Anyone come up with a list of Verbal components to recite for spells?


Homebrew and House Rules


Just occurred to me that it might help get some people at the table more in character if they're actually reciting their spells. I know I'd probably find it fun.

If no one has a list, maybe we could turn this thread into a list...go through the Spell Lists for the Core and APG and start accumulating some ideas? I'm tired now, but if we don't have a link or something to something semi-comprehensive I'll start putting up some ideas.

By the way, some arbitrary guidelines I think should apply:

Components could be in any language, but an English translation would be nice.

Immediate spells with V components should probably be kept to one or two words.
Swift spells should probably be kept to 2-5 words.
Standard action spells should probably be kept to a few words to a sentence.
One round spells could probably go longer, but that seems unnecessary and cumbersome. Ditto for spells with longer casting times.


“Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao” (妖魔鬼怪快啲走, literally meaning “Spirits, demons, ghosts, monsters, quickly leave.”)


cranewings wrote:

“Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao” (妖魔鬼怪快啲走, literally meaning “Spirits, demons, ghosts, monsters, quickly leave.”)

Giggles! I can't help imagine a ghost chaser exorcism scene in a chinese comedy action movie -a strict burly ghost chaser and his geomancer companion, yelling and waving hands all over a haunted portion of a palace pagoda! .... tee hee


Here's what the casters say in the Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate games (and appropriate schools):

1) Illusion: "Veritas, Credo, Oculos" = "The truth, I believe, with my eyes"

2) Alteration: "Praeses, Alia, Fero" = "Protecting, another, I bring this forth"

3) Necromancy: "Vita, Mortis, Careo" = "Life, and death, I am without"

4) Divination: "Scio, Didici, Pecto" = "I know, for I have studied, with my mind"

5) Abjuration: "Manus, Potentis, Paro" = "A hand, powerful, I prepare"

6) Evocation: "Incertus, Pulcher, Imperio" = "Uncertain, beautiful things, I command"

7) Conjuration: "Facio, Voco, Ferre" = "This I do, I call, to bring you forth"

8) Enchantment: "Cupio, Virtus, Licet" = "I want, excellence, allowed to me"

From this thread.


Montana77 wrote:

Here's what the casters say in the Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate games (and appropriate schools):

1) Illusion: "Veritas, Credo, Oculos" = "The truth, I believe, with my eyes"

2) Alteration: "Praeses, Alia, Fero" = "Protecting, another, I bring this forth"

3) Necromancy: "Vita, Mortis, Careo" = "Life, and death, I am without"

4) Divination: "Scio, Didici, Pecto" = "I know, for I have studied, with my mind"

5) Abjuration: "Manus, Potentis, Paro" = "A hand, powerful, I prepare"

6) Evocation: "Incertus, Pulcher, Imperio" = "Uncertain, beautiful things, I command"

7) Conjuration: "Facio, Voco, Ferre" = "This I do, I call, to bring you forth"

8) Enchantment: "Cupio, Virtus, Licet" = "I want, excellence, allowed to me"

From this thread.

i really like this.


Yeah, you could also make up new ones with Google translate English/Latin.

Exotic enough for most of us so we don't notice any grammatical errors.

Edit:
Here's some spell names in latin:
cura vulnera lucis
ball ignis
quis decor

The names get really strange if you translate these back to english but who cares if the latin names sounds cool ;)


Using any language that's not your own adds a bit of flavor.

I'm learning portuguese, so I'm going to use verbal components as a means to increase my vocabulary.

I also know a little german, which makes for an interesing spellcasting flavor. German is good for earthier spells. Even speaking the language normally sounds like you're chewing on rocks.

Dark Archive

''By the crimson bands of Cyttorak!''
''By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth!''
''By the roving rings of Raggador!''


For cold/ice magic, the word Schneegestöber apparently is quite useful. I once suggested it as a name for a white dragon and was told it was frightening. And it just means snow flurry in German.


This is the kind of thread that's going to cause a massive respawn of Jack Chick and B.A.D.D.

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

This pops up now and again

Things I use in my writing.

Alset = Electrical effects.

Cassi = Force effects.

Sregor = shield.

So a shield spell is Cassi Sregor

The Exchange

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Montana77 wrote:

Here's what the casters say in the Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate games (and appropriate schools):

1) Illusion: "Veritas, Credo, Oculos" = "The truth, I believe, with my eyes"

2) Alteration: "Praeses, Alia, Fero" = "Protecting, another, I bring this forth"

3) Necromancy: "Vita, Mortis, Careo" = "Life, and death, I am without"

4) Divination: "Scio, Didici, Pecto" = "I know, for I have studied, with my mind"

5) Abjuration: "Manus, Potentis, Paro" = "A hand, powerful, I prepare"

6) Evocation: "Incertus, Pulcher, Imperio" = "Uncertain, beautiful things, I command"

7) Conjuration: "Facio, Voco, Ferre" = "This I do, I call, to bring you forth"

8) Enchantment: "Cupio, Virtus, Licet" = "I want, excellence, allowed to me"

From this thread.

+1 for Baldur's Gate, great games.


When I do this I tend to use byzantine or modern greek. Foreign enough for everyone else at the table, but I am fluent so I can make up something on the spot. I dont feel the need for them to be the same all the time, kind of like in the Belgariad series, its not the word that matters, but the association the you make with it.


Anime style: The name of the spell (shouted, of course).

"Dodge this! MAGIC MISSILE!"

Dark Archive

Unfortunately, you'd have to actually conjugate and decline those Latin sentences... And translate them correctly, using actual grammar.

"Veritatem oculis credo" for illusion,
"Aliam praesens auferro" for alteration,
"Vitam mortemque careo" for necromancy,
"Scio, nam didici mente" for divination,
"Manum potentem paro" for abjuration,
"Res incerti pulchri imperio" for evocation,
"Illum facio, voco ut te auferem" for conjuration,
and "Virtum mihi licere cupio."

Online translators are not to be trusted.

Dark Archive

I like Latin for 'Draconic' and Egyptian for 'Osirioni' when playing my draconic-themed summoner or by Gebbite death-cleric.

Generally, there will be several possible interpretations or appropriate word choices, and I pick the one that 'sounds best' to my English-speaker's ear, even if it isn't the most technically accurate. Sounding cool, to me, trumps accuracy. It's not like anyone else at the table speaks Latin or Egyptian...

(Or Scots-Gaelic or Old Norse, or whatever language I'm bastardizing.)

Kate Monk's Onamastikon has seen much use from me for coming up with foreign names, or Norse word-elements, for characters in the bajillion MMOs I play.


Great. Now RPGs have "real" spells. Wait until the kooks get a wind of this... =P

Liberty's Edge

Drizzle Drazzle Draddle Drone, time for Siz von to go home - Teleport


Aikuchi wrote:
cranewings wrote:

“Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao” (妖魔鬼怪快啲走, literally meaning “Spirits, demons, ghosts, monsters, quickly leave.”)

Giggles! I can't help imagine a ghost chaser exorcism scene in a chinese comedy action movie -a strict burly ghost chaser and his geomancer companion, yelling and waving hands all over a haunted portion of a palace pagoda! .... tee hee

+1

--------------------
No clue what the actual words being spoken in Neverwinter Nights are, but casting Magic Missile sounds a lot like...
"FOR TACOS, AND DIGIMON!" ;D


Finger of death: Avada Kedavra XD


cranewings wrote:
This is the kind of thread that's going to cause a massive respawn of Jack Chick and B.A.D.D.

Let them respawn. They're just going to be fragged again. And then their souls will be fed to dark forces for power! }>

delaneyalysa wrote:
Drizzle Drazzle Draddle Drone, time for Siz von to go home - Teleport

Oh please no, don't turn PF into DSA!


malebranche wrote:

Unfortunately, you'd have to actually conjugate and decline those Latin sentences... And translate them correctly, using actual grammar.

"Veritatem oculis credo" for illusion,
"Aliam praesens auferro" for alteration,
"Vitam mortemque careo" for necromancy,
"Scio, nam didici mente" for divination,
"Manum potentem paro" for abjuration,
"Res incerti pulchri imperio" for evocation,
"Illum facio, voco ut te auferem" for conjuration,
and "Virtum mihi licere cupio."

Online translators are not to be trusted.

I know online translators aren't very good, but unless you or your group speak the language in question (which you seem to do), it won't matter if the grammar is incorrect. As long as it sounds exotic/cool.


We do not want to start this again.....

Dark Dungeons


clff rice wrote:
Finger of death: Avada Kedavra XD

I thought that was "MAW DIB!" (Dune)


Salagadoola mechicka boola


SATOR
AREPO
TENET
OPERA
ROTAS

KenderKin wrote:

We do not want to start this again.....

Dark Dungeons

It's always funny to read that one - until you realise the guy is dead serious!

Sovereign Court

cranewings wrote:

“Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao” (妖魔鬼怪快啲走, literally meaning “Spirits, demons, ghosts, monsters, quickly leave.”)

Go Uncle!


KenderKin wrote:

We do not want to start this again.....

Dark Dungeons

lol. That one is my favorite next to "Little Johnny is going to hell." That's the actual name. I didn't make it up.


KaeYoss wrote:

SATOR

AREPO
TENET
OPERA
ROTAS

KenderKin wrote:

We do not want to start this again.....

Dark Dungeons
It's always funny to read that one - until you realise the guy is dead serious!

They have some pretty interesting one's about gay's too. Because, naturally the gays are devil worshiping phetophiles...with fabulous hair and outfits, naturally.

edit: It would be amusing if it was satire. Unfortunatly this guy is totally serious.


A classic and the guy is still in business!

I did like the conjugated latin....
but it was a little too "Harry Potter" for me....

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

Aazen wrote:
cranewings wrote:

“Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao” (妖魔鬼怪快啲走, literally meaning “Spirits, demons, ghosts, monsters, quickly leave.”)

Go Uncle!

I had forgotten that one. I think my favourite moment was when Jade got the Cheerleaders chanting it :-)

Sovereign Court

I remember Record of Lodoss War. Most of the spells started with, "Mana of All Creation..." And then discribe what the spell does in one sentence. Mana of All Creation, become a fire to smite my foes!

Shadow Lodge

KenderKin wrote:

We do not want to start this again.....

Dark Dungeons

I counter your Dark Dungeons with my own...Dark Dungeons


Awesome!

Downloaded I will look at it later.....

Shadow Lodge

KenderKin wrote:

Awesome!

Downloaded I will look at it later.....

It's basically a retro-clone of the Basic D&D Rules Cyclopedia, but with the immortals rules thrown in, and some Spelljammer-based cosmology information as well.


How could this thread gone so long without the classic:

Klaatu barada nikto!


Like a few of the others here I use foreign languages. I favour German as I speak it and the rest of my group don't (except for the phrases for, "My flying saucer/bagpipes are broken".

It has the advantage of consistency as well and players can have a stab at what I am casting if they understand the odd word, as I always use an appropriate phrase and once coined I keep it. Along with describing the visuals of spells it's a nice way of personalising wizards as different languages means the same old spells get mixed up a little.

Finally for me it's much more fun to say, "Durch den Macht der Farbe, rot, gelb und blau/Verwirrt und verdünnte meiner Feindkörperbau"* than, "I cast colour spray".

I'll admit I play fast and loose with the translations as anyone who can read German will see above, but ultimately I am just using it for fun and to add a little extra colour to my character.

*Through the power of the colours, red, yellow and blue/Confuse and weaken the bodies of my enemies.


Summoning of the Tracking Sparrows (Locate Object) Tracks and locates any spiritual force the user focuses on. To activate it, the user must draw a circle on the ground, cut into four parts with a specific character in each. The incantation animates the circle, causing various numbers to appear within until the specific set is found. The number set seems to be a variation on longitude and latitude.

Incantation: "Heart of the south, eye of the north, finger of the west, foot of the east, arrive with the wind and depart with the rain."

Six Rods Prison of Light (Hold Monster) Summons six thin, but wide, beams of light that slam into a target's midsection, holding them in place. The target is then unable to move any part of there body including the parts that were not struck by the beams.[12]

Incantation: "Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six!"

Serpent Trap (hold Person) Two stone serpents appear out of the ground and bind both arms of the target using their teeth.

Incantation: River of blood, ocean of bones the creator is angry for your tresspass. Bow to his majesty and all will be forgiven but sin again and the punishment will be your oblivion.

Heavenly Rickshaws in Silken Air (message) Transmits messages mentally to anyone within an area of the caster's choosing. In addition to reciting the spell, the user must draw specific markings on their arms, which are animated by the spell to convey the messages. The messages can be spoken either by the caster or by another within the vicinity of the caster.

Incantation: "Black and white net. Twenty-two bridges, sixty-six crowns and belts. Footprints, distant thunder, sharp peak, engulfing land, hidden in the night, sea of clouds, blue line. Form a circle and fly though the heavens."

Piercing Flesh (Magic Weapon) The user conjures a spear made of dense spiritual energy.

Incantation: Bones of sleeping Hollows burn to ash, claws of the beast tear the soul, impale my enemies with the spear of justice

Shot of Red Fire(fireball) Fires a ball of red energy at a target.[29]

Incantation: "Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south!"

Blue Fire Crashing Down(meaner fireball) Fires a burst of blue spiritual energy at a target in a similar manner, but over a wider area and with more power.

Incantation: "Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws."

courtesy Bleach Kidou list


RaistusObskura wrote:

I favour German as I speak it

[...]

"Durch den Macht der Farbe, rot, gelb und blau/Verwirrt und verdünnte meiner Feindkörperbau"* than, "I cast colour spray".

You're contradicting yourself there.

RaistusObskura wrote:


I'll admit I play fast and loose with the translations

You play fast and loose with everything.

RaistusObskura wrote:


*Through the power of the colours, red, yellow and blue/Confuse and weaken the bodies of my enemies.

More like "Through the power of the colour, red, yellow and blue/Confuses and diluted of my enemy build"

It's not speaking if you're just using some words thrown together at random :P


Khuldar wrote:


Klaatu barada nikto!

Now make sure you have memorised it correctly. You must repeat it exactly! Even the slightest error will doom us all.


RaistusObskura wrote:

Finally for me it's much more fun to say, "Durch den Macht der Farbe, rot, gelb und blau/Verwirrt und verdünnte meiner Feindkörperbau"* than, "I cast colour spray".

Sorry but omg... that gramma is horrible :) (native german speaker^^)

Correct would be:
Durch die Macht der Farben, Rot, Gelb, Blau,
verwirrt und schwaecht meiner Feinde Koerperbau

(By the Power of the colours, Red, Yellow, Blue,
confuse and weaken the body build/physique of my enemies)

Even if this is still a little bit odd, it sound more "round" in german. :)
I also favour latin for my wizards, I think such phrases (even in your native language) add a lot of flair to the game.

*Pick his Hammer and yells "Moradin, god father, give me the strength to smite these orc scum"* sounds much better then *I cast Divine Might*
And if you use the same phrase again and again for the same spell, the DM (and other players will recognize it and you don't need to name the spell you cast this round)

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

Old 2e character that last post reminded me of.

Priest of Thor, would slam his mace on the ground and call out, "God of Thunder, take me to X!" Or "Mighty Thor, grant me time to prepare!"

It was three sessions in before the other players realized that I had Teleport/Time shift as wild talents :-) The character just saw them as 'Thor's gifts'


KaeYoss wrote:
RaistusObskura wrote:

I favour German as I speak it

[...]

"Durch den Macht der Farbe, rot, gelb und blau/Verwirrt und verdünnte meiner Feindkörperbau"* than, "I cast colour spray".

You're contradicting yourself there.

RaistusObskura wrote:


I'll admit I play fast and loose with the translations

You play fast and loose with everything.

RaistusObskura wrote:


*Through the power of the colours, red, yellow and blue/Confuse and weaken the bodies of my enemies.

More like "Through the power of the colour, red, yellow and blue/Confuses and diluted of my enemy build"

It's not speaking if you're just using some words thrown together at random :P

Tryn wrote:
RaistusObskura wrote:

Finally for me it's much more fun to say, "Durch den Macht der Farbe, rot, gelb und blau/Verwirrt und verdünnte meiner Feindkörperbau"* than, "I cast colour spray".

Sorry but omg... that gramma is horrible :) (native german speaker^^)

Correct would be:
Durch die Macht der Farben, Rot, Gelb, Blau,
verwirrt und schwaecht meiner Feinde Koerperbau

(By the Power of the colours, Red, Yellow, Blue,
confuse and weaken the body build/physique of my enemies)

Even if this is still a little bit odd, it sound more "round" in german. :)

Ooops I see in my eagerness to post I should have paid more attention to my English and stated that I have German as a second language, rather than being a native speaker and so I apologise for my crimes against the German language.

Secondly, as to the more accurate translations, believe it or not I am aware of the errors I was making. I knew verdünnte was the wrong word but I was trying to come up with a synonym for schwächen I came across it and preferred the aliteration with verwirrt, just as I went for the rhyme of blau and bau despite knowing the German was awkward.

So the words weren't quite as randomly put together as they seem, I was merely making the most of a non-native speaker's vocabulary and a liberal dose of imagination - Besides my incantations work in game as my GM doesn't speak any German.

I just hope he doesn't read this, as I'll suddenly find my spells aren't working. :)


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Please don't post links to Chick's tracks. It only gives that sick bastard more power and money.

As for spell incantations, I started a thread where we tried to come up with some great rhyming incantations, like those used by Maleficient in Disney's Slepping Beauty.

Some examples from the thread (with plenty more therein):

Resistance

"Do not let my ally croak,
Resistance surround you like a cloak."

Acid Splash

"Acid burn, and acid bubble
Acid Splash this worrisome trouble."

Detect Magic

"My open eyes I open thrice,
find spell, and school and Detect Magic through my eyes!"

Detect Poison

"From snake, or spider or assassin's knife,
Detect Poison in object, body or life."

Read Magic

"Like crystal clear, and by my finger's crook,
I'll Read Magic like an open book!"

Daze

"By fuzzy logic and woolly thinking,
be Dazed like you've spent all night drinking!"

Dancing Lights

"Dance like fairies, dance like ghosts,
By my power Dancing Lights come forth my motes!"

Flare

"I evoke Fire without heat,
but light with Flare!"

Light

"Like Firefly, with phosphorous tail,
I evoke Light to come forth as a torch without fail!"

Ray of Frost

"A little chill, a little cold,
a Ray of Frost will chill your bones."

Ghost Sound

"Spooky wyrd and echoes strange,
Ghost Sounds come forth today."

Bleed

"Bleed through wounds, and Bleed through pores,
Bleed through eyes and Bleed through sores."

Disrupt Undead

"You were dead before,
I Disrupt Undead, so they be dead again!"

Touch of Fatigue

"From your life I steal one night's rest,
with my Touch of Fatigue, I steal this from thy chest."

Mage Hand

"Mage Hand come and Mage Hand go,
Mage hand steal and Mage Hand sew."

Mending

"I hum a tune to aid my Mending,
darn, sharpen, fix, hew with the power I'm sending."

Open/Close

"If closed I Open, if Open I close,
for just this task, this spell I chose."

Arcane Mark

"By arcane oath, and arcane name,
my Arcane Mark I place without wane."

Prestidigitation

"Alakazam, Abracadbration,
I cast now Prestidigitation!"

Disintegrate

"By Nature's hand,
By craft, by art.
What once was one
Now fly apart!"

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

Ravingdork, in an Eberron game on-line, I played an Archivist who did the same thing, petitioning the gods and powers for magic on a case-by-case basis rather than taking one as a patron.

My model for rhythm and meter was the spell list that Dr. Strange used during Steve Engelhardt's run:
"Seven rings has Raggador, indigo to deepest black.
But Oshtur grant me something more: the Crimson Bands of Cytorrak!"

Cure Minor Wounds

"As Twilight dims her heav'nly dome, the stars come out to wink.
A tiny light against the night. And such the draught you drink."

Cure Light Wounds

"The Silver Flame burns hot and bright, to strengthen people through the night.
The holy fire brings you weal; it asks your body now to heal."

Detect Magic

"From Siberys' lofty realm to Kyber's lands below
Flows there the ancient arcane power, which powers all we know.
Now Aureon's art, the Shadow's lore, and all that lie between,
Revel themselves unto my eyes, their patterns to be seen."

Doom

"Nine thousand years, the daelkyr writhe, imprisoned in their wrath,
Bewailing fate and choked by hate, and you now walk their path.
Now toss aside all hope, denied forever by your gods.
Make ready for your doom, devoid of fortune's sweet facade."

Guidance

"May Dol Dorn's hand upon your own drive home your deadly blade.
Or may Olladra's Luck upon your shoulders bring you aid.
Or may your tasks be simpler with the Traveler by your side.
These gifts of gods increase your odds; receive one as your guide."

Protection vs. Evil

"Alone amidst the midnight vaults a single candle flares,
Its steady glows illumine those who seek it in their prayers.
May Flamekeep's holy silver fire come warm thee in its spark.
Please keep at bay all fiends, I pray, and gird thee 'gainst the dark."


Some members of my group and I did a Latin translation for nearly every spell in the pathfinder game as well as the spell compendium for 3.5

we have it open to the public on our obsidian portal campaign page

Campaign

Enjoy


clff rice wrote:
Finger of death: Avada Kedavra XD

Been meaning to craft a wand of burning disarm with the command word "Expelliarmus!"

You know, just to irritate the GM.

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