Difference between revisions of "Xadian Magic (3.5e Variant Rule)"
Zhenra-Khal (talk | contribs) (Created page with " {{Author |author_name=Zhenra-Khal |date_created=12/31/2018 |status=In Progress }} {{#set:Summary=A change to the magic system based on the world of Xadia, from the Netflix sh...") |
(No difference)
|
Revision as of 09:10, 31 December 2018
 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
 | |||||||||
|
Rate this article Discuss this article | |||||||||
Contents
Xadian Magic
In this variant rule I will explore a system of magic based on that found in Netflix original series, The Dragon Prince. I own none of the rights to that show; I'm merely adopting the idea to the D&D 3.5e system.
The Sources
With this variant rule, magical power originates from one of seven sources. The first six are Primal, the seventh was invented. To cast a spell, you have to have some of the appropriate Source to draw from, and the strength of Source you need varies with the strength of the magic you're producing. If a spell fits into multiple categories, determine the needed Source using Descriptor first, Subschool second and School last.
Sun
The sun is bright and hot, and reveals all in its burning light. Sun spells are [Light], [Fire], and Divination effects. To cast a Sun spell, it must be daylight, or you must have a source of fire around.
Minor Sources: Torch; Campfire.
Greater Sources: Wildfire; Lava.
Supreme Sources: The sun itself.
Moon
The sun guards over the night, watching the secrets unfold in the shadows. Moon spells are Illusion, Enchantment and [Darkness] effects. To cast a Moon spell, the moon must be up or you must be in an area of darkness.
Minor Sources: New moon or less than half illuminated; 15ft cubic area of dim light.
Greater Sources: Half or greater illuminated moon; 50ft cubic area of no light.
Supreme Sources: The full moon.
Star
The entrancing Stars watch from above, and any wishes are cast upon them in hopes of little miracles. Star spells are Conjuration and [Time] effects, as well as Wish, Miracle, and related spells.
Minor Sources: The stars during the daytime.
Greater Sources: The stars during a cloudy night.
Supreme Sources: The stars during a clear night.
Earth
The strong Earth below our feet supports us, gives us life, grows food for us, and her metal protects us. Earth spells are Abjuration, [Earth], [Animal] and [Plant] spells.
Minor Sources: Barren earth; Glass; A common plant.
Greater Sources: Lush earth; An item of precious metal worth 10kGP or more; A rare, exotic, or especially magical plant.
Supreme Sources: A gemstone worth 50kGP or more; A unique plant such as the World Tree.
Sea
The deep sea holds its mysteries, eroding the earth to find little treasures, changing barren earth to lush green. Sea spells are Transmutation, [Water] and [Cold] spells.
Minor Sources: Pond; Creek; Dew (Or <6 Inches of snow or ice) in a 50sqft area.
Greater Sources: River; Standing water, snow or ice at least a foot deep in a 50ft area.
Supreme Sources: The ocean; A glacier.
Sky
The Sky is the messenger, carrying storms, voices and other energies to where they need to go. Sky spells are Evocation, [Air], [Electricity], [Sonic] and [Language-Dependent] spells.
Minor Sources: A gentle rain; The cloudy open sky when winds are persistently above 5mph.
Greater Sources: A thunderstorm; The cloudy open sky when winds are persistently above 30mph.
Supreme Sources: A hurricane or tornado; The cloudy open sky when winds are persistently above 50mph.
Dark
Dark magic was invented as a way to get around traditional Sources, stripping the magic from magical creatures, often in a manner that causes them death. Dark magic spells are Necromancy spells, and Dark magic can be used to cast spells belonging to any other Source, provided the magical creature whose essence is used in the Dark magic was attuned to the Source (A Dryad for Earth, a Red Dragon for Sun, a Displacer Beast for Moon, and so forth).
Xadian Casting
With Xadian magic, your magic relies on the strength of the Source you're using. Sure, you can cast weak Sea spells from a vial of water, but it's going to deplete much faster than the power of a river would, much less the seas itself. Rather than having daily spell slots, you have to keep bouncing from Source to Source to fuel your magic.
Primal Sources
Each Primal Source in Xadian Magic has a Strength, which both determines the most powerful spell that can be cast from it, and how frequently you can cast from it. Each Source Strength rating goes from 1 to 10. A strength of 1 will allow you to cast a 0th-level spell, a Strength of 2 will allow you to cast a level 1 spell, and so forth.
When you cast a spell from a Primal Source, that reduces its Strength rating by an amount equal to the spell level, down to a minimum of 0. If casting a spell from any Source, Primal or otherwise, would reduce it below 0, the spell simply fails and all remaining Strength is drained from the Source in the process.
Sources come in three categories - Minor, Greater, and Supreme.
Minor Sources are those with a Strength of 1 to 3, such as a torch, a boulder, a pond, or a gentle breeze. They regain one point of Strength per day.
Greater Sources are those with a Strength between 4 and 8, such as a river, wildfire, vein of precious metals, or thunderstorm. They regain one point of Strength per hour.
Supreme Sources are those with a Strength of 9 or 10, such as a unique and precious gem, the deep ocean, a hurricane, or the sun itself. They regain one point of Strength per minute.
Dark Magic
Dark magic comes from a source unlike the six Primal sources - Rather than an aspect of nature, Dark magic is stolen from living beings. Usually, the death of a magical creature (Fey, Magical Beast, Dragon, Outsider, Elemental, Undead, Constructs, anything specifically related to magic, such as having magical abilities by means of their race, not by means of class levels) is required to release its magic.
When a magical creature is slain, it releases energy with a Strength rating equal to half its CR (Min 1), including counting as being of the appropriate Source Grade (See above). This energy fades over time if not used, losing 1 point of Strength per round unless trapped (See Storing Magic below).
The Self Source
Magical creatures, such as elves of the right type, fey, elementals, and the like, can use themselves as a Source for spells that make sense for them (A Fire Genasi could use themselves as a Source for Sun magic, but not for Sea magic, and etc). However, this is dangerous.
When using yourself as a Source, you count as a Source of a Strength equal to 1/2 your CR, usually meaning equal to 1/2 your Effective Character Level. However, as your Source Strength lowers from casting, you grow more and more tired.
As a Minor Source, you are Fatigued when your Source Strength is depleted. As a Greater Source, you are Fatigued when your Source Strength is below half, and Exhausted when it is depleted. As a Supreme Source, you are Fatigued when your Source Strength is below half, Exhausted when it's below 1/4, and Staggered when it is depleted.
You can use yourself as a source of Dark magic without killing yourself, but each point of Source Strength you use deals 1d4 Vile damage to you per point of Source Strength consumed. Unlike normal Vile damage, this damage cannot be healed even within a Hallowed or Consecrated area - It can only be healed once the Source Strength you expended regenerates on its own.
Storing Magic
You can attempt to store magic for later use, in an object. Doing so requires a 10-minute ritual, and a masterwork or enchanted object - The vessel for holding the magic - Worth at least 5,000gp per point of Source Strength you're trying to store. Once stored, it remains stored indefinitely until the magic is used, or the item is broken. However, if the ritual is not completed once begun, or is interrupted for even a single round (Treat as concentrating on a spell, spell level equal to the amount of Source Strength you're storing, minus 1), the energy is lost and dissipates.
Wands, staves, scrolls, and other magical items that have spells in them, are actually just magic stored in this way, with the appropriate glyphs and incantations included in or on the item to create the appropriate spell effect, but this require the appropriate feats and spells to create as normal.
Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Variant Rules
