Magic in Beyond The Wall is meant to be rare and unusual, and appropriately awe-inspiring when you do run into it. However, in practise, this gives mage PCs very limited utility.
Here's some possible rule changes:
- Cantrips are at-will. They're simple, you've mastered them, you can do them whenever (within reason) without a roll. However, if you're trying to do something elaborate with them (as detailed in each description), you're pushing the boundaries of your abilities and you'll have to make the INT/WIS check.
- You may reliably cast each spell once per your character level per day, no roll needed. (eg. If you have Burning Hands and Healing Touch at level 1, you may cast Burning Hands once and Healing Touch once.) After that, make an INT or WIS check. Individual spells don't have an associated stat, so just pick whichever you're higher in.
If the check fails, either 1) the spell is cast but it goes awry in some way at GM discretion, or 2) it fizzles out. The PC may continue to try casting spells after a failed check, at a penalty.
- Rituals are okay as they are. Don't forget that you aren't limited to the ritual components in the description, however! If your character wouldn't use a certain ingredient for whatever reason (turtle blood...), you can suggest a substitute. It should be of equivalent rarity/value, or make some kind of symbolic sense. One way or another, the casting time (1 hour per spell level) remains the same.
- The Assistant Beastkeeper gets Bind Familiar with their associated animal, because come on.
- Caveat: Magic is uncanny! The mage PC is wielding powers that are beyond the grasp of most people, and they're doing so at a seriously young age. Flinging too much magic around can attract undue attention: Villagers might be uneasy, rumours may travel. Of course, not everyone is going to be frightened, but that can come with its issues as well... strangers may come to the village to investigate this young prodigy, and they may not be human.
CONCERNING MAGES
Here's some possible rule changes:
- Cantrips are at-will. They're simple, you've mastered them, you can do them whenever (within reason) without a roll. However, if you're trying to do something elaborate with them (as detailed in each description), you're pushing the boundaries of your abilities and you'll have to make the INT/WIS check.
- You may reliably cast each spell once per your character level per day, no roll needed. (eg. If you have Burning Hands and Healing Touch at level 1, you may cast Burning Hands once and Healing Touch once.) After that, make an INT or WIS check. Individual spells don't have an associated stat, so just pick whichever you're higher in.
If the check fails, either 1) the spell is cast but it goes awry in some way at GM discretion, or 2) it fizzles out. The PC may continue to try casting spells after a failed check, at a penalty.
- Rituals are okay as they are. Don't forget that you aren't limited to the ritual components in the description, however! If your character wouldn't use a certain ingredient for whatever reason (turtle blood...), you can suggest a substitute. It should be of equivalent rarity/value, or make some kind of symbolic sense. One way or another, the casting time (1 hour per spell level) remains the same.
- The Assistant Beastkeeper gets Bind Familiar with their associated animal, because come on.
- Caveat: Magic is uncanny! The mage PC is wielding powers that are beyond the grasp of most people, and they're doing so at a seriously young age. Flinging too much magic around can attract undue attention: Villagers might be uneasy, rumours may travel. Of course, not everyone is going to be frightened, but that can come with its issues as well... strangers may come to the village to investigate this young prodigy, and they may not be human.
Thoughts?