ELEMENTALS: the Art of Elementalism

The Anarea Elementalist System

2^nd edition (1998): effective 1 V 2503

minor systems changes noted in italics

HTML version

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Elementals
3. Elemental Activation
4. Elementalist Spells
5. Casting Spells
6. Insanity
7. Elementalist Counterspells

1. Introduction

The Elementalist ("El’ist") uses the magic of Elementals ("Els"). To do so, he must first Activate an El of a particular Spell Class. He then Casts an Elementalist Spell of that Class which he has previously Bound and learnt. The El then produces the effect of the Spell, dependent on the incantation, power, and a limited amount of discretion on its part.

2. Elementals

Elementals, together with their Druidic equivalents, are Spirits: the most junior of Higher Powers, who are concerned with the day-to-day running of the World. They are of the following Classes:

Els are of a Chaotic nature, but perform a Lawful role in the World, thus maintaining a Neutral balance. One of the Lawful rules to which they are subject is that their magical Powers are delegated to them subject to the condition that they must comply with the terms of the CODEX ELEMENTALIUM, as in force from time to time. The CODEX is written by the Demigod of Elementalist Magic, and prescribes the duties of Els to carry out the effects of Elementalist Spells.

Els vary in Elemental Level from 1 to 10. An El has the Power to produce the effect of any Elementalist Spell within its Class of a Spell Level less than or equal to its Elementalist Level. It does not cost the El SP or IST to produce Spells, because it is using its own magical Power, rather than using the magic of another. The Maximum Throw Els of a given Level can produce is as follows:

X = El cannot produce Spells of that Level

No. = Maximum Throw El can produce on a Spell of that Level

Success Throw (in the left-most column) is the usual Throw required for a Spell of that Level to Succeed. For the actual Throw required for a particular Spell to Succeed, see its Spell Specification.  Typical effects brackets are given in the table in 5.5 below.

Els and Spells of over 10^th Level are not available.

3. Elemental Activation

3.1 Activation

No El will produce a Spell effect unless it has first been Activated. Elemental Activation is a Summoning procedure learnt during Elementalist IBT. Each El must be Activated separately. The cost of doing so, in both SP and seconds of incantation in Old Speech, is:

Activation cost = (Elemental Level) * (Duration) * n to Activate the nth El

Duration is the number of sequential 6 hour periods for which the El will be Activated. Extension Spells cannot be used to extend it. If an El is Activated of the same Class and Level as one already Activated, that same El will be re-Activated (without the cost for Activating one more El), so extending its Duration.

An El needs to be Activated to Cast a Spell or to extend Duration of a Spell by an Extension Spell.  It does not need to be Activated throughout the Duration of a Spell, unless the Caster has the ability to change the Spell Effect (usually by concentration).  If the El ceases to be Activated before the Duration has expired, the Spell Effect will continue, but the Caster will lose the ability to change it (exception: if concentration is required to maintain the Spell Effect, then it will terminate on the El ceasing to be Activated).  Essentially Activation is required for the Caster to give instructions to the El, but not for the El to continue performing its duties.  (This is a ruling on a point previously undefined.)

A specific El may be Activated by using its True Name (if known) in the Level part of the Incantation. Otherwise the nearest El of the specified Level will usually be Activated.

Actions and Materials are required for Activation as follows:

The Symbols of the Planes (with alternate forms) are:

If an El is Activated with insufficient SP, Incantation time, Actions or Materials, all Spells produced by that El will be ratioed by:

(Activation Done) / (Activation Required)

If an El is Activated with any IST, all Spells produced by that El will be ratioed by:

(IST recovered) / (IST to be recovered since last Spell)

even after the IST has been recovered.

NB In previous versions of this system, the first formula above also applied to IST. This formula clarifies how that should have worked.

3.2 Dismissal

Any Activated Elemental may be Dismissed (i.e. its Activation terminated) at any time during its Duration by an Incantation taking the same time, actions and materials, but no SP. Al El’ist might want to do this in order to Activate another El without the extra cost for the El already Activated, or in order to Activate a higher level El to cast higher level Spells within a Spell Class without the minus for multiple Activation (see below).

NB Dismissal did not appear in previous versions of this system, but has been allowed in practice.

3.3 Conference

Any Activated Elemental may be Summoned into Conference by a further Incantation taking the same SP, time, actions and materials. There must be no insufficiency in any of these, or any outstanding IST. Conference makes the El visible to the El’ist, and allows them to converse.

Duration is the number of sequential 1 hour periods (changed from 1/10 days) for which the El will be in Conference. Extension Spells cannot be used to extend it. The Conference may be terminated by a 1 second incantation ("Word of Termination"), costing no SP. Any danger to the El also allows it to terminate the Conference.

The purpose of Conference is to Bind Elementalist Spells. Els can only discuss and Bind Spells they are capable of performing. Els will usually refuse to discuss anything else, and may well refuse even to discuss Binding a Spell if it becomes apparent the Elementalist is not seriously considering Binding it. It is wise to terminate the Conference as soon as the Binding is finished, or the Elementalist has decided not to Bind a Spell from the El. Otherwise the El will be resentful. Els are not allowed to harm the Elementalists who Activate them, but can exercise their discretion to give a low Spell Roll.

4. Elementalist Spells

Elementalist Spells are divided into Spell Classes (see the 1^st table in 2. above) and graded by Spell Level ("SL"). A Spell must be Bound and learnt before it can be cast. There are no standard lists of Elementalist Spells as such. Els are consistent in the Spells they will offer for Binding, and Elementalist Spell Lists have been compiled by scholars (such as in the Academia Magicae Valdrensis of the Valdrean Empire) from Spells commonly Bound. But whilst written copies of Spells may be obtained from such sources (or from other El’ists), learning them will only use up SLL without allowing the Spell to be cast (because the CODEX prescribes Binding as an essential prerequisite for casting).

4.1 Spell Binding

Spells are Bound in Conference (see 3.3 above).

Each Spell Bound may be individually negotiated and customised by the El’ist in Conference with the El with no penalty for variations from the standard Spell Specification the El will first offer (though the variations will be balanced against the standard Specification), or for binding a novel Spell for which no specification yet exists.

Binding is a pure formality. It usually involves the El dictating the Spell for the El’ist to write down (though Charmer Els, for example, may imprint it ready for learning in the El’ist’s mind). It is wise to have writing materials handy.

Spells (even standard Specifications) are personal to the El’ist who has Bound them, and cannot effectively be transferred to another El’ist (see 4. above). Nor is there any guarantee that another El’ist will be permitted to Bind a Spell of the same specification.

4.2 Spell Learning

Once Bound, the Spell must be learnt before it can be cast. The typical Usual Learning Time ("ULT") of a straightforward Elementalist Spell is:

ULT = (Spell Level) * 25 hours

The exact ULT for a specific Elementalist Spell will be stated in its Spell Specification. If insufficient learning time has been spent, ratio all Throws on that Spell by:

(learning completed) / (learning required)

Each Elementalist Spell learnt counts as (Spell Level) Spell Learning Levels ("SLL"), e.g. a L5 Spell counts as 5SLL. If only partly learnt, it counts as the proportionate number of SLL. Unfilled and overlearnt SLL give pluses or minuses on all El’ist Spells as per 5.3.3 below.

5. Casting Spells

5.1 Spell Throw

The final Spell Throw ("T") of an El’ist Spell is determined by taking the Spell Roll ("R") on 3d6, adding the pluses on the Spell ("+s"), applying any ratios to T, and then deducting any minuses on the Spell ("-s").

Spell Throw ("T") = ((R + (pluses)) / (ratios) ) + (minuses)

T cannot exceed the Maximum Throw of which the Activated El is capable (see the 2^nd table in 2. above).

5.2 Spell Roll

Spell Roll ("R") = 3d6 (RUD)

R represents the El’s element of discretion in producing Spell Effects. It must be in the range of 1 to 20 (inclusive), and the 3d6 rolling up or down on 18 or 3 represent the average spread of results Els are supposed to give. However, Els are of a Chaotic nature, and R can therefore be affected by subjective factors, despite these Lawful constraints. El’ists are therefore advised to treat their Els well.

If, for example, an El’ist has a good relationship with a particular El, whom he Activates by True Name and who tends to give him +1 on R, this is simulated by modifying R within the range 1 to 20. Although this is a distinction which makes no difference for pluses to R (given the next rule below), it can make a difference if an El gives a minus to R, which will be applied before any ratios to T, unlike a minus to T.

If R is rolled up or down to 20 or 1, continue rolling up or down, as Els are actually capable of violating this restriction of the CODEX.

5.3 The Base Plus

Calculate an El’ist’s Base Plus on each El’ist Spell he has learned as follows.

5.3.1 Elementalist Level ("ElL")

ElL gives +ElL (FRD) on all Elementalist Spells.

ElL is the basic measure of an El’ist’s proficiency at Elementalist Magic-Using. Non-El’ists have ElL 0. ElL 1 is gained by completing Elementalist Initial Basic Training ("IBT"). ElL above 1 is gained by earning Elementalist Experience. Continuous Level Advancement ("CLA") applies, in that the exact ElL (usually expressed to 4 decimal places) is used in all calculations involving ElL. However, as ElL only gives +ElL on Spells, the exact ElL only matters for calculating MUL (for SP and SLL).

5.3.2 Characteristics ("Chars")

Chars give +s or -s on Elementalist Spells as follows:

• + ChMod/2 [In] on all El’ist Spells
• + ChMod/2 [Dx(M)] on all El’ist Spells
• + ChMod/2 [Co] on all Enchanter Spells
• + ChMod/2 [Wp] on all Charmer Spells
• + ChMod/2 [Sg] on all Illusionist Spells involving Sg
• + ChMod/2 [Hr] on all Illusionist Spells involving Hr
• + ChMod/2 [Tc] on all Illusionist Spells involving Tc
• + ChMod/2 [Sm] on all Illusionist Spells involving Sm
• + ChMod/2 [Ts] on all Illusionist Spells involving Ts
• + ChMod/2 [Mr] on Teleport (and similar Planist Spells involving memorising the destination location)

Where applicable, the above +s are cumulative (e.g. ChMods/2 [In], [Dx(M)], [Sg] and [Hr] all apply on an Audio-Visual Illusion). But they are applied separately (so any -s are applied after ratios).

5.3.3 Spells Learnt

Each 5 Unfilled Spell Levels ("USL"), FRD (i.e. SLL available but not learnt) give +1 on all Elementalist Spells.

Each 2 Overlearnt Spell Levels, FRU (i.e. SLL learnt in excess of those available) give -1 on all Elementalist Spells.

5.3.4 Old Speech

Fluency in Old Speech gives + (Spell Level) on all El’ist Spells.

Part fluency gives +s as follows:

SL/LP = Spell Level is in left-hand column / Language Points towards Know & Fluency are in the top row.

The above +s for part fluency are new in this version of the system, but have precedent in practice.

5.3.5 Experience Pluses and Bonuses

Experience +s are always awarded at the DM's discretion, subject to the following guidelines:

• For each successful cast of a Spell under stress conditions, the El'ist gains +1 on that Spell
• For each successful cast of a Spell under non-stress conditions, the El'ist gains +0.1 on that Spell
• For each Blowback result suffered on a Spell, the El'ist takes -1 on that Spell
• For each Insanity result suffered on a Spell, the El'ist takes minuses on that and other Spells as stated in the Insanity table

A "successful cast" involves the successful and useful casting of the Spell to produce an Effect, and the El’ist's realisation of this.

"Stress conditions" will usually involve a risk of death or other harm. A Dungeon expedition is inherently stressful. "Non-stress conditions" are the absence of stress conditions, but the DM may ignore some non-stress conditions as not being worth +s (eg casting Magic Missile at inanimate targets will not give you lots of +s on Magic Missile). The test is the same as for the awarding of experience towards ElL.

All +s are immediately effective to give Bonuses on Spells. However, the DM may need to exercise discretion in communicating individual +s to Players, as this may reveal information unknown to the Character (e.g. to award +0.1 when a Magic Item is not detected with Detect Magic under stress conditions is a bit of a giveaway!).

The +s earned on each Spell do not count directly towards Throw. Early +s count for more, and later ones for less. The calculation is made by the CharSpec El’ist worksheet, using the CHMOD.XLS El Exp +s worksheet, on the following basis:

• +1 on the Spell for the first 5 Experience +s
• +1/2 on the Spell for the next 10 Experience +s
• +1/4 on the Spell for the next 20 Experience +s
• etc., etc.

Note that Bonuses of less than +1 on a Spell are disregarded until a whole +1 is gained.

Experience -s count permanently as full -s on the Spell, rather than simply reducing the experience +s gained.

5.4 The Casting Plus

Calculate an El’ist’s Casting Plus on each Casting of an El’ist Spell as follows.

5.4.1 Power

The base cost of an El’ist Spell = (2 * (Spell Level)) + 2 SP

As with all Magic-Using, Spell Points are expended by mental and physical effort put into Casting.

Extra SP give +n on the Spell for ((n+1)(n+2))/2 SP expended over base cost: i.e.

Reducing SP below base cost gives a ratio to T of (SP used) / (SP required).

5.4.2 Incantation

The Incantation for each Spell is in Old Speech, and is learnt with the Spell (even if the El’ist has learnt no other Old Speech). The Incantation must be clearly declaimed (unless cast by thought or reflex). Silence Spells and like effects which prevent the Incantation being heard do not affect Casting, provided the El’ist has clearly declaimed the Incantation before such effects are applied.

The base casting time of a non-Word El’ist Spell = (Spell Level) + 1 seconds.

Word Spells have a base casting time of 1 sec.

Extra casting time gives -n(n+1)/2 to the Spell for n extra sec.

Reduced casting time gives -n to the Spell for n less sec., down to 1 sec, and then a ratio of the fraction of 1 sec. taken. E.g. a L2 Spell has a base casting time of 3 sec, so to cast it in 1/4 sec gives -2 and a ratio of 1/4.

Casting in £ 1/4 sec is as a Thought Spell.

Casting in £ 1/10 sec is as a Reflex Spell.

5.4.3 Actions

Most Spell Specifications require certain actions. The Actions for El’ist Spells usually involve rapid, fairly intricate arm movements, mirroring the Incantation with a visual representation for the El of what is required.

There are no Actions for Word Spells.

Non-Word Spells may be cast as pure Action Spells, at a ratio to T of 1/2. Incantation is by thought only, and casting time must be at least 1 sec (with doubled -s for extra / reduced casting time).

Non-Word Spells may be cast one-handed, at a ratio to T of 2/3.

Non-Word Spells cast in < 1 sec require finger movements only for Actions. Note that Casting a non-Word Spell in 1 sec is not Casting it as a Word Spell: Actions are still required.

Non-Word Spells cast in £ 1/2 sec require no Actions.

If Actions are required but omitted, ratio T by (Actions used) / (Actions required).

5.4.4 Materials

Most Spell Specifications require certain materials. Materials are usually included to give the El something to work on (e.g. a flame for Fire Spells). In some cases the materials are essential, and the Spell cannot therefore be Cast without them (e.g. Flesh / Stone requires flesh or stone).

Spells cast in £ 1/2 sec require no Materials, unless they are essential.

If Materials are required but omitted, ratio T by (Materials used) / (Materials required).

5.4.5 Interspell Time ("IST")

Each second of outstanding IST gives -1 to the Spell.

5.4.6 Variable Parameters

The variable parameters of each Spell are listed in its Specification. If no variation of the parameter is specified, the Spell will have the standard parameter given, where the variable = 1. Except where specified otherwise, the minuses for varying parameters are applied to T. FRU on all variable parameters, e.g. if the Radius parameter is:

10r ft -r(r+1)/2

to cast the Spell with a 35 ft radius, r = 4, giving -10 to T.

Parameters are varied by inflexions to the Old Speech of the Incantation.

5.4.7 Fatigue

For each SP Use Break Point, the El’ist takes -1 on all El’ist Spells.

E.g. if he falls below 1/4 of his SP total, he takes -2 on Spells.

For each Fatigue Break Point, the El’ist takes -1 on all El’ist Spells.

5.4.8 Multiple Activation

If multiple Els are Activated who could produce the Spell, it is produced by the lowest level such El, unless it cannot produce the T that would be obtained with R=10. If there are more than one Els still eligible, the most senior El of that Class present decides which produces the Spell. A specific El can be compelled to produce a Spell by prefixing the Incantation with its True Name.

If other Els are Activated who could have produced the Spell, there is a minus equal to the total levels of those Els. This minus is not avoided by using a True Name. It does not apply to Generalist Spells (NB This rule did not appear in previous versions of this system, but was operated in practice).

5.5 Effect of Throw

See the Specification for the Spell for the Effect of T. Each Spell has a range of results for T which give one of:

• Success: with the Effect being more powerful the higher the T
• No Effect
• Blowback: a reversal of the Spell’s Effect, being worse the lower the T
• Insanity: see below
• Death

Individual Spell Specifications vary, and some Spell Classes or types of Spells tend to have higher or lower effects brackets, but typical ranges of results are as follows (a T of less than the Insanity range is a Death result):

6. Insanity

For each Insanity result suffered on a Spell, the Caster suffers the following effects, dependent on how far the Throw achieved is into the Insanity bracket of results in the Spell Specification ("I").  For example, the Insanity bracket on Sleep is -4 to 5.  If the Caster achieves a T of 4, I = 2.

All Insanity minuses are cumulative. Temporary minuses last whilst the Elementalist is still at that Level of Madness.  For further details of Insanity effects, see the Madness System.

If the Throw achieved is below the Insanity bracket of results in the Spell Specification, the Caster suffers immediate physical and mental death, with no possibility of a saving throw, Final Appeal or other reflex action.

7. Elementalist Counterspells

Els will usually offer for Binding Pure Counterspells as Generalist Spells of any Spell Level from 1 to 10, but the El’ist must choose the Spell Level at which to Bind the Counterspell. Counterspells may be Bound as normal or Word Spells. They will succeed on the usual Success Throw for Spells of their level, with:

Subtraction Effect = (T - ((usual Success Throw) - 2)) / 2 FRD

Protection Period is a variable parameter as follows:

1p sec -p(p-1)/2

Blowback multiplies the Effect of the offensive Spell against the caster by *2 or *3, depending on T.

Go to Elementalist Spell Lists (which include links to Spell Specifications)

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© P.R. Wild, 6 December 1998 - version 2.3 (Insanity effects conformed to Madness System 8 April 2000, Effects ranges added 18 June 2002)