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Message: <blockquote data-quote="anondragon" data-source="post: 2011249" data-attributes="member: 18809">In a nutshell   EOM revised edition has the same goal as the first edition, namely   creating a magic system which is highly customizable.  Magic using   characters receive a number of "spell lists" each level.  These   spell lists revolve around a particular area, for instance evoke   fire.  The character is then able to use the evoke fire list to   cast spells involving fire that deal damage to creatures or   objects.  Each spell uses MP and abandons the fire and forget   paradigm of D20.     In the revised edition, rules have been streamlined to avoid some   of the more complex issues (different elements dealing different   damage, spell lists having different range, duration, and area of   effect tables) and introduces new rules to "merge" spell lists   together and create more complex and interesting spells.  All in all,   the revised edition offers a view of magic that just seems more   complete, more balanced, and easier to understand than its   predecessor.  At $8.95 it is well worth the price even if you have   purchased the previous edition and are using it today.   HighlightsA full magic system that is highly customizable based on your  campaign and individual character concept. A customizable spell system that does not bog down your game.Three new classes, mage, mageknight, and taskmage.Mechanisms exist to cast spells above your ability from spell books.Integrated rules for creating magic items, permanent spells andconstructs in ways that do not merely mimic the d20 system, butsurpass the d20 system in order to more closely identify with themechanics of the EOM system.DrawbackSome skills are "magically powered".  MP is used with a skill(such as scry) that has spell like effects.  While the mechanics seemsound, this is the one place that the unified vision of spell listsdoes not seem as coherent.In DepthThe highlight of this work is the customizable spell system.  For eachcaster level a character gains "spell lists".  Each spell list isdescribed as an action (abjure, charm, compel, evoke, +7 others) and atarget (an element-fire, water, light, +20 others- a creature-humanoid,undead, plant, +12 others-, or an alignment -good,evil,law, chaos,balance). For instance, Charm Humanoid allows the character to charmhumanoid creatures.  If a character wants to charm undead creaturesthey would need the Charm Undead list.  In the charm list, there are detailedinstructions for various effects that can be added to a spell.  Forinstance a charm effect that can cause the target to become morefriendly to you or a charm effect that bestows courage to the target.For each effect that is added the MP cost for that effect is added tothe final spell.  Furthermore these effects can be merged with otherspell lists to create spells that produce more unique actions.Characteristics such as duration, range, and area of effect can bealtered using a "general list" that all magic users have.With such a highly customizable system, there is a danger of boggingdown a game.  (As I discovered with the previous edition of EOM).  Tocounter this, all spells that are pieced together take two rounds tocast.  So while a magic user could piece together a spell that willput his enemies asleep, transform them into pigs and start up a fire tocook bacon, at two rounds to cast the spell the player can toy withthe numbers until the spell goes off  (in my campaign, two combat roundstypically takes 15 minutes).  However, this would make the charactereffectively useless in combat.  Instead, EOM offers signature spells.  Acharacter knows a signature spell for each level (plus int bonus).  Asignature spell is a spell that has all of the variables figured outahead of time (name, cost, effects, duration).  In effect a characteris limited to a small set of spells (that can be changed each day) forcombat and time sensitive castings while having a lot of flexibilityoutside of combat.Classes in the EOM rely on a concept I'll name the Base Caster Bonus (not their notation, but easier to use) to describethe caster level of a character.  The BCB operates as the BAB does.Magic using classes offer a BCB increase for each level.  As BCBincreases the number of spell lists, MP and complexity of spellsincrease.  As a direct result there is no penalty for multiclassingbetween magic using classes.Revised EOM offers 3 classes.  The mage is the primary magic user, hasa poor BAB and a good BCB (base caster bonus) and a d4. The mage gains magicalabilities every 4 levels that add flavor and create unique mages.MageKnights have average BAB (1-15) and average BCB(1-15) and a d8.They have martial abilities and a path open to take feats that allowthem to wear armor.  TaskMages have poor BAB, average BCB a d6 and 8 skillpoints per level.  (as some skills are magically powered, these 8points do not go as far as they would in a thief, but they are impressive).No one can learn all spell lists, but no spell is beyond someone'sreach.  If a character does not know all of the spell lists in asignature spell he can attempt to "memorize" it in the morning (as ad20 wizard would do) and store it as a fire and forget spell.  Thisis especially useful for dispelling magics that depend on the spelllists that you know.  Furthermore a mechanism exists to readsignature spells from spell books that are too high of a level tocast.  I can just imagine the thematic elements of that action<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />The newest item to the EOM is the creation of magic items and permanenteffects.  This is done using three feats-craft charged, craftpermanent, craft wondrous.  The most thematically beneficial rule isthe replacement of the position system in d20.  In d20 you could onlyhave 1 pair of boots, 2 rings, 2 gloves, etc.  EOM demands that a creaturecan only have 12 permanent magical effects at any time.  It is nowpossible to have a sorceress with a magic ring on each finger or a setof medals across their chest, without affecting the power (only theflavor).  In addition, a single magic item can count as multipleeffects (and reduce the cost), for instance a cloak that offers fireand cold resistance could use 2 slots.Craft wondrous items work directly off the MP used to create theitem.  The costs are similar to d20 costs, but there aredifferences.  If this is the only system in the game it shouldn'taffect things too much.Craft Charged item can work like d20 in that a signature spell can beplaced in an object, but it can also function as a mini mage, knowingspell lists, having a MP limit and a MP pool to draw from.  Spellcrafted from "mini-mages" can be cast as a standard action in the sameway that signature spells are.Craft Permanent spell.  Permanent spells only cost xp, but mimic thecreation rules for charged and wondrous items.  When cast on a personthey count towards the limit of magical effect on that person.  Inaddition, permanent spells are harder to dispel than theircounterparts in d20.Creating magical creatures. This is a long awaited feature.  In d20clerics could create minor undead using a spell, while a mage had toinvest a small fortune to create a construct.  Now both areaccomplished by summoning the creature with the appropriatesummon[creature] spell and making it permanent.  Special rules discountthe XP cost based on the materials cost.SummaryWith the recent hub-hub of the 3.5 d20, many people are cautions aboutother revision editions.  With revised EOM this is certainly not thecase.  While revised EOM has the same goals, it does a much better jobof creating a whole magic system that does not bog down play orcreativity.  Spell lists have been completely revised to be lessconfusing, each spell list has a page of example signature spells thatillustrate how to merge spell effects together. And a new, complete,magic creation system are all significant reasons to look into getting thenewest version even if you have their previous version.As far as appeal, EOM can be placed in an ongoing campaign with littletrouble in conjunction with an existing magic system or to replace it.Even if I don't get a chance to use the EOM system directly, I stillplan to use it to craft new spells for my d20 games to check for fairness.</blockquote>

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