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Spellcasters, Explained

In the Perilous Adventures Warbands Guide (PAWG), spellcasters are the wielders of magic—heroes who hurl fire, mend wounds, or weave protections in a world that’s tough to survive. Whether you’re new to tabletop roleplaying or a veteran of arcane arts, this section explains how to play a spellcaster, from sparking your first spell to mastering the craft. We use the d100 system: roll two ten-sided dice (one for tens, one for units) and aim to get equal to or under your target—lower is better! With our example characters—Torren, Lira, Eryn, Kael, and Veyra—we’ll walk you through it step-by-step, with math to show how it works. No combat here—just the essentials to get your magic flowing. Let’s light the way!

Becoming a Spellcaster

Anyone can cast spells in PAWG—no special class needed, just the right setup. Here’s what you’ll focus on:

  • Attributes: Pump up Wisdom (WIS) for control and Intelligence (INT) for power—you’ve got 340 points to split across six attributes (max 80 at start).
  • Skill: Spellcasting (WIS-based) is your core—spend some of your 90 skill points to boost it. Higher means easier casting.
  • Mana Pool: Your magic juice = WIS + INT. It’s 0 unless you’ve got Spellcasting or a distinction like Mana Reserves.
  • Spells: Start with 3 if Spellcasting > 0—pick from the spell list (e.g., Fire Bolt, Healing Touch).

Newbie Tip: Want magic? Boost WIS and INT, grab Spellcasting, and you’re casting!

How Spellcasting Works

  • The Roll: Pick a spell, roll d100 under Spellcasting minus the spell’s Difficulty (target = skill - Difficulty).
  • Success: Spend full Mana Cost, get the effect.
  • Failure: Lose half Mana (rounded down), no effect.
  • Math Example: Kael (Spellcasting 100) casts Fire Bolt (10 Mana, Difficulty 40). Target = 100 - 40 = 60. Rolls 30 (success)—deals 20 damage, Mana from 150 to 140. Rolls 70 (fail)—Mana to 145, no boom.
  • Critical: 01-05 = crit success (e.g., double effect, GM call); 96-00 = crit failure (e.g., Mana gone, oops).

Example Character: Eryn (Spellcasting 90) casts Healing Touch (15 Mana, Difficulty 50). Target = 90 - 50 = 40. Rolls 20 (success)—heals 40 HP, Mana from 170 to 155.

Details: Kael’s 100 Spellcasting makes tough spells (Difficulty 70) doable—target 30’s still in reach!

Your Mana Pool

  • Starting: WIS + INT, set at creation—boosted by distinctions.
  • Kael: WIS 80 + INT 60 = 140 + 10 (Mana Reserves) = 150 Mana.
  • Eryn: WIS 70 + INT 90 = 160 + 10 (Flameheart) = 170 Mana.
  • Non-Casters: Torren, Lira, Veyra start at 0 Mana—need a trait like Arcane Dabbler to dip in (1 spell, small pool).
  • Recovery: Full Mana after a Long Rest (8 hours); 10% per hour of light rest (e.g., Eryn regains 17 Mana/hour).
  • Overcasting: Low Mana? Pay with Fatigue (1 level per 5 Mana short, -10 rolls/level) or HP (1 HP per 10 Mana short).
  • Math Example: Kael at 5 Mana casts Healing Touch (15 Mana). Deficit 10 = 2 Fatigue (-20 rolls). Target 50, rolls 40—40 HP healed, Mana to 0, Fatigue 2.

Newbie Note: Mana’s your limit—save it or push it, just don’t crash!

Spell Effects

  • Action: Most are a Standard Action (1/turn)—some (e.g., Group Mending) take 1 minute, better out of combat.
  • Examples: From the spell list:
  • Fire Bolt: 10 Mana, Difficulty 40, 20 damage (60 ft).
  • Healing Touch: 15 Mana, Difficulty 50, 40 HP (touch).
  • Light Orb: 5 Mana, Difficulty 30, lights 20 ft (10 minutes).
  • Math Example: Eryn casts Light Orb. Target 60, rolls 50—lights up, Mana to 165.

Details: Effects are fixed—Margin doesn’t boost them, but crits might (e.g., Fire Bolt at 40 damage).

Learning and Growing

  • Starting Spells: 3 if Spellcasting > 0 (e.g., Kael: Fire Bolt, Healing Touch, Light Orb). Species traits like Flameheart (Eryn) add one (Fire Bolt).
  • Adding Spells: 10 XP per new spell—train with mentors or find scrolls. Eryn might grab Frost Shard.
  • Spellbook: Holds 10 spells, +10 to rolls if consulted (1 round).
  • Math Example: Kael with spellbook casts Fire Bolt. Target 60 + 10 = 70, rolls 40—20 damage, Mana to 140.
  • Advancement: Boost Spellcasting with XP (e.g., 3 XP from 76 to 77)—grow your power!

Pro Tip: More spells = more options—plan your XP!

Tools and Tricks

  • Staff: +10 Spellcasting (e.g., Eryn’s Fire Bolt target = 60 with staff).
  • Distinctions: Enhance casting—Mana Surge (cast free once/day, 1 Fatigue) or Channeler’s Focus (-10 Difficulty).
  • Counterspelling: Reaction (once/round), Spellcasting vs. caster’s roll (5 Mana).
  • Math Example: Eryn counters (Spellcasting 90 vs. 60, rolls 40 vs. 50)—wins, Mana to 165.

Details: Stack tools—Kael with staff + Channeler’s Focus = target 70 for Healing Touch!

Example Characters as Spellcasters

  • Torren (Human Warrior): Spellcasting 0, Mana 0—no magic, all might.
  • Lira (Duskborn Rogue): Spellcasting 0, Mana 0—stealth, not spells.
  • Eryn (Embermarked Scholar): Spellcasting 90, Mana 170—Fire Bolt (target 50, rolls 20, 20 damage) or Healing Touch (target 40). High Mana, versatile.
  • Kael (Human Mystic): Spellcasting 100, Mana 150—Healing Touch (target 50, rolls 30, 40 HP) or Light Orb (target 70). Reliable, clutch reroll (Adaptable Spirit).
  • Veyra (Windrunner Leader): Spellcasting 0, Mana 0—leads with grit.

Math Examples

  • Eryn’s Group Mending: 25 Mana, Difficulty 70. Target 20, rolls 15—20 HP each, Mana to 145.
  • Kael’s Overcast Fire Bolt: 10 Mana, 5 left. Deficit 5 = 1 Fatigue (-10 rolls). Target 60, rolls 20—20 damage, Mana to 0.

For Experienced Players

  • Tactics: High Spellcasting (100) = big targets—Kael’s target 50 for Healing Touch rarely fails. Stack Channeler’s Focus + staff for 80+ targets.
  • Mana Strategy: Eryn’s 170 Mana = 17 Fire Bolts—mix low-cost (5 Mana) and big (25 Mana) spells. Overcast (e.g., 4 Fatigue = -40) for desperate plays.
  • Synergy: Eryn’s Flameheart + fire spells = theme. Kael’s 40 HP heals counter big hits—time it right.

That’s spellcasting in PAWG! Simple for starters, deep for pros—roll that d100 and wield the arcane. Check the Spells Listing for your options, and tweak with your GM!