Magic (Action Powers Form)

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Heroic Action Role-Play

Magic is the power of inspiration and mystic understanding; it is a perfect union of reasoning and intuition. Magical powers are often the most well-understood and controlled of the supernatural powers, and the closest rival of technology. The Form of magic deals with metamagical effects that alter how other powers work.

Alternate Names: Alchemy, Arcana, Astrology, Cabala, Magick, Hermetic Magic.

Associations

Creature : No specific creature, very flexible.
Skill : Know
Attribute : Reflexes
Sense : Astral sight
Mood : Inspired, informed, enlightened

Magic Cantrips

Basic Action

You can detect Magic powers out to a range of a Know roll and other Powers and Items by touch. You can create free-floating glowing runes, glyphs, or symbols out of thin air; these can be used as a chalkboard or to provide dim illumination.

Blast Magic

Contagion

Inherent

If you have a magical connection to another creature, such as a body part, former belonging, or ideally a True Name. When you use an area effect you can choose to only affects targets to whom you have contagion, or those to whom you do not have contagion.

Mage Blast

Inherent

You can make a Ranged Attack - either the basic stunt or using some other stunt, schtick, or power. Damage is Mind +2, or more if you are using an Implement to improve damage. Mage Blast does damage based on any Form you know and you can always choose to do Radiation damage.

Sword Implement

Inherent

You can use a Blade as an Implement. An implement is mainly useful for Shoot powers, but works with other powers that allow the use of Implements. The wielder gains all the weapon's abilities, including damage add and other weapon abilities and a Short range. The type of damage inflicted depends on the Shoot power used; ignore the damage type the Blade does.

Wizard's Wrath

Limit Break

You can blast everyone in a globe with a diameter equal to your Mind in meters. Damage is Mind +2, or more if you are using an Implement. Make a separate attack roll against each target, including friends and bystanders. Wizard's Wrath does damage based on any Form you know and you can always choose to do Radiation damage.

Detect Magic

Arcane Calculations

Limit Break

You gain information about a person, place, or object through arcane means. This involves such methods as astrology, numerology, reading tea leaves, the I-ching and similar arcane methods of divination. This gives you answers to specific questions; the answer must be a few words or numbers. Range is not a factor. To gain information this way you make an opposed check against the targets' Recon. You gain valuable information based on the outcome of this roll; if the outcome matches the target's Mind you gain clear and important insights into the target's activities. On a failed roll, you learn obvious details and trivia; if the negative Outcome matches your Mind you learn misleading information or the target notices your spying.

Astral Sight

Basic Action

You shift your senses from the physical world to the astral, the world of spirit. Using astral senses, living creatures and power effects stand out clearly, while inanimate objects, especially industrially manufactured ones, are hard to discern. Objects with a strong empathic resonance are easy to see, while mass-produced objects who lack any psychic impressions appear fuzzy and ephemeral, with no discernible detail. You can find empathic traces of strongly emotional events by studying astral resonance.

You automatically spot active powers, including powers used as traps and creatures using powers to hide. In this way you automatically notice a creature that is sneaking and relying on concealment you can see through or using a power to conceal it. If a creature could sneak under the normal rules, without the help of a power, Astral Sight can still spot them, but gives no additional help. This works as a Scan stunt, except that it is bad at noticing very mundane things, as described above.

When using Astral Sight, you can see through smoke, fog, or darkness (even supernatural darkness), but not through solid objects. In a scene where have used astral sight, you are not considered blind in such conditions and can act normally. Creatures can still use such obscurement to sneak against you, but you can use astral sight again to spot them again.

Astral sight can find subtle clues left from powers or highly emotional events, as if using Search. This only tells you a power has been used, not what power or how it was used.

This is a meta-power that affects other powers. In some campaign worlds there is a strong Origin Divide among different origins. Check with your GM regarding your campaign. Origins that are opposed cannot cannot be modified by meta-powers; it is as if powers from the opposing origin was actually a schtick rather than a power. Astral sight won't automatically perceive powers or see through stealth powers against which it has an origin divide.

Calculate Location

Limit Break

You learn the physical location of an object or creature. You must have enough information about the target to describe it uniquely; if you have a general description you will find the nearest target that fits the description. This can be a name, number, birthdate, creation date, origin, or a physical description. You can use this to discern your own location if you are lost. It can also be used to analyze a teleport performed in the area in the last hour, which tells you what teleported where.

Dispel Magic

Analyze Magic

Basic Action

You can sense the presence and effects of powers at a distance, learning the form, skill, and power origin. Make a skill roll and multiply the result by 10; this is the range in meters. Normally, you detect the closest power effect, but by concentrating on a particular type (name, form, or general description) you can eliminate all others. This means you may have to use this power many times to sort through a complex scene.

You can analyze the properties of any power within reach, even if it is inside a container or otherwise separated from you. You learn what power it is, who used it, when, to what effect, and an approximate power level. Even powers that have ended leave a signature that can be analyzed, though the impressions fade; after the end of the scene, it is no longer possible to determine who used the power and its exact effect. The signature fades completely in a matter of days or weeks, stronger and more dramatic uses leaving stronger impressions.

This is a meta-power that affects other powers. In some campaign worlds there is a strong Origin Divide among different origins. Check with your GM regarding your campaign. Origins that are opposed cannot cannot be modified by meta-powers; it is as if powers from the opposing origin was actually a schtick rather than a power.

Anti-Magic Shell

Basic Action

You create an immobile sphere with a diameter equal to your Mind that inhibits powers. This circle lasts for the rest of the scene. Anyone inside the area suffers from power failure. Even Inherent powers fail. Existing power effects in the area are suspended and have no effect while the Anti-Magic Circle is active.

This is a meta-power that affects other powers. In some campaign worlds there is a strong Origin Divide among different origins. Check with your GM regarding your campaign. Origins that are opposed cannot cannot be modified by meta-powers; it is as if powers from the opposing origin was actually a schtick rather than a power.

Dispel Magic

Limit Break

Age of
Effect		 Minimum
Difficulty
Three days 12
One Month 14
One year 16
A decade 18
A century 20
A millennium 22
Ten millennia 24

You can end the effects of other powers. You can only dispel powers you know of (though a vague description, such as "whatever is making Bert turn green" is ok). You can try to dispel a single Finisher, Limit Break, or any power that has been in effect for a week or more, or you can try to dispel all powers except those mentioned above on one creature or in an area with a diameter equal to your Mind. When dispelling several powers at once, you can choose to ignore some of them as long as you know of each power you want to make an exception for.

A power that has been dispelled cannot be used again by that creature in this scene, and another creature that tries to use the same power in the same general area must match your Know with the stunt the power is used with, or it fails.

This will not negate a Curse, but will tell you how to defeat the curse if the roll is successful.

Inherent powers cannot be dispelled.

The difficulty is the skill of the most skilled creature involved in making the effect. Effects that have been around a long time are harder to dispel: see the table. Use the highest relevant difficulty.

This is a meta-power that affects other powers. In some campaign worlds there is a strong Origin Divide among different origins. Check with your GM regarding your campaign. Origins that are opposed cannot cannot be modified by meta-powers; it is as if powers from the opposing origin was actually a schtick rather than a power.

Form Studies

Limit Break

You temporarily gain the use of one Form. Select one form when you use this power; you gain the use of this form for the rest of the scene, or until you use this power again. You gain the cantrip the form offers.

This is mainly useful in combination with other Magic powers that have variable results depending on what forms you know, but also combines well with Spell Preparation.

Spell Parry

Trigger Action (Defense)

Whenever a power is used against a nearby ally, you can attempt to counter it. The difficulty of that power becomes your Know +3. If the target or ally is at range, calculate range penalties to the nearest of the two. You cannot use Spell Parry against an attacker with Hard Cover or doing a Melee action. This is a meta-power that affects other powers. In some campaign worlds there is a strong Origin Divide among different origins. Check with your GM regarding your campaign. Origins that are opposed cannot cannot be modified by meta-powers; it is as if powers from the opposing origin was actually a schtick rather than a power.

Spellcasting Lore

Basic Action

Select another power when you use Spellcasting Lore. Once, before the end of the round, when you use the selected power, you can base any roll or stunt using that power on your Know skill instead of whatever skill the power would normally be based on. Effectively you are spending extra time in order to substitute what skill is used.

This is a meta-power that affects other powers. In some campaign worlds there is a strong Origin Divide among different origins. Check with your GM regarding your campaign. Origins that are opposed cannot cannot be modified by meta-powers; it is as if powers from the opposing origin was actually a schtick rather than a power.

True Name Finisher

Limit Break

You can use a Finisher on any creature whose True Name you know. Make an opposed Know roll. If you fail, you can still try again later.

Wizard's Stance

Trigger Action (Combo)

When you use another power that is a Basic Action, Limit Break, or Trigger Action (Defense), you can use this power to activate two stances that you know. This is an exception to the rule that trigger actions cannot trigger other trigger actions.

This is a meta-power that affects other powers. In some campaign worlds there is a strong Origin Divide among different origins. Check with your GM regarding your campaign. Origins that are opposed cannot cannot be modified by meta-powers; it is as if powers from the opposing origin was actually a schtick rather than a power.

Emote Magic

Charm Spell

Basic Action

You are supernaturally enchanting to certain creatures. You master whatever form of communication they use, even if you are normally unable to communicate with them at all.

Enchanting someone requires an opposed Charm roll. On an Outcome equal to the target's Mind, the target falls for your enchantment. On a lesser success you gain an advantage. A failed check interrupts the process, forcing you to look for a new opportunity at a later time.

Once someone has been enchanted, they will willingly follow and help you out. They seek to avoid conflict with their old allies, but if push comes to shove you cannot guarantee how they will react; they will try to avoid seeing you harmed, but they might make you a captive to save you later or even to have you at their mercy, or they might decide to throw in their lot with you and abandon their former allies. Someone who you have enchanted expects trust and help from you, but the enchantment breaks automatically only in the most blatant cases of maltreatment. If you are callous and disregard their interests they can make opposed Charm rolls against you to see through the enchantment. The same applies if a friend points out they have been charmed, but in this case it is an opposed roll against the friend's Charm skill and takes a Limit Break to do.

Enchantment normally wears off in about a weeks time, but can be maintained through continuous use of the power; it will last indefinitely if reapplied once per day. Even after the power ends you leave your targets with fond memories of you unless you mistreated them. Someone who realizes they have been enchanted and used can become vindictive or even downright hostile, but this is not the normal result.

What creatures you can use this against depends on what Forms you know, read on the Creatures and Forms table.

Magic Inspiration

Trigger Action

You inspire others to be inspired, informed, and enlightened. Whenever you or someone within Charm meters fails an action based on these virtues, you can take a trigger action to give him an immediate reroll. If the original roll was Confident or Stymied it remains so. This applies to most uses of Know, and to other skills and rolls as determined my the GM.

Magical Gift

Limit Break

Each time you use Magical Gift, select one power that usually only affects yourself. Then select a number of creatures equal to your Mind attribute, who must all be within Mind meters. For the rest of the scene, all these creatures can use this power just as if they had it themselves. You can only maintain one power at a time using Magical Gift, but you can learn Magical Gift multiple times to be able to maintain several different powers. Each is still a Limit Break to activate.

Imbue Magic

Enchant Attack

Stance (Damage Boost)

You can imbue a Melee or Shoot attack with an additional type of damage. The damage of the attack increases by +2. Against a target that has different soak values against the two types of damage, use the lesser soak value but decrease the damage by 2.

Enchant Attack does damage based on any Form you know. Regardless of what forms you know you can always choose to do additional damage of the same type the weapon already does.

Mage Strike

Inherent

You can make melee attacks that do Body +4 damage. The damage type is based on any Form you know; you can always choose to do Radiation damage.

Mage Touch

Stance (Damage Boost)

You can imbue a Melee or Shoot attack with an additional type of damage. The damage of the attack increases by +2. Against a target that has different soak values against the two types of damage, use the lesser soak value but decrease the damage by 2. Your damage value is not increased. The damage type is based on any Form you know; you can always choose to do Radiation damage.

Soul of Magic

Inherent

You can use your body to do melee attacks that do Mind +2 damage, or more if you are using an Implement to improve damage.. The damage type is based on any Form you know; you can always choose to do Radiation damage.

Move Magic

Arcane Arena

Limit Break

You transport yourself, your allies, a target and the target's immediate allies into an arcane reflection of the physical world. This cannot be more creatures than your Ride roll; if more creatures than that would be affected, the power fails. You make a Ride roll to see how many targets you can affect, the power fails if more creatures than that would be moved.

The place you appear at is the same as the physical world in all respects, except that only creatures affected by this power are there and that it appears more vivid and colorful, less drab and worn. Any damage done to objects or structures in the area do not translate to the real world.

The power lasts for one scene, until the two sides lose contact, until you choose to end it (a Basic Action), or until dispelled or broken with an appropriate Setback scored on you. When the power ends, all targets return to the normal world in their current location in the arcane arena.

Calculate Location

Limit Break

You learn the physical location of an object or creature. You must have enough information about the target to describe it uniquely; if you have a general description you will find the nearest target that fits the description. This can include name, number, origin, dat of origin, or a physical description. You can use this to discern your own location if you are lost. It can also be used to analyze a teleport performed in the area in the last hour, which tells you what teleported where.

Contagion

Limit Break

In order to use this power, you must possess a part of the target's body (hair, blood, nail clippings, or a body part) or an item very dear to the target. You use contagion along with some other power that is a Basic Action, and this power will affect the target as if you were touching, regardless of range. The target feels a premonition of the incoming power, and cannot be surprised.

Shapeshift Magic

Golem

Inherent

A golem is a magical construct with a vulnerability to a specific Form. Because of this connection, it is immune to all powers of all other forms. A golem can have Limitations that makes it vulnerable to other powers. A golem is a slave under the will of its creator. Certain golems have limitation that might break this control, making the golem lose all control and go wild. A golem is also Dumb.

Morphism

Limit Break

You assume the form of another creature decided when you gain the power. You must have created a variant form for yourself using your normal points and limits. If you do not have such a creature description ready, you cannot use this power. This creature cannot have higher value in any particular skill than you do. You can add powers of the same form the creature has and keep schticks and powers you already have, but you cannot otherwise add powers or schticks. This power cannot be used to imitate a specific individual; you remain yourself in mannerisms and detail while changing race, species, and creature type.

You remain in this form for a scene or until you fall asleep or unconscious or will yourself back to your normal form (a Basic Action). You can learn this power several times to learn to transform into several different creatures.

The forms you can assume are limited by the forms you know.

Polymorphism

Limit Break

This is an ancillary power to Morphism. Each time you use Polymorphism, you can change what creature you change into using Morphism. If you have Morphism several times, only one of your available forms can change each time you use Polymorphism.

Summon Magic

Summoning Spell

Basic Action

You can seize a creature whose True Name you know through time and space and bring it into your presence. The creature must be in another dimension or juncture, and not currently summoned, imprisoned or otherwise occupied. You can summon one Henchman or a number of Minions of the same type equal to your Mind. It takes an Impress roll against the creature's Dodge or Impress to summon. The creature immediately makes an initiative check to see when it will next act, but this cannot be earlier than the shot in which it is summoned. In future rounds, the creature has its own initiative score. You can also use this power again on a creature (or group of unnamed creatures) you have summoned along with an Impress roll against the creature's Dodge or Impress, in order to extend your control over it until the end of the following round. During combat, you must succeed at this action each round or the creature will break free, but you can try repeatedly in each round. Out of combat, you only need to roll every scene, but any failed roll means you lose control of the creature. While a creature is under your control, you can order it to return to its home plane at any time. A creature that breaks free of control can choose to return on its own. Summoned creatures can also be Dispelled. You can also use this power to take control of a summoned creature did not summon yourself whose True Name you know. This requires an Impress roll against the creature's Dodge or Impress or against its summoner's Impress if he is present.

A creature cannot be ordered to perform deeds alien to its nature; an air elemental cannot be summoned into solid earth or water, an Epitome cannot act against its spiritual inclination, and so on. Summoned creatures can perceive your aura as you summon them. Their initial attitude depends on your reputation among this kind of creature and whether you have an allegiance or pact with them. In case of extreme misalignment, you may not even be able to summon them at all.

When you lose control of a summoned creature it usually returns home shortly; the creature knows anyone who knows its true name can seize control of it as noted above. But the creature might choose to remain on your plane indefinitely to act out its inclination. In order to acquire lengthy services you must bargain with the creature, or use a Power Experiment or other means to acquire its services. If you bargain a creature into a formal pact, it is considered controlled for as long as the conditions of the pact are met and cannot break the contract or return to its home until the pact expires.

What creatures you can use this against depends on what Forms you know, read on the Creatures and Forms table.

Tap The Gifted

Finisher

The gifted are founts of power that can be tapped by unscrupulous magic.

Make an opposed Impress roll against a Gifted creature. This is a ranged attack.

On a success you gain one Fortune point and inflict a Damage Setback on the Gifted creature.

If your Impress scores an outcome matching the Gifted creature's Mind you instead gain two Fortune and the Gifted creature takes a Mortal Wound.

In order to gain any Fortune points, the creature must have Fortune points, even it they are currently spent. Otherwise you still have the harmful effects on the target but you do not gain any Fortune points. If you gain Fortune in excess of your Mind this way you must spend any excess points by the end of the scene, or they are lost.

True Naming Spell

Finisher

You learn the True Name of the defeated or helpless creature.

Transmute Magic

Animate Object

Basic Action

Animate an object you can see up to Create meters away and weighting no more than Mind kilos. The object becomes an Unnamed Character with the object's Body and Toughness and a score equal to your Mind in all other attributes. It uses your skills. It takes no actions on its own, you must use a Basic Action in order to give the animated item a Basic Action. It otherwise works as if you were holding the object. If the object takes a Hit the animating force is defeated and the effect ends. If the object is attended, it takes a Create roll against the holders Dodge to animate it. On a success the holder of the object must either let go of it or loose three shots which makes the animation fail; on an Outcome matching its Reflexes it suffers both results.

Elixir

Limit Break

You prepare an elixir imbuing the drinker with any one power whose Form you know. You do not need to know the specific power.

Anyone can drink such an elixir to gain a single use of the power. Actually using the power takes its normal action type. Using the elixir itself takes no extra time, it is a part of the use of the power. If the power affects only the drinker, he can continue to use it up for the current scene (or as long as it makes sense) If the power is a Limit Break that affects only the drinker, he need not be Focused to use the elixir, but can only use it once.

You can only use this power once per session. At the end of a session, you can choose to stop powering any of your elixirs still in existence. If you don't, you can't replace that elixir this session, the existing elixir counts as the once per session use. An elixir you have stopped powering ends unless it has become a part of another creature's Gadget Pool or similar ability.

This power can be taken several times; each time lets you prepare one additional elixir each session.

This is a meta-power that affects other powers. In some campaign worlds there is a strong Origin Divide among different origins. Check with your GM regarding your campaign. Origins that are opposed cannot cannot be modified by meta-powers; it is as if powers from the opposing origin was actually a schtick rather than a power.

Extend Duration

Limit Break

You can extend the duration of any one lasting power that is already in effect to last a whole session. Does not apply to stances nor to instant effects with no duration. The power can still be dispelled or end in some other way that does not involve its duration running out.

Homunculus

Focus

You have a companion, a Golem Henchman Extra with 2/3 of your points who looks out for your interest and will accompany you on adventures. Most homunculi appear as small humanoids; fey, angels, or devils. This is not an absolute rule; homunculi can have any appearance.

Your homunculus is not entirely a separate creature; it is formed out of your magical essence. This means that the two of you are always in telepathic contact. Up to this point the power is Inherent. You can re-absorb this essence when touching the homunculus to Focus. This destroys the homonoculus. At the beginning of each session, your homunculus re-forms beside you or in a spot you assigned it to guard, regardless of where it were earlier, even if it was dead or at the other end of the universe.

Runetrap

Limit Break

You write a line of script or runes on an object and select a Finisher you can use. This writing is obvious but innocuous; it can be hidden as decoration or as a part of a written text. You also set a simple condition when the runes will trigger, such as "when it changes ownership for the third time", "when it comes into the possession of Fred Fod", or "on April 1st". A runetrapped object must be accepted or picked up; you cannot plant it on somebody, but anyone holding or using the object is considered to have accepted it. When triggered, the finisher affects the current holder or owner of the object. If no-one has accepted the object, the creator is considered the owner.

The runetrap is a Trap and can be recognized for what it is with an Examination. If it is recognized, it can be disarmed or dispelled normally. If the object is destroyed the trap triggers.

Spell Preparation

Limit Break

Use Spell Preparation to prepare any one power you do not know, but whose Form you do know. After using this power you temporarily know and can now use the prepared power. Once you use the power, Spell preparation ends at the end of the next round. If the power is a stance or inherent, you can continue to keep it up for one scene (or as long as it makes sense). If you prepare a new power, you lose the previously prepared one. This power can be taken several times; each time lets you prepare one additional power or one additional use for a power you have already prepared. Unless there is a plot reason not to, you can start each session with a power already prepared for use.

This is a meta-power that affects other powers. In some campaign worlds there is a strong Origin Divide among different origins. Check with your GM regarding your campaign. Origins that are opposed cannot cannot be modified by meta-powers; it is as if powers from the opposing origin was actually a schtick rather than a power.

Spirit Prison

Limit Break

This power creates an object that can act as a prison for a supernatural creature (Fairies, Epitomes, Gifted, and Strange), making the creature harmless. In order to put a creature into a spirit prison, you use a Summon power and order it into the prison. Creatures can also be fooled or intimidated into a Spirit Prison. The creature does not need to breathe, eat, or drink while imprisoned, nor does it age. It can use its powers, but only on voluntary recipients who touch the prison; an unwilling target is automatically immune. It cannot use powers on itself. It is considered to be on a different plane for the purpose of Summon powers, but can only be summoned by a creature touching the Spirit Prison. A Spirit Prison is an object with mystic symbols, selected for small size and durability. Metal tokens are common. Powerful creatures require larger or more distinguished objects. Objects used as prisons often have a sealed opening or other mechanism that can be opened and sealed again to allow temporarily undoing the prison to speak to the spirit, but this practice is not universal. Spirit Prison can be broken by destroying the object, summoning the creature and then ordering it to be free, or broken like a Curse.

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