Spell Construction: Difference between revisions

<s>[[Exact Words|C-O-N--]]</s> [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Stop that.]]

== [[TVFan ShowsWorks]] ==

* In ''[[Harry Potter]]'', most magic is cast with [[Magic Wand|magic wands]], waved in [[Magical Gesture|just the right way]], [[Magical Incantation|while speaking in]] [[Canis Latinicus|psuedo-Latin.]].

** The potions, however, are pure [[Eye of Newt]].

* In [[Piers Anthony]]'s ''Apprentice Adept'' series, each of the powerful wizards in Phaze has their own form of [[Spell Construction]]; the Blue Adept uses [[Magic Music]], the Yellow Adept uses [[Eye of Newt]], White uses [[Geometric Magic]], Green uses [[Magical Gesture]], etc.

* Aversion: In Feist's ''[[The Riftwar Cycle]]'' the most powerful ''magician's'' would argue with you (if they'd tend to) since people such as nakor or Pug know rather well magic is just tricks and only idiots need chanting and those weird symbols others keep drawing.

== [[Tabletop RPGGames]] ==

* ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' spells typically use [[Eye of Newt|material]], [[Magical Gesture|somatic]], and [[Magical Incantation|verbal]] components. It also has [[Magic Wand|focuses]] that are reusable but specific to a particular spell, and a few [[Prestige Class|Prestige Classes]]es that use [[Geometric Magic]]. [[Religion Is Magic|Divine magic]] rarely uses material components, and its gestures are simple enough that they can be performed in armor, but often requires holding a holy symbol.

* Magic in ''[[GURPS]]'' requires [[Mana]], [[Magical Gesture|MagicalGestures]]s and [[Magical Incantation|MagicalIncantations]]s. Certain spells also need [[Eye of Newt]] and complex designs. Energy requirements often necessitate items that provide additional power. Casters can ignore most of these (but never the mana) with sufficiently high skill or by taking penalties when casting.

* In ''[[Mage: The Ascension (Tabletop Game)|Mage: The Ascension]]'', every magic wielder pretty much defined his own "foci", as they were called. And while each Tradition had classic types of foci associated with them, you could have your own as long as it made sense within your belief system. For example, a mage who was also an archaeologist might use his [[Magic Wand|bullwhip]] to affect physical changes, while charging [[Eye of Newt|bullets]] with magic for destructive effects. Later on, however, as the mage became "enlightened", he could begin to use various types of magic WITHOUT his foci, though using them still made it easier.

* [[Mage: The Awakening]] runs the gambit. Improvised magic can be cast without any of the construction methods, buts its pretty unreliable so most mages use rotes which require [[Magical Gesture|mudras]]. To get more benefits mages often also use, [[Language of Magic|High Speech]][[Magical Incantation|incantations]], [[Magic Wand|dedicated magical tools]], and less frequently [[Geometric Magic|runes and sigils]]. If they really need to increase the power they can use a ritual with the right [[Eye of Newt|sacraments]]. Also, while they can usually get enough from the ambient magic, but some spell require them to spend {{[[Magic Prerequisite |mana}}]].

* ''[[Shadowrun]]'' has all of the above as entirely optional. By default, no magic requires anything (except the specific combination of [[Hermetic Magic|hermetic]] [[Summon Magic|conjuration]] always requires [[Eye of Newt|expensive components]] and [[Geometric Magic|a summoning circle]]). Otherwise, you can accept any of the above as a limitation to offset the magical power lost because [[Cybernetics Eat Your Soul]] (at the cost of not being able to use magic at all when you don't meet the requirements). Alternatively, or even on top of this, you can learn individual spells with such limitations in order to make them even more powerful (but likewise, you can never cast that spell, even a weakened version, if you can't meet your self-imposed restriction).

* In ''[[Academagia]]'', magic spells are cast using special symbols, called "phemes", that are combined to produce spells a bit like phonetic sounds are combined to produce words. Spells are usually inscribed on magical three dimensional space, called a "palette", using a wand. However, it is the phemes that are essential to spell casting, specialized tools like palettes and wand are helpful in a number of ways but not necessary. Theoretically, a skilled mage could draw the phemes in dust or mud with a stick and still cast spells, provided the phemes are made accurately.

* ''[[Fate/stay Stay Nightnight]]'' requires [[Mana]] and an incantation for magic to be cast -- highercast—higher rank spells require several verses (one verse is equivalent to 4-6 lines) in order to cast. Caster bypasses this because she has access to the skill "High-Speed Spellcasting", which allows her to use the language of the Gods and significantly reduce casting time, and of course allowing her to use Rank-A spells with ease. In addition, more complex magic rituals require runes (the Servant summoning ritual requires a circle made from blood) and a catalyst for the reaction (the aforementioned ritual requires something possessed by the Heroic Spirit in question).