Mastering Magic

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Every Tuesday until the book's release, we are going to be examining the new rules and options you will find in Ultimate Magic. This week we are exploring one of my favorite chapters of the book, Mastering Magic.

The goal of this chapter is to give players and GMs a bunch of tools for expanding the role of magic in their game, from rules on building and expanding constructs to a bunch of new animal companions. It includes a treatise on designing spells and rules for conducting duels between spellcasters. While most of these will not come up in your everyday play experience, when the time is right, having a well-explained system for binding outsiders could become the central focus for an entire adventure. One of the new systems we added is called Spellblights. Similar to a curse, a spellblight is an affliction that can be contracted by a spellcaster upon casting a spell in an area of spellblight or as a product of bestow curse or similar magic. Here is just one of the possible spellblights you might contract.

Hemoculysis: A spellcaster with hemoculysis bleeds from her eyes whenever she casts a spell. The volume and duration of this flow depends on the level of the spell, lasting 1 round per level of the spell. While bleeding from the eyes, the spellcaster is considered dazzled and takes 1 point of bleed damage. Casting additional spells while the eyes are already bleeding resets the duration of existing hemoculysis by the spell level, provided it's greater than the current duration. The sight of the spellcaster's eyes bleeding is horrifying, and she gains a +2 circumstance bonus on Intimidate checks and a –4 penalty on Bluff and Diplomacy checks for the duration of the bleeding.

As you can see, a spellblight is not something you generally want to contract. This chapter contains four pages filled with new familiars, including their stat blocks. Take a look at this list.

FamiliarSpecial Ability
Blue-Ringed OctopusMaster gains a +3 bonus on Swim checks
Donkey RatMaster gains a +2 bonus on Fortitude saves
FoxMaster gains a +2 bonus on Reflex saves
GoatMaster gains a +3 bonus on Survival checks
Greensting Scorpion Master gains a +2 bonus on initiative checks
HedgehogMaster gains a +2 bonus on Will saves
House CentipedeMaster gains a +3 bonus on Stealth checks
King CrabMaster gains a +2 bonus on CMB checks to start
and maintain a grapple
PigMaster gains a +3 bonus on Diplomacy checks
Scarlet SpiderMaster gains a +3 bonus on Climb checks
ThrushMaster gains a +3 bonus on Diplomacy checks
Turtle Master gains a +1 natural armor bonus to AC

There are some fun options in that list in terms of mechanics and concept. That said, one of my favorite parts of the chapter is the list of premade spellbooks, some of which feature preparation rituals, which are special effects a caster gains access to when he prepares spells from that spellbook. Take a look at the Book of the Grave.

Book of the Grave (Level 6 Necromancer)
This tome reeks of decomposing flesh or some even fouler stench. Grave mold clings to the worm-eaten cover, and dirt stains the pages. Some pages have been torn out.
Protection The edges of the first three pages are coated with nitharit poison (contact; save Fort DC 13; frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes; effect 1d3 Con damage; cure 1 save).
Opposition Schools Enchantment, transmutation
Value 780 gp (1,230 gp with preparation ritual)
Spells
3rd—blood biography, ray of exhaustion, vampiric touch, vitriol
2nd—command undead, create treasure map, ghoul touch, spectral hand, stone call, web
1st—burning hands, chill touch, disguise self, mage armor, protection from good, ray of enfeeblement, sculpt corpse, shield, true strike, ventriloquism
0—standard plus penumbra
Preparation Ritual
Breath of the Grave (Su) As a swift action, spend this boon's effect to breathe a 15-foot cone of rotting stench. Creatures within the cone must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + your highest caster level in a class that prepares spells) or be sickened for 1 round. This spends the boon. After this boon has been spent, you take a –4 penalty on Diplomacy and Stealth checks until you prepare spells again.

Well, that wraps up our preview for this week. Next week we will take on some feats.

Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer

More Paizo Blog.
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Prep Rituals sound really cool I like the idea of special spell books


nice preview, can't wait for next week though.

Liberty's Edge

This really seems to be living up to its Ultimate name.


Quote:
Breath of the Grave (Su) As a swift action, spend this boon's effect to breathe a 15-foot cone of rotting stench. Creatures within the cone must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + your highest caster level in a class that prepares spells) or be sickened for 1 round. This spends the boon. After this boon has been spent, you take a –4 penalty on Diplomacy and Stealth checks until you prepare spells again.

DC = 10 + Caster Level?

(would Caster Level boosts apply? as if it`s Necromancy, or just general CL boosts?)
...That seems rather steep, esp. since this is a Swift Action ability.
Was HALF Caster Level intended?

It also seems wierd that, say, a CLERIC could use apparently use this after `preparing` with this Spell Book,
since they are prepared casters, even if such preparation has nothing to do with spellbooks.
I mean, I`m OK with Clerics having access to such type of `preparation` boons if Wizards do,
but it seems STRANGE that it works off the very same spellbooks...
Then again, if a `Book of the Grave` is strange and hideous in it`s magic, who`s to argue?

I would have probably instituted some requirement like 1 spell of each spell level memorized must be necromancy for the `boon` to kick in.

All these buffs to casters are really pushing my buttons in general for how the game works, all I can say is Ultimate Combat really better step up to the plate.

Grand Lodge

Cant wait for this book to come out!

Liberty's Edge

New spells spotted: vitriol (3rd) and penumbra (0). Anyone want to indulge in baseless speculation?


Caster level isn't that bad:

Compared to 1/2 caster level + primary casting score mod, you actually end up with a lower maximum DC.

30 compared to 33.


Shisumo wrote:
New spells spotted: vitriol (3rd) and penumbra (0). Anyone want to indulge in baseless speculation?

They are necromancy spells and not Enchantment or Transmutation spells.


Quandary wrote:


All these buffs to casters are really pushing my buttons in general for how the game works, all I can say is Ultimate Combat really better step up to the plate.

I don't see it as a buff so much as a cool magic item. Note how a different value is given for the book should it include the preparation ritual. DMs shouldn't just be handing these things out to all spellcasters. They should be factored in as appropriate treasure.

All that aside, I really enjoy the concept behind these books. Lots of flavor potential there.

Liberty's Edge

Abraham spalding wrote:
Shisumo wrote:
New spells spotted: vitriol (3rd) and penumbra (0). Anyone want to indulge in baseless speculation?
They are necromancy spells and not Enchantment or Transmutation spells.

Dude! I said baseless speculation!


Abe: ...I GUESS...
It`s just alot more lethal in the hands of NPCs or those not so blessed by the Gods of MixMax...

Hmmm... Penumbra...
I`d hazard it suppresses your `life aura` for effects which detect that... Or maybe it`s just like Prestidigitation, but let`s you instantly look all `Goth`ed out`. 8-P

Contributor

Pig! Pig pig pig pig pig pig... :D

Sovereign Court

Oh gods, when I first saw "House Centipede" I swear I thought it said "Human Centipede." I am a bad person.


Quandary wrote:

Abe: ...I GUESS...

It`s just alot more lethal in the hands of NPCs or those not so blessed by the Gods of MixMax...

Hey anything that allows a caster to be a bit more effective without having to be another absolute genius is a good thing in my book.

As it is casters are just about forced to maximize those casting stats in order to really be relevant or useful.

This allows them to focus on something else.

Though I did forget three things that makes the DC's a wash: Varasian tattoo, bloat mage initiate, and the orange prism Ioun Stone.

With all three of those you could have a caster level 23 which would give a DC of 33 if this counts off your necromancy caster level instead of your general caster level.

Liberty's Edge

Hmm... vitriol...

Acid damage, for sure. Probably a sickening or nauseating effect. Plus, um... built-in ghost touch! Fort save for half damage and negate the nausea.


Liz Courts wrote:
Pig! Pig pig pig pig pig pig... :D

Oink?


Oink Oink Oink!

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I have a feeling there will be a massive upsurge in Donkey Rat population once the book hits the shelves...


A donkey rat is basically a capybara, right?

Shadow Lodge

Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Gorbacz wrote:
I have a feeling there will be a massive upsurge in Donkey Rat population once the book hits the shelves...

That was my first thought also. Woo-Hoo more initiative!

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

"You there! Guard!"
"Yes, sergeant?"
"Are you the nincompoop responsible for letting that confounded wizard in to disturb Her Grace?"
"Well, um, yes, sergeant, 'cept it don't sound so good when you put it that way."
"I shouldn't think so! What were you thinking? You know Her Grace had left strict orders not to be disturbed."
"Well, sergeant, see, he had his pig with 'im."
"His what!"
"His pig, sergeant. I wasn't going to let him in, just as you say, on account of the Duchess wantin' to be left alone. But he gave me this story, 'bout her really wantin' to know what he'd found out. And I wasn't gonna let him, but he had a pig."
"I see. Of course. Well, don't let it happen again, guardsman."
"No, sergeant!"

It's well known that having a pig around with you makes you more persuasive, charasmatic, and suave. You can buy your sweetie any amount of choclates or jeweled baubles, but that can't hold a candle to the seductive power of a man with a pig.

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Kieviel wrote:
Gorbacz wrote:
I have a feeling there will be a massive upsurge in Donkey Rat population once the book hits the shelves...
That was my first thought also. Woo-Hoo more initiative!

Yeah, and the Greensting Scorpion quota as well.

But a Wizard with a King Crab familiar... Now that's going to be hard mode on.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook Subscriber
Abraham spalding wrote:
Shisumo wrote:
New spells spotted: vitriol (3rd) and penumbra (0). Anyone want to indulge in baseless speculation?
They are necromancy spells and not Enchantment or Transmutation spells.

Penumbra might be an opposite to the light spell, maybe granting bonus's to stealth, or dimming weak light.

Scarab Sages

The Scarlet Spider has the added bonus of +8 on checks to piss off Marvel fanboys.

Liberty's Edge

Finally, a solution for all those times I've wanted to start or maintain a grapple with my STR 10 Wizard!

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Chris Mortika wrote:

"You there! Guard!"

"Yes, sergeant?"
"Are you the nincompoop responsible for letting that confounded wizard in to disturb Her Grace?"
"Well, um, yes, sergeant, 'cept it don't sound so good when you put it that way."
"I shouldn't think so! What were you thinking? You know Her Grace had left strict orders not to be disturbed."
"Well, sergeant, see, he had his pig with 'im."
"His what!"
"His pig, sergeant. I wasn't going to let him in, just as you say, on account of the Duchess wantin' to be left alone. But he gave me this story, 'bout her really wantin' to know what he'd found out. And I wasn't gonna let him, but he had a pig."
"I see. Of course. Well, don't let it happen again, guardsman."
"No, sergeant!"

It's well known that having a pig around with you makes you more persuasive, charasmatic, and suave. You can buy your sweetie any amount of choclates or jeweled baubles, but that can't hold a candle to the seductive power of a man with a pig.

Whoever decided to assign +3 Diplomacy to a pig is a pure genius.


Jeremiziah wrote:
Finally, a solution for all those times I've wanted to start or maintain a grapple with my STR 10 Wizard!

Or the magus...

Shadow Lodge

Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Jeremiziah wrote:
Finally, a solution for all those times I've wanted to start or maintain a grapple with my STR 10 Wizard!

Or with your Eldritch Knight ;-)

Liberty's Edge

I have no idea what you guys are talking about. GRAPPLE MAGE IS THE BEST BUILD EVAR!!!


Eldritch Knight now only exists for `historical` PRPG games portraying events before Seltyiel saw the light and became a Magus.


Quandary wrote:
Eldritch Knight now only exists for `historical` PRPG games portraying events before Seltyiel saw the light and became a Magus.

Disagree -- I still like having 9th level spells and good BAB.

Liberty's Edge

Abraham spalding wrote:
I still like having 9th level spells and good BAB.

And you don't viscerally hate what you have to do to get to that point?


Damn, I was hoping to skip this book thinking it was just a tome of extra spells, but now it looks like with all the cool stuff and new mechanics I'm going to have to fork out the cash and pick this up - already SPENDING WAY TOO MUCH MONEY here! Anyway, keep up the creative work Paizo - spellblight and bleeding from the eyes, wow!


Just to confirm: is the list of familiars exhaustive or a sample? >)

Paizo Employee Director of Game Design

LoreKeeper wrote:

Just to confirm: is the list of familiars exhaustive or a sample? >)

Exhaustive.

Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing


Jason Bulmahn wrote:
LoreKeeper wrote:

Just to confirm: is the list of familiars exhaustive or a sample? >)

Exhaustive.

Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing

Will it spell out the needs for specific improved familiars too? I mean it's a no brainer to guess what the prerequisites are for the in the bestiary 2 are but it would be nice to be sure everyone is on the same page.

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 16, 2012 Top 32

New class options. Meh. New familiars. Meh. Words of power. Meh.

Pregenerated spellbooks! That list their gp value and everything! Sold.

Paizo Employee Director of Game Design

Epic Meepo wrote:

New class options. Meh. New familiars. Meh. Words of power. Meh.

Pregenerated spellbooks! That list their gp value and everything! Sold.

I knew we'd get you on something. Did I mention there are 24 of them?

Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Hemoculysis: A spellcaster with hemoculysis bleeds from his eyes whenever he casts a spell.

Still having problems with pushing those spells, Lord Maxwell?

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

LazarX wrote:

Hemoculysis: A spellcaster with hemoculysis bleeds from his eyes whenever he casts a spell.

Still having problems with pushing those spells, Lord Maxwell?

I thought that was from the nose.

The Exchange

Gorbacz wrote:
Chris Mortika wrote:

"You there! Guard!"

"Yes, sergeant?"
"Are you the nincompoop responsible for letting that confounded wizard in to disturb Her Grace?"
"Well, um, yes, sergeant, 'cept it don't sound so good when you put it that way."
"I shouldn't think so! What were you thinking? You know Her Grace had left strict orders not to be disturbed."
"Well, sergeant, see, he had his pig with 'im."
"His what!"
"His pig, sergeant. I wasn't going to let him in, just as you say, on account of the Duchess wantin' to be left alone. But he gave me this story, 'bout her really wantin' to know what he'd found out. And I wasn't gonna let him, but he had a pig."
"I see. Of course. Well, don't let it happen again, guardsman."
"No, sergeant!"

It's well known that having a pig around with you makes you more persuasive, charasmatic, and suave. You can buy your sweetie any amount of choclates or jeweled baubles, but that can't hold a candle to the seductive power of a man with a pig.

Whoever decided to assign +3 Diplomacy to a pig is a pure genius.

BACON! BACON! BACON!

Who doesn't like a slice of bacon. Most people can be persuaded to give their first born for a side of bacon. ;)

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Matthew Morris wrote:
LazarX wrote:

Hemoculysis: A spellcaster with hemoculysis bleeds from his eyes whenever he casts a spell.

Still having problems with pushing those spells, Lord Maxwell?

I thought that was from the nose.

Adaptation dear boy, adaptation.

You should of seen where it came from when he pushed the whole entire planet.

The Exchange

Liz Courts wrote:
Pig! Pig pig pig pig pig pig... :D

Sooee! Soo...Soo...Sooee!


Jeremiziah wrote:
Abraham spalding wrote:
I still like having 9th level spells and good BAB.
And you don't viscerally hate what you have to do to get to that point?

No not at all -- I generally use it as a "wizard that learns to be more" or a "tough guy caster" instead of a full on armored battlecaster.

I don't find being BAB+4 at level 7 that much worse, and I'm at medium BAB at level 10.

If I want a "tank" caster I'll use still spell and suck it up knowing that it is not almost impossible to hit me with my magical tower shield and full plate.


Abraham spalding wrote:
Quandary wrote:
Eldritch Knight now only exists for `historical` PRPG games portraying events before Seltyiel saw the light and became a Magus.
Disagree -- I still like having 9th level spells and good BAB.

Yeah, yeah...

My point stands that if Seltyel is now a Magus, there is no Iconic Eldritch Knight anymore.


I'm assuming that familiars like the octopus and king crab are for aquatic campaigns?? (Or does the wizard/sorcerer have to keep casting air breathing/watery air on the poor things??)

And I can only imagine what spells a witch would learn from some of these critters....!

Cheers, JohnH / Wanda

Shadow Lodge

Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber
Quandary wrote:
Abraham spalding wrote:
Quandary wrote:
Eldritch Knight now only exists for `historical` PRPG games portraying events before Seltyiel saw the light and became a Magus.
Disagree -- I still like having 9th level spells and good BAB.

Yeah, yeah...

My point stands that if Seltyel is now a Magus, there is no Iconic Eldritch Knight anymore.

Do we need one? I know there are illustrations for all the PrCs but I don't believe we know the names of any of the others do we? And Seltyel still works as an illustration in the Core Book to get across the EK idea.


Quandary wrote:
Abraham spalding wrote:
Quandary wrote:
Eldritch Knight now only exists for `historical` PRPG games portraying events before Seltyiel saw the light and became a Magus.
Disagree -- I still like having 9th level spells and good BAB.

Yeah, yeah...

My point stands that if Seltyel is now a Magus, there is no Iconic Eldritch Knight anymore.

Meh I'll fill the role ;D

Personally I also like the eldritch knight for the wider spell choices. Granted the magus can achieve some of that with arcana currently (from what we know -- his casting might have changed too *I hope I hope I hope!), but not to the same extent or breadth.

It's a matter of choosing which bonuses you want over others -- and we don't know 100% yet that seltyel will be the new magus iconic -- it is likely -- but we don't know that.

And he can fill both at once by simply taking levels in eldritch knight.


Thanks Jason :)

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

Wanda V'orcus wrote:

I'm assuming that familiars like the octopus and king crab are for aquatic campaigns?? (Or does the wizard/sorcerer have to keep casting air breathing/watery air on the poor things??)

And I can only imagine what spells a witch would learn from some of these critters....!

Cheers, JohnH / Wanda

Rumor has it the Octopus teaches the spell in the last two panels.

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