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Old 06-02-2021, 04:46 AM   #1
Prince Charon
 
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Default [Thaumatology] Verbal Path Magic

This is sort of like a reversed Ritual Path Magic system, in that RPM is an Energy Accumulating Path/Book system that uses a version of the Nouns from Noun-Verb Magic as Paths, and uses the Verbs as what you do with the Path, while this is an Effect Shaping Path/Book system which uses the Verbs as Paths, and the Nouns to describe what is being affected by them. The idea is a bit inspired by the way the Schools of Magic in a well-known fantasy game are mostly Verb-like in this context.

Path of Communication
Path of Control
Path of Creation
Path of Destruction
Path of Motion
Path of Protection
Path of Sensing
Path of Strengthening
Path of Transformation
Path of Weakening

Binding is part of Control, Healing is part of Strengthening, and Summoning is part of Communication. Bestowing a Bonus is part of Strengthening and Bestowing a Penalty is part of Weakening. Adding an advantage would normally fall under Strengthening, but if it's different enough (in the GM's opinion) from what the subject already has, it could fall under Creation or Transformation. Likewise, adding a disadvantage or removing an advantage would mostly fall under Weakening, but could also be covered by Transformation, Destruction, or possibly even Creation. Where the ritual could fall under multiple Paths and none is obviously the best fit, use the one which the caster has the highest skill in. (GMs may wish to change which Verbs have a Path, and/or the number of Paths, of course, or alter the Nouns, below.)


The penalty of the ritual is determined by what is being affected (the Noun or Nouns), as well as duration, and intensity (how much damage is done, how high the DR or IT is, how much mass is being moved, et cetra). The Size and Speed/Range Table helps, here, but the distance to the target of the ritual is either irrelevant, or uses the Long-Distance modifiers (Basic Set p241).

Nouns:

Air -2
Animal -2
Body -3
Earth -2
Fire -2
Food -1
Image -2
Light -2
Magic -3
Mind -3
Nothingness -4
Plant -1
Sound -1
Spirit -3
Water -2

There should be more here, but this is just a first draft to get the concept written up and ask questions. For example, how long does a ritual take for a non-Adept? Ten minutes modified by various factors, maybe (e.g. the longer the ritual, the lower the final penalty)? Should thirty minutes be the base time?

What else am I missing?
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