Simplified Spellcasting: Difference between revisions

A lot of the time, [[Functional Magic]] is bound by formulas and parameters. To achieve a specific effect, an equally specific action is required. Maybe a long chant is required to cast the spell, maybe you have to draw a circle in the ground, maybe you need to make some sort of gesture or hand sign. These are all potential openings, so you'd better hope [[Talking Is a Free Action]].

 

 

It can add an element of unpredictability by allowing the spell to be cast without [[Calling Your Attacks]]. It can also lead to [[I Am Not Left-Handed]], when an opponent assumes that the caster has been neutralized because the usual methods have been suppressed.

 

* In ''[[Bleach]]'', casting a Hadou or Bakudou spell without an incantation is considered a sign of skill, though the spell is also weakened significantly if performed as such. Still, it's useful since the incantations are so absurdly long.

*** It's also indicated that Philosopher's Stones can be used to simplify the formulation process, as seen with Kimblee and Alphonse.

** [[Big Bad|Father]], after absorbing [[A God Am I|Truth]], was able to perform transmutations without moving at all.

* Nanoha from ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'' learned to enter [[Magical Girl]] mode without going through the full chant on her ''second try'', a feat that ''astonished'' [[Weasel Mascot|Yuuno]].

* [[Kid Hero|Negi]] from ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' masterfully uses "delayed spells" by uttering the chant beforehand and activating them later in the battle. He can't have an entire arsenal of spells at the ready constantly, but his ability to chant now and cast later allows him to have his spells ready when he needs them the most.

** [[Crazy Awesome|Jack Rakan]] actually ''inverts'' this trope by [[Calling Your Attacks|adding unnecessary chants and poses]] to moves when they're not needed. Why? [[Rule of Cool|Because it's cool]]!

* In ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'', spells usually have various components which include verbal (spoken magical words), material (essentially magical substances that are consumed by the spell), somatic (gestures) and the like which are needed to cast them. However, the metamagic feats can allow the "rules" of the spell to be ignored. These feats usually come at the cost of an increase in spell level, requiring the caster to use up his/her more limited high-level slots.

* A ''[[Hero System]]'' mage can build his spells with "Variable Limitations", letting him change the requirements for spellcasting. The example in the 6th Edition rulebook is a mage who normally chants and gestures to cast a Teleport spell, but when he's captured (and bound) by brigands he changes the spell Limitation and teleports away.

 

 

== Video Games ==

 

* In ''[[Tales of Vesperia]]'', while in Overlimit mode, magic users will simply recite a short generic phase instead of a lengthy incantation and cast the spell almost instantly. Rita, for instance, simply says "Blah blah blah, *insert spell name*!".

 

== Webcomics ==

 

 

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