestow up to 30 experience points. Unfortunately, casting
it permanently drains either 60 experience points or one rank each off of the
casters four highest skills. [Range: Special, Speed: Varies, Dur: Special, and
Resist: Special].