Locklar unsheathed a dagger. “I don’t care if that little magician did come from across the sea,” he muttered. “He’s going down.”

With a yell, he charged the diminutive man in the silk robes and pointed slippers.

The frail man, his narrow eyes focused on the warrior, made a slight gesture with his right hand and Locklar grunted in pain as something invisible scratched at him savagely. Ignoring it, Locklar continued his assault.

But when another unseen claw struck him, and then another and another, he thought better of it.

“Okay,” he groaned, hoping that the dark-haired barmaid who had been smiling at him earlier wasn’t watching, “maybe I’ll just leave him alone for now.”

The man gave him a slight bow, then turned back to his wine.

Talons of Cheng-Wiang

Spell Level: M1
Duration: Special
Range: 50′

This spell causes an invisible claw to strike at an opponent, causing 1d4 points of damage if a successful to-hit roll is made (rolled as a normal melee attack.) It can attack once per combat round, striking any single target within sight of the caster and range of the spell.

If the attack hits, the spell continues for an additional round. If it misses, the spell caster may roll a save vs. spells to keep it in effect. If a ’1′ is rolled for the save, however, the caster suffers 1d4 points of damage plus one additional point per level above first.

Personally, I’d allow casters to keep the talons of Cheng-Wiang active even after the combat ends as long as they keep rolling successful saving throws. This spell can pump up the combat power of a low level mage, but it comes with a serious risk.

I would NOT allow fake “attacks” against whatever is handy (walls, trees, etc.) in an attempt to avoid needing to roll a saving throw, though.

The assassin pulled a wicked-looking curved dagger from his belt, leering menacingly at Delsa. “Come here, sweetie,” he said. “Nowhere to run, is there?”

“You didn’t demand enough gold for this job,” Delsa said…

Fiery Mantle

Spell Level: M2
Range: 0
Duration: 1 minute per level

This spell surrounds the caster with a cloak of flame, granting a -2 bonus to armor class. Additionally, any melee attacks against caster with weapons shorter than a spear, whether they hit or not, require the attacker to save vs. spells or suffer 1d4 hit points of damage.

The caster, his clothing, and his possessions are unaffected in any way, but the flames are otherwise normal, radiating intense heat and likely to light other objects on fire.

Game masters should keep in mind that the fiery mantle will affect friends as well as foes. And casting it in a place like a hay loft or wooden building is probably unwise.

Another possible effect of the spell would be to grant immunity to heat- or fire-based attacks, the main benefit of which would probably be that the caster would be unharmed by fires his or her fiery mantle started around him or her.

Delsa didn’t dare breathe. Less than ten feet from her, the two guards peered about the room. She could see herself in the mirror on the opposite wall. She could see her own eyes wide with terror and was pretty sure she could see her own heart beating frantically.

“Coulda’ sworn she came in here,” the first repeated. He passed near Delsa, slowing for a moment. He turned and looked at her foot, then continued on.

“Coulda’ sworn it…”

Odella’s Obscuration

Spell Level: M1
Range: Touch
Duration: See below

The creature or object touched fades from notice. The subject of the spell is not invisible and can be seen normally, but casual observers will not “register” the subject’s presence, perhaps noticing only a strange shadow for moment or a flicker out of the corner of their eye.

Those actively searching for the subject, and perhaps even those on general watch or guard duty (at the game master’s discretion) get a saving throw vs. spells. Those who pass will notice the subject and see it normally. Those who fail their save but have reason to suspect the subject’s presence can attack as if against an invisible opponent.

The spell ends if the subject makes an attack but otherwise lasts until the subject (or caster if the subject is an object) cancels it.

This is a sort of weaker invisibility spell.

“What was that?!?” Locklar asked, incredulous.

“Fitting, then, for use against bugbears,” Mortigan said absently, rooting through one dead monster’s possessions…

Exotic Exoskeleton

Spell Level: M3
Range: Self
Duration: 3d6+3 rounds

The caster is surrounded by a vaguely insect-like shimmering green aura. The aura provides AC 0 [19] against all physical attacks and a +2 bonus to all saving throws against threats originating outside the aura. In addition, the “arms” of the aura end in pincer-like weapons which can each cause 1d8 damage in melee combat.

The game master secretly rolls the duration. The caster does not know exactly how long the exotic exoskeleton will last.

“Not I, Lord!” declared Brenna. “I was dicing with Gorath and Jessidar, as they’ve sworn under oath.”

Brenna stepped back, but the guard grabbed one of his arms and held him fast. With the other hand, he ripped the tunic open. Upon Brenna’s chest, like a golden tattoo, was an emblazoned letter ‘Z’…

There are two versions of this spell:

Wizard Sign

Spell Level: M1
Range: 60′
Duration: Permanent

One creature or item is permanently marked with the symbol of the casting magic-user. The sign is a sort of magical tattoo that cannot be removed. Unwilling or unknowing individuals can avoid the effect if they save vs. spells when the spell is cast at range. When casting by touching the target, no save is allowed. The casting magic-user may cancel the sign at any time (within a 60′ range) and it can also be removed by dispel magic, remove curse, or similar means.

A reversed version of the spell remove wizard sign, can remove wizard marks cast by magic-users at least two levels lower than the magic-user attempting the removal.

Wizard Sign Ward

Spell Level: M2
Range: Touch
Duration: Permanent

This spell places a warding upon an item which will place a wizard sign (see 1st-level spell) upon any who touch it. The mark is a magical tattoo of the caster’s symbol and cannot be removed short of dispel magic, remove curse, or similar means. No saving throw is allowed, though the caster can dispel it at will within 60′. Wizard marks acquired in this way can be removed by a reversed wizard sign spell if the caster is at least two levels higher than the caster who created the sign.

It seems like I’ve seen a “wizard mark” spell somewhere, but a quick look turns up nothing. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that I’ve inadvertently ripped it off completely. I do think the wizard mark “dye pack” version is new, though.

UPDATE: Wizard Mark was, indeed, the name of an existing spell. I’ve updated my spell to be wizard sign to avoid confusion.

Jorda pulled up short, looking at Locklar. “Did you know that you’ve got roots growing out of your legs?” he asked, trying unsuccessfully to conceal a grin.

“Shut up…”

Take Root

Spell Level: M1, D1
Range: 40′ + 10′/level
Duration: 1 turn + 1 minute/level

One targeted creature has roots grow out of its feet and lock them in place for the duration of the spell. A saving throw is allowed, and success means the target spends one round disentangling itself before escaping. The roots can take 15 hit points plus 10 hit points per level of damage before the target is freed.

Sort of a low-power hold person, affecting only one target and leaving everything but the victim’s legs free to act. Plus, it can be broken out of.

Locklar gripped his sword, fighting to retain composure as the ogre charged them. A few of Locklar’s arrows stuck out of the creature’s tough skin, but they had barely slowed him down.

Hearing no answer, he turned to where he expected the mage to be standing, patting himself on the back for his powerful sorcery. Instead, the mage was six feet back, sprawled on the ground, holding his head and groaning. His robes seemed to be a bit singed…

Foolhardy Firebolt

Spell Level: M2
Range: 60′
Duration: Instantaneous

The caster releases a powerful stroke of lighting that is 40′ long and 5′ wide, extending from the targeted point. For every level of the caster, it deals 1d6 of electrical damage to anyone and anything in its path. A successful save reduces damage by half.

The caster suffers one hit point of damage for each level he or she possesses, a successful save indicating half damage.

This sort of thing is something I’ve thought about for a long, long time. Every spell, of course, was at one time researched by someone. And, for every spell that passed into common usage, there must be variants that weren’t quite right in some way or another. Or, perhaps, a motivated magic-user is simply tired of searching for that polymorph other spell and decides to create his own…which may or may not work quite right. Or maybe a wizard thinks he’s found a new way to channel a little extra magic into a particular casting, either pumping up the power level a notch or making the spell accessible at a lower level.

Most of these spells, of course, would have been either refined or discarded. Some, however, may have enough utility to end up spreading. Maybe, like the foolhardy firebolt, it manages to allow third-level magic-users to cast a spell very much like lightning bolt. But even these passable spells don’t come without a price. In the case of this example, it sounds like the method used to channel some extra magic isn’t quite strong enough to contain the entire charge.

Here’s another take:
Read the rest of this entry »

“We’ve got them!” the orc commander squealed triumphantly. He ordered his troops to slow their pursuit. “Those sun lovers aren’t going anywhere,” he said. “Around that corner the floor has fallen away. Not even that blasted elf can jump that far.”

“Let’s go, you rat eaters!” he growled. “If they can cross it, we can cross it…”

Wizard Bridge

Spell Level: M2
Range: 100′
Duration: 1 hour + 1 turn/level

This spell creates a magical rope bridge which secures itself automatically and can be crossed single file. The maximum weight on the bridge at one time is 1000 pounds and it can take up to 100 points of damage. The maximum distance which can be spanned is 10 feet plus 5 feet per level of the caster.

The wizard bridge vanishes immediately when the spell expires or if the casting magic-user dispels it.