Rules Modifications - The Basic Rules of Magic

These rules cover the modifications to the standard magic system in an effort to give Magic Users the power where they can compete with Technology and thus be the threat that the Coalition fear. The changes are several fold:

1. Base PPE and PPE increment per level are increased
2. Spell effects (especially ranges) have been increased
3. Effects of Leylines on PPE are increased as are the range effects
4. Initiative for Duration Spells
5. Magic Reflex bonus for Mages
6. By Spell Experience Level (not Mage Level).
7. Utility and Material Spells

PPE Changes

Mage OCCs

OCC	PPE Base	PPE Increment
Leyline Walker	3D8 x 10 + 10 + PE	1D4 x 10
Shifter	2D6 x 10 + 30 + PE	1D4 x 10
Mystic	2D6 x 10 + PE	5D6
Techno Wizard	3D8 x 10 + PE	5D6
Warlock	3D8 x 10 + 10 + PE	5D6
Spatial Mage	4D10 x 10 + PE	5D6
Psi-Mage (Black Robe)	2D6 x 10 + PE	5D6

Dragons

OCC	Hatchling		Adult
	PPE Base	PPE Increment	PPE Base	PPE Increment
Chiang Ku	3D8x10+50+PE	5D6	3D4x100+600	1D4x10+10
Fire Dragon	3D8x10+20+PE	1D4x10	3D4x100+100	2D4x10
Great Horned	3D10x10+PE	1D6x10	3D6x100+600	2D6x10
Ice Dragon	3D8x10+20+PE	1D4x10	3D4x100+100	2D4x10
Kucalan	3D8x10+50+PE	1D4x10+10	2D4x100+600	2D4x10+10
Thunder Lizard	3D8x10+30+PE	1D4x10+10	3D4x100+600	2D4x10+10

LeyLine Effects

Distance from Leyline/Nexus Point Effects

	Sensing Spells		All Other Spells
Distance	Duration	Range	Duration	Range	Damage	PPE Recovery	PPE Availability
Less than 7 miles from Ley Line	increased by 50%	reduced by 25%	increased by 50%	increased by 50%	No Change	5 PPE per half-hour without meditation	None
Less than 3 miles from Ley Line Less than 1.5 miles from a Nexus Point	increased by 100%	reduced by 50%	increased by 100% (ie doubled)	increased by 100% (ie doubled)	increased by 50%	10 PPE per half-hour without meditation	10 PPE per level per 4 hours
Less than 200ft from a Ley Line Less than 2500ft from a Nexus Point	increased by 200%	reduced by 75%	increased by 200% (ie trebled)	increased by 200% (ie trebled)	increased by 200% (ie trebled)	20 PPE per half-hour without meditation	30 PPE per level per 4 hours
Less than 200ft from a Nexus Point	increased by 400%	reduced by 95%	increased by 400% (ie quintupled)	increased by 400% (ie quintupled)	increased by 200% (ie trebbled)	30 PPE per half-hour without meditation	50 PPE per level per 4 hours

Magic Reflex

In a similar manner to physical reflexes some mages are better at manipulating magic than others, and those that have been manipulating magic for longer are better at it than those who haven’t.

Each Mage therefore has a Magic Reflex. The reflex has a Base and variable part.

The base reflex is 5 + 2D4 + ((ME + IQ ) / 2 )

The variable part is Mage Level / 2 ( round down )

When applied to Bio-Borgs the Reflex is halved for partial conversion and not applicable to full conversion. The Reflex Bonus is found by cross-referencing the Magic Reflex against the Reflex Table.

Initiative Effects

Initiative for ‘aggressive’ spells which have a duration of greater than 1 shot or 1 melee round has changed. On the first round of combat, ie the round in which the spell is cast the Mage determines initiative as per a normal hand-to-hand attack. In subsequent combat rounds the Mages initiative is adjusted by their prepared magic initiative bonus’ (PMIB).

A Mages PMIB is calculated as follows:

                 (Mage Magic Reflex Bonus) + (spell initiative modifier) - ( 2 per additional ‘aggressive’ spell)

By Spell Experience Level

Spells which have a “by Level” component now use the level of experience that a Mage has in casting that spell not the level of the Mage (unless explicitly stated).

This means you need to track the number of times a spell has been cast.

The more you use a spell the better you are at casting it. For some spells this gains you access to better actions or casting options. All spells use the same experience progression as outlined in the table below (note progression is not linear):

Level	To next Level	Total Times Cast	Level	To next Level	Total Times Cast	Level	To next Level	Total Times Cast
0	10	0	6	40	120	11	120	440
1	10	10	7	40	160	12	140	560
2	20	20	8	80	200	13	160	700
3	20	40	9	80	280	14	180	860
4	20	60	10	80	360	15	N/A	1040
5	40	80

Proficiency Levels for Starting Characters

OCC/RCC	Notes
Dragons	Given that dragons are new hatchlings and are born with the relevant knowledge they haven’t had chance to get any practice yet.
Mystics/Priest/Avatars	5D6 casts for each spell
Line Walkers	4D6+1 casts for each spell
Shifters	Sense PPE: 5D6 casts Sense Magic: 5D6 casts Turn Undead: 2D6 casts Trance: 2D6 casts Chameleon: 4D6 casts Concealment: 4D6 casts Shadow Meld: 2D6 casts Time Slip: 1D6 casts Call Lightning: 4D6 casts Constrain Being: 1D6 casts Summon & Control Canines: 2D6 casts Summon Lesser Being: 1D6 casts Tongues: 3D6 casts Commune with Spirits: 3D6 casts Protection Circle (Simple): 3D6 casts
Techno Wizard	Blinding Flash: 5D6 casts Globe of Daylight: 5D6 casts Ignite Fire: 3D6 casts Fuel Flame: 3D6 casts Fire Bolt: 3D6 casts Call Lightning: 3D6 casts Energy Bolt: 5D6 casts Energy Field: 5D6 casts Impervious to Energy: 4D6 casts Telekinesis: 3D6 casts
Spatial Mages
Warlocks
Psi-Mage

Gaining New Spells

The astute amongst you will have noted that “By Level” spells have a starting level of zero(0). This technically means if you cast the spell then nothing happens or there is no result. This is not quite the case… The level 0 to level 1 transition means you’re learning how to cast the spell efficiently and get familiar with the mechanics of casting it. If you successfully cast it then you do get a result just not the full effect.

Note: I’m also applying this to all spells irrespective of if they’re “By Level”. So when you first acquire ANY spell you treat it as level 0 until you’ve successfully cast it 10 times, then treat it as normal. The chance to successfully cast a spell during this learning phase is IQ% - (5*Lvl of Spell/No of Castings) Spells of Legend count as Level 20 spells.

The example table below is for IQ:12 (base 60%).

You will note it’s easier to successfully cast a new Level 1 spell than it is to cast a new Level 15 spell. Also worth noting is that the result can be zero or negative. If the result is less than 1 then the spell is not successfully cast, but it still counts as a casting for the purposes of learning how to cast the spell.

Spell level	Number of Castings
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
1	55	57	58	58	59	59	59	59	59	59
2	50	55	56	57	58	58	58	58	58	59
3	45	52	55	56	57	57	57	58	58	58
4	40	50	53	55	56	56	57	57	57	58
5	35	47	51	53	55	55	56	56	57	57
6	30	45	50	52	54	55	55	56	56	57
7	25	42	48	51	53	54	55	55	56	56
8	20	40	46	50	52	53	54	55	55	56
9	15	37	45	48	51	52	53	54	55	55
10	10	35	43	47	50	51	52	53	54	55
11	5	32	41	46	49	50	52	53	53	54
12	0	30	40	45	48	50	51	52	53	54
13	-5	27	38	43	47	49	50	51	52	53
14	-10	25	36	42	46	48	50	51	52	53
15	-15	22	35	41	45	47	49	50	51	52
20	-40	10	26	35	40	43	45	47	48	50

Base Price by Spell Level for buying spells

For Arcanists that are not “divinely” granted their spell knowledge in some manner, the only ways to gain spells are either to locate scrolls or Magic Tomes that contain spells, to barter a spell or spells they know with another Arcanist for the spell or spell they want that the Arcanist knows, or to buy the spell from another Arcanist.

This is another area the original books are deficit in, there are no costs or guidelines for purchasing or selling spells. The table below presents an approximate baseline value, in Lazlo Credits, for a spell. A generous Arcanist may offer a discount but most don’t and usually the price is anything up to 400% higher.

1	10,000	6	120,000	11	540,000
2	20,000	7	180,000	12	680,000
3	30,000	8	250,000	13	840,000
4	50,000	9	330,000	14	1,000,000
5	80,000	10	420,000	15	1,200,000

Spells of Legend sell for upwards of 2,000,000 when available.

Utility and Material spells

In all of Palladium’s games there are no spells which fall into either of these categories, every spell is basically geared to combat. The problem is that, certainly in Rifts, there is a significant need for other spells, especially as a means to earn or supplement your living. Because it’s relevant within the campaign I have added a whole raft of spells that fall into these two categories into the lists.

The difference between the two types is that utility spells either make tasks easier, use magic to manipulate existing material and/or objects, or provide non-combat type protection, whilst material spells convert magic energy into raw material which can then be used for other tasks.

Unless you’re a Ley Line Walker, who can purchase the spells, or a Mystic who can choose one every three levels, then you’re unlikely to come across them. Techno-Wizards have the capability to acquire one or two specific spells as they gain level.

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