MP 047 - D20 - The Book of Experimental Might
MP 047 - D20 - The Book of Experimental Might
MP 047 - D20 - The Book of Experimental Might
PDF Version 1
February 2008
®
©2008 Monte J. Cook
Requires use of the Dungeons & Dragons®
Core Books, Third Edition, published
by Wizards of the Coast®, Inc.
®
BOOK THE
OF EXPERIMENTAL
MIGHT A sourcebook by your request
By Monte Cook
Requires use of the Dungeons & Dragons® Third Edition Core Books, published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
This book utilizes updated material from the v. 3.5 revision.
Additional Credits
Editing and Production: Sue Weinlein Cook
Cover Illustration: Kieran Yanner
Interior Illustrations: Kev Crossley, Eric Lofgren,Jennifer Meyer,
Scott Purdy, Arne Swekel, Tyler Walpole, and Kieran Yanner
Cover Design: Peter Whitley and Caroline McKee • Interior Page Design: Peter Whitley
Playtesters: Sue Cook, Matt Filla, Mark Karau, Jacquelynn Karau, Tod Gagliano,
Sarah Schneider, Keith Strohm, and Kent Wayson
“d20 System” and the “d20 System” logo are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and are used according to the terms of
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the Coast® are registered trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and are used with permission. Malhavoc is a registered
trademark and Eldritch Might is a trademark owned by Monte J. Cook. All rights reserved. All other content ©2008 Monte J. Cook. All rights reserved.
The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned.
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Designation of Open Game Content: Subject to the Product Identity designation above, the following portions of The Book of Experimental Might are designated as
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2 The Book of Experimental Might
Table of Contents
Introduction: ONE MORE TIME Chapter Four: PLAYING THE GAME
Overview ...........................................................3 Hit Points ........................................................33
Using This Book ...............................................3 Why Grace and Health?................................................33
Design Decisions: More Hit Points ....................................33
Chapter One: CLASSES Disabled, Dying, and Dead ..........................................34
Clerics, Druids, and Wizards ........................5 Magical Healing ...........................................................34
Sidebar: Twenty Levels of Spells .....................................6 Design Decisions: Magical Healing ..................................34
Spells per Level...............................................................6 Shielding Others .........................................................34
Design Decisions: New Spell Progression .........................6
Cleric Disciplines ..........................................................6
Poison ..............................................................34
Design Decisions: Divine Presence ......................................7 Actions in Combat .........................................35
Design Decisions: Healing ...................................................8 Drawing an Item............................................................35
Design Decisions: Turn Undead ...........................................8 Readying/Delaying........................................................35
Druid Disciplines................................................................9 Standing Up....................................................................35
Design Decisions: Druid Disciplines .................................11 Taking a Breather .........................................................35
Wizard Disciplines ............................................................12 Design Decisions: Breathers ..............................................35
Design Decisions: Familiars ................................................15
Chapter Five: MAGIC
Paladins and Rangers....................................17 Magic Item Pricing and Spellcasting
Paladin Disciplines .......................................................17 Costs................................................................36
Ranger Disciplines .......................................................18
Spell Lists .......................................................36
Bards and Sorcerers ....................................21 Cleric Spells .................................................................36
Runeblade........................................................21 Design Decisions: Virtually No “Save or Die” ..................37
Design Decisions: The Runeblade ......................................22 Design Decisions: Missing Spells .....................................40
Design Decisions: Runeblades in Play ..............................26 Druid Spells ...................................................................41
Wizard Spells ................................................................44
Chapter Two: SKILLS Spell Descriptions........................................50
Background Skills ........................................27 Design Decisions: Arcane Lock and Knock.......................52
Identifying Magic Items...............................27 Design Decisions: The Stat-Boosting Spells ...................55
New Versions of Old Skills .........................27 Design Decisions: No Raise Dead .......................................72
Concentration..............................................................27 Design Decisions: Animal and Monster Form Spells .....76
Design Decisions: Concentration .....................................27 Magic Items ....................................................82
Intimidate......................................................................28 Healing Potions ...........................................................82
Tumble............................................................................29 Design Decisions: Healing Potions ..................................82
Potion and Wand Levels..............................................82
Move Silently and Hide................................29 New Items.......................................................................82
Sneak ..............................................................................29
Appendix
Chapter Three: FEATS Open Game License........................................84
Gaining Feats .................................................30
Swapping Feats...............................................30
Design Decisions: A Feat Every Level ................................30
Feat List ..........................................................30
Feat Descriptions..........................................30
Design Decisions: Metamagic .............................................32
Introduction
3
One More Time
I had thought I was done. I had righted the wrongs done to me, achieved the victories I strove for,
bested those foes that deserved it, and in the end spared a few that seemed worthy of such consideration.
Some thought I had grown soft by that time. But my adventures were complete. My traveling days were done. I had
accomplished more than any mortal dared dream. I had held the very stars in my hands and crushed empires beneath my
heel. I had forgotten more magical lore than most arcanists had ever contemplated. Although lesser, unenlightened folk
thought me arrogant, surely I had earned a respite from petty struggles and the conflicts of younger mages—had I not?
Yet I found that even I was not entirely master of the Fates—no, not even lord of my own. I discovered that
I must take up my shadowstaff and leave my otherworldly island home one last time.
The multiverse would experience the might of its most terrible son once more.
—Malhavoc
the disciplines in Chapter One rely on the idea that all characters the actual rules. I write sourcebooks, rulebooks, and adventures to
get a new feat each level, as described in Chapter Three. The new be used, not just read, and when you’re trying to reference a rule or
metamagic feats in Chapter Three depend on the twenty-level an encounter, a lot of talk muddles things up.
spell progression to function. And so on. So, if you decide to pick Talking here about what this book is reminds me of what it is
and choose rules from this book to use, do so carefully. not. It is not an indictment on the existing rules at all. There is no
Because this is a book of my own house rules, I’ve annotated it presumption here that these changes are better than the Core
heavily—much more than I usually do—to show you not only Rules. They merely exist as an alternative—a change of pace. An
what rules I have changed, but why. You’ll find numerous asides, experiment. Something for you to play around with, particularly if
many of them set apart as sidebars, that explain why I use a partic- your group has been using the existing rules for a long time and
ular new rule or suggest some things to consider if you’re thinking you feel like mixing things up a bit.
about using it. In many ways, the rules here are very generous and make charac-
In retrospect, maybe I should have done more of this in my pre- ters more powerful across the board. Of course, what’s good for the
vious books. On some level, I suppose I always thought it was fun PCs is good for the NPCs, too. As I’ve pointed out to my players
for readers to look at a rule and figure out on their own why it was numerous times, I love making NPCs with all the extra feats (see
(or maybe wasn’t) a good idea. Lots of author notes and commen- Chapter Three). The goal, however, is simply to make things more
tary can get heavy handed. In fact, as strange as it may sound, I fun. These rules and changes address what the game has become
loathe reading most designer’s/author’s notes or behind-the-scenes after so many years of play, and—just as importantly—what we’ve all
commentary. In many cases, these notes become a self-aggrandizing become: players and DMs who have lots of experience with the rules.
opportunity to bash existing rules, and nobody wants that. Mostly, Monte Cook
though, I never wanted my designer’s blather to get in the way of February 2008
Malhavoc Press
Malhavoc Press is Monte Cook’s d20 System imprint devoted to the publication of evocative game elements that go beyond tradi-
tional fantasy. Malhavoc products such as Ptolus, Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved, and The Complete Book of Eldritch Might exhibit a
mastery of the d20 System rules that only one of its original designers can offer. Current titles are available to purchase in print or
electronic (PDF) format at <www.montecook.com>.
Chapter One
5
Classes
Anyone with experience in esoteric matters knows that the practice of magic takes many forms. Spells are only the
most obvious and straightforward way to harness arcane and divine power. Runes, disciplines, magic items, rituals,
skills, and inherent abilities are other ways—each with its own set of attendant strengths and weaknesses.
—Malhavoc
SPELLS BY LEVEL
Level Enhancement
2nd Ability score boost*: The animal’s Strength, Constitution, and
Dexterity increase by +2.
4th Evasion: The animal companion gains the Evasion ability.
8th Damage reduction: The animal companion has DR 5/silver.
10th Second companion: You gain an additional companion appropriate for
your level. You cannot have more than two.
12th Spell resistance: The animal companion has SR equal to 11 + your
druid level.
18th Third companion: If you chose the second companion enhancement,
you may have a third companion. You cannot have more than three.
* You may select this enhancement more than once; its effects stack.
Debilitating Touch
Using a free action and at least one free hand, you arm yourself with harmful
magical energies. Your next touch inflicts 1d6 points of negative energy damage
+ 1d6 points per three caster levels. Further, targets who fail a Fortitude saving
throw (DC 10 + half your level + your Wisdom bonus) become fatigued. The
damage heals undead creatures, although in a given day you can use it to heal
only a number of different undead individuals equal to 1 + your Wisdom
modifier + your level.
You may enhance Debilitating Touch as follows:
Chapter One: Classes
11
Level Enhancement
Design Decisions: Druid Disciplines
4th Exhaustion: Target is exhausted rather than fatigued.
6th Enhanced potency: DC is +3 higher than normal. Disciplines for the druid are different than those for the cleric
and wizard. The druid’s disciplines mostly replace her class-
10th Greater damage*: Target suffers an additional 1d6 points based abilities rather than replacing her spells. This may seem
of damage (total damage dice cannot exceed 1d6 per two like a net loss for the class, but some of the discipline effects
caster levels). are markedly more potent than the abilities they replace. First
and foremost, the druid’s Wild Shape discipline is a constant
12th Stun: If saving throw fails, target is stunned for 1 round in effect; a druid who starts with this discipline at 1st level
addition to other effects becomes a major shapeshifter-style class—even more than the
* You may select this enhancement more than once; its effects stack. class already was. It’s very potent. DMs probably should not
allow multiclass character to take only one level of druid just to
get access to this ability.
Healing Touch Lastly, druids get more disciplines than clerics or wizards,
Using a standard action and at least one free hand, you heal another mainly because their spells are slightly inferior. However, they
living creature 1d8 points + 1 point per level. While there is no limit still have to give up feats to gain new disciplines or enhance-
ments, so it is unlikely that this factor will be unbalancing.
to the number of times each day you can use this ability, in a given
day you can use it to heal only a number of different individuals
equal to 1 + your Wisdom modifier + your level.
You may enhance Healing Touch as follows: Aura Strength: An aura’s power depends on a spell’s functioning
spell level or an item’s caster level as follows:
Level Enhancement 5th or lower Faint aura
2nd Harm undead: You can use this ability to harm undead, 6th–11th Moderate aura
inflicting with a touch attack the amount of damage you 12th–20th Strong aura
would normally heal. 21st+ (artifact or deity level) Overwhelming aura
4th Experienced use: Using this discipline does not provoke an
attack of opportunity. If an aura falls into more than one category, Magic Senses indi-
6th Greater healing*: You add 1d8 points of healing to each cates the stronger of the two.
touch (total healing dice cannot exceed 1d8 per two caster
levels). Lingering Aura: A magical aura lingers after its original source
8th Healing link: Rather than convey this effect by touch, you dissipates (in the case of a spell) or is destroyed (in the case of a
heal at range up to 25 feet + 5 feet per two levels. magic item). A lingering aura has an aura strength of dim (even
* You may select this enhancement more than once; weaker than a faint aura). How long the aura lingers at this dim level
its effects stack. depends on its original power:
Faint lingers 1d6 rounds
Magic Senses Moderate lingers 1d6 minutes
You sense moderate or stronger magical auras on creatures and Strong lingers 1d6 × 10 minutes
objects you can see within 60 feet. This is not an action. You can feel Overwhelming lingers 1d6 days
dim (lingering) or stronger magical auras on creatures and objects
you touch using a standard action. Magical areas, multiple types of Nature’s Affinity
magic, or strong local magical emanations may distort or conceal You have a particular affinity with nature, which grants you a +2
weaker auras. Enchantments and illusions cannot be seen or felt in bonus to Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks and a +4 bonus
this way. Nyst’s magic aura often hides magical traps. on saving throws against the spell-like abilities of fey (such as
You may enhance Magic Senses as follows: dryads, pixies, and sprites).
Further, you can use body language, vocalizations, and
Level Enhancement demeanor to improve the attitude of an animal (such as a bear or
2nd Detection: Using a standard action, you can detect magical monitor lizard). This ability functions just like a Diplomacy check
auras through barriers: up to 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of com- made to improve the attitude of a person; roll 1d20 and add your
mon metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt. druid level + your Charisma modifier. The typical domestic animal
2nd Reading: You can automatically read all scrolls or other has a starting attitude of indifferent, while wild animals are usual-
common magical writings. ly unfriendly.
4th Enhanced aura vision: You can sense faint or stronger To use this ability, you and the animal must be able to study each
magical auras. other, which means that you must be within 30 feet of one another
6th Enchantment sight: You can sense enchantment auras. under normal conditions. Generally, influencing an animal in this
12th Illusion sight: You can sense illusion auras. way takes one minute but, as with influencing people, it might take
more or less time, depending on the situation.
12 The Book of Experimental Might
You can also use this ability to improve the attitude of a magical form must be that of an animal you are familiar with. For example,
beast with an Intelligence score of 1 or 2 (such as a basilisk or giral- if you have never been outside a temperate forest, you could not
lon), but you suffer a –4 penalty on the check. become a polar bear.
You may enhance Nature’s Affinity as follows: You lose your ability to speak while in animal form because you
are limited to the sounds that a normal, untrained animal can
Level Enhancement make. However, you can communicate normally with other animals
2nd Woodland stride: You may move through any sort of of the same general grouping as the new form; for example, if you
undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown take on the shape of a bird, you can talk with all other birds. (Note
areas, and similar terrain) at your normal speed and that a wild parrot’s normal sound is a squawk, so changing to this
without taking damage or suffering any other impair- form does not permit speech.) While in animal form, you cannot
ment. However, thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that cast spells or use disciplines other than this one, Animal
have been magically manipulated to impede motion still Companion, and Nature’s Affinity.
affect you. You leave no trail in natural surroundings and You may enhance Wild Shape as follows:
cannot be tracked. (You may choose to leave a trail if so
desired.) Level Enhancement
2nd Greater influence*: You gain a +2 bonus to checks to 4th Speech: You can speak, cast spells, and use disciplines
improve the attitude of animals and magical beasts. normally while in animal form.
4th Mending: You can repair small breaks or tears in objects 6th Additional form*: You can take an additional animal
made from organic materials or stone, but not metal. shape in a given day.
Using mending, ceramic or wooden objects with multiple 8th Large and Tiny: You can take on the shape of Large and
breaks can be invisibly rejoined to be as strong as new. A Tiny creatures, although this discipline’s other limitations
hole in a leather sack or a wineskin is completely healed still apply.
over. You can repair a magic item, but the mending does 12th Plants: You can take the shape of plant creatures.
not restore the item’s magical abilities. You cannot affect 14th A thousand faces: You can change your appearance as the
creatures (including constructs) or mend warps, such as spell alter self at will, but only in your normal form.
those caused by a warp wood spell. Mending takes a half 16th Elementals: You can take the shape of elementals (and
hour. gain all their extraordinary, supernatural and spell-like
4th Speak with animals: You can communicate with animals. abilities while in that form).
6th Speak with plants: You can communicate with plants, 20th Huge: You can take on the shape of Huge creatures,
including plant creatures. although this discipline’s other limitations still apply.
8th Immunity to venom: You are immune to poison. * You may select this enhancement more than once; its effects stack.
10th Elemental resistance: You gain cold resistance 10, electrici-
ty resistance 10, and fire resistance 10. Wizard Disciplines
. * You may select this enhancement more than once; its effects stack. Disciplines are abilities that wizards can use as often as they wish.
Their effects are spell-like abilities, which means they can be dis-
Wild Shape pelled or suppressed. Some discipline effects must be activated as
You can turn yourself into any Small or Medium animal and back described below, while others—such as Shield of the Seraphim—
again. Your options for new forms include all creatures with the function all the time.
animal type (see the MM), but the new form’s Hit Dice can’t exceed Activating a discipline provokes attacks of opportunity.
your druid level. Once you choose a particular form for the day, you However, some disciplines, like Debilitating Touch, count as
can shift back and forth between that form and your own, but you armed attacks and thus do not provoke attacks of opportunity
can assume no other forms that day. For example, if you choose to when used. Should a discipline effect that normally requires no
become a lion in the morning, you cannot become a hawk later in activation be dispelled, it must be activated using a full-round
the day. action to resume functioning.
You gain the Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores of the Wizards begin the game with the Arcanist discipline. They also
new form but retain your own Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma choose one other discipline at 1st level; at every even-numbered
scores. You also gain all the animal’s extraordinary special attacks level thereafter, instead of gaining a feat at that level, they may
(such as constrict, improved grab, and poison) but not its extra- choose a new discipline or an enhancement to an existing one.
ordinary special qualities (such as blindsense, fast healing, and (Note that all characters using this book gain a feat each level; see
scent). You gain the animal’s feats and racial skill bonuses, but not Chapter Three.) Each discipline enhancement has a minimum level
its skill ranks. Changing form (to animal or back) is a standard requirement as described below.
action that doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity. The chosen
Chapter One: Classes
13
Arcanist
You sense moderate or stronger magical auras on creatures and objects within
60 feet that you can see. This is not an action. You can feel dim (lingering) or
stronger magical auras on creatures and objects you touch using a standard
action. Magical areas, multiple types of magic, or strong local magical emanations
may distort or conceal weaker auras. Enchantments and illusions cannot be seen
or felt in this way. Nyst’s magic aura often hides magical traps.
Further, using a standard action, you can create a personal arcane mark, either
visible or invisible. If an invisible mark is made, a mage using this discipline can
still see it, though not necessarily understand it. See invisibility, true seeing, a gem of
seeing, or a robe of eyes likewise allows the user to see an invisible arcane mark. The
mark cannot be dispelled, but it can be removed by the caster or by an erase spell.
If an arcane mark is placed on a living being, normal wear gradually causes the
effect to fade in about a month.
You may enhance Arcanist as follows:
Level Enhancement
2nd Detection: Using a standard action, you can detect magical auras
through barriers: up to 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal,
a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt.
2nd Reading: You can automatically read all scrolls or other common
magical writings.
4th Enhanced aura vision: You can sense faint or stronger magical auras.
6th Enchantment sight: You can sense enchantment auras.
12th Illusion sight: You can sense illusion auras.
If an aura falls into more than one category, Arcanist indicates the stronger of
the two.
Lingering Aura: A magical aura lingers after its original source dissipates (in
the case of a spell) or is destroyed (in the case of a magic item). A lingering aura
has an aura strength of dim (even weaker than a faint aura). How long the aura
lingers at this dim level depends on its original power:
Faint lingers 1d6 rounds
Moderate lingers 1d6 minutes
Strong lingers 1d6 × 10 minutes
Overwhelming lingers 1d6 days
Bolt of Bedevilment
Using a standard action and at least one free hand, you blast a bolt of magical
energy that envelops one living target. The target’s total Hit Dice cannot be more
than 2 HD higher than your own. The creature is dazed for 1 round + 1 round per
three caster levels. No attack roll is necessary, but the target may attempt a Will
saving throw to negate the attack (DC 10 + half your level + your Intelligence
bonus). The bolt’s range is 25 feet + 5 feet per two levels.
You may enhance Bolt of Bedevilment as follows:
14 The Book of Experimental Might
Level Enhancement 4th Experienced use: Using this discipline does not provoke
2nd Fascination: The target becomes fascinated rather than an attack of opportunity.
dazed. The effect lasts for as long as you concentrate 8th Chosen energy: You can choose for the bolt to inflict ener-
+ 1 round. gy damage rather than force damage.
2nd Medium range: The range of the bolt increases to 100 feet 10th Greater damage*: Target suffers an additional 1d6 points
+ 10 feet per caster level. of damage (total damage dice cannot exceed 1d6 per two
4th Experienced use: Using this discipline does not provoke caster levels).
an attack of opportunity. 14th Eye bolts: The bolt no longer requires a free hand but
6th Enhanced potency: The Will save DC is +2 higher than instead comes from your eyes. Further, you can fire a half-
normal. strength bolt (half damage, half range, –4 attack penalty)
8th Any target: There is no Hit Dice limit to your potential as a free action every other round when you don’t fire a
targets. normal bolt.
8th Multiple targets: The bolt blasts up to one target per two * You may select this enhancement more than once; its effects stack.
levels. No two targets may be more than 20 feet apart.
10th Stun: The target is stunned rather than dazed. Familiar
12th Enhanced duration: The target is dazed for 1 round per A familiar is an extension of your own soul given a quasi-real sub-
two levels. stance in the world. Often, your familiar is not visible to the other
characters—it is little more than a voice in your head, keeping you
Debilitating Touch company (after a fashion) and helping you remember things you
Using a free action and at least one free hand, you arm yourself might otherwise forget. As such, taking an extra round to consult
with harmful magical energies. Your next touch inflicts 1d6 points your familiar grants you a +1 bonus to any Intelligence-based skill
of negative energy damage + 1d6 points per three caster levels. check.
Further, targets who fail a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + half When you take a standard action to focus upon your familiar, you
your level + your Intelligence bonus) become fatigued. The damage can make it manifest as any Tiny animal you wish. It is important to
heals undead creatures, although in a given day you can use it to note that the familiar is not an animal, but a spiritual creation—it is
heal only a number of different undead individuals equal to 1 + not a true “creature” in the most basic sense, so it is not subject to
your Intelligence modifier + your level. spells and attacks that target creatures. The familiar cannot move
You may enhance Debilitating Touch as follows: from a space that is not adjacent to you (i.e., the space you occupy).
A manifested familiar can speak to you aloud. It can watch your
Level Enhancement back, granting you a +2 bonus to Spot and Listen checks. It can
4th Exhaustion: The target is exhausted rather than fatigued. also help remember important parts of spells for you, allowing you
6th Enhanced potency: The Fortitude DC is +3 higher than to cast all spells with a +1 bonus to caster level.
normal. If any other creature (ally or otherwise) touches a manifested
10th Greater damage*: The target suffers an additional 1d6 familiar, the familiar disappears for 1d10 rounds. During this peri-
points of damage (total damage dice cannot exceed 1d6 od you suffer a –1 penalty to caster level. Familiars use your Armor
per two caster levels). Class and cannot be touched by accident—only by intentional
12th Stun: If the saving throw fails, the target is stunned for choice. (Doing so is considered the height of rudeness, but it can
1 round in addition to other effects. be a useful tactic in a fight.) Ranged attacks targeting a familiar
* You may select this enhancement more than once; its effects stack. always miss. Area of effect attacks do not harm them—other than
being dispelled by the touch of someone other than you, a familiar
Eldritch Bolt cannot be harmed or affected in any way. Likewise, the manifested
Using a standard action and at least one free hand, you blast a bolt familiar cannot attack, nor can it manipulate objects, other than
of magical energy that inflicts 1d6 points of force damage + 1d6 very minor changes to your gear: It can crawl into your pocket, hide
points of force damage per three caster levels. To use this discipline, up your sleeve, and so forth.
you must succeed at a ranged touch attack. The bolt’s range is 25 A familiar that you ignore even for a moment stops manifesting.
feet + 5 feet per two levels. Mainly, this occurrence is up to the DM’s discretion. A player can-
You may enhance Eldritch Bolt as follows: not say, “I keep my familiar manifested all the time,” because no
one can maintain that kind of concentration and hope to accom-
Level Enhancement plish anything else. As a rule of thumb, assume that if you manifest
2nd Attack bonus: You gain a +2 bonus on your ranged touch your familiar, it remains for 10 rounds or the duration of an
attack for the bolt. encounter, whichever is longer. The familiar of a sleeping, stunned,
2nd Long range: The bolt’s range increases to 400 feet + 40 or unconscious wizard always stops manifesting.
feet per caster level. You may enhance Familiar as follows:
Chapter One: Classes
15
Level Enhancement
Design Decisions: Familiars
4th Extended range: Your manifested familiar can move up to
5 feet per level away from you, allowing it to scout or spy for My problem with familiars has little to do with the rules and
everything to do with how they end up getting used. Basically,
you. It cannot communicate with you unless it is adjacent nine out of ten casters forget they’ve got a little ferret or toad
to you, however, or unless you have the extended link or whatever with them nine out of every ten sessions. “Oh
enhancement. yeah,” they’ll say. “I forgot about my little snake familiar. He
probably should have died when I fell into that pit of acid three
6th Extended link: A familiar that has moved away from you sessions back.”
can still communicate with you mentally. So, with a slight tip of the hat to the daemons of the His Dark
6th Aligned form: Henceforth, your familiar takes on the Materials books by Philip Pullman, I have re-envisioned famil-
appearance of a Tiny humanoid creature that suits your iars as mostly immaterial creatures that hang around when you
remember them and kind of fade away when you don’t. Thus,
alignment: a little angelic being if you are good, and a tiny these familiars fit however the wizard wants to use them.
devil if you are evil. A manifested familiar in this form
I also like the fact that not all wizards will have familiars. I
increases by +1 the save DC of spells cast against targets of think they should be somewhat rare, actually. Only a certain
the opposing alignment (evil targets if you are good, good sort of spellcaster will want one.
targets if you are evil). If you are neither good nor evil, you Players who are used to conventional familiars may need some
cannot use this enhancement. time to wrap their heads around the idea that these new famil-
iars are (at least at first) just extensions of themselves, and
8th Otherplanar spirit: The familiar is imbued with an other- don’t know anything that they don’t know. Likewise, they will
dimensional spirit of the same alignment as your own. have to adjust to the fact that these familiars are spiritual—not
Henceforth, it can offer insights beyond your own knowl- physical—beings, in no way tied to the form of just one animal
when they do make an appearance.
edge, adding an additional +2 bonus to Intelligence-based
checks. The DM can choose occasionally to play the famil-
iar as an NPC offering advice or instruction.
10th Elemental form: Henceforth, your familiar takes on the 14th Greater range: Your manifested familiar can move up to 50
appearance of a Tiny humanoid creature composed of one feet per level away from you, allowing it to scout or spy for
of the four elements. Once per day, for 1 round per level, it you. It cannot communicate with you unless it is adjacent,
can take the form of a Medium version of the elemental in however, or unless you have the extended link enhance-
question. The elemental acts as you decide (but cannot ment.
move from you without the extended range enhancement). 16th Greater elemental form: If you have adopted the elemental
In this fully functional material form, the familiar can affect form enhancement, your elemental familiar can take the
objects and even fight. Others can touch it without dis- form of a greater elemental.
pelling it, but spells and ranged attacks can target it just 18th Elder elemental form: If you have adopted the elemental
like any elemental. If it is slain, the familiar becomes dor- form enhancement, your elemental familiar can take the
mant for twenty-four hours, offering you no benefits. form of an elder elemental.
10th Greater aligned form: If you have adopted the (evil) aligned
form enhancement, your familiar can take the form of an Gifts of Magic
imp (if you are lawful), a quasit (if you are chaotic) or either Using a standard action, you can perform minor tricks. The effects
(if you are neutral). You can activate this effect once per day; are minimal and have severe limitations. Below are examples of what
it lasts 1 round per level. The fiend acts as you decide (but you can accomplish with this discipline:
cannot move from you without the extended range enhance- • You can slowly lift 1 lb. of material.
ment). In this fully functional material form, the familiar • You can color, clean, or soil items in a 1-foot cube each round.
can affect objects and even fight. Others can touch it with- • You can chill, warm, or flavor 1 lb. of nonliving material.
out dispelling it, but spells and ranged attacks can target it • You can create a volume of sound that rises, recedes, approach-
just like any outsider. If it is slain, the familiar becomes dor- es, or remains at a fixed place. You can produce as much noise as
mant for twenty-four hours, offering you no benefits. one normal human per caster level. Thus, you can use this disci-
If you are good, the familiar takes the form of a small pline to create talking, singing, shouting, walking, marching, or
winged angelic being of lawful good or chaotic good align- running sounds. The noise can be virtually any type of sound
ment. This being has the same statistics as an imp (if you within the volume limit. A horde of rats running and squeaking
are lawful), a quasit, (if you are chaotic), or either one (if is about the same volume as eight humans running and shout-
you are neutral). If you are neither good nor evil, you can- ing. A roaring lion is equal to the noise of sixteen humans, while
not use this enhancement. a roaring dire tiger is equal to the noise of twenty humans.
12th Large elemental form: If you have adopted the elemental • You can create small objects, but they look crude and artificial.
form enhancement, your elemental familiar can take the The materials are extremely fragile and cannot be used as tools,
form of a Large elemental instead of Medium once per day. weapons, or spell components.
16 The Book of Experimental Might
You cannot use Gifts of Magic to deal damage or affect the con- Level Enhancement
centration of spellcasters. The discipline’s effects lack the power to 4th Unseen servant: The telekinetic effect can act independ-
duplicate any other spell effects. Any actual change to an object ently of you, exactly as described in the unseen servant spell
(beyond just moving, cleaning, or soiling it) persists only one hour. in the Core Rules. You cannot use this effect while using
Common tricks include producing ethereal music, brightening the base Telekinesis discipline effect.
faded flowers, creating glowing balls that float over your hand, gener- 4th Experienced use: Using this discipline does not provoke
ating puffs of wind to flicker candles, spicing up aromas and flavors of an attack of opportunity.
bland food, and making little whirlwinds to sweep dust under rugs. 6th Fine manipulation: You can manipulate objects as if you
You may enhance Gifts of Magic as follows: were using one hand. This allows you to untie knots, open
jars, and so forth. You can even write with a quill, albeit
Level Enhancement crudely.
4th Mending: You can repair small breaks or tears in objects. 6th Medium range: The range of the telekinesis increases to
Using mending, you can weld a broken metallic object 100 feet + 10 feet per caster level.
such as a ring, chain link, medallion, or slender dagger, 8th Creatures: You can affect creatures as well as objects.
providing only one break exists. Ceramic or wooden 10th Greater capacity: The effect’s weight limit increases by
objects with multiple breaks can be invisibly rejoined to be 100 lbs.
as strong as new. A hole in a leather sack or a wineskin is 12th Violent thrust: You use telekinesis to hurl an object at
completely healed over. You can repair a magic item, but another object within 20 feet. To hit the target object, you
the mending does not restore the item’s magical abilities. must succeed on an attack roll using your base attack
You cannot affect creatures (including constructs) or bonus + your Intelligence modifier. Weapons cause stan-
mend warps, such as those caused by a warp wood spell. dard damage (with no Strength bonus; note that arrows
Mending takes a half hour. or bolts deal damage as daggers of their size when used in
this manner). Other objects cause damage ranging from
Shield of the Seraphim 1 point per 25 lbs. (for less dangerous objects such as bar-
An invisible field of magical force constantly protects you. You gain rels) to 1d6 points per 25 lbs. (for hard, dense objects
an armor bonus to Armor Class of +2 plus 1 additional point per such as boulders), up to a maximum of 10d6 points of
four caster levels. damage total.
You may enhance Shield of the Seraphim as follows: 10th Extra fine manipulation: You can manipulate objects as if
you were using two hands. This allows you to tie knots
Level Enhancement and perform similarly intricate actions.
2nd Hardened shield*: You enjoy an additional +1 bonus (but 16th Maximum capacity: The effect’s weight limit increases by
may not total more than +1 per two levels). 500 lbs.
6th Thickened shield: You gain damage reduction 2/magic.
8th Energy shield*: You gain resistance 10 to one energy type Telepathy
of your choosing (once you choose the energy type, it can- You can carry on a mental conversation with a single intelligent
not change). target at a distance of 100 feet per level. Using this discipline
8th Shared protection*: You can extend the shield to any one requires a standard action to establish the connection; thereafter
adjacent creature. no action is required for one minute per wizard level; at that point,
16th Insight: Rather than a shield of force, the armor bonus to it must be reestablished. Unwilling targets may attempt a Will sav-
Armor Class changes to an insight bonus. This shift ing throw to resist (DC 10 + half your level + your Intelligence
reflects your growing supernatural awareness. bonus). This discipline is language dependent.
* You may select this enhancement more than once; its effects stack. You may enhance Telepathy as follows:
Divine Inspiration
Using a standard action, you grant all allies within 30 feet a +1 luck
bonus to the following:
• attack and damage rolls; or
• saving throws, ability checks, and skill checks; or
• Armor Class
This bonus increases by +1 every five levels. The effect lasts for
1 round per level before it must be renewed.
You may enhance Divine Inspiration as follows:
Level Enhancement
4th Continuous: Although the bonus is only half normal, put-
ting it into effect requires no action. Designating which
bonus to grant is a free action that can be performed once
each round.
8th Two choices: The luck bonus applies to two of the three
choices listed above.
14th All choices: The luck bonus applies to all three choices.
Divine Presence
When allies touch you, or even the hem of your clothing, they are
blessed with healing. This requires no action on your part but calls
18 The Book of Experimental Might
Healing Touch equal to or less than your own. This creature is frightened and
Using a standard action and at least one free hand, you heal anoth- forced to flee for 1 round + 1 round per three caster levels. No attack
er living creature 1d8 points + 1 point per level. While there is no roll is necessary, but the target may attempt a Will saving throw to
limit to the number of times each day you can use this ability, in a negate the attack (DC 10 + half your level + your Charisma bonus).
given day you can use it to heal only a number of different individ- The range of the turning is 25 feet + 5 feet per two levels. For more
uals equal to 1 + your Wisdom modifier + your level (see “Healing” on turning, see the sidebar on page 8.
sidebar, page 8). You may enhance Turn Undead as follows:
You may enhance Healing Touch as follows:
Level Enhancement
Level Enhancement 2nd Damage: Rather than fleeing, the target suffers 1d6 points
2nd Harm undead: You can use this ability to harm undead, of damage plus 1d6 points per two caster levels.
inflicting with a touch attack the amount of damage you 4th Medium range: The range of the turning increases to 100
would normally heal. feet + 10 feet per caster level.
4th Greater healing*: You add 1d8 points of healing to each 4th Immobility: The target is held motionless rather than
touch (total healing dice cannot exceed 1d8 per two caster afraid; the effect lasts as long as you concentrate, plus
levels). 1 additional round.
4th Experienced use: Using this discipline does not provoke 4th Experienced use: Using this discipline does not provoke
an attack of opportunity. an attack of opportunity.
8th Healing link: Rather than convey this effect by touch, you 6th Enhanced potency*: The Will save DC is +2 higher than
heal at a range of up to 25 feet + 5 feet per two levels. normal.
* You may select this enhancement more than once; its effects stack. 8th Any target: You can affect any undead creature regardless
of Hit Dice.
Holy Aura 10th Demons: You can affect evil outsiders as well as undead
A faint halo of divine power surrounds you. You gain a deflection with this discipline.
bonus to Armor Class of +1 plus 1 additional point per five levels. 14th Evil casters: You can affect evil divine spellcasters with
You may enhance Holy Aura as follows: this discipline.
* You may select this enhancement more than once; its effects stack.
Level Enhancement
2nd Greater halo*: You enjoy an additional +1 bonus (but may
not total more than +1 per four levels). Ranger Disciplines
6th Mighty halo: You gain damage reduction 2/magic. Disciplines are abilities that rangers can use as often as they wish.
8th Energy protection*: You gain resistance 10 to one energy Their effects are spell-like abilities, which means they can be dis-
type of your choosing (once you choose the energy type, pelled or suppressed. Some discipline effects must be activated as
it cannot change). described below, while others—such as Animal Companion—are
8th Shared protection*: You can extend the Holy Aura to any always functioning.
one adjacent creature. Activating a discipline provokes attacks of opportunity. Should a
* You may select this enhancement more than once; its effects stack. discipline effect that normally requires no activation be dispelled, it
must be activated using a full-round action to resume functioning.
Holy Weapon A ranger chooses one discipline at 1st level; at every third level
Any weapon in your hands is considered good, with regard to the thereafter (3rd, 6th, 9th, etc.), instead of gaining a feat, he may
type of damage it inflicts. choose a new discipline or an enhancement to an existing one.
You may enhance Holy Weapon as follows: (Note that all characters using this book gain a feat each level; see
Chapter Three.) Each discipline enhancement has a minimum level
Level Enhancement requirement as described below.
2nd Confirmed criticals: All critical strikes against evil foes are
automatically confirmed. Animal Companion
8th Holy damage: If the weapon in your hands is not already You may select an animal companion from the following list:*
holy, it gains that weapon quality. • Badger
• Camel
Turn Undead • Dire rat
Using a standard action and at least one free hand, you force one • Dog or riding dog
undead target to flee. The undead creature’s total Hit Dice must be • Eagle
19
• Hawk
• Horse (light or heavy)
• Owl
• Pony
• Snake (Small or Medium viper)
• Wolf
* If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the DM
may add the following creatures to the ranger’s options: crocodile, porpoise,
Medium shark, and squid.
14th Level or Higher (Level –12) MM Section To use this ability, you and the animal must be able to study each
Bear, brown Animal other, which means that you must be within 30 feet of one another
Crocodile, giant Animal under normal conditions. Generally, influencing an animal in this
Deinonychus Dinosaur way takes one minute but, as with influencing people, it might take
Dire ape Dire animal more or less time.
Dire boar Dire animal You can also use this ability to improve the attitude of a magical
Dire wolf Dire animal beast with an Intelligence score of 1 or 2 (such as a basilisk or giral-
Dire wolverine Dire animal lon), but you suffer a –4 penalty on the check.
Elasmosaurus* Dinosaur You may enhance Nature’s Affinity as follows:
Lion Animal
Rhinoceros Animal Level Enhancement
Snake, Huge viper Animal 2nd Woodland stride: You may move through any sort of
Tiger Animal undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown
areas, and similar terrain) at your normal speed and with-
20th Level or Higher (Level –18) MM Section out taking damage or suffering any other impairment.
Bear, polar Animal However, thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that have
Dire lion Dire animal been magically manipulated to impede motion still affect
Megaraptor Dinosaur you. You leave no trail in natural surroundings and cannot
Shark, Huge* Animal be tracked. (You may choose to leave a trail if so desired.)
Snake, giant constrictor Animal 2nd Greater influence*: You gain a +2 bonus to checks to
Whale, orca* Animal improve the attitude of animals and magical beasts.
* Available only in aquatic environments.
4th Speak with animals: You can communicate with animals.
6th Speak with plants: You can communicate with plants,
You may enhance Animal Companion as follows: including plant creatures.
8th Immunity to venom: You are immune to poison.
Level Enhancement 10th Elemental resistance: You gain cold resistance 10, electrici-
2nd Ability score boost*: The animal’s Strength, Constitution, ty resistance 10, and fire resistance 10.
and Dexterity increase by +2. * You may select this enhancement more than once; its effects stack.
4th Evasion: The animal companion gains the Evasion ability
8th Damage reduction: The animal companion has DR 5/silver. Nature’s Movement
10th Second companion: You gain an additional companion You enjoy a +10 bonus to your speed and gain an additional +10
appropriate for your level. You cannot have more than bonus to your speed every five levels (at 5th, 10th, etc.). Further,
two. you add half your ranger level (rounded up) as a bonus to your
12th Spell resistance: The animal companion has SR equal to Balance, Climb, and Jump skill checks.
11 + your ranger level. You may enhance Nature’s Movement as follows:
18th Third companion: If you chose the second companion
enhancement, you may have a third companion. You can- Level Enhancement
not have more than three. 8th Water walk: You can walk or run on water as if it were
* You may select this enhancement more than once; its effects stack. solid.
Rune of Locking: This is an enchanted object rune. It seals a door, +8, and the ultimate rune adds +10. A runeblade must know a rune’s
lid, or other portal like an arcane lock spell (see Chapter Five: Magic). location to erase it. Erasing a rune you created is a standard action;
Rune of Protection: Applied to the runeblade’s armor, this enchant- otherwise, it takes a full minute.
ed object rune adds a +1 luck bonus to his Armor Class. It must be Runic Weapon (Su): The runeblade selects a bladed weapon that
applied to armor, and only to the runeblade’s armor. Like all he is proficient with and inscribes it with personal runes to make it
enchanted object runes, it lasts one day per class level. his runic weapon. A runeblade can have only one such weapon, and
Rune of Rest: Anyone affected by this applied rune heals at double it must be a physical weapon (not the creation of a spell), although
the rate she normally would. This effect lasts for twenty-four hours it can be enhanced with magic already. The weapon enjoys a +1
while the subject rests. enhancement bonus in the runeblade’s hands only. At 4th level, and
Rune of Sleep: This touch-trigger rune requires one who touches it at every four runeblade levels afterward, this bonus increases by +1
to succeed at a Will save (DC 10 + half runeblade’s level + Intelligence (to a maximum of +5). The weapon does not have to be masterwork
bonus) or fall asleep for 1d4 rounds. The target must have Hit Dice to use it as a runic weapon, but if the runeblade ever wants to
equal to or fewer than the runeblade’s; otherwise she merely becomes enhance it with weapon special abilities, such as keen or dancing, it
dazed for 1d4 rounds. This is an enchantment (compulsion) effect. must be masterwork. The runic weapon ability provides enough of
Rune of Warding: This touch-trigger rune has two different powers. an enhancement bonus to give the blade special abilities without
If placed upon an object, it is a trap that forces the victim to drop the first giving it at least a +1 enhancement bonus using the normal item
object and not touch it again for one day per class level, unless she creation rules.
succeeds at a Will saving throw (DC 10 + half runeblade’s level + The runic weapon gains a small modicum of sentience via the
Intelligence bonus). If the rune is placed upon a surface, the victim runes. It has a very basic empathic link with the runeblade, so the
instead refuses to cross over or come within 10 feet of the surface for character always knows where the weapon is (distance and direction).
one day per class level, unless successful in the saving throw. This is A runeblade can create a new runic weapon, but this results in the
an enchantment (compulsion) effect as well as a fear effect. destruction of the previous one, if it still exists.
Erase Rune (Sp): A runeblade can attempt to erase the runes he Starting at 6th level, the runic weapon—unless the runeblade
encounters. He can always erase his own runes without fail. If the mentally commands it not to—strikes at anyone other than the
rune was created by another runeblade, he can make a caster level runeblade who picks it up or attempts to use it. The weapon strikes
check (DC 10 + creator’s level) to erase it. An advanced rune adds +4 once per round until dropped, using the runeblade’s attack bonuses.
to this Difficulty Class, a greater rune adds +6, a rune of power adds Resolve the attack as if the runeblade were wielding the weapon.
24 The Book of Experimental Might
Beginning at 9th level, the runeblade can summon his runic Rune of Charming: Anyone touching this touch-trigger rune must
weapon to his hand as a standard action. The weapon can be up to attempt a Will saving throw (DC 10 + half runeblade’s level +
10 miles away per class level, although if it is in someone else’s pos- Intelligence bonus). If unsuccessful, the target reacts to the runeblade
session or in a locked room, the runeblade must make a caster level for one minute per class level as if the runeblade’s Charisma score
check (DC 25) to summon it. Starting at 14th level, this summons had a +10 bonus. If the runeblade is not within sight of the target
becomes a free action, usable once per round. creature, there is no effect. This is an enchantment (charm) effect.
Sense Rune (Su): A 3rd-level and higher runeblade can make a Rune of Communication: Two or more of these enchanted object
check (d20 + runeblade’s level + Intelligence modifier) to sense runes must exist for any of them to function. Anyone holding an
whether an invisible or otherwise hidden rune lies within 10 feet of object bearing this rune can communicate telepathically with anyone
him. The Difficulty Class for the check is 11 + the creator’s level. It else with one of these runes within 1 mile. The runes must all be cre-
takes a standard action to sense a rune. After a round of sensing, ated by the same runeblade in order for any of them to function.
the runeblade can sense the direction of the closest unknown rune. Rune of Enrichment: This enchanted object rune grants a +1 luck
A runeblade who spends another round sensing can determine the bonus to the runeblade’s runic weapon or his armor or shield. This
rune’s strength (lesser, advanced, etc.) This ability also works with luck bonus works like an enhancement bonus, except that it stacks
runic spells, such as glyph of warding or symbol spell, in which case with enhancement bonuses and it functions only on the rune-
the runeblade learns the spell level in place of rune strength. blade’s gear.
Shimmering Shield (Sp): The 4th-level runeblade can call upon Rune of Fear: Anyone touching this touch-trigger rune must
a magical shield to surround him like a shimmering aura. This succeed at a Will saving throw (DC 10 + half runeblade’s level +
shield provides a +2 deflection bonus to Armor Class per four class Intelligence bonus) or drop what she is holding and flee for 1
levels and does not require the runeblade to wield it as a shield (he round per runeblade level. She then acts as though affected by a
keeps both hands free). The shimmering shield can be called upon, rune of warding for one day per runeblade level. This is an enchant-
as a standard action, once per day for 1 round per level. ment (compulsion) effect as well as a mind-affecting fear effect.
Invested Rune (Su): The 5th-level and higher runeblade can Rune of Healing: Anyone touching this touch-trigger rune is filled
create a rune that doubles the duration, damage, or healing of a with positive energy that heals 1d6 points of damage + 1 point per
rune he already knows. Some runes, such as a rune of communica- runeblade level. Undead that touch the rune suffer 1d6 points of
tion, gain no benefit from being invested. An invested rune counts damage. A single creature cannot be healed more than once per day
double toward the runeblade’s total rune value. by a rune of healing.
Advanced Runes: Each time the runeblade gains this ability (at Rune of Slicing: This enchanted object rune grants a runeblade’s
6th through 10th level), he learns a new advanced rune from the list runic weapon the keen special weapon quality. It functions only on
below. Each advanced rune he creates counts as 2 points toward his the runeblade’s runic weapon and no others.
total rune value. It is a full-round action to create an advanced rune. Password (Su): The 10th-level runeblade and beyond develops a
Hand Rune: With this enchanted object rune, the runeblade can special password for his runes. Now, he can touch a touch-trigger
summon an object from any distance as a standard action. The object rune without triggering it. This means, for example, that a rune-
teleports to the runeblade’s hands. The object must weigh no more blade could create a rune of affliction on his runic weapon and then
than the runeblade can lift over his head. This is a teleportation effect. pick it up safely, allowing him to strike a foe and also affect the foe
Rune of Advanced Conjuring: When touched, this touch-trigger with the rune of affliction. The runeblade may choose to have a dif-
rune summons a monster from the summon monster IV list, chosen ferent password for different runes or allow them all to use the
by the runeblade at the time of creation. The monster attacks the same one. He can give the passwords to others; however the only
creature that triggered the rune for 1 round per runeblade level (or weapon he can mark with password-protected runes is his own
until destroyed). If the runeblade triggers the rune, he can com- runic weapon. Also, the password does not render the runeblade or
mand the summoned creature and it automatically obeys, even if it anyone else who knows the password immune to the effects of the
does not understand the character’s language. A runeblade using rune once triggered. If the runeblade stands within the area of a
the invested rune ability can choose the monster from the summon rune of blasting triggered by someone else, he still suffers damage.
monster V list instead of doubling the effect’s duration. Slice Through Wardings (Su): Once per day per class level,
Rune of Augmentation: This applied rune grants a creature a +2 starting at 11th level, the runeblade can make a single attack with
enhancement bonus on an ability score of the runeblade’s choos- his runic weapon that ignores all a foe’s magic-based protections
ing. The bonus lasts for ten minutes per runeblade level. (Armor Class bonuses, stoneskin, and so on). The runeblade cannot
Rune of Blasting: If touched, this touch-trigger rune explodes use this ability to ignore spells or effects that take affect when a foe
with elemental fury, inflicting 1d6 points of damage per runeblade is attacked, like fire shield. The character must declare his use of this
level (10d6 maximum) to all within 10 feet. A successful Reflex sav- ability before making the attack.
ing throw (DC 10 + half runeblade’s level + Intelligence bonus) Familiarity With Magic (Ex): The 12th-level and higher
reduces the damage by half. The runeblade chooses the element runeblade gains a +2 competence bonus to all saving throws
when creating the rune. against spells and spell-like and supernatural abilities (including
Chapter One: Classes
25
disciplines and magic items). Further, he gains a +2 competence runeblade at the time of creation. The monster attacks the creature
bonus to Armor Class against spells with attack rolls. that triggered the rune for 1 round per runeblade level (or until
Greater Runes: Each time the runeblade gains this ability (at 11th destroyed). If the runeblade triggers the rune, he can command the
through 15th level) he learns a new greater rune from the list below. summoned creature and it automatically obeys, even if it does not
Each greater rune counts as 3 points toward his total rune value. It understand the character’s language. A runeblade using the invested
takes one minute to create a greater rune. rune ability can choose the monster from the summon monster VII list
Elemental Rune: This enchanted object rune can be placed on either instead of doubling the effect’s duration.
a runeblade’s runic weapon or his armor. If on a weapon, the weapon Rune of Resistance: The creature or object upon which this applied
inflicts an extra 1d6 points of elemental damage each time it strikes. If rune is placed gains DR 20/magic for one minute per runeblade level.
on armor, the rune gives the armor and its wearer 10 points of elemen- Rune of Understanding: This enchanted object rune allows all those
tal resistance. In either case, the runeblade chooses the element when hearing the words of the object’s wielder to understand them as if
he creates the rune. This rune functions only on the runeblade’s gear. the words were spoken in their native tongue.
Rune of Confusion: This touch-trigger rune affects not only the per- Inscribe Rune (Su): A runeblade can make one of his own runes
son touching it but all within 10 feet of that person. Everyone in permanent. Creating an inscribed rune requires one hundred times the
range must succeed at a Will saving throw (DC 10 + half runeblade’s normal amount of time. In addition, it calls for 1,000 gp worth of valu-
level + Intelligence bonus) or stand dazed for 1d10 rounds, unable to able inks or materials for a lesser rune, 4,000 gp for an advanced rune,
act except to defend themselves. 10,000 gp for a greater rune, 22,000 gp for a rune of power, and
Rune of Dominion: This applied rune is placed upon a living 50,000 gp for the ultimate rune. The rune can still be erased, but other-
humanoid creature. After it is placed, the creature must succeed at a wise it never fades. Thus, a touch-trigger rune triggers every time some-
Will saving throw (DC 10 + half runeblade’s level + Intelligence one touches it (no more than once per round), and an enchanted object
bonus) or he is dominated (as the spell) for one hour per runeblade rune never loses its enchantment. Applied runes cannot be inscribed.
level. This is an enchantment (compulsion) and mind-affecting Inscribed runes still count toward the runeblade’s total rune value.
effect. This rune is used to best effect on an unconscious, incapaci- Runes of Power: Each time the runeblade gains this ability (at
tated, or duped target. 16th through 19th level), he learns a new rune of power from the list
Rune of Durability: This enchanted object rune adds 10 to the below. Each rune of power counts as 4 points toward his total rune
hardness of the object that bears it. The rune can be made invisible. value. It takes one minute to create a rune of power.
Rune of Ghosts: This enchanted object rune grants a runeblade’s Rune of Cheating Death: This applied rune, placed upon any living
runic weapon the ghost touch special weapon quality. It functions creature, lasts until triggered. When that creature is affected by some-
only on the runeblade’s runic weapon and no others. thing (a spell or attack) that normally would kill it, the rune has a
Rune of Greater Conjuring: When touched, this touch-trigger rune chance of storing the creature’s soul safely. This effect keeps the body in
summons a monster from the summon monster VI list, chosen by the a coma when it would have died, allowing it to “come back to life” (with
26 The Book of Experimental Might
no level loss) upon receiving magical healing. The chance of function- summoned creature and it automatically obeys, even if it does not
ing is equal to double the runeblade’s level on a roll of percentile dice. understand the character’s language. A runeblade using the invest-
Rune of Dancing: This enchanted object rune grants a runeblade’s ed rune ability can choose a monster from the summon monster IX
runic weapon the dancing special weapon quality. It functions only list instead of doubling the effect’s duration.
on the runeblade’s runic weapon and no others. Spell Parry (Su): A 16th-level and higher runeblade gains the
Rune of Devastation: If touched, this touch-trigger rune explodes ability to parry spells (and spell-like effects) with his runic weapon
with elemental fury, inflicting 1d6 points of damage per class level in hand. Only spells targeting the runeblade alone can be parried—
(20d6 maximum) to all within 20 feet. A successful Reflex saving not area spells or spells targeted elsewhere. To parry, the runeblade
throw (DC 10 + half runeblade’s level + Intelligence bonus) reduces makes an attack roll opposed by the spellcaster’s caster level check. If
the damage by half. The runeblade chooses the element when creat- the runeblade’s roll is higher, the spell fails to affect him at all. The
ing the rune. runeblade can parry only spells he is aware of; spells from invisible
Rune of Energy: This enchanted object rune grants a runeblade’s casters or those using mental-action-only casting cannot be parried.
runic weapon the brilliant energy special weapon quality. It func- A runeblade can parry no more than one spell in a round.
tions only on the runeblade’s runic weapon and no others. Slice Through Spells (Su): Once per day beginning at 18th level,
Rune of Transformation: This applied rune can be placed only the runeblade can strike a non-Instantaneous spell effect or cre-
upon a willing creature. The subject transforms into a creature ation (a summoned monster, a wall of fire, an illusion, an area of
found on any summon monster list below VII and remains in that obscuring mist, and so on) with his runic weapon and dispel it as if
form for 1 round per runeblade level. he had cast dispel magic using his class level as the caster level. A
Rune of Transport: When this applied rune is completed, the creature runeblade cannot dispel effects on a creature (like charm person or
or object that bears it vanishes, teleporting instantly and safely to a loca- alter self), only “stand-alone” effects. Even spells not normally sub-
tion known to the runeblade (one that he has physically visited him- ject to dispel magic can be affected.
self) within 10 miles per class level. Unwilling creatures can attempt Ultimate Rune: The ultimate rune does not count against a char-
a Will saving throw (DC 10 + half runeblade’s level + Intelligence acter’s total rune value. It takes ten minutes to create the ultimate
bonus) to resist the transport. This is a teleportation effect. rune. This touch-trigger rune, once trigged, can replicate the effects
Rune of True Conjuring: When touched, this touch-trigger rune of any spell of 15th level or below, with the same duration, area,
summons a monster from the summon monster VIII list, chosen by range, and so forth. It can also duplicate any spell with the word
the runeblade at the time of creation. The monster attacks the crea- “rune,” “glyph,” “mark,” or “symbol” in the title. The runeblade can
ture that triggered the rune for 1 round per runeblade level (or until have only one ultimate rune in existence at a time. The ultimate rune
destroyed). If the runeblade triggers the rune, he can command the cannot be invested, but it can be inscribed and given a password.
Chapter Two
27
Skills
I once met a woman who claimed that she “did not need magic.” She relied solely on her skills and wits.
To be sure, I would never denigrate those who prefer the trained, skilled approach over a more
clumsy or ignorant one. I said as much at her funeral.
—Malhavoc.
Distraction Check DC
Injured or failed a saving throw during spellcasting (for spells with DC 10 + damage dealt + half spell level
a casting time of 1 full round or more) or injured by an attack of
opportunity or readied attack made in response to the spell being
cast (for spells with a casting time of one standard action)
Suffered automatic continuous damage DC 10 + half of continuous damage + half spell level
Damaged by spell DC 10 + damage dealt + half spell level
Distracted by nondamaging spell Distracting spell’s save DC + half spell level (if the spell
allows no save, use the DC it would have if it did allow one)
Grappling or pinned (can only cast spells without somatic Opponent’s grapple check + half spell level
components and whose material component is in hand)
Vigorous motion (on a moving mount, bouncy wagon ride, small DC 10 + half spell level
boat in rough water, belowdecks on a storm-tossed ship)
Violent motion (galloping horse, very rough wagon ride, small boat DC 15 + half spell level
in rapids, on deck of storm-tossed ship)
Affected by a whirlwind spell DC 20 + half spell level
Weather involves a high wind carrying blinding rain or sleet DC 5 + half spell level
Weather involves wind-driven hail, dust, or debris DC 10 + half spell level
Weather caused by a spell such as control weather Spell’s save DC + half spell level
Casting defensively (so as not to provoke attacks of opportunity) Opponent’s attack bonus (minimum 10) + half spell level
Caster entangled DC 15
“Half spell level” in the table above refers to the level of the spell Any bonuses a target may have on saving throws against fear
the character is trying to cast, divided by two and rounded up. also increase the Difficulty Class of an Intimidate check.
“Opponent’s attack bonus” is the attack bonus of any foe threat- To make a check, a character must be able to interact with the tar-
ening the caster; if the foe’s attack bonus is less than 10, use 10 get creature for a full round, doing nothing else. If they do not share
instead. a language, a PC can only make the creature flee or cower, nothing
“Opponent’s grapple check” refers to an opposed roll made by else. Characters can try to intimidate more than one creature with a
a foe. single attempt, but the Difficulty Class increases by an amount
Retry: Retries are allowed, though a success doesn’t cancel the equal to the Hit Dice of each additional creature; any circumstance
effects of a previous failure. penalties the DM assigns are cumulative for each creature.
Basically, Intimidate can get a target to do something she nor-
Intimidate (Cha) mally would not do. This change in behavior lasts for 1 round.
A character can change others’ behavior with a successful Intimidate Subsequent Intimidate checks after one success carry a +2 circum-
check. The Difficulty Class typically is 10 + the target’s Hit Dice, stance bonus, and the change in behavior lasts up to 10 rounds fol-
although the DM can modify it according to the situation. Some lowing these later checks.
common skill check modifiers might include the following: For example, a barbarian intimidates a 1 HD goblin to try to get
it to run away. The goblin is one of a troop of six and feels some-
Intimidate Situation Modifier what confident. The DM assigns a +2 circumstance modifier to the
Intimidating character is larger than target creature +2 Difficulty Class, for a total of 13 (10 + 1 HD + 2 circumstance). The
Intimidating character is smaller than target creature –5 barbarian succeeds, causing the goblin to retreat. After 1 round, the
Target creature is below half its total hit points +2 goblin returns, but the barbarian takes the time to intimidate it
Target creature is superior to intimidating creature –10 again, successfully. Now the goblin flees for 10 rounds, and the DM
Intimidating creature is superior to target creature +2 rules that he just keeps going, even after those 10 rounds are up.
Target creature could easily escape if it wished –5 If the barbarian spoke Goblin, he could have tried to get the crea-
Target creature could not escape (it’s bound or trapped) +2 ture to drop its weapon and surrender. The Difficulty Class would
Target creature is easily cowed (up to DM) +2 have been the same, but after 1 round, the goblin might have chosen
Target creature has a firm resolve (up to DM) –1 to –10 to grab its weapon again if the circumstances hadn’t changed. If the
Change in behavior is antithetical to target creature –1 to –20 barbarian had tried to get all six goblins to surrender, the Difficulty
Chapter Two: Skills
29
Class would have been 28 (10 + 3 for each goblin). If the Goblin- A character with 5 or more ranks in Tumble gains a +6 dodge
speaking barbarian had attempted to get a goblin to switch sides, the bonus to Armor Class instead of a +4 bonus when executing the
DM would have assigned a much higher circumstance modifier to the total defense standard action.
Difficulty Class (say, about +10), and even then the creature would Characters with 5 or more ranks in Jump get a +2 synergy bonus
reconsider after 1 round. on Tumble checks. Likewise, someone with 5 or more ranks in
Retry: Retries work only if the previous attempt succeeded. If the Tumble gets a +2 synergy bonus on Jump checks. Those with 5 or
initial check failed, the target creature has become more firmly more ranks in Tumble enjoy a +2 synergy bonus on Balance checks.
resolved to resist the intimidator, and a retry is futile.
Special: Characters with 5 or more ranks in Bluff get a +2 synergy Move Silently and Hide
bonus on Intimidate checks. In these rules, Move Silently and Hide are combined into one skill,
called Sneak. Why? Well, at least nine times out of ten, characters
Tumble (Dex; Trained Only; Armor Check Penalty) attempting a Move Silently must make a Hide check at the same time
A character can use acrobatics and somersaults to move past to avoid detection. It stands to reason that this should be just
opponents or to land safely. The character can’t use a single skill check.
this skill if his speed has been reduced by armor,
excess equipment, or loot. Sneak (Dex; Armor Check Penalty)
Creatures larger or smaller than Medium Characters use the Sneak skill to tread softly
get size bonuses or penalties to Tumble and move silently. The character’s Sneak
checks as follows: Fine +16, Diminutive +12, check is opposed by the Listen check of any-
Tiny +8, Small +4, Large –4, Huge –8, one who might hear him. He can move up to
Gargantuan –12, Colossal –16. half his normal speed at no penalty. At more
A character can land softly when he falls or than one-half speed, and up to his full speed,
tumbles past opponents. He also can tumble he suffers a –5 penalty to Sneak checks. It’s
to entertain an audience (as with the Perform practically impossible (–20 penalty) to sneak
skill). around while running or charging.
Hiding: Characters can also use Sneak to hide. A
DC Tumble Task character’s Sneak check is opposed by the Spot check of
15 Treat a fall as if it were 10 feet shorter than its actual anyone who might see him. The character can move up to half
height when determining damage. normal speed and hide at no penalty. At more than one-half speed,
Opponent’s Tumble up to 20 feet (as part of normal movement), and up to his full speed, he suffers a –5 penalty on the check. It’s
attack roll suffering no attacks of opportunity while doing so. practically impossible (–20 penalty) to hide while running or
Failure means the character tumbles 20 feet but charging.
suffers attacks of opportunity normally. Creatures larger or smaller than Medium get size bonuses or
Opponent’s Tumble up to 20 feet (as part of normal movement), penalties to Sneak checks made to hide as follows: Fine +16,
attack roll +5 suffering no attacks of opportunity while doing so Diminutive +12, Tiny +8, Small +4, Large –4, Huge –8, Gargantuan
and moving through areas occupied by enemies (over, –12, Colossal –16.
under, or around them). Failure means the character If others are observing the character, even casually, he can’t hide.
tumbles 20 feet and can move through enemy- He can run around a corner to get out of sight and then hide, but the
occupied areas but suffers attacks of opportunity onlookers know at least where he went. However, if the onlookers are
normally. momentarily distracted (as by a Bluff check; see below), the character
can attempt to hide. While the onlookers turn their attention from
“Opponent’s attack roll” in the table above refers to an opposed the character, he can attempt a Sneak check if he gets to a hiding
roll made by a foe. In these scenarios, a character tumbles past a foe, place of some kind. (As a general guideline, the hiding place must be
attempting to avoid an attack of opportunity. His foe makes an attack within 1 foot for every rank he has in Sneak.) However, the character
roll for the opposed Tumble check. If the Tumble attempt fails, the makes this check at a –10 penalty, because he has to move fast.
foe gets an attack of opportunity and makes a new attack roll. As mentioned above, a character can use Bluff to help him hide. A
Retry: Once it has judged a tumbler as uninteresting, an audience successful Bluff check can create the momentary diversion he needs
is not receptive to repeat performances. A character can try to reduce to attempt a Sneak check to hide in the midst of people aware of his
damage from a fall as an instant reaction only once per fall. The char- presence.
acter can attempt to tumble as part of a move action once per round. Total Stealth: Characters trying to move silently and hide at the
Special: A character with 5 or more ranks in Tumble gains a +3 same time make only one Sneak check, which is opposed by either
dodge bonus to Armor Class instead of a +2 bonus when executing Spot or Listen.
the fight defensively action as a standard or full-round action.
Chapter Three
Feats
Ascension toward true power can involve many different approaches. No one—not even a mage of my own knowledge and
power—can truly master them all. I find that fact encouraging, rather than sad, for in my life I have accomplished many
things that others have said no one could do.
—Malhavoc
Disciplines without random variables are not affected. Using this Extra Rune [General]
feat requires you to expend a spell slot of 2nd level or higher. You know an additional rune that you can use.
Prerequisite: The ability to create runes
Empower Spell [Metamagic] Benefit: You can select one rune of a power level you are able
You can make your spells more powerful. to use (lesser, advanced, greater, or rune of power) and add that
Benefit: All variable, numeric effects of an empowered spell rune to your list of known runes. This does not alter the total
increase by one-half. An empowered spell deals half again as value of runes you may have in existence at one time.
much damage as normal, cures half again as many hit points, Special: You may choose this feat multiple times. Each time
affects half again as many targets, etc., as appropriate. Saving you do, select a different extra rune.
throws and opposed rolls (such as the one you make upon cast-
ing dispel magic) are not affected by this feat. Spells without ran- Heighten Spell [Metamagic]
dom variables also go unaffected. You can use Empower Spell You can cast your spells as though they were of a level greater
three times each day. than they actually are.
Special: You may choose this feat multiple times. Each time Benefit: A heightened spell has a higher spell level than nor-
you do, you gain three extra daily uses of its benefit. mal (up to 20th level). Unlike other metamagic feats, Heighten
Spell actually increases the level of the spell that it modifies. All
Enlarge Spell [Metamagic] effects dependent on spell level (such as saving throw DCs and
You can increase the area of your spells’ effects. ability to penetrate a minor globe of invulnerability) are calculated
Benefit: An enlarged spell doubles the spell’s normal range. according to the heightened level.
Spells that do not define their ranges by distance are unaffected You may choose to heighten the spell to any level that you are
by this feat. The dimensions of a spell’s area or effect increase normally able to cast.
proportionately with the range in spells whose range deter-
mines the dimensions. You can use Enlarge Spell three times Maximize Spell [Metamagic]
each day. You can make your spells operate at their greatest capacity.
Special: You may choose this feat multiple times. Each time Prerequisite: Caster level 7th
you do, you gain three extra daily uses of its benefit. Benefit: All variable, numeric effects of a maximized spell are
at maximum. A maximized spell deals maximum damage, cures
Extend Spell [Metamagic] the maximum number of hit points, affects the maximum num-
You make your spells last longer. ber of targets, etc., as appropriate. Spells without random vari-
Benefit: An extended spell lasts twice as long as normal. ables are not affected by this feat. You can use Maximize Spell
Spells with durations of Concentration, Instantaneous, or twice each day.
Permanent are not affected by this feat. You can use Extend Special: You may choose this feat multiple times. Each time
Spell three times each day. you do, you gain two extra daily uses of its benefit.
Special: You may choose this feat multiple times. Each time A maximized and empowered spell gains the separate bene-
you do, you gain three extra daily uses of its benefit. fits of each feat: the maximum result plus half again the nor-
mally rolled result.
32 The Book of Experimental Might
is resolved as if the wizard were 6th level; thus, the bolt inflicts
more damage. All other aspects of the spell or discipline effect, such
as base attack modifier, remain the same.
You must be touching the allied spellcaster to use this feat.
Magical Healing
Design Decisions: Magical Healing Characters can only receive magical healing a number of times in a
With the introduction of various clerical disciplines in Chapter given day equal to their level + their Constitution modifier, with a
One that allow lots and lots of healing, I decided to place the minimum of 2. The term “magical healing” means any application
control not with the healer, but with the healed. In other
words, a cleric might be able to heal a character all day long, of curative magic, from a potion, to a special ability, to the disci-
but there is a limit on how many times in a day the healed plines described in Chapter One: Classes.
character can actually benefit from magical healing. Note that it’s incumbent upon healed characters to keep track of
The nice thing about this rule is that it costs the healer very how many applications of magical healing they receive each day;
little to heal his friends. He doesn’t give up anything except a
round’s worth of action—and if he has Divine Presence, not this bookkeeping is not the healer’s responsibility.
even that (see Chapter One: Classes).
Shielding Others
A character adjacent to another character can take damage for that
DM say that a blow seemed to really do some actual Health damage person once per round. In effect, the first character gets in the way
to a foe, they’ll know the foe is probably close to defeat. and takes a hit for the other person. The character must declare his
Of course, different types of creatures will have a different ratio intention to shield the other person before the attack takes place.
of Grace to Health. For example, almost all of a giant’s hit points This decision means the attack automatically hits (or, if appropri-
represent toughness, or Health. ate, the save automatically fails).
This small change reflects the way I’ve always looked at hit This rule is incorporated to encourage the occasional bout of
points—much the same way that I look at action in movies. The heroism. DMs who see it abused due to damage reduction or
hero seems to take an absurd amount of punishment throughout immunity should require the shielding character to ready an action
the film and not be too affected by it. But right at the end, the in order to take damage for another.
abuse suddenly seems to matter a lot more. He’s lost all his Grace
and he’s down to just Health. In other words, movie fights are Poison
based on the principle that you wear someone down until you can I like the fact that poison typically inflicts ability score damage, but
move in for the really cool finishing blow. This new distinction I always forget to ask the victims to make the second save one
helps set up that parallel without changing much mechanically— minute after the first save. Here is an alternate way of handling
because, mechanically, a hit point is still just a hit point. poison without altering the poisons themselves.
Being able to regain Grace more quickly allows characters to Determine the maximum amount of damage that a given poison
press on to more encounters in a single day. It also drastically can inflict. For example, a poison that has primary damage of 1d4
decreases the need for a cleric. Not that clerics aren’t important Strength and secondary damage of 1d6 Strength has a maximum
anymore, but it is possible to have a group without one now. Lastly, damage of 10 Strength. The victim must attempt a saving throw
it encourages the realistic practice of stopping to rest and catch each round after being subjected to the poison, suffering 1 point
one’s breath after a significant encounter. This last fact has its own of Strength damage each round, until she has either made a suc-
effects on the game, however: Spells that last one minute per level cessful save or has suffered the maximum damage. One successful
generally will be good for only one encounter, even at high levels, saving throw ends the poison’s effect.
because the durations will run out as everyone rests after a fight. Existing poisons that do not inflict ability score damage deliver
their effects as stated. For example, a poison with paralysis as its “dam-
Disabled, Dying, and Dead age” still paralyzes for 2d6 minutes on one missed save. A poison that
Characters no longer necessarily die at –10 hit points, as in the inflicts 2d12 points of hit point damage as its primary effect and 1d6
Core Rules, nor do they necessarily fall unconscious when they points of Constitution damage as its secondary effect must work a bit
reach –1. Instead, they become disabled if they fall to a number differently, as you can’t add the two types of damage together. In this
of hit points between 0 and their Constitution bonus (if any) case, treat the hit point damage as the first round’s worth of effect,
expressed as a negative number; they go unconscious below that. and then handle the Constitution damage as described above. Thus,
So a character with a Constitution bonus of +2 is disabled at 0, the poison inflicts 2d12 points of damage on the first round, and 1
–1 or –2 hit points, and falls unconscious when he reaches –3 hit point of Constitution damage for up to 6 rounds after that (depend-
points. At that point he begins dying. ing on when—and if—the victim succeeds at the save).
If the character’s hit points drop to a negative number lower DMs could devise new poisons that inflict nonstandard damage
than his Constitution score, the character is dead. A character also (like paralysis, unconsciousness, a sickening effect, a daze effect,
can die from taking massive damage or after suffering ability dam- etc.) that last until the victim rolls a successful saving throw
age or drain that reduces his Constitution to 0. (attempted each round).
A character with no Constitution bonus or one with a Consti- It is easier to remember to make a save each round rather than
tution penalty becomes disabled at 0 hit points and is dying at one save now and one 10 rounds later. This very likely makes low
–1 hit points. save DC poisons less dangerous and very high save DC poisons
Chapter Four: Playing the Game
35
more dangerous. It makes dealing with the poison (using a Heal check or neu-
tralize poison spell) more urgent.
Actions in Combat
I suggest a few alterations to various combat actions. Many of these ideas are
house rules I have used for years around my own gaming table.
Drawing an Item
Any character who can draw a weapon as a part of a move can draw anything
reasonable (a wand, potion, etc.) as a part of move.
Readying/Delaying
Readying an action does not change a character’s initiative number. Instead,
after taking a readied action, the character’s turn snaps back to its original posi-
tion in the lineup. This method is actually more intuitive and easier to keep
track of than the original—DMs and players alike often forget to change the
readying character’s initiative number.
This rule can lead to the rare occurrence of a PC getting to take two actions
almost at once, but remember that he isn’t gaining an extra action—he gave up
his earlier turn to ready an action in the first place.
Delaying still changes a character’s position in the initiative order.
Standing Up
Standing up is a move action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
Without this alternate approach, trip attacks may be too overpowered. This new
rule may rob them of some power, but trip attacks are better too weak than too
strong.
Taking a Breather
Breather moments give a PC a chance to gather himself—to mentally regroup,
collect his thoughts, catch his breath, and take stock of the situation. Characters
who use a standard action to take a breather can do one of the following:
• Heal up to their level in (Grace point) damage
• Gain a bonus to damage equal to +1 plus an additional +1 per four levels
on the following round
• Gain a bonus to one attack roll equal to +1 plus an additional +1 per four
levels on the following round
• Gain a +1 bonus to one spell save DC for a spell cast on the following round
• Gain a chance to make another saving throw to shake off an unwanted
condition with a duration measured in rounds (as opposed to minutes,
hours, days, etc. or one with a duration of Instantaneous or Permanent)
Magic
A new spell is like discovering a new delicacy. It should be approached with a slow, gentle demeanor, carefully
savored and then devoured. Not all spells are worth keeping, but all are worth trying.
—Malhavoc
Book of Hallowed Might. Spells in this chapter that originated 1st-Level Cleric Spells
in the Core Rules have been modified with minor changes Armor Contingency: Summons armor when conditions are met.
(such as to duration) or alterations to eliminate “save or Bane: Enemies take –1 penalty on attack rolls and saves
die” spells. against fear.
Command: One subject obeys selected command for
Magic Item Pricing and 1 round.
Crystal Shard: Launches crystal that inflicts 1d8+2 points of
Spellcasting Costs damage.
When using spell level to determine magic item or spellcast- Detect Chaos/Evil/Good/Law: Reveals creatures, spells,
ing prices (or whenever using spell level in a formula) divide or objects of selected alignment.
spell level in half, rounding up. Detect Undead: Reveals undead within 60 feet.
Doom: One subject takes –2 penalty on attack rolls,
Spell Lists damage rolls, saves, and checks.
One of the core concepts of the material in this book is that Endure Elements: Subject exists comfortably in hot or
there are twenty levels of spells, not nine. This change, how- cold environments.
ever, is a difficult one to implement. To make twenty levels of Hide From Undead: Undead can’t perceive one
spells, I had to flesh out the lists a lot, particularly since I subject/level.
eliminated a number of spells due to their duplication of dis- Inspired Initiative: Subjects gain +2 bonus on their next
cipline effects. (You could, by the way, always restore those Initiative check.
spells—magic missile, telekinesis, cure light wounds, and all the Light: Object shines like a torch.
rest—and live with the redundancies. Redundancy is not Magic Stone: Three stones gain +1 bonus on attack, deal
always bad, but it will alter the player characters’ choices of 1d6+1 points of damage.
disciplines.) Magic Weapon: Weapon gains +1 bonus.
Mostly, though, the spells are the same. I just turned all Obscuring Mist: Fog surrounds you.
the original 1st-level spells into 1st- or 2nd-level spells, the Stand Against the Tide: Grants subjects +2 AC and +4 bonus
old 2nd-level spells into 3rd- and 4th-level spells, and so on. to resist bull rush and trip attacks.
I separated the levels based on power—which is just a Winged Arrows: Ranged weapon attacks ignore range
judgment call—while keeping the different levels as equal as penalties or gain +2 bonus.
I could. So, for example, lightning bolt becomes a 5th-level
spell while fireball is 6th; that way, each of the two levels has 2nd-Level Cleric Spells
a good area attack spell. Cause Fear: One creature of 5 HD or less flees for 1d4
If you want to add new spells into the lists, you’ll have to rounds.
make those same kinds of judgment calls. Just take any exist- Comprehend Languages: You understand all spoken and
ing spell and determine what level caster could cast it as his written languages.
highest level spell. Then, make it either that level or one level Deathwatch: Reveals how close subjects within 30 feet are
higher. to death.
As described in Chapter One: Classes, paladins and Divine Favor: You gain +1 bonus/three levels on attack
rangers no longer cast spells. and damage rolls.
Chapter Five: Magic
37
Entropic Shield: Ranged attacks against you have 20 per- DesecrateM: Fills area with negative energy, making
cent miss chance. undead stronger.
Protection From Chaos/Evil/Good/Law: Protects subject Grant Quarter: Puts one helpless or willing creature/level in
from possession, hedges out elementals and outsiders. extradimensional prison.
Remove Fear: Suppresses fear or grants +4 bonus on Incorporeal Defense: Grants +4 AC against incorporeal
saves against fear for one subject + one/four levels. attacks
Resist Touch: Adds +2 luck bonus +1/three caster levels to Remove Paralysis: Frees one or more creatures from
touch AC. paralysis or slow effect.
Sanctuary: Opponents can’t attack you, and you can’t Resist Energy: Ignores 10 (or more) points of
attack. damage/attack from specified energy type.
Second Chance: Grants subject a second chance at a saving Restoration, Lesser: Dispels magical ability penalty or
throw. repairs 1d4 points of ability damage.
Shared Blessing: Subject gains +1 bonus to AC and +2 bonus Shatter: Sonic vibration damages objects or crystalline
to saves while within 10 feet of you. creatures.
Shield of Faith: Aura grants +2 or higher deflection bonus. Silence: Negates sound in 15-foot radius.
Summon Monster I: Calls extraplanar creature to fight Sound Burst: Deals 1d8 points of sonic damage to sub-
for you. jects; may stun them.
Water’s Blessing: Grants +5 or higher bonus to Swim checks. Summon Monster II: Calls extraplanar creature to fight
for you.
3rd-Level Cleric Spells Undetectable Alignment: Conceals alignment for twenty-
Aid: Grants +1 bonus on attack rolls and saves against fear four hours.
and offers 1d8 temporary hit points +1/level (max. +10). Zone of Truth: Subjects within range cannot lie.
Align Weapon: Weapon becomes good, evil, lawful, or
chaotic. 5th-Level Cleric Spells
AuguryMF: Shows whether an action will be good or bad. Bestow Curse: Inflicts –6 penalty to an ability score;
Bear’s Endurance: Grants subject +4 bonus to Constitution –4 penalty on attack rolls, saves, and checks; or 50 percent
for ten minutes/level. chance of losing each action.
Bull’s Strength: Grants subject +4 bonus to Strength for ten Contagion: Infects subject with chosen disease.
minutes/level. Continual FlameM: Makes a permanent, heatless torch.
Calm Emotions: Calms creatures, negating emotion Daylight: Creates bright light in a 60-foot radius.
effects. Deeper Darkness: Object sheds supernatural shadow in
Eagle’s Splendor: Grants subject +4 bonus to Charisma for 60-foot radius.
ten minutes/level.
Enthrall: Captivates all within 100 feet + 10 feet/level.
Find Traps: Notice traps as a rogue does. Design Decisions: Virtually No “Save or Die”
Gentle Repose: Preserves one corpse.
Hold Person: Paralyzes one humanoid for 1 round/level. I’ve found “save or die” effects to be very excit-
Make Whole: Repairs an object. ing, but ultimately unsatisfying. I have taken
Owl’s Wisdom: Grants subject +4 bonus to Wisdom for ten steps to eliminate them from the vast majority of
minutes/level. spells presented here, changing them to massive
amounts of damage instead. While the huge
Shield OtherF: You take half of subject’s damage.
amounts of damage the new versions of the
Spiritual Weapon: Magic weapon attacks on its own. spells inflict might still amount to “save or die,”
Status: Monitors condition and position of allies. at least they use a standardized concept (hit
points) to determine whether a character dies. I
4th-Level Cleric Spells would likewise advise eliminating other similar
effects, such as the vorpal weapon quality.
ConsecrateM: Fills area with positive energy, making
undead weaker. Note that some spells, like circle of death, are
Crystal of ReflectionM: Reflects ray attacks back at attacker. left as-is despite their “save or die” nature
because of the Hit Dice limitations built into
Darkness: Creates supernatural darkness in a 20-foot them. These, in effect, are just like spells that
radius. inflict lots of damage, as creatures with lots of hit
Death Knell: Kills dying creature; you gain 1d8 temporary points still enjoy an advantage.
hit points, +2 bonus to Strength, and +1 level.
38 The Book of Experimental Might
Helping Hand: Ghostly hand leads subject to you. Giant Vermin: Turns centipedes, scorpions, or spiders
Locate Object: Sense direction toward object (specific into giant vermin.
or type). Imbue With Spell Ability: Transfer spells to subject.
Meld Into Stone: You and your gear merge with stone. Magic Weapon, Greater: Grants +1 bonus/four levels
Multidimensional Touch: Your Debilitating Touch discipline (max. +5).
can affect incorporeal targets. Mighty Hammer: Your weapon from the Godhammer disci-
Obscure Object: Masks object against scrying. pline gains +1d6 damage bonus.
Peaceful Weapon: Target weapon cannot inflict any damage. Poison: Touch deals 1d10 points of Constitution damage,
Prayer: Grants allies +1 bonus on most rolls; grants ene- repeats in one minute.
mies –1 penalty. Repel Vermin: Insects, spiders, and other vermin stay 10
Protection From Energy: Absorb 12 points/level of feet away.
damage from one kind of energy. Sending: Delivers short message anywhere, instantly.
Speak With Dead: Corpse answers one question/two Stalwart Soul: Subject gains immunity to ability damage and
caster levels. ability drain
Stone Shape: Sculpts stone into any shape.
Water Breathing: Subjects can breathe underwater. 8th-Level Cleric Spells
Water Walk: Subject treads on water as if it were solid. Air Walk: Subject treads on air as if it were solid (climb at
Wind Wall: Deflects arrows, smaller creatures, and gases. 45-degree angle).
Assay Spell Resistance: Grants +10 bonus on caster level
6th-Level Cleric Spells checks to defeat one creature’s SR.
Animate DeadM: Creates undead skeletons and zombies. Death Ward: Grants immunity to death spells and nega-
Blast of Castigation: Energy attack inflicts 1d8 points of tive energy effects.
damage/three caster levels and continues to blast foe. Dimensional Anchor: Bars extradimensional movement.
Blindness/Deafness: Makes subject blinded or deafened. Discern Lies: Reveals deliberate falsehoods.
Create Food and Water: Feeds three humans (or one Divine Power: You gain attack bonus, +6 bonus to
horse)/level. Strength, and 1 hp/level.
Dispel Magic: Cancels spells and magical effects. Halo of Protection: Allies gain +2 bonus to AC and saves.
Glyph of WardingM: Inscription harms those who pass it. Neutralize Poison: Immunizes subject against poison,
Godspeed: Speed increases to 60 feet and adds +2 bonus to AC. detoxifies venom in or on subject.
Invisibility Purge: Dispels invisibility within 5 feet/level. Planar Ally, LesserX: Exchange services with a 6 HD extra-
Magic Circle Against Chaos/Evil/Good/Law: As protec- planar creature.
tion spells, but 10-foot radius and ten minutes/level. RestorationM: Restores level and ability score drains.
Magic Vestment: Armor or shield gains +1 enhancement Spell Immunity: Subject is immune to one spell/four levels.
bonus/four levels. Summon Monster IV: Calls extraplanar creature to fight
Remove Blindness/Deafness: Cures normal or magical for you.
conditions. Tongues: Speak any language.
Remove Curse: Frees object or person from curse.
Remove Disease: Cures all diseases affecting subject. 9th-Level Cleric Spells
Searing Light: Ray deals 1d8 points of damage/two levels, AtonementF X: Removes burden of misdeeds from subject.
more against undead. Blazing Light: Ray inflicts 1d8 points of damage/caster level;
Summon Monster III: Calls extraplanar creature to fight undead suffer more.
for you. Break Enchantment: Frees subjects from enchantments,
alterations, curses, and petrification.
7th-Level Cleric Spells Castigate the Dead: Turning attempts also inflict damage.
Aeonian Lantern: Magical nonmoving lantern inflicts a –2 Command, Greater: As command, but affects one
penalty to foes’ attacks, saves, and checks. subject/level.
Control Water: Raises or lowers bodies of water. Cure Light Wounds, Mass: Cures 1d8 points of damage
Dismissal: Forces a creature to return to native plane. +1/level for many creatures.
DivinationM: Provides useful advice for specific proposed Curse of Wounding: 50 percent of attacks that target the
actions. subject now hit when they normally would miss.
Freedom of Movement: Subject moves normally despite Disrupting Weapon: Melee weapon destroys undead.
impediments. Inflict Light Wounds, Mass: Deals 1d8 points of damage
Geas, Lesser: Commands subject of 7 HD or less. +1/level to many creatures.
Chapter Five: Magic
39
Insect Plague: Locust swarms attack creatures.
Mark of Justice: Designates action that will trigger curse
on subject.
ScryingF: Spies on subject from a distance.
Spell Resistance: Subject gains SR 12 + caster level.
Symbol of SleepM: Triggered rune puts nearby creatures
into catatonic slumber.
3rd-Level Druid Spells Poison: Touch deals 1d10 points of Constitution damage,
Animal Messenger: Sends a Tiny animal to a specific place. repeats in one minute.
Bear’s Endurance: Subject gains +1d4 bonus to Constitution Quench: Extinguishes nonmagical fires or one magic item.
for ten minutes/level. Snare: Creates a magic booby trap.
Bull’s Strength: Subject gains +1d4 bonus to Strength for ten Spike Growth: Creatures in area take 1d4 points of dam-
minutes/level. age, may be slowed.
Cat’s Grace: Subject gains +1d4 bonus to Dexterity for ten Stone Shape: Sculpts stone into any shape.
minutes/level. Water Breathing: Subjects can breathe underwater.
Eagle’s Form: You take the form of an eagle. Wind Wall: Deflects arrows, smaller creatures, and gases.
Fire TrapM: Opened object deals 1d4 points of damage
+1/level. 6th-Level Druid Spells
Flaming Sphere: Creates rolling ball of fire that deals 2d6 Call Lightning: Calls down lightning bolts from sky (3d6
points of damage, lasts 1 round/level. points of damage/bolt).
Gust of Wind: Blows away or knocks down smaller crea- Dominate Animal: Subject animal obeys silent mental
tures. commands.
Owl’s Wisdom: Subject gains +1d4 bonus to Wisdom for ten Lion’s Form: You take the form of a dire lion.
minutes/level. Magic Fang, Greater: One creature’s natural weapon gets
Reduce Animal: Shrinks one willing animal. +1 bonus/three levels on attack and damage rolls (max. +5).
Soften Earth and Stone: Turns stone to clay or dirt to Meld Into Stone: You and your gear merge with stone.
sand or mud. Neutralize Poison: Immunizes subject against poison,
Spider Climb: Grants ability to walk on walls and ceilings. detoxifies venom in or on subject.
Tree Shape: You look exactly like a tree for one hour/level. Protection From Energy: Absorbs 12 points of
Wolf’s Form: You take the form of a wolf. damage/level from one kind of energy.
Wood Shape: Rearranges wooden objects to suit you. Remove Disease: Cures all diseases affecting subject.
Sleet Storm: Hampers vision and movement.
4th-Level Druid Spells Summon Nature’s Ally III: Calls creature to fight.
Animal Trance: Fascinates 2d6 HD of animals.
Barkskin: Grants +2 (or higher) enhancement to natural 7th-Level Druid Spells
armor. Air Walk: Subject treads on air as if it were solid (climb at
Chill Metal: Cold metal damages those who touch it. 45-degree angle).
Flame Blade: Touch attack deals 1d8 points of damage Antiplant Shell: Keeps animated plants at bay.
+1/two levels. Blight: Withers one plant or deals 1d6 points of
Fog Cloud: Fog obscures vision. damage/level to plant creature.
Heat Metal: Makes metal so hot it damages those who Command Plants: You sway the actions of one or more
touch it. plant creatures.
Hold Animal: Paralyzes one animal for 1 round/level. Control Water: Raises or lowers bodies of water.
Resist Energy: Ignores 10 (or more) points of Giant Vermin: Turns centipedes, scorpions, or spiders
damage/attack from specified energy type. into giant vermin.
Restoration, Lesser: Dispels magical ability penalty or Ogre’s Form: You take the form of an ogre.
repairs 1d4 points of ability damage. Repel Vermin: Insects, spiders, and other vermin stay
Shark’s Form: You take the form of a Medium shark. 10 feet away.
Summon Nature’s Ally II: Calls creature to fight. Spike Stones: Creatures in area take 1d8 points of
Summon Swarm: Summons swarm of bats, rats, or spiders. damage, may be slowed.
Warp Wood: Bends wood (shaft, handle, door, plank).
8th-Level Druid Spells
5th-Level Druid Spells Dispel Magic: Cancels spells and magical effects.
Contagion: Infects subject with chosen disease. Flame Strike: Smite foes with divine fire (1d6 points of
Crystal of ReflectionM: Reflects ray attacks back at attacker. damage/level).
Daylight: Creates 60-foot radius of bright light. Freedom of Movement: Subject moves normally despite
Diminish Plants: Reduces size or blights growth of impediments.
normal plants. Ice Storm: Hail deals 5d6 points of damage in cylinder
Peaceful Weapon: Target weapon cannot inflict any damage. 40 feet across.
Plant Growth: Grows vegetation, improves crops. Reincarnate: Brings dead subject back in a random body.
Chapter Five: Magic
43
RestorationM: Restores level and ability score drains. 12th-Level Druid Spells
Rusting Grasp: Your touch corrodes iron and alloys. Antilife Shell: 10-foot-radius field hedges out living
ScryingF: Spies on subject from a distance. creatures.
Summon Nature’s Ally IV: Calls creature to fight. Dispel Magic, Greater: As dispel magic, but +20 bonus on
check.
9th-Level Druid Spells Fire Seeds: Acorns and berries become grenades and bombs.
Animal Growth: One animal/two levels doubles in size. Liveoak: Oak becomes treant guardian.
Atonement: Removes burden of misdeeds from subject. Stone Tell: Talk to natural or worked stone.
Commune With Nature: You learn about terrain for one Summon Nature’s Ally VI: Calls creature to fight.
mile/level. Transport via Plants: Move instantly from one plant to
Control Winds: Changes wind direction and speed. another of the same kind.
Death Ward: Grants immunity to all death spells and Troll’s Form: You take the form of a troll.
negative energy effects. Wall of Stone: Creates a stone wall that can be shaped.
HallowM: Designates location as holy.
Spider’s Form: You take the form of a Large monstrous spider. 13th-Level Druid Spells
Tree Stride: Step from one tree to another far away. Animate Plants: One or more plants animate and fight
UnhallowM: Designates location as unholy. for you.
Wall of Thorns: Thorns damage anyone who tries to pass. Creeping Doom: Swarms of centipedes attack at your
command.
10th-Level Druid Spells Cure Moderate Wounds, Mass: Cures 2d8 points of
AwakenX: Animal or tree gains human intellect. damage +1/level for many creatures.
Baleful Polymorph: Transforms subject into harmless Sunbeam: Beam blinds victims and deals 4d6 points of
animal. damage.
Call Lightning Storm: As call lightning, but each bolt deals Transmute Metal to Wood: Metal within 40 feet becomes
5d6 points of damage. wood.
Giant’s Form: You take the form of a hill giant. True SeeingM: Lets you see all things as they really are.
Insect Plague: Locust swarms attack creatures. Wind Walk: You and your allies turn vaporous and travel
StoneskinM: Ignore 10 points of damage per attack. fast.
Summon Nature’s Ally V: Calls creature to fight.
Transmute Mud to Rock: Transforms two 10-foot 14th-Level Druid Spells
cubes/level. Changestaff: Your staff becomes a treant on command.
Transmute Rock to Mud: Transforms two 10-foot Control Weather: Changes weather in local area.
cubes/level. Crystal EruptionM: Crystal shards burst from the ground,
Wall of Fire: Deals 2d4 points of fire damage out to 10 inflicting 1d6 points of damage/level and stunning.
feet and 1d4 points out to 20 feet. Passing through wall deals Fire Storm: Deals 1d6 points/level in fire damage.
2d6 points of damage +1/level. Heal: Cures 10 points/level of damage, plus all diseases
and mental conditions.
11th-Level Druid Spells Scrying, Greater: As scrying, but faster and longer.
Bear’s Endurance, Mass: As bear’s endurance, but affects Summon Nature’s Ally VII: Calls creature to fight.
one subject/level.
Bull’s Strength, Mass: As bull’s strength, but affects one 15th-Level Druid Spells
subject/level. Animal Shapes: One ally/level polymorphs into chosen
Cat’s Grace, Mass: As cat’s grace, but affects one subject/level. animal.
Cure Light Wounds, Mass: Cures 1d8 points of damage Control Plants: You control actions of one or more plant
+1/level for many creatures. creatures.
Glory of the Beast: Animal or magical beast gains celestial Cure Serious Wounds, Mass: Cures 3d8 points of damage
template, maximum hit points, and +2 bonus to all ability scores. +1/level for many creatures.
Ironwood: Magic wood is strong as steel. Primal Release: Subject gains bonuses to physical scores,
Move Earth: Digs trenches and builds hills. penalties to mental scores, and more.
Owl’s Wisdom, Mass: As owl’s wisdom, but affects one Repel Metal or Stone: Pushes away metal and stone.
subject/level. Restoration, Greater X: As restoration, plus restores all
Repel Wood: Pushes away wooden objects. levels and ability scores.
Spellstaff: Stores one spell in wooden quarterstaff. Word of Recall: Teleports you back to designated place.
44 The Book of Experimental Might
SympathyF: Object or location attracts certain creatures. Dominate Monster: As dominate person, but any creature.
Trap the SoulM F: Imprisons subject within gem. Escape DeathM: Transport to a location of your choice with a
Wyvern’s Form: You take the form of a wyvern. chance to save your life.
Etherealness: Travel to Ethereal Plane with companions.
16th-Level Wizard Spells Hold Monster, Mass: As hold monster, but all within
Charm Monster, Mass: As charm monster, but all within 30 feet.
30 feet. Meteor Swarm: Four exploding spheres each deal 6d6
Clone M F: Duplicate awakens when original dies. points of fire damage.
Create Greater UndeadM: Create shadows, wraiths, One Step Beyond M: Targets gain immunity to divination.
spectres, or devourers. Shifting Sanctum: Transfer a portion of one location to
Demand: As sending, plus you can send suggestion. another location.
Discern Location: Reveals exact location of creature or
object. 19th-Level Wizard Spells
Horrid Wilting: Deals 1d6 points of damage/level within Doorway to ElsewhereM: Creates a doorway to another
30 feet. location.
Iron Body: Your body becomes living iron. ImmortalityM: Target stops aging.
Maze: Traps subject in extradimensional maze. Imprisonment: Entombs subject beneath the earth.
Mind Blank: Subject is immune to mental/emotional Magma Burst: Creates volcanic pit that inflicts 20d6 points
magic and scrying. of damage.
Otil’s Telekinetic Sphere: As Otil’s resilient sphere, but you Mord’s Disjunction: Dispels magic, disenchants magic
move sphere telekinetically. items.
Planar Binding, Greater: As lesser planar binding, but up to Power Word Kill: Kills one creature with 100 hp or less.
18 HD. Prismatic Sphere: As prismatic wall, but surrounds on all
Power Word Stun: Stuns creature with 150 hp or less. sides.
Prismatic Wall: Wall’s colors have array of effects. Wail of the Banshee: One creature/level suffers 10 points of
Roc’s Form: You take the form of a roc. damage/caster level.
Shout, Greater: Devastating yell deals 10d6 points of
sonic damage, stuns creatures, and damages objects. 20th-Level Wizard Spells
Symbol of DeathM: Triggered rune slays nearby creatures. Arcana Form: You become pure energy that can power spells.
Temporal StasisM: Puts subject into suspended animation. Dragon’s Form: You take the form of a young adult red dragon.
DuplicateM: Creates an exact duplicate of you that you control.
17th-Level Wizard Spells Fist of the Elemental Lord: Inflicts 1d6 points of
Astral ProjectionM: Projects you and companions onto damage/caster level plus special effect.
Astral Plane. Perfect Ward: Anyone touching target or warded area is tele-
Behir’s Form: You take the form of a behir. ported away.
Big Crushing Hand: Large hand provides cover, pushes, Spirit of Triumph: Grants +10 luck bonus to attacks,
or crushes your foes. damage, AC, saves, and checks.
Energy Drain: Subject gains 2d4 negative levels. Time Stop: You act freely for 1d4+1 rounds.
Foresight: “Sixth sense” warns of impending danger. True Telekinesis: You mentally move object or creature up to
Freedom: Releases creature from imprisonment. 1,000 lbs./caster level.
GateX: Connects two planes for travel or summoning. Undo: Reverses one effect
RefugeM: Alters item to transport its possessor to you. WishX: As limited wish, but with fewer limits.
Soul BindF: Traps newly dead soul to prevent resurrection.
Summon Monster IX: Calls extraplanar creature to fight Spell Descriptions
for you. It’s interesting to play characters who get a whole new selec-
Teleportation CircleM: Circle teleports any creature inside tion of spells every level. On the other hand, they have fewer
to designated spot. slots for any particular level, so casters will end up with a
greater variety of spells prepared. Further, because casters
18th-Level Wizard Spells have disciplines to cover basic needs, like attack and defense,
Capture Soul F: Traps creature’s (living or dead) soul in you may find these characters preparing a greater variety of
object; you can force soul to answer questions. utility spells. That’s interesting too.
Counterspell Shield: Creates a floating shield that protects
you and negates hostile magic.
Chapter Five: Magic
51
Aeonian Lantern You—and those whom you teach the door is 2-inch-thick iron. The structure
Conjuration (Creation) specific command word unique to the itself resists spells cast directly upon it
Level: Cleric 7 lantern—can douse the light with a as if it had SR 25. It is impervious to
Components: V, S word. The illumination returns upon normal missiles, though not the sort
Casting Time: One standard action command whenever desired. cast by siege machinery or giants.
Range: Touch Many temples or frequent campsites The door, shutters, and even chimney
Effect: A glowing, stationary lantern in the wilderness are protected by one remain secure against intrusion, the
Duration: Permanent (D) or more aeonian lanterns. former two being arcane locked and the
Saving Throw: None latter secured by an iron grate at the top
Spell Resistance: No Anavar’s Anticipated of a narrow flue. Finally, the spell con-
You create a magical glowing jures seven celestial dogs to watch over
lantern. In its eternal light, which is Attack and protect the tower for its duration.
equal to a that of a normal lantern (30- Divination The tower contains elegant furnish-
foot radius), all foes suffer a –2 morale Level: Wizard 2 ings: twelve bunks, a trestle table, eight
penalty to attacks, saves, and checks. Components: V, S chairs, two benches, and a writing desk.
The lantern can float in mid-air or rest Casting Time: One standard action The interior is filled with reliefs and tap-
upon a surface, but once created it does Range: Personal estries depicting angels and holy beings.
not move. Target: You Material Component: A small block of
It is not a physical object, just a Duration: 1 round/level granite and a white feather dipped in
manifestation of light and energy. As You peer momentarily into the future, holy water.
such, it cannot be damaged, although it enough to be warned of a coming
can be extin- attack. The first time you are attacked Arcana Form
guished. within the spell’s duration, the attack Transmutation
suffers a –20 luck penalty. After the first Level: Wizard 20
attack, the spell’s effects disappear. Components: V, S
Casting Time: One standard action
Angel’s Redoubt Range: Personal
Conjuration (Creation) [Good] Target: You
Level: Cleric 12 Duration: Ten minutes/level
Components: V, S, M Saving Throw: None
Casting Time: One minute Spell Resistance: No
Range: Medium (100 feet + 10 You transform yourself into a being
feet/level) of pure magical energy. You are incor-
Effect: A tower 20 feet square and poreal, immune to critical hits, and can
30 feet tall fly with good maneuverability at a
Duration: Two hours/level speed of 100.
Saving Throw: None Because you can draw magical
Spell Resistance: No essence from your own form, you can
You conjure a fortified tower made use this energy to cast spells. At the
of stone. There are two floors and a flat cost of 5 hit points per spell level, you
roof with battlements, all connected by can cast spells with no loss of prepared
narrow stairs on the interior. In all spells or spell slots. You may cast only
respects the structure resembles a nor- spells you know, or those you have pre-
mal tower, with an iron door and three pared for that day, if you prepare spells.
shuttered windows on the upper interi- At the cost of 1 Constitution point
or level (stairs lead from the ground (temporary damage), you can use a
level outside to the door), and a small charged item and not expend a charge;
fireplace. 2 Constitution points will save two
The shelter has a comfortable temper- charges, if needed.
ature and atmosphere no matter what Should you enter an antimagic field,
the conditions are like outside. The you cease to exist for the rest of the
tower provides considerable security— spell’s duration (or the antimagic’s
the walls are 4-foot-thick stone and the duration, whichever is shorter).
52 The Book of Experimental Might
Arrow Redirection
Design Decisions: Arcane Lock and Knock Transmutation
The game functions slightly better without absolutes. Arcane lock
Level: Wizard 8
and knock, as presented in this chapter, work alongside the stan- Components: V, S
dard Open Lock skill rules (see knock, page 66). Casting Time: One standard action
Thus, a spellcaster with knock might not be able to open every door. Range: Personal
This allows DMs to include really difficult to open doors as impor- Target: You
tant aspects to their adventures, without knock being the key that Duration: One minute/level
always works. Further, in this way, the spellcaster might not always Saving Throw: None
outshine the lockpicking rogue.
Spell Resistance: No
As arrow reflection below, except that
you may redirect the ranged attack at
Arcane Lock You set up a contingency with your anyone of your choosing within the
Abjuration armor, so that if a predetermined event attack’s normal range. The attack
Level: Wizard 3 (such as a specific word or gesture retains its initial attack roll to deter-
Components: V, S, M from you as a free action) takes place mine whether it hits the new target
Casting Time: One standard action during the duration, the armor appears and inflicts damage normally.
Range: Touch on you, fully donned and prepared. The Thus, if an archer fires an arrow at
Target: The door, chest, or portal armor must be within one mile per you with an attack roll of +25, you
touched, up to 30 square feet/level level for this spell to function, and it direct it at another target, striking if
in size cannot bring anything else with it. For the new target’s Armor Class is 25 or
Duration: Permanent example, you cannot attach your less. You can still redirect attacks back
Saving Throw: None weapon to your armor and expect that at the original attacker if you wish.
Spell Resistance: No to appear with the armor. A shield can-
An arcane lock spell cast upon a not be prepared with this contingency, Arrow Reflection
door, chest, or portal adds a magical only a suit of armor. Transmutation
lock to it with an Open Lock DC An obvious contingency event might Level: Wizard 6
equal to 10 + caster level. You can be, “If I am attacked.” Components: V, S
freely pass your own arcane lock with- Material Component: A few drops of Casting Time: One standard action
out affecting it. Add 10 to the normal scented oil Range: Personal
Difficulty Class to break open a door Target: You
or portal affected by this spell. (A Arrow Deflection Duration: One minute/level
knock spell does not remove an arcane Transmutation Saving Throw: None
lock; it only suppresses the effect for Level: Wizard 1 Spell Resistance: No
ten minutes.) Components: V, S You can force one ranged physical
If arcane lock is cast on a door that Casting Time: One standard action (nonspell) attack back at its source
already has a conventional lock, add +5 Range: Personal each round as a free action. The attack
to the Open Lock DC of the existing Target: You retains its initial attack roll to deter-
lock or use the arcane lock Difficulty Duration: One minute/level mine whether it hits the source and
Class, whichever is higher. Saving Throw: None inflicts damage normally.
Material Component: Gold dust Spell Resistance: No Thus, if an archer fires an arrow at
worth 25 gp. You can attempt to deflect one you with an attack roll of +25, you
ranged physical (nonspell) attack per reflect it back at the archer, striking if
Armor Contingency round as a free action with a Reflex the archer’s Armor Class is 25 or less.
Conjuration (Calling) saving throw (DC 20); if the ranged You must be aware of the attack and
Level: Cleric 1 weapon has a magical bonus to attack, not flat footed, however.
Components: V, S, M the Difficulty Class increases by that
Casting Time: Ten minutes amount. Aspect of the Divine
Range: Touch Should you succeed at the save, you Transmutation [Evil or Good]
Effect: One suit of armor deflect the ranged weapon. You must Level: Cleric 17
Duration: One hour/level be aware of the attack and not flat Components: V, S, DF
Saving Throw: None footed, however. Casting Time: One standard action
Spell Resistance: No Range: Personal
Chapter Five: Magic
53
Target: You Assay Spell Resistance temporary ability damage or provide
Duration: 1 round/level Divination other benefits of resting; changing
You take on many qualities of a half- Level: Cleric 8 back does not heal you further). If
celestial or half-fiend, although your Components: V, S slain, you revert to your original form,
creature type does not change. Only Casting Time: One swift action though you remain dead.
clerics of good or evil alignment can Range: Personal You gain the Strength, Dexterity,
use this spell. Target: You and Constitution scores of a behir but
Good clerics become half-celestials Duration: 1 round/level retain your own Intelligence, Wisdom,
as follows: Your eyes glow with a pale blue radi- and Charisma scores. You retain your
• You grow feathered wings that allow ance, and you understand how to over- own base attack bonus, base saves,
you to fly at twice your normal come your foe’s resistance to your and hit points, but gain the behir’s
speed (good maneuverability). magic. bite damage, Armor Class, speed,
• You gain +1 natural armor. This spell gives you a +10 bonus on breath weapon, constrict ability,
• You gain low-light vision. caster level checks to overcome the improved grab, rake, swallow whole
• You gain resistance 10 to acid, cold, spell resistance of a specific creature. ability, immunity to trips, darkvision,
and electricity. Assay spell resistance is effective only immunity to electricity, low-light
• You gain immunity to disease. against one specific creature per cast- vision, and scent. You retain your own
• You gain a +4 racial bonus on saving ing, and you must be able to see the skills and feats and gain the behir’s
throws against poison. creature when you cast the spell. feats and racial bonuses to skills (but
• You gain damage reduction not its skill ranks). You can speak,
10/magic. Bear’s Endurance cast spells, and use disciplines in
• You gain spell resistance 25. Transmutation behir form.
• You gain the following bonuses to Level: Cleric 3, Wizard 4 The equipment you wear is sub-
your ability scores: +4 Strength, Components: V, S, M/DF sumed into the behir’s form, but it is
+2 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, Casting Time: One standard action nonfunctional.
+2 Intelligence, +4 Wisdom, Range: Touch Material Component: A behir’s scale.
+4 Charisma. Target: Creature touched
Duration: One hour/level Bind Item
Evil clerics become half-fiends as Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless) Evocation [Force]
follows: Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) Level: Wizard 7
• You grow batlike wings that allow The subject gains greater endurance Components: V, S
you to fly at your normal speed thanks to your spell. Bear’s endurance Casting Time: One standard action
(average maneuverability). grants an enhancement bonus to Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two
• You gain +1 natural armor. Constitution of 1d4+1 points, adding levels)
• You gain bite and claw attacks. If you the usual benefits to Fortitude saving Target: One object no larger than 3 feet
are size Medium or larger, your bite throws, Constitution-related skill across
deals 1d6 points of damage and each checks, etc. Duration: Ten minutes/level
claw attack deals 1d4 points of dam- Arcane Material Component: A few Saving Throw: None
age. If you are Small, your bite deals hairs, or a pinch of dung, from a bear. Spell Resistance: No
1d3 points of damage and each claw The subject of this spell is encased
attack deals 1d3 points of damage. Behir’s Form in a globe of force no larger than 3 feet
• You gain darkvision out to 60 feet. Transmutation in diameter. If a creature holds the tar-
• You gain immunity to poison. Level: Druid 18, Wizard 17 get object, the creature can make a
• You gain resistance 10 to acid, cold, Components: V, S, M Reflex saving throw to resist the
electricity, and fire. Casting Time: One full round effects of the spell. The globe remains
• You gain damage reduction Range: Personal impervious to harm, much like a wall
10/magic. Target: You of force. However, the globe is weight-
• You gain spell resistance 25. Duration: Ten minutes/level less and can be moved (assuming
• You gain the following bonuses to You change yourself into a behir. enough force is available to move the
your ability scores: +4 Strength, Your type changes to magical beast. weight of the object encased in the
+4 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, Upon changing, you regain lost hit globe).
+4 Intelligence, +0 Wisdom, points as if you had rested for a night This spell often proves useful in
+2 Charisma. (though this healing does not restore transporting dangerous substances.
54 The Book of Experimental Might
Blast of Castigation Brilliant Energy that they had in life). If the creature is
Evocation alive, the soulless body falls to the
Level: Cleric 6 Weapon ground, in a coma. If the soul belongs
Components: V, S, DF Transmutation to a creature that died within 1 round
Casting Time: One standard action Level: Wizard 12 per caster level, the saving throw
Range: Medium (100 feet + 10 Components: V, S Difficulty Class increases by +5.
feet/level) Casting Time: One standard action This spell functions against incorpo-
Target: One creature Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two real undead spirits. However, dead
Duration: Concentration (up to levels) creatures whose souls are captured
1 round/level) Target: One melee weapon cannot be raised from the dead.
Saving Throw: Reflex half Duration: Ten minutes/level Captured souls can take no actions.
Spell Resistance: Yes Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless, You can offer the captured soul as a
You hurl a ray of violet energy from object) reward to an outsider or force the soul
your open palm. You must make a Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless, to answer one question truthfully each
ranged attack roll against the target. A object) day (the only possible answers are
successful strike inflicts 1d8 points of You give a single melee weapon the “yes,” “no,” and “I don’t know”).
damage for every three caster levels brilliant energy quality. Focus: The object storing the soul
(maximum 5d8). may be no larger than you and must be
You may then concentrate to keep Bull’s Strength worth at least 5,000 gp. You must
blasting the target with a continuous Transmutation have both it and the target in range
beam of energy. Each round the target Level: Cleric 3, Wizard 4 while you cast the spell. Casting the
is blasted, the spell deals 1d8 points of Components: V, S, M/DF spell does not consume the receptacle,
damage for every three caster levels Casting Time: One standard action but destroying the object sends the
(maximum 5d8). Range: Touch soul back to its rightful place—its
If you or the target moves so as to Target: Creature touched body if it was a living soul, or the
break line of sight, even for a moment, Duration: One hour/level afterlife if it was dead.
the spell ends. You cannot switch the Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
target of the spell once you have cast it. Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) Castigate the Dead
The subject becomes stronger Transmutation
Blazing Light thanks to your spell. Bull’s strength Level: Cleric 9
Evocation grants an enhancement bonus to Components: V, S, DF
Level: Cleric 9 Strength of 1d4+1 points, adding the Casting Time: One free action
Components: V, S, DF usual benefits to melee attack rolls, Range: Personal
Casting Time: One standard action melee damage rolls, Strength-related Target: You
Range: Long (400 feet + 40 feet/level) skill checks, etc. Duration: Instantaneous
Area: Line 10 feet wide Arcane Material Component: A few Saving Throw: None
Duration: Instantaneous hairs, or a pinch of dung, from a bull. Spell Resistance: No
Saving Throw: Reflex half When you use the Turn Undead dis-
Spell Resistance: Yes Capture Soul cipline, you also inflict upon the
Focusing holy power like a ray of Necromancy undead 1d6 points of damage + 1d6
sunlight, you project a beam of light Level: Wizard 18 points for every two caster levels. If you
from your hand. Creatures struck by Components: V, S, F already have the damage enhancement
this ray of light take 1d8 points of Casting Time: One standard action to the discipline (see Chapter One:
damage per caster level (maximum Range: Medium (100 feet + 10 Classes), then the undead flee as well
15d8). feet/level) as suffer damage.
Undead creatures take an additional Target: One soul This spell is cast at the same time as
+2d8 points of damage; undead crea- Duration: Instantaneous you turn undead. It is a free action that
tures that are particularly vulnerable Saving Throw: Will negates (see text) can be used only on your turn, and
to sunlight, such as vampires, take an Spell Resistance: Yes never more than once per round. It
additional +5d8 points of damage. You trap a creature’s soul in an cannot be used on the same round as
Constructs and inanimate objects object. The creature can be alive or a quickened spell or a quickened
suffer only 1d6 points of damage per dead (dead souls have the same saving discipline.
caster level (maximum 15d6). throw bonuses and spell resistance
Chapter Five: Magic
55
Cat’s Grace
Transmutation Design Decisions: The Stat-Boosting Spells
Level: Wizard 4 Okay, you caught me. I’ve just reinstated the original 3rd Edition
Components: V, S, M versions of cat’s grace, bull’s strength, et. al., back into the game. I
Casting Time: One standard action feel the much shorter versions of the spells in the revised Core Rules
Range: Touch are harder to get a lot of use from. And it’s a pain to keep track of a
Target: Creature touched lot of short durations—it’s hardly worth doing the math to refigure
your stat for just a minute per level; the hourlong durations make
Duration: One hour/level for much easier bookkeeping. In fact, I’d almost be willing to make
Saving Throw: None the whole thing even easier and say, “Wizard, give up a 4th-level
Spell Resistance: Yes spell slot and get a bonus to Dexterity for the whole day.” That
The transmuted creature becomes would be really easy.
more graceful, agile, and coordinated
thanks to your spell. Cat’s grace grants
an enhancement bonus to Dexterity of with one word. On the creature’s next Target: One creature or object
1d4+1 points, adding the usual benefits turn, as a free action, it answers you as Duration: Until discharged
to Armor Class, Reflex saves, Dexterity- truthfully as possible. The DM may Saving Throw: Will negates
based skills, etc. assign modifiers to the saving throw Spell Resistance: Yes
Material Component: A pinch of cat based on how important the target You cast this spell as well as another
fur. considers the answer. Asking someone spell of 12th level or lower to be
whether she is the king’s murderer, for “stored.” When a specific spell you
Coma example, involves a closely guarded name (of any level) is cast upon the
Enchantment (Compulsion) secret and may earn a trained assassin subject, the stored spell releases in a
[Mind-Affecting] a +4 competence bonus to the save. preset manner. The stored spell takes
Level: Cleric 12 effect immediately after the target spell
Components: S, M Compelling Question, in the same round.
Casting Time: One standard action For example, you store fireball within
Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two Greater your friend the barbarian and desig-
levels) Enchantment (Compulsion) nate lightning bolt as the impetus spell.
Target: One living creature [Language-Dependent, Mind- Now, when a lightning bolt is next cast,
Duration: One hour/level Affecting] placing the barbarian in its area, a fire-
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates Level: Wizard 5 ball is cast in the manner you chose
Spell Resistance: Yes Components: V, S when you cast conditional spell. You
You put a living creature in a coma. Casting Time: One standard action might have caused the spell to be cast
The subject falls prone immediately— Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two “at the individual who cast lightning
alive, but unable to take actions. levels) bolt,” or “100 feet straight ahead,” or
Material Component: A mixture of Target: One creature “at the subject’s feet.” The barbarian
ground spices. Duration: Instantaneous still suffers damage from the lightning
Saving Throw: Will negates bolt normally.
Compelling Question Spell Resistance: Yes You could also designate a door as
Enchantment (Compulsion) As compelling question, above, except the subject, with an impetus spell of
[Language-Dependent, Mind- that the answer may require up to knock, and store the web spell, to be cast
Affecting] twenty-five words. Answering the ques- in the area around the door. Or, you
Level: Wizard 1 tion remains a free action, and the could identify an impetus spell of charm
Components: V, S details of the answer still modify the person that, when cast upon a cohort (as
Casting Time: One standard action saving throw. the subject), releases the stored spell
Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two dispel magic, cast on the cohort.
levels) Conditional Spell A target and his gear may have only
Target: One creature Evocation one conditional spell active at a time,
Duration: Instantaneous Level: Wizard 12 meaning you cannot cast this spell on
Saving Throw: Will negates Components: V, S both a barbarian and the barbarian’s
Spell Resistance: Yes Casting Time: One standard action axe. If the impetus spell does not affect
You ask another creature a single, Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two the target because of a successful save
simple question that can be answered levels) or spell resistance, the conditional spell
56 The Book of Experimental Might
still triggers. If the stored spell cannot bonus to Armor Class, although you do Crystal of Reflection
be cast as you designated (due to not have to wield it. Abjuration
range, line of sight, etc.), the stored The shield can automatically counter Level: Cleric 4, Druid 5
spell has no effect and the conditional any single-target spell or spell-like abil- Components: V, S, M
spell is lost. ity, regardless of level, that has you as a Casting Time: One standard action
target. Area spells and spells that do Range: Touch
Confutation of the not actually have a target cannot be Target: One crystal
countered. Spells that you want to Duration: One minute/level (D)
Demon affect you bypass the shield. If the Saving Throw: None
Evocation [Good] shield counters a number of spells Spell Resistance: No
Level: Cleric 17 equal to your caster level, it disappears, You take a small crystal and imbue it
Components: V, S even if the duration has not yet with magical power so that it floats
Casting Time: One standard action expired. near you like an ioun stone. Any time
Range: Medium (100 feet + 10 you are the target of a ray attack, you
feet/level) Crystal Eruption gain a +6 deflection bonus to Armor
Target: One evil outsider/round Conjuration (Creation) Class thanks to the crystal. If the ray
Duration: 1 round/level Level: Cleric 13, Druid 14 misses you, it reflects back at the
Saving Throw: Will negates (see text) Components: V, S, M attacker (using the normal attack roll
Spell Resistance: Yes Casting Time: One standard action bonus).
When you point your finger at an Range: Medium (100 feet + 10 Material Component: Crystal shard
evil outsider and speak holy words feet/level) worth at least 10 gp.
whispered to you by servants of the Area: 50-foot-diameter circle on the
divine, you consume the outsider ground Crystal Shard
utterly in an explosion of light and Duration: 1 round/level (D) Conjuration (Creation)
glory. Beings with less than 10 HD Saving Throw: Reflex half and partial Level: Cleric 1, Druid 2
get no saving throw versus this effect. Spell Resistance: No Components: V, S
Those with 20 HD or more are not The area quakes and rumbles, and Casting Time: One standard action
consumed but instead suffer 10d6 the ground begins to burst forth with Range: Long (400 feet + 40 feet/level)
points of holy damage if they fail massive crystalline shards. The shards Effect: Crystal shard
their saving throw. Beings of godlike rise up to 20 feet high. Anyone or any- Duration: Instantaneous
status are immune to the effects of thing in the area must make a save Saving Throw: None
this spell. each round. Failure indicates that the Spell Resistance: No
Despite its name, this spell works subject suffers 1d6 points of impact You create a thin crystal shard that
equally well on devils, efreeti, and all damage per level (maximum 20d6) comes out of the tip of your finger and
evil outsiders. When an evil outsider is and is stunned for 1 round and flies in the direction you point, like an
consumed, it is destroyed utterly and knocked prone. On a successful save, arrow. Make a ranged attack roll. If it
forever. the subject suffers half damage and is succeeds, the shard inflicts 1d8+2
not stunned or prone. points of damage. After it strikes its
Counterspell Shield Structures built upon the affected target, the shard powders to dust.
Abjuration area likely are destroyed. If the spell is
Level: Wizard 18 cast underground in a cave or cavern Crystal Shield
Components: V, S with a ceiling of less than 20 feet, Conjuration (Summoning)
Casting Time: One standard action there is a 50 percent chance that it Level: Wizard 10
Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two completely collapses the area. Components: V, S
levels) After the duration expires, the crys- Casting Time: One standard action
Effect: One magical shield tal shards remain in the area where Range: 0 feet
Duration: 1 round/level they rose up, but they crack and turn Target: Your Shield of the Seraphim
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless) brown, making them worth practically Duration: 1 round/level
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) nothing. Saving Throw: None
You bring into existence a floating Material Component: Crystal shard Spell Resistance: No
shield of semi-transparent energy. This worth at least 50 gp. This spell is cast upon a Shield of
shield protects you as if you wielded a the Seraphim created by you (see the
heavy shield, giving you a +2 shield discipline in Chapter One: Classes).
Chapter Five: Magic
57
You summon a mass of magical crystal If the spell is cast on a small object remains utterly in holy (or unholy) fire.
that becomes a part of your Shield of that is then placed inside or under a If the target’s Fortitude saving throw
the Seraphim, adding +2 to the Armor lightproof covering, the spell’s effects succeeds, the creature instead suffers
Class bonus that it provides. remain blocked until the covering is 10d6 points of damage. It is virtually
Further, the crystal shield reflects all removed. impossible to bring back a character
Eldritch Bolts hurled at you back at the Darkness counters or dispels any slain by this spell.
attacker, using the same attack roll and light spell of equal or lower level. Focus: A special holy (or unholy)
inflicting the same damage. Arcane Material Components: A bit of symbol of silver marked with verses of
bat fur and either a drop of pitch or a anathema (costs 500 gp).
Curse of Wounding piece of coal.
Transmutation Destruction of the
Level: Cleric 9 Destruction
Components: V, S Necromancy [Death] Angel
Casting Time: One standard action Level: Cleric 14 Evocation [Evil]
Range: Touch Components: V, S, F Level: Cleric 17
Target: One creature Casting Time: One standard action Components: V, S
Duration: Permanent Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two Casting Time: One standard action
Saving Throw: Will negates levels) Range: Medium (100 feet + 10
Spell Resistance: Yes Target: One creature feet/level)
The opponent you touch gains a Duration: Instantaneous Target: One good outsider/round
50 percent hit chance; in other words, Saving Throw: Fortitude partial Duration: 1 round/level
50 percent of attacks targeting the Spell Resistance: Yes Saving Throw: Will negates (see text)
creature that normally would miss now This awful spell instantly delivers 10 Spell Resistance: Yes
hit. This curse negates the effect of a points of damage per caster level. If the When you point your finger at a
normal miss chance, whether it be from spell slays the target, it consumes the good outsider and speak unholy words
incorporeality, concealment, displace-
ment, or other condition. For such con-
ditions, however, the effects of the curse
are also negated. This curse can be
removed with a remove curse spell.
Darkness
Evocation [Darkness]
Level: Cleric 4, Wizard 4
Components: V, M/DF
Casting Time: One standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Object touched
Duration: Ten minutes/level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This spell causes an object to radiate
darkness. Not even creatures who nor-
mally can see in the dark (such as with
darkvision) can see in an area shrouded
in darkness. Normal lights (torches,
candles, lanterns, etc.) do not work, nor
do light spells of low level (light, etc.).
Darkness and daylight cancel each other
out, leaving whatever light conditions
normally prevail in the spells’ overlap-
ping areas. Higher-level light spells take
precedence over darkness.
58 The Book of Experimental Might
whispered to you by servants of the jures seven fiendish dogs to watch over This spell creates a doorway through
divine, you consume the outsider utter- and protect the tower for its duration. which you view another location. The
ly in an explosion of darkness and sin. The tower contains elegant but doorway is a 5-foot-by-8-foot, one-way
Beings with less than 10 HD get no gothic furnishings—twelve bunks, a magical opening that allows you or
saving throw versus this effect. Those trestle table, eight chairs, two benches, anyone else to step into the desired
with 20 HD or more are not consumed and a writing desk. The interior is filled location. You cannot choose or change
but instead suffer 10d6 points of with reliefs and tapestries depicting the position, orientation, or angle of
unholy damage if they fail their saving devils and graphically sinful acts. the doorway. Any spell that protects an
throw. Beings of godlike status are Material Component: A small block of area from teleportation or scrying also
immune to the effects of this spell. granite and a black feather dipped in prevents a doorway to elsewhere from
Despite its name, this spell works unholy water. opening into it.
equally well on archons, djinni, and all Any creature in the destination loca-
good outsiders. When a good outsider Disdain the Divine tion with an Intelligence of 12 or high-
is consumed, it is destroyed utterly and Abjuration er can notice the doorway by making
forever. Level: Wizard 2 an Intelligence check (DC 20). Even if
Components: S, M the doorway is noticed, however, it
Devil’s Tower Casting Time: One full round remains one-way, and the creature
Conjuration (Creation) [Evil] Range: Touch cannot look or step in—she merely
Level: Cleric 12 Target: One creature knows it is there.
Components: V, S, M Duration: One minute/level When creating the doorway, choose
Casting Time: One minute Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless) a place known to you that it will lead (a
Range: Medium (100 feet + 10 Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) place you have been or a locale you
feet/level) The creature you touch gains a resist- have had described to you). It can even
Effect: A tower 20 feet square and ance bonus of +1, plus an additional +1 be on another plane. To determine if
30 feet tall for every four caster levels, to saves made the doorway appears where you want it
Duration: Two hours/level against divine spells (maximum +5). to, make a percentile roll on the table
Saving Throw: None Material Component: A broken holy below. The paragraphs that follow
Spell Resistance: No symbol. explain the table’s terms.
You conjure a fortified tower made Familiarity: “Very familiar” refers to
of stone. There are two floors and a flat Doorway to a place where you have been very often
roof with battlements, all connected by and where you feel at home. “Studied
narrow stairs on the interior. In all Elsewhere carefully” is a place you know well,
respects the structure resembles a nor- Transmutation either because you’ve been there often
mal tower, with an iron door and three Level: Wizard 19 or because you have used other means
shuttered windows on the upper interi- Components: V, S, M (such as scrying) to study the place.
or level (stairs lead from the ground Casting Time: Six hours “Seen casually” is a place you have seen
level outside to the door), and a small Range: See text more than once but with which you are
fireplace. Effect: A one-way magical doorway not very familiar. “Viewed once” is a
The shelter has a comfortable temper- Duration: Permanent place you have seen once, possibly
ature and atmosphere no matter what Saving Throw: None using magic. “Description” is a place
the conditions are like outside. The Spell Resistance: No whose location and appearance you
tower provides considerable security—
the walls are 4-foot-thick stone and the
On Off Similar
door is 2-inch-thick iron. The structure Familiarity Target Target Area Mishap
itself resists spells cast directly upon it
Very familiar 01–97 98–99 100 —
as if it had SR 25. It is impervious to
normal missiles, though not the sort Studied carefully 01–94 95–97 98–99 100
cast by siege machinery or giants. Seen casually 01–88 89–94 95–98 99–100
The door, shutters, and even chimney Viewed once 01–76 77–88 89–96 97–100
remain secure against intrusion, the Description 01–52 53–76 77–92 93–100
former two being arcane locked and the
False destination — — 81–92 93–100
latter secured by an iron grate at the top (roll 1d20+80)
of a narrow flue. Finally, the spell con-
Chapter Five: Magic
59
know through someone else’s descrip- Dragon’s Form
tion, perhaps even from a precise map. Transmutation
“False destination” is a place that does Level: Druid 20, Wizard 20
not exist, such as if you have mistrans- Components: V, S, M
lated an ancient tome and tried to step Casting Time: One full round
into a nonexistent treasure vault that Range: Personal
you believe you read about, or if a trai- Target: You
torous guide has carefully described an Duration: Ten minutes/level
enemy’s sanctum to you wholly inaccu- You change yourself into a young
rately. When looking into a false desti- adult red dragon. Your type changes to
nation, roll 1d20+80 to obtain results dragon. Upon changing, you regain
on the table, rather than rolling per- lost hit points as if you had rested for a
centile dice, since there is no real loca- night (though this healing does not
tion for you to hope to see or even be restore temporary ability damage or
off target from. provide other benefits of resting;
On Target: The doorway opens into changing back does not heal you fur-
the place you want. ther). If slain, you revert to your origi-
Off Target: The doorway opens into nal form, though you remain dead.
a location a random distance away You gain the Strength, Dexterity,
from the desired location in a random and Constitution scores of a young
direction. Distance off target meas- adult red dragon but retain your own
ures 1d10 × 1d10 percent of the dis- Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma
tance between you and the original scores. You retain your own base attack
location. If the door goes to another bonus, base saves, and hit points, but
plane, the off-target location is anoth- gain the young adult red dragon’s bite,
er plane. claw, tail, wing and crush damage plus
Similar Area: The doorway opens its Armor Class, speed, flying ability,
into a location that’s visually or the- breath weapon, frightful presence,
matically similar to the target area. spell-like abilities, damage reduction,
Generally, you step into the closest immunity to fire, sleep, and paralysis,
similar place, but since the spell has spell resistance, improved grab, blind-
no range limit, you could conceivably sense, keen senses, darkvision, low-
step somewhere else across the globe. light vision, and vulnerability to cold.
Mishap: The doorway’s energy You do not gain its spellcasting ability.
explodes around you, inflicting 3d6 You retain your own skills and feats
points of damage to you and all with- and gain the dragon’s feats and racial
in 10 feet of you. bonuses to skills (but not its skill
Material Component: A 5-foot-by-7- ranks). You can speak, cast spells, and
foot pane of quality glass with a silver use disciplines while in dragon form.
frame, worth at least 5,000 gp. The equipment you wear is sub-
sumed into the dragon’s form, but it is
nonfunctional.
Material Component: A red dragon’s
scale.
Duplicate
Necromancy
Level: Wizard 20
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: One full round
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level
60 The Book of Experimental Might
You create a temporary duplicate of its gear becomes the “real gear,” and Eagle’s Splendor
yourself and your gear. This is not a your gear disappears. You suffer an Transmutation
clone—you control the duplicate as immediate loss of 2d4 × 1,000 XP as Level: Cleric 3, Wizard 4
surely as you control yourself, for you you transition your soul into the new Components: V, S, M
and it are one person: one mind with form. The duplicate is now you (and Casting Time: One standard action
two bodies. Both you and the duplicate can cast duplicate again). Range: Touch
can do anything that you can do, inde- You cannot have more than one Target: Creature touched
pendently. For example, if you are an duplicate at a time (and a duplicate Duration: One hour/level
18th-level wizard, so is the duplicate— cannot have a duplicate). This spell Saving Throw: None
you can both cast spells, communicate cannot be made permanent, other than Spell Resistance: Yes
with your familiar, walk across the by your own death, as mentioned The transmuted creature becomes
room, use items, and so on. In any above. more poised, articulate, and personally
given round of the duration, you can Material Component: Two perfectly forceful. The spell grants an enhance-
both take independent actions; thus matched diamonds, each worth at least ment bonus to Charisma of 1d4+1
the duplicate can cast a spell while you 1,000 gp. points, adding the usual benefits to
use a wand. You and the duplicate do Charisma-based skills, etc.
not need to stay close to each other. If Eagle’s Form Arcane Material Component: A few
you create a duplicate, you can have it Transmutation feathers, or a pinch of droppings, from
step through a magic gate to explore Level: Druid 3, Wizard 3 an eagle.
what lies beyond, while the “real you” Components: V, S, M
stays safe on this side. You share the Casting Time: One full round Energy Lash
same thoughts—your thoughts are the Range: Personal Evocation [Force]
duplicate’s. The duplicate is an exact Target: You Level: Wizard 3
replica of you as you are at the moment Duration: Ten minutes/level Components: V, S, M
you cast the spell. If you are down 11 You change yourself into an eagle. Casting Time: One standard action
hit points and 1 point of Constitution, Your type changes to animal. Upon Range: Personal
so is the duplicate. If you are diseased, changing, you regain lost hit points as Effect: 10-foot-long whip
so is the duplicate. The duplicate does if you had rested for a night (though Duration: One minute/level (D)
not carry lingering spell effects (neither this healing does not restore temporary Saving Throw: None
beneficial ones, such as cat’s grace or ability damage or provide other benefits Spell Resistance: No
stoneskin, nor harmful ones, such as of resting; changing back does not heal You create a whip made of energy
slow or doom), even if you do when you you further). If slain, you revert to your that comes out of the palm of your
cast the spell. After the duplicate is cre- original form, though you remain dead. hand. You can wield the whip as
ated, you can cast spell effects on it (or You gain the Strength, Dexterity, though you were proficient with it. The
the duplicate can cast them), but even and Constitution scores of an eagle but weapon has a 10-foot reach and inflicts
then, spell effects are not necessarily retain your own Intelligence, Wisdom, 1d6 points of force damage + 1 point
shared by both of you. The duplicate and Charisma scores. You retain your for every two levels (maximum +10).
cannot be commanded to hurt you any own base attack bonus, base saves, and You can also make grapple attacks with
more easily than you can be command- hit points, but gain the eagle’s bite and the weapon without provoking attacks
ed to harm yourself. talon damage, Armor Class, speed, fly- of opportunity.
Spells cast by either the duplicate or ing ability, and low-light vision. You Material Component: A 3-inch strip of
you come from your spell total. For retain your own skills and feats and leather.
example, if you have one lightning bolt gain the eagle’s feats and racial bonuses
spell prepared, when the duplicate to skills (but not its skill ranks). You Escape Death
casts the spell, it is no longer available can speak and cast spells with only ver- Evocation
to you. Charged items (or items or abil- bal components while in eagle form. Level: Wizard 18
ities with a number of available uses You can use disciplines that do not Components: V, S, M
per day) that you or the duplicate use require a free hand. Casting Time: Ten minutes
count against the total number of daily The equipment you wear is sub- Range: Personal
charges or uses. sumed into the eagle’s form, but it is Target: You
If the duplicate dies, the spell dura- nonfunctional. Duration: Until discharged
tion ends. If you die, the duplicate Material Component: A feather from When casting this spell, you must
becomes the permanent version of you, an eagle. specify a locale that you have visited.
Chapter Five: Magic
61
Henceforth, should you die, you and Fiendish Horde Duration: Instantaneous
your gear are immediately transported Conjuration (Summoning) [Evil] Saving Throw: None
to that location and you are alive and Level: Cleric 20 Spell Resistance: Yes
conscious for 1d4 rounds (during Components: V, S, DF When you cast this spell on an area
which time you or others may attempt Casting Time: One standard action of ground, the earth cracks and shud-
to undo the cause of your demise) Range: Medium (100 feet + 10 ders. Fiery, wicked light and the smell of
before you actually die. feet/level) sulfur ooze out of the cracks and flicker
For example, if you have died from Area: 20-foot-radius spread upward 30 feet. Good creatures in the
reaching a hit point total lower than Duration: Instantaneous and one light suffer 3d8 points of damage. Good
your Constitution score expressed as a hour/level outsiders suffer 5d8 points of damage.
negative number (see Chapter Four: Saving Throw: Reflex half and none Once the spell ends, the ground reseals
Playing the Game), healing in the Spell Resistance: No and returns to its previous state.
form of hit points can restore you. If You call upon fiends, hungry for
you have been decapitated, however, murder, to come forth and aid your Fist of the Elemental
much more drastic measures are cause. This spell conjures an area of
needed. reddish, unholy light that inflicts 10d6 Lord
Utter destruction of your physical points of damage on all good creatures. Conjuration (Summoning) [See Text]
form, such as with a disintegrate spell Further, in the middle of the area, one Level: Druid 19, Wizard 20
or the crushing weight of a 100-ton vrock or osyluth for every four caster Components: V, S
stone block, likely prohibits any mean- levels appears to serve you, as long as Casting Time: One standard action
ingful action on your part (subject to you command them to commit only Range: Medium (100 feet + 10
DM discretion) once this spell trans- evil acts. You can choose whether feet/level)
ports you. It does not prohibit the vrocks or osyluths appear, although Effect: A fist (size Large) made of
assistance of others, although a wish or normally it depends on your own seething elemental force
miracle likely is needed to bring you alignment (chaotic vs. lawful). Duration: 1 round/level
back. Saving Throw: See text
Material Component: A specially Finger of Death Spell Resistance: Yes
made jeweled orb that costs 5,000 gp. Necromancy [Death] You conjure a fist made of roaring fire,
Level: Druid 16, Wizard 14 churning air, solid stone, or seething
Fey Storage Components: V, S water. The fist has a diameter of 8 to 9
Transmutation Casting Time: 1 round feet. It flies through the air at a speed of
Level: Wizard 1 Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two levels) 90, as you direct (a free action in a given
Components: V, S Target: One living creature round). You can use the fist to attack a
Casting Time: One standard action Duration: Instantaneous single target by making caster level
Range: Personal Saving Throw: Fortitude partial checks as attack rolls. Attacking with the
Target: You Spell Resistance: No fist—as opposed to just directing it—
Duration: Twenty-four hours (D) This awful spell instantly delivers 10 is a move action. The fist inflicts 1d6
Saving Throw: None points of damage per caster level. A vic- points of impact damage per caster
Spell Resistance: No tim who succeeds in a saving throw level plus a special effect based on its
You create an extradimensional instead sustains 3d6 points of damage element:
space hidden on your person that can + 1 point per caster level. Of course, the • Air: Creatures struck, regardless of
store up to 5 lbs. per level of objects victim might die from damage even size, must make Fortitude saves or
able to fit through a 6-inch-square after succeeding at the saving throw. be knocked back 10 feet and prone.
opening. This space resembles a bag of • Earth: Creatures struck that are
holding in most ways. If this spell ends Fires of Hell smaller than Gargantuan must
with objects stored, they fall to the Evocation [Evil] make Fortitude saves or be stunned
ground at your feet. Level: Cleric 11 for 1 round.
Although some say the spell gains Components: V, S • Fire: Flammable objects (including
its name from the fact that you could Casting Time: One standard action creatures) within 5 feet of the fist
store a pixie in the space, it actually Range: Medium (100 feet + 10 catch fire and suffer 1d6 points of
comes from the fact that it was creat- feet/level) fire damage per round until some-
ed by a fey caster. Area: 30-foot-radius spread on the one uses a full-round action to put
ground out the flames.
62 The Book of Experimental Might
• Water: Creatures struck that are to move anywhere within range and Gird Against the
smaller than Large must make make one ranged touch attack each
Reflex saving throws or be absorbed round with it, using your own attack Enemy
into the fist. Those absorbed move bonus. Those the claw touches suffer Abjuration [Good or Evil]
with the fist and begin to drown. 3d6 points of cold damage and must Level: Cleric 18, Druid 18
A successful Swim check (DC 20) make Fortitude saves. Failing the save Components: V, S, DF
frees a creature. The fist can hold freezes a victim solid. Frozen creatures Casting Time: One full round
two Medium, four Small, eight Tiny, remain alive but cannot take actions. Range: Touch
or sixteen Fine creatures. They stay frozen until they suffer 20 Target: One living creature/five levels
points of fire damage, after which or one undead creature/five levels
The spell takes on the descriptor of point they are free (but sustain the 20 Duration: 1 round/level
the element chosen. points of damage). If the claw suffers Saving Throw: None (harmless)
If you wish it, the fist can attempt 10 points of fire damage, the spell Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
bull rush, charge, overrun, or sunder ends. (The claw has AC 12.) You grant living creatures potency
actions. It does not make attacks of Material Component: A chunk of ice. against the undead, or undead crea-
opportunity. tures potency against the living.
The fist inflicts full damage against Giant’s Form All living subjects receive a death ward
inanimate objects regardless of element. Transmutation effect. The subjects also become immune
Level: Druid 10, Wizard 10 to special attacks and abilities of undead
Fox’s Cunning Components: V, S, M that deal ability damage, ability drain,
Transmutation Casting Time: One full round fear effects, disease, paralysis, or poison.
Level: Wizard 4 Range: Personal The weapons and armor of living sub-
Components: V, S, M Target: You jects gain the ghost touch ability. Cast in
Casting Time: One standard action Duration: Ten minutes/level this way, this is a good spell.
Range: Touch You change yourself into a hill giant. All undead subjects gain immunity
Target: Creature touched Your type changes to giant. Upon to turning. They also become immune
Duration: One hour/level changing, you regain lost hit points as to any attack that specifically targets
Saving Throw: None if you had rested for a night (though undead, including but not limited to
Spell Resistance: Yes this healing does not restore temporary holy water, the special damage that a
The transmuted creature becomes ability damage or provide other bene- searing light spell inflicts, or a weapon
more intelligent through this spell. fits of resting; changing back does not with the disruption quality. Other
Fox’s cunning grants an enhancement heal you further). If slain, you revert to attacks that specifically target other
bonus to Intelligence of 1d4+1 points, your original form, though you remain aspects of the undead creature, such as
adding the usual set of benefits to dead. a weapon with the holy quality affect-
Intelligence-based skills, etc. The sub- You gain the Strength, Dexterity, ing evil creatures, function normally.
ject does not gain additional skill and Constitution scores of a hill giant Cast in this way, this is an evil spell.
points. but retain your own Intelligence, Gird against the enemy cannot be cast
Material Component: A pinch of fox Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You in such a way as to affect both the liv-
fur. retain your own base attack bonus, ing and the undead at the same time.
base saves, and hit points, but gain the
Freezing Claw giant’s slam damage, Armor Class, Globe of Invulner-
Conjuration (Creation) [Cold] speed, rock throwing ability, and low-
Level: Wizard 12 light vision. You retain your own skills ability, Lesser
Components: V, S, M and feats and gain the giant’s feats Abjuration
Casting Time: One standard action and racial bonuses to skills (but not Level: Wizard 8
Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two its skill ranks). You can speak, cast Components: V, S, M
levels) spells, and use disciplines in giant Casting Time: One standard action
Effect: A small claw of ice form. Range: 10 feet
Duration: 1 round/level The equipment you wear is sub- Area: A 10-foot-radius spherical
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial sumed into the giant’s form, but it is emanation, centered on you
Spell Resistance: Yes nonfunctional. Duration: 1 round/level
You create a 2-foot-diameter ice-blue Material Component: A strand of a Saving Throw: None
claw that floats in the air. You direct it hill giant’s hair. Spell Resistance: No
Chapter Five: Magic
63
An immobile, faintly shimmering Glory of the Beast You call upon divine energy to grant
magical sphere surrounds you and Transmutation [Good or Evil] yourself great speed. Your speed
excludes all 1st- through 5th-level spell Level: Cleric 11, Druid 11 becomes 60, regardless of size or
effects. The area or effect of any such Components: V, S, DF encumbrance. Your movements appear
spells does not include the area of the Casting Time: One standard action to be almost a blur to onlookers. You
lesser globe of invulnerability. Such spells Range: Touch also gain a +2 haste bonus to Armor
fail to affect any target or subject locat- Target: One animal or beast Class thanks to this spell.
ed within the globe. This includes Duration: One hour/level
spell-like abilities and spells or spell- Saving Throw: None Grant Quarter
like effects from devices or disciplines. Spell Resistance: Yes Transmutation
However, any type of spell can be cast You fill an animal or magical beast Level: Cleric 4
through or out of the magical globe. with holy or unholy power, allowing it Components: V, S, M
Spells of 6th level and higher go unaf- to take on a glorious aspect or a wicked Casting Time: One standard action
fected by the globe. The globe can be demeanor. The animal adopts the Range: Medium (100 feet + 10
brought down by a targeted dispel magic celestial or the fiendish template, feet/level)
spell, but not by an area dispel magic. enjoys maximum hit points, and gains Target: One helpless or willing
You can leave and return to the globe a +2 enhancement bonus to all ability creature/level (see text)
without penalty. scores. For the duration, the creature Duration: One day/level (D)
Note that spell effects are not dis- adopts a good or evil alignment, as Saving Throw: Will negates
rupted unless their effects enter the appropriate. Spell Resistance: Yes
globe, and even then they are merely You create an extradimensional
suppressed, not dispelled. For example, Godspeed prison where you store captured foes in
creatures inside the globe would still Transmutation stasis. Those affected by the spell must
see a mirror image created by a caster Level: Cleric 6 be either helpless or willing (often,
outside the globe. If that caster then Components: V, S, DF when granted the options of this type
entered the globe, the images would Casting Time: One standard action of imprisonment and death, a subject
wink out, to reappear when the caster Range: Personal will submit to the spell and thus get no
exited the globe. Likewise, a caster Target: You saving throw). Subjects must also be of
standing in the area of a light spell Duration: One minute/level 5 HD or less.
would still receive sufficient light for
vision, even though that part of the
light spell volume inside the globe
would not be luminous.
If a given spell’s level varies depend-
ing on the character class casting it,
use the level appropriate to the caster’s
class to determine whether lesser globe
of invulnerability stops it.
Material Component: A bead made of
glass or crystal that shatters at the
spell’s expiration.
Globe of
Invulnerability
Abjuration
Level: Wizard 12
As lesser globe of invulnerability,
except that it also excludes 6th-, 7th-,
and 8th-level spells and spell-like
effects.
64 The Book of Experimental Might
Using this spell, you place them in a Area: 50-foot spread, centered on you fear, gaze attacks, or disintegrate
state of suspended animation. For the Duration: One minute/level (although it would absorb the damage
creatures, time ceases to flow and their Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless) inflicted by a disintegrate spell if the
condition becomes fixed. They do not Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) subject’s save succeeds).
grow older. Their bodily functions vir- You are surrounded by a visible halo Material Component: Four vials of
tually cease, and no force or effect can of divine energy. All allies gain a +2 holy water.
harm them. deflection bonus to Armor Class and a
This spell is known to some as bonds +2 resistance bonus to saving throws Harassing Weapon
of mercy. as long as they remain in the halo. Evocation [Force]
Material Component: Three 1-inch Level: Wizard 2
bars of iron. Halo of Shelter Components: V, S
Abjuration Casting Time: One standard action
Guide Craft Level: Cleric 10 Range: Medium (100 feet + 10
Transmutation Components: V, S, M feet/level)
Level: Wizard 1 Casting Time: One standard action Effect: A magical weapon of force
Components: V, S, M Range: Touch Duration: 1 round/level (D)
Casting Time: One standard action Target: One creature of a nonevil Saving Throw: None
Range: Touch alignment Spell Resistance: Yes
Target: See text Duration: One minute/level (D) A melee weapon of pure force
Duration: One hour/level Saving Throw: None springs into existence and attacks a
Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: No designated opponent when he pro-
Spell Resistance: No Around a subject you create a halo vokes attacks of opportunity, dealing
A cart, wagon, boat, or ship moves as that can sustain 5 points of damage per 1d8 points of damage per hit with a
you command. The vehicle can be no caster level. All incoming damage (nor- critical threat range of 19–20/×2. The
larger than 10 feet long + 2 feet per mal or nonlethal hit point damage but weapon is visible and takes the shape
level (thus, a 10th-level wizard can steer not ability score damage) is subtracted of any appropriately-sized simple or
a 30-foot-long vessel). The craft must from the halo before any of it reaches martial weapon you desire. It uses your
have its normal means of locomotion, the target. As long as the halo has any base attack as its attack bonus. It
or you may cast power craft (see page hit points left, it absorbs the entire strikes as a spell, not as a weapon, so,
69). You do not need to concentrate to attack. Thus, if a 10th-level cleric casts for example, it can strike incorporeal
maintain this effect—so you could cast halo of shelter upon a subject, the halo creatures.
it on a horse-drawn wagon, command has 50 hp. If the subject is then struck The weapon follows the foe you
it to “go straight,” and take a nap. The by a sword for 18 points of damage, the choose as long as he remains within
horse will pull the wagon straight until halo has 32 hp left. If the target then range. Occupying the same area as the
you tell it otherwise or the duration falls into a pit and suffers 20 points of foe, it makes attacks of opportunity
ends. damage, he sustains no damage him- whenever that particular foe provokes
The spell does not imbue a craft (or self and the halo has 10 hp left. If the them, but otherwise it takes no actions.
the animals pulling it) with intelli- subject then finds himself in the area Your feats (such as Weapon Focus) or
gence. It cannot avoid obstacles that of a fireball that inflicts 24 points of combat actions (such as charge) do not
you do not tell it to avoid. Nor can it damage, the halo is destroyed, but he affect the weapon. If the weapon goes
follow a command that requires intelli- remains unscathed. beyond the spell’s range, the spell ends.
gence, such as, “Sail to the port city of The halo also blocks effects that Once you’ve designated a foe, you can-
Andrecon” or even, “Follow the road.” accompany a damaging attack, such as not choose a new opponent to harass
Only simple instructions work, such as a poisonous bite or the effects of an with this spell. The harassing weapon
“straight,” “left,” “right,” and so on. axe of wounding. cannot be attacked or damaged.
Material Component: An arrowhead. The subject of the halo of shelter If an attacked creature has spell
glows (particularly around the head) resistance, check for resistance the first
Halo of Protection with divine energy that illuminates a time the harassing weapon strikes.
Abjuration 5-foot radius. Successfully resisting the weapon dis-
Level: Cleric 8 Damage from artifacts, spells of 15th pels the spell. Otherwise, the weapon
Components: V, S, DF level or above, and +5 weapons bypass retains its normal full effect for the
Casting Time: One standard action the halo. The halo does not protect duration.
Range: 50 feet against nondamaging attacks like cause
Chapter Five: Magic
65
Haste place regardless of whether the crea- Implosion
Transmutation tures hear the holy shout. Evocation
Level: Wizard 6 Lastly, creatures native to your plane Level: Cleric 19
Components: V, S, M who hear the holy shout and are not Components: V, S
Casting Time: One standard action good suffer the following cumulative ill Casting Time: Up to 5 rounds (see text)
Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two effects: Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two
levels) levels)
Target: One creature HD Effect Target: One corporeal creature/round
Duration: 1 round/level 14 or more Deafened Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates Less than 14 Blinded, deafened Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Spell Resistance: Yes Less than 10 Paralyzed, blinded, Spell Resistance: Yes
The transmuted creature moves and deafened By use of this spectacular spell, you
acts more quickly than normal. This Less than 6 Killed, paralyzed, create a destructive resonance in a cor-
extra speed has several effects. blinded, deafened poreal creature’s body. Each round you
• Hasted creatures gain an additional spend casting this spell, you can cause
move action each round. Deafened: The creature is deafened one creature to collapse in on itself,
• Hasted creatures gain a +2 haste (see blindness/deafness in the Core inflicting 10 points of damage per cast-
bonus to Armor Class. They lose Rules) for 1d4 rounds. er level. (The first implosion happens
this bonus whenever they would Blinded: The creature is blinded (see 1 round after you begin casting the spell.)
lose a dodge bonus. blindness/deafness in the Core Rules) for If you break your concentration dur-
• A hasted creature can jump one and 2d4 rounds. ing the casting, you lose the spell.
a half times as far as normal. This Paralyzed: The creature is paralyzed However, any implosions that have
increase counts as an enhancement and helpless for 1d10 minutes, unable already happened remain in effect.
bonus. to move or act in any way. You can target a particular creature
• Haste dispels and counters slow. Killed: Living and unliving creatures only once with each casting of the spell.
suffer 15d6 points of damage. Implosion has no effect on creatures
Material Component: A shaving of in gaseous form or on incorporeal
licorice root. Immortality creatures.
Abjuration
Holy Shout Level: Cleric 19, Druid 20, Wizard 19 Incorporeal Defense
Evocation [Good, Sonic] Components: V, S, M Transmutation
Level: Cleric 15 Casting Time: Twenty-four hours Level: Cleric 4
Components: V Range: Touch Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: One standard action Target: One living creature Casting Time: One standard action
Range: 30 feet Duration: Instantaneous Range: Touch
Target: Creatures in a 30-foot-radius Saving Throw: Fortitude negates Target: One creature
spread centered on you (harmless) Duration: One minute/level
Duration: Instantaneous Spell Resistance: Yes Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Saving Throw: None The target stops aging. He continues Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes to experience age effects but has no A nimbus of spectral light surrounds
Letting loose with a holy shout has maximum age. When casting this spell, the subject. She gains a +4 bonus to
three effects. First, any evil creatures in first make a check, adding your caster Armor Class versus attacks from incor-
the target area suffer 1d8 points of level plus your key ability modifier poreal foes.
sonic damage for every two caster levels (Intelligence for wizards, Wisdom for Material Component: A silver-colored
(maximum 10d8). Nongood, nonevil clerics and druids); the Difficulty Class thread.
creatures suffer only half damage. is 45. If you succeed, the target looks
Good creatures suffer no damage. youthful and remains that way. If you Inspired Initiative
Further, if you are on your home do not succeed, he continues to look Divination
plane, the spell instantly banishes non- older and older as time passes, becom- Level: Cleric 1
good extraplanar creatures within the ing a dreadful, shriveled husk. Components: V, S
target area back to their home planes. Material Component: A jewel worth at Casting Time: One standard action
Creatures so banished cannot return least 5,000 gp. Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two
for at least one day. This effect takes levels)
66 The Book of Experimental Might
Target: One creature/level invisible character’s perceptions.) safe on that plane for the duration. The
Duration: Ten minutes/level or until Actions directed at unattended objects point of the spell is simply to get rid of
discharged do not break the spell. Causing harm them for a short while, so that actions
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless) indirectly is not an attack. Thus, an can take place in their absence.
Spell Resistance: No invisible being can open doors, talk, Unattended objects gain no saving
Creatures affected by this spell gain eat, climb stairs, summon monsters throw unless they are magical. An
momentary impressions of the future and have them attack for her, cut the object must be smaller than a 10-foot
that grant them a +2 bonus on their ropes holding a rope bridge while ene- cube to be affected. Creatures, however,
next initiative check. mies are on the bridge, remotely trigger can be of any size. Due to the “four-
traps, open a portcullis to release attack fold” nature of this spell, if you choose
Invisibility dogs, and so on. If she attacks directly, to affect fewer than four targets, you
Illusion (Glamer) however, she immediately becomes vis- can force one or more of them to make
Level: Wizard 4 ible along with all her gear. Note that multiple saving throws. If any of the
Components: V, S, M spells that specifically affect allies but saves fail, the spell affects the subject.
Casting Time: One standard action not foes are not attacks for this pur- For example, if you affect three tar-
Range: Personal or touch pose, even when they include foes in gets, one (your choice) must make two
Target: You or a creature or object their area. saving throws while the others each
weighing up to 100 lbs./level Material Components: An eyelash and make one, as normal. If the spell tar-
Duration: Ten minutes/level (D) a bit of gum arabic, the former encased gets two subjects, both must make two
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless, in the latter. saves, or one must make three and the
object) other just one. If this spell is cast upon
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless, Jevicca’s Fourfold one target, that creature or object must
object) make four saving throws and succeed
The creature or object touched van- Ostracism at all of them or suffer the spell’s effect.
ishes from sight, even from darkvision. Transmutation A creature with spell resistance must
If the recipient is a creature, she Level: Wizard 13 attempt an SR check for each save
becomes visible again if she attacks any Components: V, S, F required of it. This spell has no effect if
other creature. If the subject is carrying Casting Time: One standard action cast on the Ethereal Plane.
gear, the gear vanishes, too. If you cast Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two Focus: A bit of copper wire bent four
the spell on someone else, neither you levels) times into a square.
nor your allies can see the subject, Target: One to four creatures or objects
unless you can normally see invisible Duration: 1 round/level Knock
things or employ magic to do so. Saving Throw: Will negates Transmutation
Items dropped or put down by an Spell Resistance: Yes Level: Wizard 3
invisible creature become visible; items You send one to four creatures or Components: V
picked up disappear if tucked into the objects into the Ethereal Plane for a Casting Time: One standard action
clothing or pouches worn by the crea- very short time. At the end of the dura- Range: Medium (100 feet + 10
ture. Light never becomes invisible, tion, the subjects return to the exact feet/level)
although a source of light can (the location from which they left, unless Target: One door, box, or chest with an
effect is that of a light with no visible that spot is no longer safe (it has been area of up to 10 square feet/level
source). Any part of an item that the filled with stone, a fire has been set Duration: Instantaneous (see text)
subject carries but that extends more there, and so on); in that case, they Saving Throw: None
than 10 feet from her becomes visible, appear in the nearest safe spot. Spell Resistance: No
such as a trailing rope. During their time on the Ethereal, The knock spell opens stuck, barred,
Of course, the subject is not magi- creatures can take whatever actions are locked, held, or arcane locked doors if
cally silenced, and certain other condi- available to them—if they have the you succeed at a caster level check to
tions can render her detectable (such power on their own, they can even overcome the Open Lock DC of the
as stepping in a puddle). The spell return to the Material Plane. They can- lock or the Strength check DC of a
ends if the subject attacks any creature. not, however, move outside the range stuck door. The spell opens secret
For purposes of this spell, an “attack” of the spell, nor can they see into the doors, as well as locked or trick-opening
includes any spell targeting a foe or real world. Unless the creatures ostra- boxes or chests. It also loosens welds,
whose area or effect includes a foe. cized to the Ethereal take actions shackles, or chains (provided they
(Exactly who is a foe depends on the against each other, assume they stay serve to hold closures shut).
Chapter Five: Magic
67
If used to open an arcane locked Area: 30-foot-radius spread on the Magma Burst
door, the spell does not remove the ground Conjuration (Creation) [Fire]
arcane lock but simply suspends its Duration: Instantaneous Level: Wizard 19
functioning for ten minutes. In all Saving Throw: None Components: V, S
other cases, the door does not relock Spell Resistance: Yes Casting Time: One full round
itself or become stuck again on its own. When you cast this spell on an area Range: Medium (100 feet + 10
Knock does not raise barred gates or of the ground, the earth cracks and feet/level)
similar impediments (such as a shudders. Holy light blazes out of the Area: 50-foot radius
portcullis), nor does it affect ropes, cracks and shines upward 30 feet. Evil Duration: Instantaneous
vines, and the like. creatures in the light suffer 3d8 points Saving Throw: Reflex half
of damage. Undead suffer 5d8 points Spell Resistance: Yes
Light of the Earth of damage. Once the spell ends, the You cause the earth to explode like a
Evocation [Good] ground reseals and returns to its previ- volcano vent, spraying rock and magma
Level: Cleric 11 ous state. and inflicting 20d6 points of damage
Components: V, S to everything in the area (half of this is
Casting Time: One standard action Lion’s Form fire damage, the other half is impact
Range: Medium (100 feet + 10 Transmutation damage). From that point on, the
feet/level) Level: Druid 6, Wizard 6 entire area remains a pool of lava that
Components: V, S, M inflicts 20d6 points of fire damage
Casting Time: One full round per round.
Range: Personal
Target: You Master Hammer
Duration: Ten minutes/level Transmutation
You change yourself into a dire lion. Level: Cleric 17
Your type changes to animal. Upon Components: V, S, DF
changing, you regain lost hit points as Casting Time: One standard action
if you had rested for a night (though Range: Personal
this healing does not restore temporary Target: You
ability damage or provide other benefits Duration: 1 round/level
of resting; changing back does not heal Saving Throw: None
you further). If slain, you revert to your Spell Resistance: No
original form, though you remain dead. Your weapon, enhanced with the
You gain the Strength, Dexterity, Godhammer discipline (see Chapter
and Constitution scores of a dire lion One: Classes), inflicts an additional
but retain your own Intelligence, 6d6 points of damage.
Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You
retain your own base attack bonus, Mighty Hammer
base saves, and hit points, but gain the Transmutation
dire lion’s bite and claw damage, Armor Level: Cleric 7
Class, speed, improved grab, pounce, Components: V, S, DF
rake, low-light vision, and scent. You Casting Time: One standard action
retain your own skills and feats and Range: Personal
gain the dire lion’s feats and racial Target: You
bonuses to skills (but not its skill Duration: 1 round/level
ranks). You can speak and cast spells Saving Throw: None
with only verbal components. You can Spell Resistance: No
use disciplines that do not require a Your weapon, enhanced with the
free hand. Godhammer discipline (see Chapter
The equipment you wear is sub- One: Classes), inflicts an additional
sumed into the lion’s form, but it is 1d6 points of damage.
nonfunctional.
Material Component: Hair from a
lion’s mane.
68 The Book of Experimental Might
horse to pull it. Likewise, a sailing ship Private Conversation Protection From
moves as if powered by a favorable Transmutation
wind. Prevailing conditions—wind, Level: Wizard 1 Chaos
inclines, and so on—affect movement Components: V, S Abjuration
normally. Thus, this spell cannot move Casting Time: One standard action Level: Cleric 2, Wizard 2
a sailing ship against a gale-force wind. Range: Touch As protection from evil, below, except
Material Component: A white feather. Target: Two creatures + one that the deflection and resistance
creature/three levels bonuses apply to attacks from chaotic
Precise Vision Duration: Ten minutes/level (D) creatures (not evil ones) and that law-
Transmutation Saving Throw: None ful outsiders and elementals (rather
Level: Wizard 2 Spell Resistance: Yes than good ones) can touch the target.
Components: V, S, M The targets can converse without
Casting Time: One standard action anyone overhearing what they are say- Protection From Evil
Range: Personal ing. Characters who can read lips Abjuration
Target: You might still be able to determine what is Level: Cleric 2, Wizard 2
Duration: Ten minutes/level said, but no Listen check can possibly Components: V, S, M/DF
Saving Throw: None allow one to overhear the conversation. Casting Time: One standard action
Spell Resistance: No While under the effect of this spell, a Range: Touch
You can see details, either small or character can speak to someone not Target: Creature touched
distant, much more clearly than nor- affected by this spell, but all can hear Duration: One minute/level (D)
mal. In addition, you gain a +5 compe- that conversation normally. Only when Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
tence bonus to Search and Spot checks. an affected character speaks to another Spell Resistance: No (see text)
Material Component: An eagle feather. affected character does the conversa- This spell wards a creature from
tion remain private. attacks by evil creatures, from mental
Primal Release control, and from outsiders and ele-
Transmutation Prohibit Kind mentals. It creates a magical barrier
Level: Druid 15 Transmutation around the subject at a distance of
Casting Time: One standard action Level: Wizard 15 1 foot. The barrier moves with the sub-
Components: V, S, M Components: V, S, M ject and has two major effects:
Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two Casting Time: One standard action First, the barrier blocks any attempt
levels) Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two levels) to possess the warded creature (as by a
Target: One living creature (not you) Area: 30-foot-radius spread magic jar attack); however, it does not
Duration: Ten minutes/level Duration: 1 round/two levels block attempts to exercise mental con-
Saving Throw: Will negates Saving Throw: None trol over the creature, as by a vampire’s
Spell Resistance: Yes Spell Resistance: Yes supernatural charm ability or a domina-
You release the primal savage within Developed by particularly haughty tion spell. This effect works regardless
a single creature. The target grows elves long ago (but usable by all races), of alignment.
more bestial and gains a +10 inherent this strange spell allows you to select Second, the spell prevents bodily
bonus to Strength and Constitution, a specific race or humanoid subtype, contact by elementals and outsiders
a +2 inherent bonus to Dexterity, and such as human, dwarf, halfling, or (see the MM). The barrier causes the
a –6 penalty to Intelligence and goblinoid (or in the case of nonhu- natural weapon attacks of such crea-
Charisma, as well as a –2 penalty to manoids, a type, such as dragon, giant, tures to fail and the creatures to recoil
Wisdom. The target cannot cast spells or fey). Within the bounds of the spell, if such attacks require touching the
or use spell-like abilities for the dura- only creatures of the specified race or warded target. Creatures that have
tion, but its base attack bonus increas- type can take actions. All other crea- been summoned or conjured are like-
es to +1 per Hit Die (if its current base tures remain frozen within an energy wise hedged from the target. Good ele-
attack bonus is less than that). The field—held in a stasis that does not mentals and outsiders are immune to
creature can fight as though it had the allow them to be harmed or affected in this effect. The protection against con-
Cleave feat (its normal and improved any way. tact from elementals and outsiders
versions), the Power Attack feat, and Material Component: A piece of ends if the warded target makes an
the Improved Sunder feat. amber worth at least 50 gp. attack against a blocked creature or
Material Component: The tooth of tries to force the barrier against a
any wild beast. blocked creature. Spell resistance can
Chapter Five: Magic
71
allow a creature to overcome this pro- the confines of the shell at targets out- nicating with. The telepathic link with
tection and touch the warded target. side its area. No creature can pass the target must already be established,
Arcane Material Component: A little through the barrier, either way, without and the saving throw involved with
powdered silver with which you trace a your conscious consent (although it is a this spell is in addition to any save
3-foot-diameter circle on the floor (or free action for you to allow it), so melee required to resist the initial link.
ground) around the creature to be attacks through the shell are impossible
warded. as well. (Creatures with your mental Raise the Dead
permission can move through the shell Necromancy
Protection From and make melee attacks, but then they Level: Cleric 19
are outside its confines.) Creatures can- Components: V, S, M
Good not pass through the shell more than Casting Time: Eight hours
Abjuration once per casting of the spell, even with Range: Touch
Level: Cleric 2, Wizard 2 your permission. You can never make Target: One dead creature
As protection from evil, except that the attacks through the shell or move out- Duration: Instantaneous
deflection and resistance bonuses side it without ending the spell. Saving Throw: None (see text)
apply to attacks from good creatures Environmental threats, from poison gas Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
(not evil ones) and that evil outsiders to horrible cold or a raging fire, do not If you cast this spell seven times on
and elementals (rather than good affect those within the area of the seven consecutive days, you restore life
ones) can touch the target. shell—the interior always stays safe to a deceased creature. You can raise
and comfortable. only creatures who have been dead up
Protection From Law Should you move, you do not “drag” to one day per caster level (measured
Abjuration creatures or objects with you. If your from the first day’s casting of this
Level: Cleric 2, Wizard 2 movement or reshaping of the shell spell). In addition, the subject’s soul
As protection from evil, except that the would cause something to no longer be must be free and willing to return. If
deflection and resistance bonuses within its confines, the shell passes the subject’s soul is not willing to
apply to attacks from lawful creatures through it harmlessly. Thus, the shell return, the spell does not work; there-
(not evil ones) and that chaotic out- can pass through walls or stationary fore, subjects who want to return
siders and elementals (rather than objects without problem, and its size is receive no saving throw.
good ones) can touch the target. not subject to the limits of the surround- Raise the dead cures hit point damage
ing area. Even magical movement—such up to a total of 1 hit point per Hit Die.
Protective Shell as teleportation or creatures moving Any ability scores damaged to 0 rise to
Abjuration incorporeally—does not allow passage 1. All of the subject’s spell slots (if any)
Level: Cleric 19, Druid 19 through the shell if you do no wish it. are considered used. Any spells active
Components: V, S, DF Likewise, conjured creatures, objects, or on the subject (other than harmful
Casting Time: One standard action energies cannot appear within the area curses and so forth) are now gone—
Range: 0 feet of the shell without your consent if the even permanent spells. Normal poison
Area: A hemisphere with a radius of up conjurer is outside it. and normal disease are cured in the
to 10 feet/level centered on you process of raising the subject, but the
Duration: One minute/level (D) Punitive Telepathy spell does not undo magical diseases
Saving Throw: None Transmutation and curses. While the spell closes mor-
Spell Resistance: No Level: Wizard 8 tal wounds and repairs lethal damage
You create a translucent blue protec- Components: V, S of most kinds, the subject’s body must
tive shell around yourself and your sur- Casting Time: One standard action be whole. Otherwise, missing parts
roundings. The hemispherical shell Range: Varies remain missing when the subject
moves with you, and you can resize it as Target: One creature returns to life. If so much of the body
a free action every round, up to its max- Duration: Instantaneous is missing that the subject could not
imum size. Those within the shell Saving Throw: Will negates survive (a missing head, heart, etc.),
remain impervious to all ranged Spell Resistance: Yes the subject dies again in 1d4 rounds.
attacks, whether physical (arrows, When you communicate using the This spell does not affect the subject’s
javelins, falling boulders) or magical Telepathy discipline, you transmit a equipment or possessions in any way.
(Eldritch Bolts, searing light, dragon mental shock that inflicts 1d6 points of Raise the dead cannot restore a subject
breath, gaze attacks). Likewise, such damage per caster level (maximum that has been turned into an undead
attacks cannot be launched from within 10d6) to the creature you are commu- creature. Constructs, elementals,
72 The Book of Experimental Might
Shark’s Form
Transmutation
Level: Druid 4, Wizard 4
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: One full round
74 The Book of Experimental Might
Range: Personal If the shield comes into an area of ural stone. The lair conforms as well as
Target: You magical darkness, it temporarily possible to the new site. Conforming
Duration: Ten minutes/level negates the darkness so that the other- may include shifting the layout, size,
You change yourself into a Medium wise prevailing light conditions exist in and entrance of a location slightly
shark. Your type changes to animal. the overlapping areas of effect. (subject to DM adjudication).
Upon changing, you regain lost hit The shield offers a +2 armor bonus Using this spell, you could transport
points as if you had rested for a night and a +1 enhancement bonus to Armor a whole building to a new location, if
(though this healing does not restore Class for every three caster levels (max- the building fit within the spell’s area.
temporary ability damage or provide imum +5 enhancement bonus, for a You could also move only a few rooms,
other benefits of resting; changing total AC bonus of up to +7). making them into their own separate
back does not heal you further). If Creatures that would be adversely structure at the destination or attach-
slain, you revert to your original form, affected by a daylight spell are likewise ing them onto an existing structure.
though you remain dead. affected when within 5 feet of you and They could even replace rooms in an
You gain the Strength, Dexterity, the shield. Whether affected by day- extant structure.
and Constitution scores of a shark light or not, all undead who attempt a Within reason, the existing con-
but retain your own Intelligence, melee attack against you must first tents and environment of the moved
Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You succeed at a Will saving throw or location travel with it. However, some
retain your own base attack bonus, cower for the duration of the spell. environmental conditions must con-
base saves, and hit points, but gain Even those undead that succeed at the form to the new locality. For example,
the shark’s bite damage, Armor Class, save suffer a –4 circumstance penalty moving a small keep underwater caus-
swim speed, ability to breathe under- to attack rolls when attacking you in es the keep to fill with water unless
water, blindsense, and keen scent. You melee. Undead attacking at range need some other magic is at work to make
lose the ability to breathe air. You not make saving throws but they do the place watertight. Moving an area
retain your own skills and feats and suffer the –4 penalty. This penalty is of the Elemental Plane of Fire to an icy
gain the shark’s feats and racial cumulative with any modifiers from plain will cause the heat of the fiery
bonuses to skills (but not its skill the daylight effect. area to melt the ice and snow in the
ranks). You cannot speak or cast new locale, but fairly quickly the tem-
spells unless they have no compo- Shifting Sanctum perature of the transplanted area will
nents (that is, modified with the Transmutation (Teleport) lower and become consistent with the
proper metamagic feats). You can use Level: Wizard 17 environment around it.
disciplines that do not require a free Components: V, S
hand or a spoken word. Casting Time: Twelve hours Shrapnel Globe
The equipment you wear is sub- Range: 0 feet Conjuration (Creation)
sumed into the shark’s form, but it is Area: Up to one 10-foot cube/level (S) Level: Wizard 3
nonfunctional. Duration: Instantaneous Components: V, S, M
Material Component: A shark’s tooth. Saving Throw: None Casting Time: One standard action
Spell Resistance: No Range: Touch
Shield of Light You transport yourself and an area Affect: One metal sphere
Abjuration you choose (along with everything in Duration: 2 rounds/level
Level: Cleric 10 that area) to another location that you Saving Throw: Reflex half
Components: V, S, DF have physically visited. The destination Spell Resistance: Yes
Casting Time: One standard action must somehow befit the shifted locale. You create a small metal sphere that
Range: 0 feet Thus, if a dragon’s lair is a system of exists for no longer than the duration.
Effect: One magical shield of light caves built into a cliff side, you can At any point during the duration, if
Duration: 1 round/level (D) shift the lair to another set of cliffs you hurl or drop the globe, it deto-
Saving Throw: None and see below nearby, on another continent, or on nates, spraying metal shards in all
Spell Resistance: No and Yes another plane. The spell then creates directions within 20 feet. The shrapnel
You create a glowing shield of bril- the space needed for the shift, magical- inflicts 1d6 points of damage for every
liant daylight that you wield as you ly and instantly digging out new caves two caster levels, to a maximum of 5d6.
would a normal large shield. You can- in the new cliff wall that conform to Throwing or dropping the sphere
not have this spell active while using a the original caves. It also fills in the where you want to requires a standard
normal shield. The shield of light pro- space left behind—the old caves at the action, resolved as a grenadelike mis-
vides illumination in a 30-foot radius. original location are filled in with nat- sile. You can give the globe to another
Chapter Five: Magic
75
creature to use, but it requires a stan- has no effect on its ability to seek out must be of 8th level or lower. The
dard action to do so. and destroy other illusions. warded creature effectively has unbeat-
Material Component: 1 ounce of steel. able spell resistance regarding the
Slay Living specified spell(s). Naturally, that
Slay Illusion Necromancy [Death] immunity doesn’t protect a creature
Illusion [Figment] Level: Cleric 10 from spells for which spell resistance
Level: Wizard 8 Components: V, S offers no protection.
Components: V, S Casting Time: One standard action Spell immunity protects against
Casting Time: Standard action Range: Touch spells, the spell-like effects of magic
Range: Medium (100 feet + 10 Target: Living creature touched items, and innate spell-like abilities of
feet/level) Duration: Instantaneous creatures. It does not protect against
Effect: One illusory creature Saving Throw: Fortitude partial supernatural or extraordinary abilities,
Duration: 1 round/level (D) Spell Resistance: Yes such a breath weapons or gaze attacks.
Saving Throw: Will negates You can attempt to slay any one liv- A target gains immunity only to a par-
(if interacted with) ing creature. You must succeed at a ticular spell, not a certain domain or
Spell Resistance: No melee touch attack to touch the victim. school of spells or a group of spells
You create an illusion of a horrible The victim suffers 12d6 points of dam- with similar effects. Thus, a creature
creature of Large size that you choose age + 1 point per caster level. If she given immunity to lightning bolt
(or design). The illusion has both visu- succeeds at the Fortitude save, she remains vulnerable to shocking grasp
al and audible components. This illu- instead suffers 3d6 points of damage + and chain lightning.
sion moves at a speed of 40 to the 1 point per caster level. (Of course, the A creature can have only one spell
nearest illusion within range, detecting victim might die from damage even if immunity spell in effect on it at a time.
it without possibility of error. Your illu- she succeeds at her save.)
sion can charge and double move, but Spell Immunity,
not run, and its movement requires no Slip Between Sight
action on your part. Illusion (Figment) Greater
As soon as it reaches the other illu- Level: Wizard 2 Abjuration
sion, it destroys it in a visual display of Components: V, S Level: Cleric 15
illusory obliteration. The remnants of Casting Time: One standard action As spell immunity, except that it
the destroyed illusion fade. The next Range: Personal affects up to 15th-level spells.
round, your illusion moves again to the Target: You
nearest illusion within range and does Duration: One minute/level Spellmaster
the same thing, continuing the attacks This illusion obscures accurate Transmutation
until the spell ends. If there are no illu- vision. You gain a +5 bonus to Sneak Level: Wizard 14
sions within range, the illusory creature and do not necessarily need something Components: V, S
disappears in a blast of phantom fire. to hide behind (but you must be unob- Casting Time: One full round
For example, say you cast this spell served while initially hiding). This spell Range: Personal
near an illusion of a dragon. You make negates any size penalties as they apply Target: You
your illusionary creature a troll. The to Sneak checks. Duration: 1 round/level
“troll” moves to the illusion of the You control your spells with delicacy
dragon and tears it apart, the bloody Spell Immunity and precision. With this spell active,
dragon bits fading after a moment. The Abjuration the range and duration of the spells
next round, the “troll” moves across Level: Cleric 8 you cast can increase up to 50 percent
the room to an illusory wall (which you Components: V, S, DF (spells with range of Touch or
did not even know was an illusion) and Casting Time: One standard action Personal, or durations of Instant-
destroys it, ripping the rocks and mor- Range: Touch aneous, go unaffected). Your spell
tar apart. The rocks and mortar fade Target: Creature touched effects can be delayed up to 3 rounds.
and, with no other illusions within Duration: Ten minutes/level You can shape spell areas (without
range, the “troll” disappears. Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless) changing their sizes) to the point of
As with all illusions, interaction Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) excluding single targets from bursts if
with the illusory creature allows other The warded creature is immune to you desire—in other words, creatures
characters a saving throw, although the effects of one specified spell for within spell areas are affected only if
their belief or disbelief in the illusion every four levels you have. The spells you want them to be.
76 The Book of Experimental Might
For example, if you touch a creature The equipment you wear is sub- Undo
and use Healing Touch, you can give sumed into the troll’s form, but it is Transmutation
that creature a lesser restoration spell at nonfunctional. Level: Cleric 20, Druid 20, Wizard 20
the same time, requiring no additional Material Component: A bit of dried Components: V, S, DF
action on your part. trollflesh. Casting Time: One full round
Adding a spell to the Healing Touch Range: Touch
or Divine Presence disciplines is your True Telekinesis Target: One attack or effect
choice, despite the fact that it may not Transmutation Duration: Instantaneous
occur on your action. A spell added to Level: Wizard 20 Saving Throw: None
one of these disciplines is expended as Components: S Spell Resistance: No
if you had cast it. Casting Time: One standard action You specify a single effect that has
The spells that can be laced in with Range: Long (400 feet + 40 feet/level) occurred within the previous round
the disciplines are as follows: Target: One creature or object weighing and reverse it entirely. The effect can be
• Break enchantment up to 1,000 lbs./caster level a spell, a spell-like ability, a discipline
• Remove blindness/deafness Duration: Concentration effect, a supernatural ability, a physical
• Remove curse (up to1 round/level) attack, a poison, a disease, a trap, a
• Remove disease Saving Throw: Will negates (object) rune, or anything similar. Damage
• Remove paralysis Spell Resistance: Yes (object) inflicted by the effect is repaired or
• Restoration, lesser restoration, and You move objects or creatures by healed, slain victims are restored to life
greater restoration concentrating on them. The true (to the condition they were in before
• Second chance telekinesis spell provides a gentle, sus- the effect), a curse is lifted, and so
• Undo tained force, moving a creature or on—whatever the effect did, this spell
object weighing up to 1,000 lbs. per undoes it.
Troll’s Form caster level up to 100 feet per round. A Note that this spell does not make it
Transmutation creature can negate the effect against so that the effect was never instigated;
Level: Druid 12, Wizard 12 itself or against an object it possesses it only undoes its consequences. So if
Components: V, S, M with a successful Will save or with spell you cast this spell to undo the effects of
Casting Time: One full round resistance. a shocking grasp spell, the caster of the
Range: Personal Using true telekinesis, you can move shocking grasp really did cast it (and
Target: You the weight vertically, horizontally, or used the spell slot), but the damage is
Duration: Ten minutes/level both. An object cannot be moved all repaired.
You change yourself into a troll. Your beyond the spell’s range. The spell ends Effects from 15th-level or higher
type changes to giant. Upon changing, if the target is forced beyond the range. spells (or the equivalent) require that
you regain lost hit points as if you had If you cease concentration for any rea- you make a caster level check to undo
rested for a night (though this healing son, the target falls or stops. them. The Difficulty Class for the cast-
does not restore temporary ability You can telekinetically manipulate er level check is 10 + spell level (or
damage or provide other benefits of an object as if with one hand: You can equivalent) + one-half of the caster
resting; changing back does not heal pull levers or telekinetically manipulate level of the effect’s creator.
you further). If slain, you revert to your a bucket to fill itself with water from a
original form, though you remain dead. well. You might even be able to untie Unhand
You gain the Strength, Dexterity, simple knots, though delicate activities Evocation [Force]
and Constitution scores of a troll but such as these require Intelligence Level: Wizard 2
retain your own Intelligence, Wisdom, checks against a Difficulty Class set by Components: S
and Charisma scores. You retain your the DM. The spell can be used to wield Casting Time: One standard action
own base attack bonus, base saves, and a weapon using a caster level check as Range: Medium (100 feet + 10
hit points, but gain the troll’s bite and the attack roll (ranged or melee), with a feet/level)
claw damage, Armor Class, speed, rend +15 bonus to the damage roll. Target: One creature
ability, regeneration, darkvision, low- Lastly, the spell can be used to exert a Duration: Instantaneous
light vision, and scent. You retain your force, such as that needed to break open Saving Throw: None
own skills and feats and gain the troll’s a barred door or keep it closed. In such Spell Resistance: Yes
feats and racial bonuses to skills (but cases, the telekinetic force has a Strength This spell allows you to attempt to
not its skill ranks). You can speak, cast modifier equal to a quarter of your level disarm a creature with a blast of force.
spells, and use disciplines. + your Intelligence modifier. You and the defender make opposed
Chapter Five: Magic
79
rolls. You make a caster level check Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless) You emit a terrible scream that pos-
adding both your Dexterity modifier Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) sibly kills creatures who hear it (except
and your Intelligence modifier (d20 + The creature gains spell resistance for yourself). The spell affects up to
caster level + Dexterity modifier + equal to 12 + your level. If a caster can- one creature per caster level, inflicting
Intelligence modifier). The defender not overcome the target’s spell resist- 10 points of damage per caster level.
uses his attack bonus with the weapon ance, that caster suffers 2d6 points Creatures closest to the point of origin
in question (if the object is not a plus your level in damage as magical are affected first.
weapon, use the defender’s base attack feedback.
bonus plus Strength modifier). The As always, in order to affect a creature Wall of Force, Lesser
size of the weapon or object is irrele- with SR with a spell, a spellcaster must Evocation [Force]
vant. If the defender uses his weapon roll the creature’s spell resistance or Level: Wizard 6
in two hands, he gets an additional higher on 1d20 + caster level. A creature Components: V, S, M
+4 bonus. with spell resistance may voluntarily Casting Time: One standard action
If you beat the defender’s check, the lower it in order to accept a spell. Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two
defender is disarmed. The object falls levels)
to the ground at the defender’s feet. Wail of the Banshee Effect: A wall whose area measures up
Necromancy [Death, Sonic] to one 10-foot square/level
Vengeful Spell Level: Wizard 19 Duration: One minute/level (D)
Components: V Saving Throw: None
Resistance Casting Time: One standard action Spell Resistance: No
Abjuration Range: Close (25 feet + 5 feet/two You create an invisible wall of force.
Level: Cleric 14 levels) The lesser wall of force cannot move. It
Components: V, S, DF Area: One living creature/level within has no hardness but can absorb up to
Casting Time: One standard action a 30-foot-radius spread 10 points of damage per caster level
Range: Touch Duration: Instantaneous before being destroyed. Unlike greater
Target: Creature touched Saving Throw: Fortitude negates versions of this spell, it does not prove
Duration: One minute/level Spell Resistance: Yes immune to dispel magic. Disintegrate
80 The Book of Experimental Might
Level Benefit
1st +1 bonus to all Eldritch Bolt attack rolls
3rd +1 to Armor Class provided by Shield of the
Seraphim
5th +1 to the saving throw DC of the wielder’s Bolts
of Bedevilment
7th +100 lbs. to the wielder’s Telekinesis weight limit
10th Doubles the range of the wielder’s Telepathy
Twinblast Rod: This short, thin rod of black iron looks almost
like a wand. Three times each day it allows the wielder to fire two
Eldritch Bolts at once, if she has that discipline already. The bolts
can cover two different targets or the same target; each is resolved
normally.
Moderate enchantment; CL 6th; Craft Rod, haste; Price
19,000 gp.
OPEN GAME LICENSE cating that the Open Game Content may only be 9. UPDATING THE LICENSE: Wizards or its desig-
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ties; places, locations, environments, creatures, another, independent Agreement with the owner of Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich
equipment, magical, or supernatural abilities or each element of Product Identity.You agree not to Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman,
effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any and Bruce R. Cordell, based on original material by
other trademark or registered trademark clearly Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
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