Yagura:SRD:Spellcasting Strain
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Spellcasting Strain
Every character with magical ability suffers some level of strain when casting spells. Training and experience allow a character to withstand this strain without any negative effects, to a point. Therefore this strain threshold is a measure of the spellcasting ability available to a character.mana-based casting a real and balanced option.
Strain Tolerance
Your strain tolerance is a number representing the total amount of strain you can accumulate before suffering negative effects. Your strain tolerance is determined by your class, but not by your level or ability scores.
Casting a Spell
First you must select a spell to cast, as normal. If you prepare your spells you may only cast spells which you have prepared. Casting a prepared spell does not make the spell unprepared. If you cast spontaneously you may cast any spell that you know.
When you cast a spell, you have to channel a portion of the magic through your own body. This is taxing both physically and mentally, and is the basic limiting factor that determines how many spells you can cast without resting. Every spell has a strain cost, which depends on the level of the spell and your caster level, as shown on the tables below. At high class levels, some spells have no strain cost, which one would expect - a powerful spellcaster can cast basic spells all day long.
Whenever you cast a spell, you suffer strain equal to the spell's strain cost. As you cast more spells, the strain accumulates. As long your total accumulated strain is lower than your strain tolerance, you suffer no ill effect. Continuing to cast spells once your strain is over your tolerance, however, is extremely taxing on your body and mind.
As soon as your total strain exceeds your tolerance, you become fatigued (even if you are normally immune to this condition; this is fatigue of the mind, not the body). If while fatigued you wish to cast another spell, you must first make a Fortitude save with a DC equal to (20 + the spell's level + the amount of strain you have over your tolerance). If the save is successful, you cast the spell as normal. If the save is failed, the spell fizzles with no effect and you become exhausted (even if you are normally immune to this condition). While exhausted you may not cast any spells. You cease to be exhausted after an hour of complete rest.
Recovering Strain
Strain is lost at a rate of 1 strain every 15 minutes, regardless of your activity level. Fatigued due to excess strain goes away as soon as your total strain is no longer over your tolerance. However, you do not lose strain while exhausted.
Meditative rest or sleep allows you to lose strain at double the rate.
