Editing Samsara:Ultramundane abilities (section)

===The Master of Magic (Effect-based Abilties===
This system is used to model a metaphysic where wizards spend years studying and mastering long list of spells.  They have hundreds at their fingertips which they could use at any moment.  Think Zothique or Gondwane.  Rather than have each spell be an ability, you build effects and then describe them however you want to.

Effects-based powers focus on the actor’s intent.  The means of carrying them out (that is, the in-game explanation of what is happening) is left to the player to describe.  This system of abilities is thus very consonant with SAMSARA as a whole.  

To use effects-based abilities, you need a list of possible effects, such this:

 
*Attack
*Protect
*Summon
*Transform
*Move
*Perceive
 
Each of these is available as an ability.  Attack +2 and Move +4.  Then you need a way to build each effect.  Thus:

<pre>Base Attack Spell: Has a range of 5 feet, affects 1 target, and is
instantaneous.  Checks delivered to the target are based off of the 
caster’s roll with an effect rating of 1.  The base Contest Rating is +5.

Modifiers: 	
*Effect rating +1 for each +2 to Contest rating
*Range of 5 additional feet for each +1 to Contest rating
*Affects 1 extra target for each +3 to Contest rating
*Affects all targets in 3 foot square area for +5 to Contest rating (i.e. the opponent’s Speed modifiers don’t apply)
*Lasts 1 extra turn for each +3 to Contest rating</pre>

Using this, you could create a spell called “Conjure Throwing Knife”.  It has a range of 10 feet (+1) and everything else is base.  This is a quick and easy spell—the Contest Rating is +6, with the opponent’s STA + QWK modifying the Contest rating.  It’s not at all a flashy spell; in fact, it might not even seem to be magic since you could have been hiding the knife in your sleeve.  Someone with very minor magic abilities could cast this without too much trouble.  Some who is a master could cast this in his sleep and he could pull scores of these things out of thin air, which would be a bit unnerving to his opponents.

You could also create a spell called “Flowering Razor Blossom”.  This shoots ofo a small spark which explodes into a whirling cloud of razor blades, like deadly fireworks.  It has an effect rating of 3 (+4 to the Contest rating), a range of 30 feet (+5), affects everyone in an area of nine square feet (+10), and lasts for 3 turns (+6).  This is a roiling mass of pain and a very hard spell to cast.  The Contest rating is +30, which would require some serious ability.

An idea to consider is whether the magician can change his method of casting to suit his needs.  What if he takes extra time?  That might reduce the Contest rating.  What if he has various magical doo-dads, like a wand of oak tipped with a ruby or powdered demon hide?  Maybe they help too.   Or is the casting fixed: this is how it is done and that’s all there is to it.			

Effects-based abilities can be used to model all variety of abilities: from a magician with access to myriads of spells; to a wielder of some kind of universal, mystic force; to someone able to shape reality to his will.  It will allow the character a great deal of flexibility, since he can do pretty much anything in an effect that he knows.