Design Notation
In Grimoire II there is a section on creating new spells. Its usually nice if you offer these spells to others that you let them know how you did it. This is because they might not agree with some of the things you did and can change it for their system. This page gives a convention for listing the method you used in a shortened method. This convention is not necessarily blindingly clear and easy to read, but it gives the pertinant information for those who are truly curious about the guts of your design.
Listing Method: The method used is really very simple. Remember, this method only indicates modifiers, not what the spell really does or what it targets, specifically.
Spell Category ( Target Type : Drain Level ) Drain Target Mods / Drain Level Mods
An example from Grimoire p. 125: Chaos - Il(Il:Ri)Ph,Ss/Il,Be
Spell Category: Spell Type is simply the indicator of what kind of spell category the new spell falls under.
- Co - Combat Spell
- De - Detection Spell
- He - Health Spell
- Il - Illusion Spell
- Mp - Manipulation Spell
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Target Type: The target type determines the TN by specifying the type of target the spell works against.
- Ma - Mana Spell
- Ph - Physical Spell
- Il - Physical Illusion Spell
- Mp - Standard Manipulation Spell
- Ba - Barrier Manipulation Spell
- Fm - Fine Manipulation Spell
- Ob - Affects Inanimate Object
- Gn - General Spell
- Ce - Counteracting Specific Effects
- Am - Affecting Magic
- Ab - Benefiting an Attribute
- Aa - Affecting Attribute Adversely
- Bf - Affects Bodily Functions
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Drain Level: The drain level is the base level of drain for the spell. It begins as (F/2)(drain) and is modified by the drain target modifiers and the drain level modifiers.
- Dl - Light Damage Causing Spell
- Dm - Medium Damage Causing Spell
- Ds - Serious Damage Causing Spell
- Dd - Deadly Damage Causing Spell
- Dt - Detecting
- An - Analyzing
- Se - Sensory Enhancement
- Es - Radically New or Enhanced Physical Sense
- He - Standard Health Spell (L drain)
- C1 - +/-1 Rating
- C2 - +/-2 Rating
- C3 - +/-3 Rating
- C4 - +/-4 Rating
- Si - Obvious or Simple Illusion
- Ri - Realistic or Complex Illusion
- Vi - Very Realistic or Very Complex Illusion
- Lm - Minor Mental Changes
- Gm - Major Mental Changes
- Lc - Minor Physical Changes
- Gc - Major Physical Changes
- Lp - Minor Physical Control or Manipulation
- Gp - Major Physical Control or Manipulation
- Le - Minor Environmental Changes
- Ge - Major Environmental Changes
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Drain Target Modifiers: The target modifiers affect the TN to resist the drain of the spell. Also listed in parenthesis are the types of spells that each modifier is applicable to.
- Dm - Deep Mind Interaction (De, Mp)
- Cy - Spell Affects Cybered Attribute (He)
- Ph - Physical Spell (all)
- Sm - Superficial Mind Interaction (De, Mp)
- Ss - Sustained Spell (all but Co)
- Ob - Works on Non-Living Target (De)
- Sy - Treats Symptoms Only (He)
- De - Detection Spell Modifier (De)
- Ex - Extended Range (De)
- St - Stun Damage (Co, Mp)
- Re - Restricted Target (all but Mp)
- Sp - Specific Target (De)
- To - Touch Required (all)
- Be - Bonus Game Effect (all)
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Drain Level Modifiers: The drain level modifiers affect the base drain by either raising the level or lowering it. This is a pretty vital area of spell design. Also, keep in mind that some modifiers will be included in both drain target and drain level modifiers. In parenthesis are the types of spells that each modifer is applicable to.
- Ae - Area-Effect Spell (all but He)
- Ds - Damaging Manipulation is Sustained (Mp)
- Dm - Deep Mind Interaction (Mp)
- Ee - Elemental Effect (Co, Mp - must be Physical spell)
- Pe - Permanent Effect (all but Co)
- Aa - Spell Affects Attribute (He, Mp)
- Ai - Spell Affects Initiative (He)
- Ob - Works On Non-Living Target (De)
- Ps - Personal Spell (De, Mp)
- Il - Illusion Spell Modifier (Il)
- Lr - Limited Range (all - this is default for De)
- To - Touch Required (all)
- Vr - Very Restricted Target (all but Mp)
- Vs - Voluntary Subject Required (all)
- Be - Bonus Game Effect (all)
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