I decided to roll up a C&S 1e character and work
out how long it took to learn a spell.
out how long it took to learn a spell.
Human Male Age: 13
5’1”” 100 Dr
Characteristics
Combat
Social
Born William, son of Edmund, a journeyman dyer in the Clothiers Guild. He is a well
aspected Pisces. He lost his family at age 13 when his father’s experiments with a new
mordant released a poisonous gas and left William with a weak chest (CON 3).
William took the 130 silver his father had saved and apprenticed himself to a local
magick user. He has since adopted the nom de magick of Mordacis, as an homage
to his father’s profession.
aspected Pisces. He lost his family at age 13 when his father’s experiments with a new
mordant released a poisonous gas and left William with a weak chest (CON 3).
William took the 130 silver his father had saved and apprenticed himself to a local
magick user. He has since adopted the nom de magick of Mordacis, as an homage
to his father’s profession.
Magick
While many of the Magical Modes would have benefited from his high Dexterity
(Alchemist, Artificer), Intelligence (Cabala/Symbolist) or Wisdom (Diviner,
Necromancer), the Fates have declared that he practice as a Power Word Magician
despite having only an average Bardic Voice.
(Alchemist, Artificer), Intelligence (Cabala/Symbolist) or Wisdom (Diviner,
Necromancer), the Fates have declared that he practice as a Power Word Magician
despite having only an average Bardic Voice.
With this background, he begins to learn his first spell - his master assigns him to learn
the Illusion spell “Dispel Fatigue” at Spell Level 2, Basic Magick Resistance 2, he appears
to be testing his new apprentice.
the Illusion spell “Dispel Fatigue” at Spell Level 2, Basic Magick Resistance 2, he appears
to be testing his new apprentice.
Learning a new spell is hard, they must be learned until they are at BMR 0 with a 100%
chance of casting. In this case, he’s starting out with BMR 2 at 20% chance of casting
it successfully. Fortunately, he has the ability to Enhance his chance of casting, by
meditating for up to 21 days and by fasting for up to 21 days (although this only kicks
in after the third day of fasting.) Now fasting is usually considered not eating, and
starving yourself for three weeks at a time isn’t healthy. However, a quick study of
medieval fasting, shows that it was really an ascetic eating schedule, a small meal in
the morning and a large supper, often abstaining from specific foods or food groups.
Still, it’s not reasonable that one continuously fasts and meditates, so I home ruled
that it’s a monthly cycle three weeks of meditation and fasting followed by attempting
to cast the spell. Then a week of ‘normal’ eating and other activities.
chance of casting. In this case, he’s starting out with BMR 2 at 20% chance of casting
it successfully. Fortunately, he has the ability to Enhance his chance of casting, by
meditating for up to 21 days and by fasting for up to 21 days (although this only kicks
in after the third day of fasting.) Now fasting is usually considered not eating, and
starving yourself for three weeks at a time isn’t healthy. However, a quick study of
medieval fasting, shows that it was really an ascetic eating schedule, a small meal in
the morning and a large supper, often abstaining from specific foods or food groups.
Still, it’s not reasonable that one continuously fasts and meditates, so I home ruled
that it’s a monthly cycle three weeks of meditation and fasting followed by attempting
to cast the spell. Then a week of ‘normal’ eating and other activities.
Of course failure to cast the spell increases the BMR, and can result in the spell
becoming unlearnable. In this example, he failed on his first attempt, but persevered
and in the end learned it - earning 3408 experience over 289 days. Which meant that
he actually achieved 2nd Level while studying the spell.
becoming unlearnable. In this example, he failed on his first attempt, but persevered
and in the end learned it - earning 3408 experience over 289 days. Which meant that
he actually achieved 2nd Level while studying the spell.
