Last Emperor: Magic
This article describes the conversion for the Last Emperor, a D20 Dragonstar campaign to the Storytelling system, of the Magic system.
Spell Characteristics
The Mage system uses several factors to describe their magic. The D20 spells all fall into the same category for some of these factors. All D20 spells are rotes, and none of the casters can use improvisational magic. Almost all spells are vulgar, and casting vulgar magic does not produce Paradox. Almost all spells are sense range (not sympathetic) only and can not have their range, duration, or area altered at casting time. There are meta-magic merits which allow altering the rotes.
Divine vs. Arcane magic
D20 makes the distinction between Divine magic, which is granted through the power of a diety the character worships, and Arcane magic, which is powered through the caster's own power. From a game mechanics perspective these two are very similar and are treated largely the same way here.
Schools of Magic
| School of Magic | Ruling Arcana |
Inferior Arcana |
|---|---|---|
| Abjuration | Space / Fate | Life |
| Conjuration | Space / Spirit | Forces |
| Diviniation | Time / Fate | Mind |
| Enchantment | Mind / Life | Matter |
| Evocation | Forces / Death | Spirit |
| Illusion | Mind / Prime | Space |
| Necromancy | Death / Sprit | Time |
| Transmutation | Matter / Life | Death |
Like the Mage mystic orders, D20 has a set of 8 schools of magic. By selecting a speciality school of magic, the caster gets access to two ruling arcana (which are then cheaper to buy more dots in) and is limited by one Inferior arcana (which now costs more to buy dots in, and is limited in how many dots they can purchase). A mage is not required to have a school of magic, all their arcana are common ones.
Wizard vs. Sorcerer
In D20 a wizard know a great many spells, but can cast only a limited selection of them per day, and the selection is set at the beginning of the day. A Sorcerer knows a smaller selection of spells but can cast them with no prior selection process. Mage creates magic users who are most like Sorcerers, knowing a list of rotes and can cast them without having to prepare a fixed list.
Wizards use Intelligence as their spell casting attribute (see below), whereas Sorcerers use Presence for theirs.
Divine Magic
To be a divine caster you must select one of the following {table missing} gods, which grants two ruling arcana and one inferior arcana. Your spell casting attribute is Resolve
Mage game mechanics
Gnosis
Gnosis is the basic magic skill, a measure of understanding and connection to the realm of magic. All creatures have a Gnosis of 1, all the creatures in the world have some connection to the magic. The Arcana Mastery table (pg 76 Mage) has been changed to the following:
| Arcana | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gnosis | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | Mana Max |
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 9 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
Casting Spells
Casting spells in D20 is automatic, with no chance of failure, but not so in Mage. The caster must roll a spell check (Arcanum + Gnosis + Attribute) and get one or more successes, adding willpower dice if desired. The Arcanum is the dots in the primary arcanum for the spell, and the Attribute is determined by the type of caster (Arcane Wizard, Arcane Sorcerer or Divine).
Many spells can be resisted by use of a Fortitude save (Staminia + Resolve), Reflex Save (Dexterity + Wits) or Will save (Composure + Resolve). Every success on the save reduces the number of successes (and effects) of the spell.
Some creatures (and items) grant magic resistance, which grant a set of automatic save successes, reducing or eliminating the effects of a spell or magical effect.
Mana
Mana is the power of magic, a personal reserver of power to influence the world around them. Many rotes require one or more mana to cast. Casters may also spend mana to imcrease damage on a spell (Bashing -> Lethal -> Aggrivated).