Tuesday 21 July 2015

Theorems & Thaumaturgy Revised: Introductory Guidelines

Well, the "maybe" I postulated a few weeks back has become a "definitely". In fact, an almost-finished-draft "definitely".

My main goals with this revised edition are firstly to reformat the book as A5 (my preferred format nowadays) and secondly to improve the thematic consistency and usability of the content. One thing in particular that I wanted to improve over the original edition of Theorems & Thaumaturgy were the guidelines for integrating all the new spells and classes into campaigns. To that end, I've written several pages of ideas and optional rules which will, hopefully, really help clarify the different approaches which are possible and their pros and cons.

Here's the complete text of that section, as it stands. If anyone has any feedback, please feel free to comment! (The formatting below is a bit odd... The cut & paste from the document apparently didn't work that well.)

Using This Book

You Now Have in Your Possession Over 200 New Spells

This is a book, primarily, full of spells. Hopefully, after having a browse, you'll feel inspired to start using all this new material in your campaign, but how to go about this? That depends primarily on whether you're starting a new campaign or already running one. Below are some guidelines for each of those situations.

If you want to integrate this material in an existing campaign, the two most obvious approaches are:
  • Introduce one or more of the new classes (elementalist, necromancer, vivimancer) as members of a school of wizardry from a region which the players haven't explored. These wizards may be directly encountered by the player characters (as friendly, neutral, or antagonistic NPCs) or may be spoken of in rumours or adventure hooks. Once the new classes are known to exist in the setting, they become available as an option for any future player characters that are created.
  • An alternative way to use this book is simply as a resource for new spells. If you want to follow this approach, simply ignore the classes and their spell lists and make all of the new spells available for use by standard magic-users (or druids, clerics, illusionists – as you wish). New spells can easily be introduced by putting scrolls or spell books in the hands of player characters: as gifts from mentors, as rewards for missions accomplished, or discovered in the treasure hoards of defeated enemies.
For Labyrinth Lords who are starting a new campaign, two further options are available:
  • The new classes in this book may simply be added to the roster of choices available to players when creating their characters at the start of the campaign.
  • When preparing for a campaign, it is also worth considering that an excellent way of imparting a specific and novel flavour to the milieu is to alter or restrict the classes of adventurer which exist (and thus the classes from which the players may choose when creating their characters). A very interesting potential, then, is to imagine a world where standard spell-casting classes do not exist, being replaced by one or more of the classes from this book. A world where vivimancers are the only type of arcane practitioner, for example, takes on a very different tone and has very different possibilities than a world dominated by the standard fireball-slinging mage. Or, perhaps, the wizards of a certain kingdom may all be known to be necromancers, while the neighbouring land only allows the practice of imperially sanctioned elemental magic. This kind of approach can really breathe new life into the game.

The Elementalist, Necromancer, and Vivimancer Classes

Each of these three new classes is presented in its own section. However, no mechanical details (e.g. saving throw or to-hit charts, prime requisites, lists of allowed armaments, etc.) are specified. It is assumed that these classes perform and advance in exactly the same manner as the standard magic-user class, with the one (albeit major) difference being the replaced spell list.

A Note on Spell References

In the spell lists for the new classes, the symbols (C), (D), (I), and (MU) are used to denote spells drawn from the standard cleric, druid, illusionist, and magic-user lists, respectively.

Specialist Wizards in the Campaign

The basic Labyrinth Lord rules describe a single type of arcane magic, usable by magic-users and elves. The Advanced Edition Companion and other books, such as this, add further, more specialised wizardly classes: illusionists, elementalists, necromancers, etc. In campaigns with multiple different types of arcane spell-caster (i.e. wizards), it pays to give some thought to how they inter-relate, both in terms of their place in the society of the imagined world and in terms of how the classes interact with each other on a mechanical level. This section discusses some issues around the latter point; the society of your campaign world is in your hands alone!

Casting Spells From Other Spell Lists

It is important that the Labyrinth Lord consider to what degree characters of the different wizardly classes are able to use spells from the other spell lists. Traditionally, in Advanced era games, the two types of arcane spell-caster – illusionists and magic-users – practised entirely different kinds of magic and, apart from a few areas of overlap, were unable to cast spells from each other's list.
Characters of each of the classes presented in this book are designed to be competent adventurers in their own right, with a different balance of strengths and weaknesses when compared to classical magic-users. They are able to stand on their own and do not require access the standard magic-user spell list. Some Labyrinth Lords may, however, prefer there to be less strict boundaries between the different types of wizard, with some possibility of casting spells from each other's spell lists. If this is allowed, it will clearly increase the power of each class to a significant degree, as they will gain access to a broader selection of spells and types of magic. Some possible approaches in this direction, listed in ascending order of permissiveness, are described below. Whatever is decided, this should always be a two-way decision – standard magic-users must be treated in the same manner as all other types of wizard.
Fallible scroll-use: All types of wizard may cast scrolls of spells from other spells lists (for example, a magic-user may cast an illusionist scroll). They are unable to learn these “foreign” spells but have sufficient arcane knowledge to be able to activate magic encoded on scrolls. When casting such “off-list” spells from scrolls, there is a 10% chance of failure per level of the spell being cast. Failure indicates that the scroll is wasted or (if the Labyrinth Lord wishes) causes some kind of backfire. In this way, low-level spells may be cast fairly reliably but high-level spells will remain the sole province of the appropriate specialist.
Reliable scroll-use: Off-list scrolls may be cast without risk of failure. This allows the boundaries between the different types of specialist wizard to be blurred slightly, but only in the (presumably somewhat special) situation when magical scrolls are acquired as treasure.
Limited learning: In addition to allowing foreign spells to be cast from scrolls (either with or without a risk of failure), another possibility is to allow wizards to also learn a smattering of them – one per level of spells which can be cast. (For example, a 7th level wizard may cast spells of up to 4th level. Using these rules, she could thus learn four spells from specialist areas not covered by her standard spell list.) This system allows wizards to diversify their spell repertoire and have a few tricks up their sleeve, while maintaining the clear separation between the different types of specialist.
Reduced chance to learn: This is an option for games where the advanced “chance to learn spell” rules are used. Wizards may cast foreign spells from scrolls (as above, with or without a risk of failure) and may also attempt to learn an unlimited number of off-list spells, but with a reduced chance of success. A penalty (-25%, for example) is applied to the chance to learn foreign spells. The Labyrinth Lord may also stipulate the additional requirement of a period of research (one week per spell level, perhaps at a cost of 250gp per week). Under this system, it is likely that wizards will end up having a significant number of off-list spells in their spell books, as their careers progress. This is the most flexible system before the boundaries between different wizardly classes are collapsed completely.

Placing Spells in Treasure Hoards

It is assumed that all classes of wizard acquire new spells in the same means as the standard magic-user: by finding spell books or scrolls in treasure hoards. Ideally, then, the number of spells discovered which can be cast by each type of wizard should be (roughly) balanced. When it is determined that a treasure hoard contains scrolls of magic-user spells, it is desirable that spells usable by specialist wizards also be (at least some of the time) present.
One way of handling this is to multiply the number of spells present in the hoard (as indicated by the treasure tables) by the total number of wizardly classes in the campaign, then to give each spell an equal (random) chance of being taken from the list of each class. For example, in a campaign with magic-users, elementalists, and illusionists, the number of spells found in a hoard would be multiplied by three and each spell would have a 1 in 3 chance of being taken from the standard magic-user list, a 1 in 3 chance of coming from the illusionist list, and a 1 in 3 chance of being from the elementalist list. The Labyrinth Lord ensures, in this way, that the balance of spells available to characters of different spell-using classes remains fair and consistent.
Note that, as some spells are shared between the different classes, these guidelines will, in fact, slightly increase the number of spells available. It is also worth bearing in mind that, even if an adventuring party discover scrolls of spells that they cannot cast themselves, such scrolls still have value and may be sold to or bartered with NPCs who can put them to use.

Spell Acquisition

This section contains optional guidelines for Labyrinth Lords on the subject of how wizardly characters may gain access to and learn new spells.
For games in the vein of the traditional Basic rules, the following guidelines may be used:
  • Wizards begin the game knowing read magic, one randomly selected spell from the appropriate class spell list, and one spell of the player's choice.
  • The number of spells a wizard can know (i.e. record in his spell book) is limited to no more than double the number that he can memorize. For example, a 5th level magic-user can memorize two 1st level, two 2nd level, and one 3rd level spell. Such a character could have at most four 1st level, four 2nd level, and two 3rd level spells in his spell book.
  • Upon gaining an experience level, if the wizard does not already have spells available to learn (e.g. from scrolls or captured spell books), he automatically acquires knowledge of one new spell, selected randomly from a level of the player's choosing.
Design Note: In the original Basic rules, magic-users and elves were limited to knowing one single spell at 1st level – not even read magic was “free”! – and could never record more spells in their spell books than the number they could memorize each day. Personally, while I find this system charming in its simplicity, I feel it is too restrictive and use the system described above in my own games. Other groups may, however, prefer to stick with the original rules.
Advanced era games are more generous with the number of spells known and may use the following guidelines:
  • Wizards begin the game knowing read magic, two randomly selected spells from the appropriate class spell list, and two spells of the player's choice.
  • The number of spells a wizard can know (i.e. record in his spell book) is limited by the character's INT (see the AEC).
  • Upon gaining an experience level, if the wizard does not already have spells available to learn (e.g. from scrolls or captured spell books), he automatically acquires knowledge of one new spell, selected randomly from a level of the player's choosing. This spell must be learnt according to the normal rules for spell learning, again dependent on the character's INT.
     

Monday 20 July 2015

LL/5e Mashup: Bard Songs

In my previous post about the Rogue class and its various sub-classes, I didn't go into any detail as to what spells exactly are usable by the magic-using sub-classes, the bard and the arcane trickster.

Here's the list of songs available to bards. I'm keeping things limited to the spells that are available in the LL Advanced Edition Companion, initially.

Bard Magic
Bard songs take one turn to have magical effect. Bards do not need to memorise songs -- they can play any magical song they know at any time, subject to the limited number of songs per level per day.

Bard songs which produce an effect with a duration need not be physically played or sung for longer than the one turn casting time. Once the spell takes effect, the bard may stop playing. The song instead lingers in the bard's mind until its duration expires. During this time, if the bard plays any other magical song, the maintained spell is cancelled. Songs with permanent duration do not have this requirement.

Songs which have the effect of enchanting another person must be audible to the target in order for the magic to take hold.

Bard Spell List

First level
Allure
Charm person
Doppelganger
Identify
Light
Mending
Protection from evil
Remove fear

Second Level
Arcane lock
Bless
Continual light
Cure light wounds
Invisibility
Knock
Phantasmal force
Snake charm

Third Level
Augury
Fly
Haste
Protection from evil, 10' radius
Purify food and drink
Tiny hut

Fourth Level
Arcane eye
Charm monster
Create food and water
Cure serious wounds
Enchant arms
Implant emotion

Sunday 19 July 2015

LL/5e Mashup: The Warrior Class

Following on from the write-up of my rough ideas for a 5e-inspired Rogue class for Labyrinth Lord, here are my thoughts on a Warrior class. (I'm following the 2e class groups here, a concept which I always found appealing -- so the classes will be: Warrior, Rogue, Priest, Wizard.)

Warrior
Proficiencies: all armour, shields, simple weapons, martial weapons, 2 of: Acrobatics, Awareness, Climbing, Survival, Swimming.

1st level:
Fighting Style: Choose one of the following fighting styles:
  • Archery: +1 to attacks with missile weapons.
  • Defence: +1 AC bonus when wearing armour.
  • Duelling: +1 to attacks and damage rolls when wielding only a one-handed melee weapon.
  • Heavy Weapon Fighting: When wielding a heavy, two-handed weapon, re-roll damage dice which come up 1. (You may only re-roll once per attack and must keep the second roll.)
  • Protection: When wielding a shield, you can grant a +2 AC bonus to a single character within 5' of you.
  • Two-Weapon Fighting: (The exact effect of this fighting style depends on the rules for two-weapon fighting, which I've not decided on yet.)
2nd level:
Warrior Archetype: Choose an archetype.

6th level:
Extra Attack: You can make two attack rolls on your turn.

11th level:
Extra Attack: You can make three attack rolls on your turn.

20th level:
Extra Attack: You can make four attack rolls on your turn.

Warrior Archetypes

Fighter
2nd level:
Improved Critical: An attack roll of 19 or 20 is a critical hit.

4th level:
Indomitable: Once per day, you can re-roll a failed saving throw.

10th level:
Fighting Style: Choose a second fighting style.

Arcane Champion
2nd level:
Spell-Casting: Limited spell list. Slow progression, up to 4th level spells. Number of spells known is strictly limited.

4th level:
Weapon Bond: With a one hour ritual, you can bond up to two weapons to yourself. A bonded weapon can be summoned instantly to your hand from anywhere on the same plane of existence.

10th level:
War Magic: You can make a single attack and cast a spell in the same round.

Slayer
2nd level:
Favoured Enemy: Choose a monster type (dragons, goblinoids, giants, animals, etc) or a profession (cultists, witches, outlaws, etc). You gain a +1 bonus to Search checks to track or Lore checks to recall knowledge about your chosen enemy.

4th level:
Extra Proficiencies: Gain proficiency with Awareness and Stealth.

10th level:
Second Favoured Enemy: Choose another type of favoured enemy.
Expert Slayer: Gain +1 to hit and damage against your favoured enemies. Gain a +2 bonus to saving throws and AC against their attacks.

Beast Master
2nd level:
Animal Companion: A normal animal becomes your faithful companion. You may purchase the animal or find it in the wild. In combat, you can give the animal verbal commands. If your companion dies, you may find another beast to replace it after a week.

4th level:
Extra Proficiencies: Gain proficiency with Awareness and Nature.

10th level:
Bestial Fury: Your animal companion may make one extra attack each round.

Berserker
I'm planning a berserker warrior sub-class, but haven't come up with any mechanics that I like yet. I'm not that keen on the 5e barbarian berserker, with the "resource management rage" mechanic. I don't see berserk fury as something that has to be scrupulously managed.

If anyone has any ideas for a berserker sub-class that'd fit with the system above, please suggest!

Wot No Paladins?
Yeah... I don't believe in paladins. I've never really understood how they're different from clerics.

Friday 17 July 2015

D&D 5: Spells By School (PDF)

On a whim, I just knocked up a PDF of 5e spells by school. The lists include spells from all classes mixed into one, which may be of use to someone (it's probably going to be useful for me). It includes all the spells from the PHB and the Elemental Evil Companion.

Here's the link!

Wednesday 15 July 2015

LL/5e Mashup: The Rogue Class

Now that we have a skill system, I'll present the rough outline for a class: the rogue. Yes, I'm calling it "rogue" not "thief". There's a good reason for that: one of the things I love about the 5e rules is the way that each class has several different "archetypes" -- essentially sub-classes -- which players can choose between. In the case of the rogue class, one of those archetypes is the thief.

Here's what I have so far. (Note that I won't discuss things like Hit Dice, XP progression, attack rolls, saving throws. That's, for now, assumed to be the same as in LL.)

First, a quick note on the types of proficiency...

Proficiencies
  • Skills (see here).
  • Weapons: non-proficient attacks incur a -4 penalty to hit.
  • Armour: wearing armour with which the character is not proficient incurs some penalty that I've not fully considered yet. You definitely can't cast spells, at least.
  • Tools: work like skills. 1 in 6 base chance of success, modified by ability score and proficiency bonus. I like the D&D 5 list of tools, so would go with that.

Ok, now the rogue...

Rogue
Proficiencies: light armour, simple weapons, hand crossbow, longsword, rapier, shortsword, thieves' tools, 4 of: Acrobatics, Arcana, Awareness, Climbing, Lore, Performance, Search, Sleight of hand, Stealth.

1st level:
Expertise: Gain a +1 bonus using 2 skills (or your proficiency with thieves' tools) of your choice.
Sneak Attack: +4 bonus to hit and double damage against a target who is not aware of your presence. (Finesse or missile weapons only.)
Thieves' Cant: Speak the secret code language of thieves.

2nd level:
Rogue Archetype: Choose an archetype.

6th level:
Expertise: Choose 2 more skills to gain a +1 bonus.

Rogue Archetypes

Thief
2nd level:
Fast Hands: Make two checks with your thieves' tools in one turn. (Note: I'm talking LL turns here = 10 minutes.)

4th level:
Read Languages: Make a Lore check to understand the broad gist of any text.

10th level:
Use scrolls: Make an Arcana check to use magic-user scrolls.

(Note: I think the thief could probably be beefed up a little bit, compared to the other archetypes.)

Assassin
2nd level:
Extra Proficiencies: Gain proficiency with disguise and poisoner's kits.

4th level:
Assassinate: (Exact effect to-be-determined... Probably simply an increasing sneak attack multiplier.)

10th level:
Infiltration: Pretty much as described in the 5e rules. The ability to create a false identity and to mimic someone's behaviour and voice.

Arcane Trickster
2nd level:
Spell-Casting: Limited spell list. Slow progression, up to 4th level spells. Number of spells known is strictly limited. Initially: unseen servant and one other.

4th level:
Legerdemain: Use thieves' tools or Sleight of hand via unseen servant.
Use scrolls: Make an Arcana check to use magic-user scrolls.

10th level:
Magical Ambush: Targets who are unaware of your presence suffer a -4 penalty on saves against your spells.

Bard
2nd level:
Magical Songs: Limited spell list. Slow progression, up to 4th level spells. Number of spells known is strictly limited. Spells require a Performance check and one turn.

4th level:
Read Languages: Make a Lore check to understand the broad gist of any text.

10th level:
Counter-Charm: (Exact effect to-be-determined)

Acrobat
2nd level:
Dodge: You can dodge out of reach of enemies, making a fighting retreat at full speed.
Tumbling Attack: Make an Acrobatics check to move towards an enemy, make a melee attack, then leap out of reach (effectively a fighting retreat) all in one round.

4th level:
Evasion: For effects which allow a save for half damage, a save indicates that you take no damage. You suffer half damage on a failed save.
Slow Fall: Subtract your level from falling damage.

10th level:
Uncanny Dodge: When damaged by an attacker that you can see, make an Acrobatics check to reduce the damage by half.


LL/5e Mashup: Skills

As I mentioned on Google+, I've been thinking about how it might look to take some of the bits I like about D&D 5 into a simpler rules system like Labyrinth Lord. One of my favourite bits of the new edition is the simple skills / proficiency system. This forms a foundation for some other stuff, so I'll lay that out first.

Skill Checks
1d6 based, like LotFP. All characters have a base 1 in 6 chance of success.

Modifiers:
  • Relevant ability score above 14: +1 in 6 chance of success.
  • Relevant ability score below 7: -1 in 6 chance of success.
  • Proficient: +1 at 1st level, +2 at 5th level, +3 at 10th level, +4 at 15th level.
  • Difficulty: easy tasks may increase, difficult tasks reduce the chance of success (as the referee wishes).
Notes:
I've never been a fan of the d20 system, so in considering a skill system suitable for bolting onto Labyrinth Lord, I knew immediately that I'd be looking for something else. I went for a d6 based skill system for several reasons: its precedent in the basic rules in the form of rolls to hear noises or find secret doors, surprise, etc; its use in LotFP, which I'm familiar with and have always admired. You could bolt on another system easily enough; you just need to make sure the proficiency bonus progression and any bonuses granted by other abilities match it.

List of Skills
Acrobatics
Arcana (detect magic -- 1 turn)
Awareness (surprise / notice hidden)
Climbing
Engineering (stone stuff, dwarves are proficient)
Lore (legends, history)
Medicine
Nature (knowledge, connection with animals)
Performance
Religion (detect divine or infernal influence -- 1 turn)
Search (find secret doors / hidden things)
Sleight of hand
Stealth
Survival
Swimming

Notes:
  • I chose to split athletics into climbing and swimming as a nod to the traditional thief, who's great at climbing but whom I don't see as great at other athletic activities.
  • The uses of arcana and religion to detect magic or cosmic influence are house rules I've used for years in LL. They seemed to fit these skills perfectly.
  • I've chosen a list without any "social" skills. You could add them back in, if you like. The exact list doesn't really matter that much.

Saturday 11 July 2015

D&D 5: Shorthand Races PDF

As a companion to the shorthand backgrounds PDF which I posted the other day, I've done the same thing for the races in the PHB.

Here's the PDF.

I was actually very surprised that all the info could be fit onto a single page!

From the Vats: Print-On-Demand, All Systems Go!




Yes! I hold within my hands the proof copy of From the Vats. All looks good, so, without further ado: go get it!

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/151451/From-the-Vats

Selling at-cost, currently for $3.04.

Thursday 9 July 2015

D&D 5: Shorthand Backgrounds PDF

I love the concept of backgrounds in D&D 5 but find their verbosity a bit overwhelming, both in terms of the amount of information to read and the number of decisions that are required, what with all the lists of flaws, bonds, etc. I'm sure those add a lot to a character, in the right campaign, but I tend to prefer presentations with simple basic rule summaries and extra details elsewhere, for use if desired.

So, I just got the urge to make a summarizing table of all the backgrounds in the PHB. I've wanted to try this for a long time as I've always felt that they could be expressed (in their most basic form) as a table on a single page.

So, here you go, as a PDF.

Seeing them presented like this also encourages me to invent some more backgrounds of my own!

Tuesday 7 July 2015

D&D 5: School of Elementalism

You devote your career to the volatile magic of the raw cardinal elements (air, earth, fire, and water), unravelling the secrets of the composition of the natural world and gaining power over planar beings made of pure elemental matter. Unlike the traditional schools of magic (described in the PHB), the school of elementalism studies magic of many different kinds, unified by the characteristics of the effect produced, rather than the magical means of operation.

Some elementalists become planar explorers, drawn towards the mysteries of the elemental planes and beyond. Others, who choose to remain on their home world in the prime plane, are valued (or feared) for their power over the forces of nature, becoming wardens, fearsome war-wizards, or explorers in harsh regions of the world.


Elemental Savant
Beginning when you select this school at 2nd level, the gold and time you must spend to copy an elemental spell (see list below) into your spellbook is halved.

Cardinal Transmutation
Starting at 2nd level when you choose this school, you gain the ability to transmute small quantities of pure elemental matter. For each 10 minutes you spend on the procedure, you can transmute 1 cubic foot of matter from one pure element -- air, fire, earth, or water -- to another. The transmutation is permanent.

Elemental Cancellation
Beginning at 6th level, when you cast a spell (such as counterspell or dispel magic) to nullify elemental magic, you weave the essence of the opposite element into the spell, increasing the effectiveness of the cancellation. You add your proficiency bonus to any ability checks required to cast the spell.

Elemental Summoner
At 10th level, you add the conjure elemental spell to your spellbook, if it is not there already. When you conjure an elemental using an elemental spell, you gain the following benefits:
  • The creature's hit point maximum is increased by an amount equal to your wizard level.
  • If you lose control of the elemental, you may make a DC 15 Charisma save. If the save succeeds, instead of running amok, the elemental returns to its plane of origin.

Elemental Fusion
Starting at 14th level, after a long rest, you are able to infuse your physical form with elemental force. You must choose which of the four cardinal elements to bond with, gaining advantage on saving throws against and resistance to damage from that element (spells, for example, or the attacks of elementals). This deep integration with an element also makes you vulnerable to damage from the opposite element (fire and water are opposed, air and earth are opposed) -- if you suffer damage from the opposed element, the damage increases by one point per die rolled.

When in this state of elemental fusion, your physical form bears obvious marks of the transformation. You may be surrounded with clouds of smoke, dust, or steam; your hair may blow wildly as if in a storm; your eyes may flicker with lightning or glow like magma; or your skin may become charred, brine-encrusted, or studded with crystals.

After a long rest, you may choose to return your body to its natural state -- an equal balance of the four elements.

Elemental Spells
Spells in italics are described in the Elemental Evil Players Companion.

Cantrips (0 Level)
Acid splash (conjuration)
Chill touch (necromancy)
Create bonfire (conjuration)
Control flames (transmutation)
Dancing lights (evocation)
Fire bolt (evocation)
Frostbite (evocation)
Gust (transmutation)
Light (evocation)
Magic stone (transmutation)
Message (transmutation)
Mold earth (transmutation)
Ray of frost (evocation)
Shape water (transmutation)
Thunderclap (evocation)

1st Level
Absorb elements (abjuration)
Burning hands (evocation)
Catapult (transmutation)
Faerie fire (evocation)
Feather fall (transmutation)
Fog cloud (conjuration)
Ice knife (conjuration)
Earth tremor (evocation)
Thunderwave (evocation)

2nd Level
Aganazzar’s scorcher (evocation)
Continual flame (evocation)
Dust devil (conjuration)
Earthbind (transmutation)

Flaming sphere (conjuration)
Gust of wind (evocation)
Maximilian’s earthen grasp (transmutation)
Melf's acid arrow (evocation)
Misty step (conjuration)
Pyrotechnics (transmutation)
Scorching ray (evocation)
Shatter (evocation)
Skywrite (transmutation, ritual)
Snilloc’s snowball swarm (evocation)

3rd Level
Erupting earth (transmutation)
Fireball (evocation)
Fly (transmutation)
Flame arrows (transmutation)
Gaseous form (transmutation)
Melf’s minute meteors (evocation)
Sleet storm (conjuration)
Stinking cloud (conjuration)
Tidal wave (conjuration)
Wall of sand (evocation)
Wall of water (evocation)


4th Level
Conjure minor elementals (conjuration)
Control water (transmutation)
Elemental bane (transmutation)
Fire shield (evocation)
Ice storm (evocation)
Stone shape (transmutation)
Stoneskin (transmutation)
Storm sphere (evocation)
Vitriolic sphere (evocation)

Wall of fire (evocation)
Watery sphere (conjuration)

5th Level
Cloudkill (conjuration)
Cone of cold (evocation)
Conjure elemental (conjuration)
Contact other plane (divination)
Control winds (transmutation)
Immolation (evocation)
Maelstrom (evocation)
Passwall (transmutation)
Planar binding (abjuration)
Transmute rock (transmutation)
Wall of stone (evocation)

6th Level
Bones of the earth (transmutation)
Disintegrate (transmutation)
Flesh to stone (transmutation)
Investiture of flame (transmutation)
Investiture of ice (transmutation)
Investiture of stone (transmutation)
Investiture of wind (transmutation)
Move earth (transmutation)
Otiluke's freezing sphere (evocation)
Sunbeam (evocation)
Wall of ice (evocation)

7th Level
Delayed blast fireball (evocation)
Plane shift (conjuration)
Reverse gravity (transmutation)
Whirlwind (evocation)

8th Level
Abi-Dalzim’s horrid wilting (necromancy)
Control weather (transmutation)
Incendiary cloud (conjuration)
Sunburst (evocation)

9th Level
Gate (conjuration)
Meteor swarm (evocation)

Monday 6 July 2015

Psychedelic Compounds for D&D 5

Some reworkings of old Labyrinth Lord material for D&D 5.

Addiction
Certain psychoactive substances favoured by adventurers have a highly addictive nature. Each time you consume such a compound, you must make a WIS save in order to resist increasing dependency. The difficulty of the save depends on the compound.

There are three levels of addiction, each with more severe side-effects than the last. When you fail a save against addiction, your addiction level for that drug increases one step.

Addiction levels:
  1. After the dose wears off, for the next week, you must make another addiction save whenever an opportunity to purchase and use the drug presents itself. Failure indicates that you are unable to resist.
  2. You must use the drug once a week or suffer disadvantage on DEX and WIS checks.
  3. You must use the drug once per day or suffer disadvantage on all ability checks and attack rolls.

Memory Dust
Cost: 75gp
Duration: Until next long rest.
Addiction difficulty: 11
Appearance: Scintillating, rainbow-hued dust of the finest grain.
Usage: Snorted or swallowed. (The more elevated mage mixes the dust into fine spirits or absinthe, for leisurely consumption.)
Effects: You can prepare one additional wizard spell. Additionally, once during the period of the drug's effect, after casting a wizard spell you may spend an action to attempt to retain the expended spell slot. This requires an INT save (difficulty 10 + the level of the slot). If you fail, you are stunned until your next turn.
Side-effects: A natural 1 when making the WIS save versus addiction indicates that your tolerance for the memory dust has increased. Henceforth, you need to consume one extra dose to gain an effect. (The required dosage may continue to increase, if multiple saves come up 1.)

Salts of Vitesse
Cost: 50gp
Duration: Until next long rest.
Addiction difficulty: 14
Appearance: Gritty, crystalline powder of alchemical manufacture.
Usage: Snorted or swallowed.
Effects: +2 DEX, +2 INT. Additional +1 bonus to initiative.
Side-effects: -1 CON until you rest for a full week.


(To be continued...)

Wednesday 1 July 2015

Theorems & Thaumaturgy Revised Edition (Maybe)

I've recently been contemplating getting a slightly revised edition of my free book Theorems & Thaumaturgy together. The original impetus for this idea was that I realised that the book's still not available in print on RPGNow -- just at lulu.

I'm not, at this stage, sure how far I'd go towards making this a proper "second edition" versus a bit of a spruce up versus a simple republishing. Nonetheless, here are some potential ideas:
  • A5 format.
  • Integrate any errata. (Is there any?)
  • Include guide to integrating specialist wizards in campaigns (see here).
  • Also mention the idea of running a campaign purely based around one or two alternative types of wizard, completely replacing the standard magic-user.
  • Specify the schools of all spells. (Transmutation, Divination, etc.)
  • Update the vivimancer and elementalist spells to match the "complete" books. (Some spells have changed level, for example.)
  • Consider adding a few more fey elf spells.
  • Add some more descriptive information on the tomes.
  • Add a few more magic items?
  • Remove monsters not related to summoning spells.

If anyone has any thoughts on this, I'd be very interested to hear them!