Hi guys,
Written by Adrian Bott, Encyclopaedia Arcane: Components and Foci - The Materials of Magic will be out in your local stores n3ext week.
This latest addition to a wizard's library begins with an Overview, looking at the myths that lie behind the use of material compnents and spells covering the Five Principles in their application - Linkage, Transference, Essence, Mythic Resonance and Sacrifice.
The Essential Material Components chapter looks at the most common types and their relationships to specific spells, along with some new rules on the gathering of gem dust and the use of a unicron's horn. This leads on to Buying and Selling Components, which will be essential reading for arcane spellcasters and a source of income for enterprising players.
Substitutions and Augmentations studies the theory behind using different components for spells - either because the spellcaster does not have the right tools to hand or because a player wants to experiement to increase the potency of his spells. This allows the GM to use the rules of this EA with his own spells or those from sources other than the SRD/PHB.
The meat of this book, however, is The Spells and Their Components, a complete listing of all the spells in the SRD/PHB that require components, the possible substitutions that may be made, components that may augment the spell (and the method in which they do so) and the dreaded side effects the spellcaster risks by doing so. For example, the duration of Darkvision may be greatly increased if the heart of a drow is used in the casting, though the recipient's skin will turn dark during this time. Alternatively, fireballs can become much more potent if the dung of red dragons is incorporated, though secondary detonations are likely to prove lethal for the caster and his allies if he chooses to meddle with such potent magicks.
The book winds up with Foci and Their Functions, a look at the nature of a focus in spellcasting and ways to augment its capabilities, two new spells of use to arcane spellcasters collecting components and a Help for Games Masters chapter that shows GMs how to integrate the new rules into their existing campaigns with the minimum of fuss and disruption.
EA Components and Foci is priced at $14.95 and will be available next week.
Written by Adrian Bott, Encyclopaedia Arcane: Components and Foci - The Materials of Magic will be out in your local stores n3ext week.
This latest addition to a wizard's library begins with an Overview, looking at the myths that lie behind the use of material compnents and spells covering the Five Principles in their application - Linkage, Transference, Essence, Mythic Resonance and Sacrifice.
The Essential Material Components chapter looks at the most common types and their relationships to specific spells, along with some new rules on the gathering of gem dust and the use of a unicron's horn. This leads on to Buying and Selling Components, which will be essential reading for arcane spellcasters and a source of income for enterprising players.
Substitutions and Augmentations studies the theory behind using different components for spells - either because the spellcaster does not have the right tools to hand or because a player wants to experiement to increase the potency of his spells. This allows the GM to use the rules of this EA with his own spells or those from sources other than the SRD/PHB.
The meat of this book, however, is The Spells and Their Components, a complete listing of all the spells in the SRD/PHB that require components, the possible substitutions that may be made, components that may augment the spell (and the method in which they do so) and the dreaded side effects the spellcaster risks by doing so. For example, the duration of Darkvision may be greatly increased if the heart of a drow is used in the casting, though the recipient's skin will turn dark during this time. Alternatively, fireballs can become much more potent if the dung of red dragons is incorporated, though secondary detonations are likely to prove lethal for the caster and his allies if he chooses to meddle with such potent magicks.
The book winds up with Foci and Their Functions, a look at the nature of a focus in spellcasting and ways to augment its capabilities, two new spells of use to arcane spellcasters collecting components and a Help for Games Masters chapter that shows GMs how to integrate the new rules into their existing campaigns with the minimum of fuss and disruption.
EA Components and Foci is priced at $14.95 and will be available next week.
