Orb Magic (1st draft,part1)

 Orb Magic

Throughout this post I'll be presenting a variant magic system for use with old-school dungeon play. It is the intention that Wizards discussed here would be the primary spell-casting class of the campaign but for clarity (to distinguish them as distinct from more traditional Wizards or Magic-Users) the will be known a Wizard of Orbs (WOO for short). Inspired by Rules to the Game of Dungeon.

Means of spell casting in a campaign with Orb Magic.

A Wizard of Orbs is able to memorize and retain the capacity to use a number of spells that depend primarily on the presence of Orbs. These Orbs serve as focus and supply for the spells known to a WOO.

When a Wizard of Orbs casts a spell they much have an orb in hand or attached to a proper magical accouterment and typically the orb is consumed in the casting or completion of the spell.

Orbs interact with each other in odd ways rendering them briefly useless for the purpose of spell-casting if too many are brought into close contact with each other. A 1^st level Wizard of Orbs may only normally carry 5 orbs on his person at any time but there are ways to circumvent this using a variety of magical accouterments (explained later). Non-Wizards may carry but 3 orbs if they wish to transport a supply for an allied WOO. Should too many orbs be collected together they will not function for the purpose of casting spells for 24 hours.

There are 11 common Orbs that are used in casting spells. Each Orbs allows a WOO with knowledge of an applicable spell to use that spell. An orb does not grant a WOO the ability to use a spell they have not memorized even if it is one of the spells known to a WOO and present in the casters Grimoire.

Power Grades of Orbs:

There are six different powergrades of Orbs rated in grade from I to VI. A spell cast through an orb may be cast weaker than the grade of the Orb itself of the WOO should so wish (usually because they aren't high enough level to take advantage of the grade of the Orb due to their level as a WOO).

Wizard of Orbs Class Table

Level	exp	HD*	Spells Memorized	Orb Grade	Orbs Carried	Other
1	0	1	3	I	5	A
2	2500	1+1	4		6	B
3	5000	2	4	II	7	C
4	10,000	2+1	5		7	D,E
5	20,000	3	5	III	8	F
6	40,000	3+1	6		9	N
7	60,000	4	6	IV	10	OI
8	80,000	4+1	7		10
9	100,000	5	7	V	11	W
10	200,000	5+1	8		12	OII
11	300,000	6	8	VI	13	K, PI
12	400,000	7	9		13	OIII
13	500,000	8+1	10		14	PII
14	600,000	8+2	11		15	OIV
15	700,000	8+3	12		16	PIII
16	800,000	8+4	13		16	OV,PIV
17	9,000,000	8+5	14		17	PV
18	1,000,000	8+6	15		18	OVI, PVI

*- Reroll HTK each level, new HTK total may not be lower then previously rolled.

Other abilities

A- Copy Scroll to Grimoire, consumes scroll successful on 3+ rolled on d6. Fills 1d6 pages in Grimoire.

B- Copy from Grimoire to Scroll, costs 100 gp per grade of scroll and must pulverize one orb; successful on 3+ rolled on d6.

C- Duplicate Scroll, costs 100 gp per grade of scroll and must pulverize two such orbs; successful on 4+ rolled on d6.

D- Identify Potion; may identify what type of potion oe has on hand with a tiny sip, roll 1d6 and the potion is identified on a roll of 3+ but if a 1 or 6 is rolled and the potion is poison or a trap the effects are suffered.

E- Identify Wands; may identify what type of wand a specific wand is. Successful on 2+ rolled on d6.

F- Copy spell from Grimoire to Grimoire, successful on 3+ rolle don d6.

N- Brew Potions, if formula is discovered. Formulas must be ket in grimoire and use 1d6+1 pages.

W- Fashion Wand, if procedure is discovered. Procedure to manufacture must be kept in a grimoire and use 1d6+3 pages.

K- Craft Magical Device, ability to craft miscellaneous magical item, arms, and armor

OI to OVI- Fashion Orbs of that Grade, costs ½ list price and takes a day per grade.

PI to PVI- ability to graft Orb Devices of appropriate grade. Including Wizard Gems.

List of Orbs and Orb Spells

Orb	Spell	Destroy Orb
Light Orb	Lamp	Y
	FlashBang	Y
	Glory	Y
	Searing Beam	Y
	Blinding Beam	Y
	Alarm	S
Fire Orb	FireBall	Y
	DragonBreath	Y
	Ring of Fire	Y
	Wall of Fire	Y
	Resist Fire	S
	Fire Walking	S
Ice Orb	Freeze	Y
	Cone of Cold	Y
	Wall of Ice	Y
	Blizzard	Y
	Protection from Cold	S
	Create Ice Giant	Y
Wizard Seed	GoodBerry	Y
	Tangle Weed	Y
	Climbing Vine	Y
	Flame Flower	Y
	Thorn Staff	Y
	HypnoFlower	Y
Sword Orb	Call Sword	N
	Blade of Fire	Y
	Silver Blade	Y
	Dancing Sword	S
	Vorpal Blade	Y
	Wall of Blades	Y
Axe Orb	Call Axe	N
	Headman's Axe	Y
	Flying Axe	N
	Barrier Breaker	Y
	Unseen Axeman	S
	Haft Cleaver	Y
Hammer Orb	Call Hammer	N
	Winged Hammer	N
	True Kosh	Y
	Rock Breaker	Y
	Miracle Smith	Y
	ThunderClap	Y
Witch Egg	Gremlin	Y
	Imp	Y
	Gargoyle	Y
	Dragon	Y
	Trapping	N
	Ovum Recall	N
Skull Orb	Skeleton	Y
	Zombie	Y
	Ghoul	Y
	Vampire	Y
	Raise Dead	Y
	Command Dead	S
Void Orb	Dispel Magic	Y
	Reveal Magic	N
	Protection from Magic	S
	Transporation	Y
	Shatter Orbs & Gems	Y
	Anhialation	Y
Crystal Ball	Clairaudience	N
	Clairvoyance	N
	Seeking	N
	Obfuscation	N
	Communication	N
	Sending	Y

Y- yes always destroyed, N- not destroyed, S- Special

Wizard Gems

Are a specific casting of a spell. (Consumes 2 appropriate orbs in creation). Wizard Gems do not count against total number of orbs carried.

Wizard gems may be stored as an orb or be mounted as a mundane gem.

Non-Wizards may hurl wizard gems to use the spell on a d6 roll of 3+.

Scrolls

A scroll is a spell captured on parchment. A Wizard of Orb is able to read any scroll on a d6 roll of 2+, there is no chance of failure if the scroll is in the WOO's grimoire.

On failure to read or copy a scroll the scroll itself is consumed.

If one fails to copy a scroll into a book half the pages the spell would have filled are lost from the book.

If one fails to copy a spell from a book onto a scroll the spell is erased from the grimoire and the pages it once occupied are lost.

Grimoire

A Wizard of Orbs is able to retain more spells in a Grimoire then may be retained by memory alone.

A blank and simple grimoire costs 50gp + 2gp per page. More elaborate and secure Grimoires exist and they are much more expensive.

A WOO does not start play with a grimoire unless they purchase one with starting funds.

It takes One hour for a WOO to memorize a spell from a grimoire.

Casting spells from a Grimoire. A spell may be cast from a grimoire but this is risky as the spell and it's pages could be lost from the volume. It Takes 2minutes to cast a spell from a Grimoire and requires the appropriate orb. The spell will function on a d6 roll of 3+ but the spell (and pages ) ar elost on a roll of 1.

Determine Starting Spells and Initial Orbs

A Wizard of Orbs starts play knowing 3 spells total. A WOO may select 2 of them (from the chart above), the third is randomly rolled. The starting WOO should be cautious as some powerful spells may be temptign early in their career but they will lack the power to use them effectively (as determined by Grade of Orb the WOO can handle and the Grade of Orb used)

Third spell Known

Die Roll	Orb and Spell
2	Void Orb- Reveal Magic
3	Light Orb- Alarm
4	Fire Orb- Protection From Fire
5	Crystal Ball- Clairaudience
6	Sword Orb- Call Sword
7	Light Orb- Lamp
8	Wizard Seed- Tangle Weed
9	Crystal Ball- Obfuscation
10	Ice Orb- Protection From Cold
11	Light Orb- Glory
12	Void Orb- Protection from Magic

If the spell rolled is one the WOO already selected they may select any spell from the third spell table.

A WOO will start play with one orb for each spell known, additional orbs must be purchased with starting funds.

Orb Devices

Special Orb devices exist to enhance and improve the power of A Wizard of Orbs. All of the listed devices allow a WOO to use appropriate spells as if the orb was in hand if the device is properly worn or deployed.

Each device will be limited by what grades of orbs may be attached depending on the material of the device, lesser orbs may be attached, greater ones may not.

Orb Device List

Device	Orb Count	Orbs Held	Base Cost	No. Carried
Orb Pommel	1	1	50	Counts as 1 of up to 3
Orb Hilt	1	3	200	Counts as 1 of up to 3
Orb Ring	0	1	100	1 per hand.
Orb Crown	1	5	400	Counts as 1 of up to 3
Rod of Orbs	1	4	300	1 rod or 1 staff
Staff or Orbs	2	8	500	1 rod or 1 staff
Orb Band	0	2	250	1 per limb
Chamber	0	6	300	One may be carried

Orb Count- counts against total number of orbs WOO may carry (unless empty)

Orb Pommels and Orb Hilts must be attached to appro iate weapons. A wizard gem inserted in either can be used by a non-wizard but has a 1in6 chance of destroying the entire device when used.

Orb Crown must be worn to be used.

A WOO of 8^th level or higher may cast a spell (using an orb on the rod) and strike with the rod in a round.

A WOO of 11^th level or higher may cast a spell (using an orb in the rod) and strike with the staff in the same round.

Orb bands may be worn on any limb, one per limb and must be worn for the orb to be used.

An Orb Chamber is a sealed container to carry multiple orbs, an orb must be removed from the chamber to be delpoyed. They are complex puzzle boxes and if one hasn't opend it befor eit takes 10 minutes. If one has opened it before it takes 3 rounds (orb may be deployed at the end of the 3 rounds).

Orb Device Materials

Material	Maximum Orb Grade	Cost Multiplier
Brass	I	x1
Silver	II	x5
Hepatizon	III	x10
Orachalcum	IV	x20
Galvrin	V	x50
Aethril	VI	x100

Using an Orb Device is not without financial/material risk. When the last orb in a device is used roll against the grade of the orb with 1d12 if the roll is less then or equal to the power grade of the last orb used the device crumbles into inert valueless powder.