Anyone here use Soveriegn stone magic

[Archangel]

How does the Soverigen Stone magic system work?

Well, in the most basic sense, each spell has a Casting Threshold. You can think of this as the spell's target number. Spellcasters have a Spellcasting Bonus, think of this as any d20 modifier (attribute mod, saving throw bonus, attack bonus, skill mod, etc.). When casting a spell, the caster rolls a d20 and adds his Spellcasting Bonus. If the total is equal to or greater than the Casting Threshold of the spell, the spell is cast. If not, the spellcaster can continue casting the next round by rolling a d20 and adding his Spellcasting Bonus and adding in the previous rounds total. The caster would continue this process until he is either disrupted or finishes the spell or falls unconscious (keep reading) or decides to stop casting.

To make things interesting, each round of casting the caster must make a Fortitude Save (the DC is dependant on the element you are casting and if it is one you are advantaged, neutral, or disadvantaged with) or suffer d4 subdual damage (this damage does not disrupt spellcasting unless it causes you to fall unconscious).

Void mages take d4 points of real damage, instead of subdual damage, and this cannot be healed by magic (only rest).

That about sums it up, it is slower than core rules and inherently more dangerous (but not overly so). On the other hand a caster is not limited in his spells per day.

Also, there is the level of knowledge that a caster has with his spells. He gets so many that are Intimate Knowledge (no spellbook needed), Quick Reference (a quick glance in the spellbook and an hour to cast the spell), or Full Reference (a careful reading before each casting).

I think that is the gist of it.

 

[Aristotle]

How much, if any, of the mechanic for that magic system is OGC? It sounds really interesting.

 

[mmadsen]

Just kidding, but seriously, can you give me a synopsis of the magic system and how it works within a D&D type game?

In d20 Call of Cthulhu, each spell has a cost, typically a Sanity cost and an Ability cost -- e.g. 1d6 Sanity points (out of 5 x Wis starting Sanity) and 2 points of temporary Int damage.

 

[Archangel]

How much, if any, of the mechanic for that magic system is OGC? It sounds really interesting.

A lot of it. Let's see, the mechanics, spells, spell and item creation rules are all OGC. The book titles, world name, logos, races, storyline stuff, item names and descriptions, creature names and descriptions, dragons, bahk (a major Sovereign Stone creature), etc. are not.

Basically it looks as though all the crunchy bits are OGC and novelized/world specific stuff are not.

Not verbatim (there is a lot of stuff in that fine print), but I hope this helps.

 

[Archangel]

A bump a day
Keeps page two away
(well, for a few hours, anyway)

Note: I know that this may not be bump-worthy (well, I'm interested), but it is my first bump

 

[Desdichado]

My real question, because the more I hear about it, the more I like this system, is how much do you really need both books? $60 for a new magic system seems a bit steep, but I've heard that if you just buy the magic book, you end up missing out on a lot of the most basic and useful spells.

 

[Aristotle]

Not verbatim (there is a lot of stuff in that fine print), but I hope this helps.

Actually it does. I can't afford to go grab the setting right now, but it will be going on my short list of things to get in the near future. I'm putting my own setting together (not commercial) and am trying to only use open content for it (kind of an excercise in using the license). This sounds like a nifty little magic system.

 

[King_Stannis]

My real question, because the more I hear about it, the more I like this system, is how much do you really need both books? $60 for a new magic system seems a bit steep, but I've heard that if you just buy the magic book, you end up missing out on a lot of the most basic and useful spells.

Regrettably, that is correct. If you are going to do it, get both books. The system is repeated in the CM, but the basic spells are not. Therefore, if you just buy it, you end up not having the basic heal spells, basic fireball-type spell, etc.

We will be implementing this in my birthright campaign pretty soon. I am looking forward to it, but am a little worried because it is the “unknown”.

 

[Stormprince]

My real question, because the more I hear about it, the more I like this system, is how much do you really need both books? $60 for a new magic system seems a bit steep, but I've heard that if you just buy the magic book, you end up missing out on a lot of the most basic and useful spells.

It depends on how much you plan on using the Sovereign Stone system of magic...

If you just want it to throw your players for a loop, then you really only need the Campaign Sourcebook.

If you want the complete system, you do need to have both books. The CS presents all the "basic" spells, while the Codex introduces 200 more spells, plus rules on creating new spells, modified item creation feats, magical prestige classes, etc.

You could pick up just the CS, give its magic system a try and see if it's something that you do like and want to use more of. If so, then buy the Codex

Once you get used to creating spells, it really takes very little time at all... if you're patient, you can even use the system to simulate "casting on the fly," as a free-form magic system (though I'd only suggest it if the player creating the spell knows the rules really, really, really well).

And for the record, our Magic System is completely OGC... except for the descriptions of magic items, and the names of certain creatures (pecwae, bahk, etc). We've kind of had a curiosity going to see if anyone else picks up our magic system through OGC, just for giggles and grins

Christopher

 

[Greatwyrm]

Having read through the Soverign Stone system a few times, I still have a pretty big question. Is casting a standard or full-round action?