dreadnaught diceless rpg, magic

I’m particularly happy with this part of Dreadnaught – the magic system. There is a very clear and powerful divide between arcane and divine magic (which originally was formulated to control the use of healing spells).

Arcane magic typically isn’t as powerful as in DnD, but in exchange it is largely free to cast it. Costs are only incurred to increase the potency of magic. Generally the application of magic itself is free. In game terms that means that arcane magic usually requires expenditure of EPs (so whenever an arcane spell is cast the caster is assumed to have “2 * BP + level” in EPs available (as if she started her round of combat). In a non-combat situation that usually means that she has all her EPs available for casting spells – in combat her EPs are additionally spent on movement, defense, etc.

Divine magic is typically very expensive, more so than in DnD, but in exchange it tends to be more powerful. In game terms that means that divine magic usually requires expenditure of daily APs.

Whenever a character levels she may chose to obtain the “arcane caster proficiency” or “divine caster proficiency” feats (no limit to the number of times they are obtained). The effect of the feat is that it gives “spell buying” points equal to the character level of the character (minimum 2). Spells are bought according to their level, so a level 3 spell costs 3 spell buying points. Additionally before a spell of greater than level 1 can be bought, the character must possess at least 2 spells of the level directly below the desired spell’s level. (So you need 2 level 2 spells before you can purchase a level 3 spell, but subsequent level 3 spells do not require additional level 2 spells.)

An additional effect of “arcane caster proficiency” and “divine caster proficiency”: each time the respective feats are acquired they raise the Arcane Level (AL) and Divine Level (DL) of the character as appropriate. The AL and DL typically control the maximum power level of a spell.

The basic framework above would allow relatively few spells to be known to a character, so to that end additional feats and templates that help specialize in spell casting are available as well – which may cheapen the acquisition of spells, or increase the spell buying pool. Furthermore magic is a more role-playing friendly aspect of Dreadnaught, the GM may quite happily award a magic-playing character with an encounter with a powerful mage that would be willing to part with some spell knowledge.

(Design philosophy of spells, the nature of the distinction between Divine and Arcane magic is to enforce a bigger decision in following either divine or arcane paths – since they are somewhat synonymous in DnD; furthermore to allow for a clear distinction in powerlevel for using APs and EPs for magic. In other words, as a rule arcane magic is EP based and divine magic is AP based – correspondingly arcane magic is much more freely available compared to divine magic – spell creation needs to keep this in mind when creating spells. To some extent this paradigm can be understood as a innate shift of arcane magic to the “Warlock” class in DnD, whereas divine magic tends to be a powerful form of classic DnD magic.)

Example spells (incomplete list)

Spells, arcane

** Invisibility, minor **
Type: arcane, full-round action
Minimum requirement: character level 3
Minimum cost: all EPs in possession
Range: self
Effect: caster turns invisible for a number of rounds equal to arcane level, any non-movement action reveals the caster. However, while a defender cannot see an attacker, the defender takes a -2 penalty to defense
Additional: –

** Magic Missile **
Type: arcane, standard action)
Minimum requirement: character level 1
Minimum cost: 0 EPs
Range: 20 feet + 5 feet per character level
Effect: deals physical damage to target equal to a half of EPs spent on spell
Limitation: can only invest EPs upto two times AL of the character
Additional: a “0″ cost Magic Missile is effectively a pretty, albeit ghostly light that flies towards a target at some speed. The target will become aware of the hit of the Magic Missile, but not be hurt. It could thus be used to get the attention of a character, or to distract him.

Spells, divine

** Divine Eye, anger **
Minimum requirement: character level 8
Minimum cost: 4 AP
Range: 10 feet
Effect: turns target to stone unless it can make a Fortitude save vs invested spell cost. The target has a number of rounds equal to its BP before the petrification is complete – if the caster is killed (or choses to relinquish the spell) before petrification is complete then the petrification is undone. The target takes a penalty of -1 to all actions per round until its complete petrification or the petrification is undone.

** Healing Touch **
Type: divine, full-round action
Minimuum requirement: character level 1
Minimum cost: 1 AP
Range: touch
Effect: heals damage to target equal to 10 times APs spent on spell
Limitation: must touch the target directly, skin-to-skin; can only invest APs upto DL of character
Additional: –