Sorcery: Symbol Magic

Sorcery: Symbol Magic

Symbol magic is a very interesting concept introduced in GURPS Magic and expanded in GURPS Thaumatology. Still, it does not see much use, especially in settings with other magic systems. I’ve been looking for an elegant way to convert it into a Sorcery variant and finally found inspiration in Pyramid #3-105 (“Gourmet Alchemy” by Michael Kreuter).

There are four ways to cast symbol spells. The first way is Parchments. The caster writes down magical symbols on a piece of parchment with two or more successful Symbol Drawing rolls and then can take out the parchment at any time and activate it by pouring energy into it. It takes 10 minutes to create a parchment and appropriate tools (ink pen, charcoal, quill, etc.) For each use of each symbol, the caster rolls against the lower of Symbol Drawing and his skill with that symbol to see if he draws or places it successfully. Doubling the time required gives +1, while halving it gives -2; alternatively, the GM can use Time Spent (p. B346). Using materials that aren’t traditional for the symbol set may give -1 or worse.

To activate the parchment, the caster must hold it in hand and make another roll against the lowest of Symbol Drawing and his skill with any of the symbols involved. He cannot activate the parchment if it includes any symbols he doesn’t know. Activation takes a second per symbol involved (and can be interrupted). Activation costs 2 FP by default.

The eventual user must have a good idea of how the parchment works and what it does. If he created it, then this is automatic. Anyone else must study it first, taking 10 minutes per symbol and making a Symbol Drawing roll at -1 per symbol after the first (e.g., -2 for a three-symbol parchment). The parchment can be given to another character to activate. If the person activating the parchment did not create the parchment, he takes a -4 penalty on activation rolls.

A person can only have one parchment ready for use at any given time, plus one more per two skill levels by which his Symbol Drawing skill exceeds IQ: one at skill levels up to IQ+1, two at IQ+2 or IQ+3, three at IQ+4 or IQ+5, and so on. A new creation or study displaces the oldest – and when he uses one, he must create or study a new parchment if he wishes to replace it. Even if it’s one that he made previously, he must study it anew.

New Meta-Enhancement: Parchment

All Parchments are built with this set of common enhancements and limitations.

Parchment: Cosmic, Does not become inert, +100%; Costs 2 FP, -10%; Gadget, Breakable, 2 DR, SM-7, Can Be Stolen, -45%; Delay, Triggered, +50%; Preparation Required, Per Use, 10 minutes, -15%; Requires Three Symbol Drawing Rolls, -30%; Takes Extra Time 1, -10%; Trigger, Writing Implements, -10%. (+30%)

For this system variant, we will disregard finger tracing and token usage, but we will include Runes – something between one-off enchantments and finger tracing. These are inscribed upon a surface and are activated when a certain condition is met. The condition depends on the spell. Two identical spells with different triggering conditions are separate. In most aspects this is an immobile self-activating parchment. It is drawn and activated in the same way.

New Meta-Enhancement: Rune

All Runes are built with this set of common enhancements and limitations.

Rune: Cosmic, Does not become inert, +100%; Costs 2 FP, -10%; Delay, Triggered, +50%; Melee Attack, Reach C, Cannot Parry, -35%; Preparation Required, Per Use, 10 minutes, -15%; Requires Three Symbol Drawing Rolls, -30%; Trigger, Writing Implements, -10%. (+50%)

A person can only have one rune active for use at any given time, plus one more per two skill levels by which his Symbol Drawing skill exceeds IQ: one at skill levels up to IQ+1, two at IQ+2 or IQ+3, three at IQ+4 or IQ+5, and so on. A new creation displaces the oldest. A person can create a permanent rune that reactivates itself in 1 hour after being triggered by spending 1 character point in addition to normal requirements. A rune must be at least 6 inches in diameter.

For hardcore improvisation, symbol casters use Symbol Drawing instead of Thaumatology. Rule of 16 is imposed on hardcore improvisation rolls – 16 is always a failure, while 17 and 18 are always critical failures regardless of the actual skill.

Since all runes and parchments are physical advantages, we will have to dissect the Sorcerous Empowerment advantage and replace Physical, +100% with Physical, +50% and Limited, Advantages Only, -10% with Limited, Advantages with runic enhancements only, -20%, even though the book warns us not to do so.

Sorcerous Empowerment (Symbol) will costs 14 points for level 1 + 7 points per additional level.

SPELLS

                The following example spells use symbols and lexicons described in the Sample Symbol Lexicons post. The lexicons can be used as is, ignoring the base cost column.

Und-Rask

Bolster Undead

Keywords: Buff, Parchment

Full Cost: 22 points for level 1 + 5 points/additional level.

Casting Roll: Empower Undead. Use Innate Attack (Gaze) to aim.

Range: 100 yards.

Duration: 30 minutes.

This combination of symbols makes the subject undead creature tougher, granting it DR with Tough Skin limitation equal to twice the level of this spell.

Statistics: Affliction 1 (HT; Accessibility, Only undead, -30%; Advantage, Bolster Undead 1, +50%; Extended Duration, 10x, +40%; Fixed Duration, +0%; Increased 1/2D, 10x, +15%; Magical, -10%; No Signature, +20%; Parchment, +30%) [22]. Notes: Each level of “Bolster Undead” is Damage Resistance 2 (Magical, -10%; Tough Skin, -40%) [5]. Additional levels add more levels of Bolster Undead to the Advantage enhancement [+5].

Strengthen Will

Keywords: Buff, Parchment.

Full Cost: 21 points for level 1 + 5 points/additional level.

Casting Roll: Protect Wisdom. Use Innate Attack (Gaze) to aim.

Range: 100 yards.

Duration: 3 minutes.

You increase the target’s Will by 1 per level of this spell for 3 minutes.

Statistics: Affliction 1 (HT; Advantage, Strengthen Will, +50%; Fixed Duration, +0%; Increased 1/2D, 10x, +15%; Magical, -10%; No Signature, +20%; Parchment, +30%) [21]. Notes: Additional levels add further Strengthen Will to the Advantage enhancement (+50%) [+5]. Notes: Each level of “Strengthen Will” is Will 1 (Magical, -10%) [5].

Qualithar

Explosive Runes

Keywords: Area (Fixed), Rune.

Full Cost: 14 points/level.

Casting Roll: Create Energy.

Range: Touch.

Duration: Permanent or until discharged.

You draw mystical exploding runes on a hard surface. When read by anyone you did not specify during casting, the runes explode. Everyone within four yards of the impact point takes dice of crushing damage equal to your level of this spell. This force damages insubstantial beings as well as substantial ones. The GM must determine what the maximum level available in the campaign is.

Statistics: Crushing Attack (Affects Insubstantial, +20%; Area Effect, 4 yards, +100%; Magical, -10%; Rune, +50%; Selective Effect, +20%) [14/level].

Teleportation Rune

Keywords: Resisted (Will), Rune.

Full Cost: 168 points.

Casting Roll: Shape Space. IQ to teleport. Special casting cost.

Range: Unlimited.

Duration: Instantaneous.

If the subject fails to resist when stepping on this rune, make an immediate roll against the lowest skill used to draw this rune to teleport the subject as if using the Warp advantage (p. B97). Use the roll in place of IQ. The rune sends the subject and his gear up to his Extra-Heavy encumbrance to a place specified when the rune was drawn.

Statistics: Affliction 1 (Will; Advantage, Teleportation Rune, +1,500%; Based on Will, +20%; Magical, -10%; No Signature, +20%; Rune, +50%) [168]. Notes: “Teleportation Rune” is Warp (Anchored, -50%; Extra Carrying Capacity, Extra-Heavy, +50%; Reliable +10, +50%) [150]. The +10 for Reliable cancels the -10 for no preparation.

Thuli-Vantu

Haste

Keywords: Buff, Parchment.

Full Cost: 34 points for level 1 + 18 points/additional level.

Casting Roll: Move Body. Use Innate Attack (Gaze) to aim.

Range: 100 yards.

Duration: 3 minutes.

You increase the target’s Basic Speed by 1.00, which will also increase the target’s Basic Move and Dodge scores by the same amount.

Statistics: Affliction 1 (HT; Advantage, Haste, +180%; Fixed Duration, +0%; Increased 1/2D, 10x, +15%; Magical, -10%; No Signature, +20%; Parchment, +30%) [34]. Notes: Additional levels add further Haste to the Advantage enhancement (+90%) [+18]. Notes: Each level of “Haste” is Basic Speed 1.00 (Magical, -10%) [18].

Turn Spirit

Keywords: Resisted (Will), Rune.

Full Cost: 35 points.

Casting Roll: Control Spirit.

Range: Unlimited.

Duration: 3 minutes.

When a spirit sees this rune, he becomes unwilling to enter the 10-yard area around it and retreat, if he is already in this area.

Statistics: Affliction 1 (Will; Accessibility, Only spirits, -40%; Based on Will, +20%; Disadvantage, Dread (10 yards), +57%; Fixed Duration, +0%; Magical, -10%; Malediction 2, +150%; No Signature, +20%; Rune, +50%) [35].