Does GURPS do Spontaneous Spells?

[sungnif]

The title says it all, really. Do any of the GURPS books have a system for casting Spontaneous spells/powers/psi/whatever?

Spontaneous meaning the player defines the effects of the spell, as they cast it.

[simply Nathan]

Syntactic Magic in GURPS Magic.

[Mailanka]

Yes.

Your best guide for that is GURPS Thaumatology, though GURPS Powers has some guidelines too, especially for other sorts of powers, or advantage-based magic.

[Nereidalbel]

There's also Cosmic Modular Ability, where you pay a rather large premium, and then pretty much make up whatever you want within your points limit in the Modular Ability.

[Mailanka]

You can also use Wild Talent, which would basically give you 1 free "Whatever you want!" spell out of GURPS Magic per day per level.

[sungnif]

Thanks guys :)

[Anaraxes]

Six posts, and no one mentioned Ritual Path Magic yet?

That's primarily a ritual system, with combat spells pre-prepared, but it is possible to cast off-the-cuff, and all of the spells have effects defined by the caster when they cast. There's a system for calculating energy costs based on a set of Paths (body, energy, etc) involved in the spell.

[sungnif]

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

Six posts, and no one mentioned Ritual Path Magic yet?

That's primarily a ritual system, with combat spells pre-prepared, but it is possible to cast off-the-cuff, and all of the spells have effects defined by the caster when they cast. There's a system for calculating energy costs based on a set of Paths (body, energy, etc) involved in the spell.

Firstly, seven posts, and no one's mentioned where I'd find Ritual Path Magic Yet? :p

Uhm.. To get a little bit more specific, I'm looking around for ways to emulate Warp Powers from Warhammer 40,000. Which means, ideally:

• Slow ritualistic sorcery to cast very specific spells with thematic spell components and "the names of things".
• Fast ritualistic miracles to invoke semi-spontaneous protections & boons, with little more than thinks like holy symbols and chanting as components.
• Fast spontaneous psi-powers with no material components.

So if you guys have specific advice on those three things, I'd very much appreciate it. So far I've only had a chance to look up Syntactic Magic, which kind of reminds me of a light weight Ars Magica and isn't necessarily a bad fit for #3, at least not if I change the syntax stuff to be a purely mechanical consideration.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by sungnif

Firstly, seven posts, and no one's mentioned where I'd find Ritual Path Magic Yet? :p

GURPS Ritual Path Magic, of course :) ( which is type 1 on your list, and type 2 with the right advantages )

[DangerousThing]

I use a syntactic realm magic that was inspired by RPM.

I think that something from that vein should be able to handle all your requirements.