Powers Overview

Pattern Is a Good Thing

Pattern Imprint is the key power to have. A character can learn Magic, and maybe even Shape Shifting, but without Pattern Imprint you cannot easily move through Shadow and must rely upon expensive transports with their own schedules or debt-ridden smugglers to haul you around the universe.

Trumping Around

Normally, characters would rely on Trump for transportation. However, it isn't that easy any longer. Over the centuries Trump Artistry has changed into a complicated communication network called TrumpNet that uses arcane coding embedded into specific Tir-na Nog'th components. What this has done is made the original artwork of drawing Trumps more or less obsolete and extinct. TrumpNet communication systems are found in all modern shadowships and is used by all Republic Shadow Systems. TrumpNet allows long distance communication and even displays three dimensional holographic images. Transportation by Trump is very draining on the system and on any who perform this feat. It is also worth noting that many TrumpNet systems have failed when attempting to transport individuals through while in Hypershadowspace. Only rare specialists who work in the Mt. Kolvir manufacturing facilities seem to know how to repair TrumpNet systems, and they always attach large pricetags. Also, the art of creating Trump cards and traditional Artifacts seems to have more or less died out with the fall of the Courts of Chaos (i.e. no PCs can begin play with Trump Artistry), and the rise of Force Users.

Forced Open

Force Users are potentially quite powerful. However, in comparison to the power of Pattern Imprint, a Force User's effects can be pushed aside as reality changes. Note: Force Users who use the Force to cause fear, pain, anger, and/or death automatically earn Dark Side Points (which may instead erase Light Side Points) each time used in this manner.

A character possessing both Pattern Imprint and Force Use makes the Force more real and more powerful. In fact, some of the effects created by Magic and Shape Shifting may be duplicated with the Force/Pattern power combination, though usually only temporarily. Anyone who is a descendant of Master Dworkin might survive walking a Pattern and may also be Force sensitive. Shadow beings (Humans and Aliens) can be sensitive to the Force, but rarely have the blood line for surviving and using the Pattern. Most Shadow beings who have Powers have training in Magic or have a natural gift in Shape Shifting.

Morphing Rules

Shape Shifting on its own is generally considered a mutation, or something that aliens may need in order to survive in hostile environments. Most characters from an Amber background will not likely know how to unlock their Chaosian genetic power, but it is not impossible. Rebmian characters have a little more access to Shape Shifting, but will retain some Rebmian characteristics in whatever form they assume until reaching Advanced Mastery in Shape Shifting. In general, unless you have a fantastic idea about why your character should have Shape Shifting, the Gamemaster is only going to allow this power to Alien characters. Humans, for example, are generally restricted to either Force or Magic use, which may provide for a wide range of results, some of which may imitate other Powers.

Magical Limitations

Magic varies from Shadow to Shadow. What this could mean is that a Shadow's Magic Level, or ambient energy available for using Magic, will change depending on the ones Shadow location. This can be offset through the use of Pattern Imprint. Magic is a versatile Power and potentially quite useful in conjunction with other Powers.

Shadow Wars Magic is a combination of Sorcery (spellcasting), and Conjuration (creating things). Players must decide if they want to have one or both abilities for their Character at start of play.

Logrusless

Note: Logrus Mastery is not available with the fall of the Courts of Chaos.

Questions and Answers: Magic

A: The raw power would come from the caster's Psyche. With a character's Psyche you have X (the amount of points or Rank in Psyche) to affect everything, one target, or several targets. Multiple targets means that X has to be divided between all of the targets. Some mages seek out Artifacts or Constructs of Power that will enhance their magical capabilities, but this generally leads to catastrophic ends for either the Artifact, or the mage.

Also, Shadow Magic Laws affect the outcome of a spell, since Magic is Shadow specific. An exception is if a character has at least Basic Pattern Imprint. Pattern may act as a guide for Magic in many Shadows by slightly Shifting the Magic Laws to accommodate the Pattern-using mage's needs. This is not always possible. However, to really alter Magic Rules a mage should have at least Advanced Pattern Imprint. An example of this is if your character learned Magic in Shadow Amber. In this case, the Magic will work best in Amber and nearby Shadows, such as Rebma, and the former Golden Circle Kingdoms. If your character also had at least Basic Pattern Imprint, then it is very likely that the character could also cast spells and conjure items successfully farther away from Shadow Amber.

Q: Casting each spell takes the Basic Magician down one Endurance level. For how long?

A: Casting spells and Conjuring things tends to drain Endurance fairly quickly. Spending extra time hanging spells and conjuring items beforehand is generally safer for a mage to do. Here is an Endurance table that explains how quickly Endurance points recover.

Q: A Basic user with an Endurance of 20 can cast 3 spells before hitting an Endurance of 0. What happens then? What happens if you try to cast another spell then?

A: Hitting 0 means falling unconscious. You can't cast spells while unconscious. With an Endurance of 20 a character will remain unconscious for about 20 minutes and then the character will be quite weak for a while longer. It is wise to never reach 0, but sometimes it happens.

Q: A Basic Magic user can memorize 20 spells. Is that at a time, or for all? That is, can you swap out some spells and carry others depending upon what you are doing?

A: You can swap spells. It takes time to do, to empty out the old and input the new spell, but by all means it is possible. This is the number that your character can carry with them. There is also the option of hanging spells on Artifacts too.

Q: Can a basic Magic user cast a spell that is effectively permanent, or that lasts "until dispelled" (I.e., paralyzing someone to use as a hayrack, for example). Can a spell have a long enough duration that one can cast a spell of, say, protection on one's self, and then recover endurance before continuing with a full clip?

A: "Permanent" spells are generally classified in the Advanced or Exalted levels of Magic for this game. At Basic level you can maintain a spell so that it acts permanent, however, your character would have to provide energy to the spell either from Endurance, or another's Endurance, in order to keep the spell going.

This is where things like Blood Magic get used by the Baddies who don't want to use their own energy in Magic. At Basic level Magic, a character could cast a Self-protection spell and rest up from the original casting, but in order to keep the spell going a character would have to keep spending a point of Endurance per hour to maintain the spell. An alternative to this might be to conjure a ring of conferred protection. Once the ring was created your character would not have to maintain a protection spell since the item would be doing the work for your character. Of course you should always put points into anything conjured if you want it to last when crossing over to other Shadows with varying Magic Laws.

Magic Laws are generally tied to the core reality behind a Shadow and how that Shadow interacts with bodies of Power nearby. Here is a list of Magic Class for the game.