Friday, January 6, 2012

Space Age Sorcery Spells


More Spells for Old School Space Fantasy & Lovecraftian Space Opera

Alter Signal (Magic User 4th level): Caster can cause any kind of signal or transmission to reverse itself with a chance of causing a short circuit to occur. (base: 5% per level of caster) A variant is noted that will allow the caster to manipulate a particular signal and reform it to suit their whims, but this is a Mi-Go secret.

Altered States (Magic User 5th level): Spell forces target to devolve backwards into a simpler, primordial version of its earliest ancestral form, usually pond scum, amoebas, gelatinous goo--something like that.

Animate Machinery (Magic User 2nd level): Caster imbues inert machinery with a strange semblance of life, but has no control over the newly awakened mechanism. (Can be used to instill sentience in robots at great peril; make a reaction roll at -3 penalty...)

Anthropophagy (Cleric 2nd level/Magic User 2nd level): Caster becomes capable of devouring/digesting human flesh as though a ghoul. There is a cumulative 1d4% chance of becoming an actual ghoul each time the spell is used.

Autoparthenogenesis (Magic User 5th level): Spell allows caster to form a fresh new cloned body from within their original one.

Barker's Sensory Overload (Magic User 3rd level/4th level): Blasts the target with an assortment of painful wound stigmata manifested through the expansion of sensation to an extremely painful point of sensory overload, and enduring excruciating pain through incessant tortures that transcend traditional laws of physics. The Target gets to make a save vs or explodes for 1d6/level of caster in a bloody rain of organs & goo. [Needles]

Bastion's Barbwire Blast (Magic User 4th level): The magic user channels a blast of strange twisted bloody wires from the Outer Darkness through the palm of their hands. The dark black twisting wires extend from the caster's palm to the target accompanied by the dire of damned souls lost to this spell in the mists of the space ways! The target must make a save vs 1d6 damage/level of caster. Casting this spell more than 3 times per day attracts the attentions of the God who controls these weird soul blasting wires. It may in fact take both the target of this spell & the caster. [Needles]

Brainfire (Cleric 2nd level/Magic User 3rd level): Causes a debilitating fever to rage through victim, making them -2 on all physical and -4 on all mental activities. Any victim attempting to cast spells or fire missile weapons under the effects of this spell rolls for a random target, including themselves.

Blasphemous Rumors (Cleric 2nd level): Victim loses 1 point of Wisdom.

Coagulation (Cleric 4th level/Magic User 3rd level): Causes target's blood and bodily fluids to clot into a solid mass. Save or die. Very effective against gelatinous masses.

Control Fungi (Magic User 4th Level): Similar to Control Robot only affecting fungi (possibly molds), Mi-Go get a saving throw.

Cranial Detonation (Magic User 3rd level): Target gets to make a save or their skull explodes for 1d6/level of caster. Useless against invertebrates or fungi. Only has a 50-50% chance of affecting humanoid-configuration robots or androids.

Degeneration (Cleric 3rd level): Save or gain 1d4 minor mutations. (Note: A specific Degeneration Table will be forthcoming, we'll update with the link when it's posted.)

Destroy Fungi (Magic User 4th level): Similar to Destroy Robot only affecting fungi, Mi-Go get a saving throw.

Detect Machine (Magic User 1st level ): Similar to Detect Magic only affecting machinery, cybernetics, implants and robots.

Extract Brain (Cleric 3rd level): Save or have your brain removed. Successful caster now has the victim's brain in their hands, what now? Oh, and yes, the victim remains alive, sentient, conscious and aware the whole time, assuming they were any of those things to begin with.

Fungal Armor (Cleric 1st level/Magic User 2nd level): Envelopes caster in a form-fitting suit of ultra-pliable fungal sheathing equivalent to enchanted leather armor that gains an additional +1  defense value every three levels of the caster. Prolonged use results in caster becoming a host to the fungus and it remains a permanent part of the caster's body.

General Chang's Clinging Cloak Of The Cloying Darkness (Magic User 5th level/Cleric 4th level): The caster becomes a channel for the strange rolling black light of dead stars from the Outer Darkness. The black light does not behave as light but rather a black moaning gas that exits every orifice of the caster. It continues to roll & moan as it covers the entire ship making it invisible to normal sensors for 4 rounds. This rolling cloak of darkness allows normal weapons to be fired even as the space ship is invisible in the normal universe. If cast more than twice a day the ship begins to lose normality within the normal space time continuum! [Needles]

Hybridification (Magic User 4th level): Caster combines features from two or more test subjects or targets into a completely new creature combining traits from its source-donors (roll up a random creature: HD=caster's level plus or minus 4--roll d8, even add that amount, odd subtract that amount). Unfortunately, this new being is 70% likely to be insane or 30% chance to be a total catatonic, and hence not terribly useful beyond certain nefarious purposes.

Implant (Cleric 1st level/Magic User 3rd level): Allows caster to embed an object or device (or stolen organ) into target and keep both intact and functional.

Infect (Magic User 2nd level/Cleric 1st level): Caster inflicts magically-enhanced pathogens on target. Save or become infected, and thus subject to effects of sorcerous affliction. (Sorcerous Affliction Table fothcoming...or use Gorgonmilk's handy Dungeon Funk Table instead.)

Instill Ennui (Cleric level 3rd): Target becomes so bored they wander off mumbling to themselves and require a saving throw to prevent them from doing something rash or dangerous just to relieve the crushing burden of sheer unmitigated boredom.

Molt (Cleric 2nd level/Magic User 3rd level): Forces target to shed their epidermal layers. Causes 1d4/level of caster unless victim is naturally able to molt.

(A) Momentary Lapse Of Reason (Cleric 3rd level): The caster becomes one with The Outer Darkness for 6 rounds. Strange pulsing veins appear across the forehead of the caster as the cranium expands to hold the power of the Outer Darkness within the caster's brain. The caster is temporarily able to see the lines of hyper space intersects & direct nearby ships to these passages. At the end of 6 rounds the caster must make a save vs or his head shall retain these strange abnormal veins, brain expansion, & cranium adjustment. Multiple castings will cause insanity, mutations, & eventual death of the caster. There really are some things man wasn't meant to know. [Needles]

No Signal (Magic User 3rd level): No artificial signal can get past the zone of anullment erected by this spell. (Area of effect equals 10' cube per level. Yes, robots make a save or are rendered inert akin to Sleep).

Parasitizatory Embrace (Cleric 4th level/Magic User 5th level): By embracing target, the caster drains 1d4 hit points/level from the victim and gains them as temporary hit points themself. Caster takes full consequence of being in contact with target. Anyone reduced to 0 or fewer hit points via this spell will go into a coma for 1d4 hours after which they will awaken as a thrall to the caster who can now drain 1d4 hit points from them each turn with a range of 10'/level of caster. Thralls are not undead, but lack volition or the ability to go against their master's wishes. Each thrall counts as a retainer/henchman, depending on their vitality/utility/ability to fight, cast spells, or carry out simple commands.

Repair Machine/Robot/Ship (Magic 5th User level): Restores 1d4 hit points to target per caster's level.

Slow Ship (Magic User 5th level): Diminishes ship speed by 10% per level of caster.

Spore Blast (Magic User 3rd level): Causes a sputtering stream of alien spores to spray out from caster's hands that inflicts 1d4-1 damage per level of caster, with a 10% chance of infecting those hit by the blast with a random Fungal Infection (see table).

Summon Beast Of The Fire Maidens From Outer Space (Cleric 4th level/Magic User 5th level): This spell summons "the man with the head of a beast". This nasty, dangerous monster comes from the 13th Moon of Jupiter. The creature is slender, with dark, pitted skin and is impervious to bullets. Legend states that the monster is relentless & will follow its victim through the very dimensions beyond space & time itself. Even those who survive an attack by the beast must contend with its infect ability. Roll on Gorgonmilk's handy Dungeon Funk Table! [Needles]

Summon Mugwump (Magic User 4th level): The caster needs a drug called "black meat," derived from the guts of giant space centipedes. The mugwump will arrive within 3 rounds from the deep echoes of the ID. Mugwump will act as a NPC go between for the caster with certain shady underworld figures known as the Nova Mob. Care should be taken as these planar powers are malevolent in the extreme. The banishment ritual involves the use of a rare substance called bug powder & the burning of a mechanism known as a typewriter. Very little is know of the powers of the mugwumps & their intentions are often murky & hazy at best. The Nova Mob is rumored to have destroyed several star spanning empires. [Needles]

Summon Thought Monster (Cleric Spell 4th level): Summons an invisible ID monster that rips its way from the victim's body. The monsters  mutated "bodies" are revealed to be the missing brains and connected spinal cords taken from their victims; the spinal cords have become very flexible and also sprouted feelers. This allows them to move quickly and even to leap; each brain has also developed a pair of small eyes on extended eye stalks. [Needles]

Transfer Brain (Magic User 4th level): Caster extracts the target's brain and transfers it to some ready receptacle or another body, including any convenient corpses or undead.

Transvective Dismemberment (Magic User 6th level): Victim must make a save versus spell or else have 1d4 limbs detached from their torso and scattered 1d100 feet in randomly determined directions. A second save lets them live through this. The clerical version of this spell allows for the caster to determine which specific limbs (or organs) are involved, and precisely where they go. It is often used for committing sacrifices.

22 comments:

  1. Very clever spells. I particularly like Altered States (cool film too), Animate Machinery, the signal spells, and Transfer Brain.

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  2. @The Drune: Thanks! Transfer Brain can get players into some hilarious circumstances...

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  3. Summon Thought Monster(Cleric Spell 4th level)~ Summons an invisible ID monster that rips its way from the victim's body. The monsters mutated "bodies" are revealed to be the missing brains and connected spinal cords taken from their victims; the spinal cords have become very flexible and also sprouted feelers. This allows them to move quickly and even to leap; each brain has also developed a pair of small eyes on extended eye stalks.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiend_Without_a_Face

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  4. @Needles: Yuck. Gross. Perfect! Talysman would get a kick out that spell...

    Do we have your permission to include it in the free Terminal Grimoire that we're assembling?

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  5. Yes! Awesome! Absolutely,I'd love to contribute more to this project! I've been a fan of Terminal Space since version one came out! This is very exciting! Thank you!
    I'm going to be getting my gaming group to play test Human Space Empires as well!

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  6. Summon Beast Of The Fire Maidens From Outer Space~ (Cleric 4th level/Magic User 5th level): This spell summons "the man with the head of a beast". This nasty,dangerous monster comes from the 13th Moon of Jupiter. The creature is slender, with dark, pitted skin and is impervious to bullets.Legend states that the monster is relentless & will follow its victim through the very dimensions beyond space & time itself. Even those who survive an attack by the beast must contend with its infect ability. Roll on Gorgonmilk's handy Dungeon Funk Table!

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  7. Barker's Sensory Overload~ (Magic User 3rd level/4th level)Blasts the target with an assortment of painful wound stigmata manifested through the expansion of sensation to an extremely painful point of sensory overload, and enduring excruciating pain through incessant tortures that transcend traditional laws of physics. The Target gets to make a save vs or explodes for 1d6/level of caster in a bloody rain of organs & goo.

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  8. @Needles: Wow. Those are inspired. I think that Omlet will get a laugh out of Barker's Sensory Overload--that is a wonderfully hideous spell indeed. Somewhere I think I can hear a Professor laughing malevolently...

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  9. A Momentary Lapse Of Reason (Cleric 3rd level): The caster becomes one with The Outer Darkness for 6 rounds.Strange pulsing veins appear across the forehead of the caster as the cranium expands to hold the power of the Outer Darkness within the caster's brain. The caster is temporarily able to see the lines of hyper space intersects & direct nearby ships to these passages. At the end of 6 rounds the caster must make a save vs or his head shall retain these strange abnormal veins, brain expansion, & cranium adjustment. Multiple castings will cause insanity,mutations, & eventual death of the caster. There really are somethings man wasn't meant to know

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  10. Summon Mugwump (Magic User 4th level)~ The caster needs a drug called "black meat," derived from the guts of giant space centipedes. The mugwump will arrive within 3 rounds from the deep echoes of the ID. Mugwump will act as a NPC go between for the caster with certain shady underworld figures known as the Nova Mob. Care should be taken as these planar powers are malevolent in the extreme. The banishment ritual involves the use of a rare substance called bug powder & the burning of a mechanism known as a typewriter. Very little is know of the powers of the mugwumps & their intentions are often murky & hazy at best. The Nova Mob is rumored to have destroyed several star spanning empires.

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  11. @Needles: We've added your spells to the mix and you are now officially a contributor to the forthcoming Terminal Grimoire. Thanks for the cool new spells!

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  12. Bastion's Barbwire Blast(Magic User 4th level): The magic user channels a blast of strange twisted bloody wires from the Outer Darkness through the palm of their hands. The dark black twisting wires extend from the caster's palm to the target accompanied by the dire of damned souls lost to this spell in the mists of the space ways! The target must make a save vs 1d6 damage/level of caster. Casting this spell more then 3 times per day attracts the attentions of the God who controls these weird soul blasting wires.It may in fact take both the target of this spell & the caster.

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  13. General Chang's Clinging Cloak Of The Coying Darkness(Magic User 5th level/Cleric 4th level)~ The caster becomes a channel for the strange rolling black light of dead stars from the Outer Darkness.The black light does not behave as light but rather a black moaning gas that exits every orifice of the caster. It continues to roll & moan as it covers the entire ship making it invisible to normal sensors for 4 rounds. This rolling cloak of darkness allows normal weapons to be fired even as the space ship is invisible in the normal universe.If cast more then twice a day the ship begins to lose normality within the normal space time continuum!

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  14. Summon Supplicants of The Event Horizon Configuration(6th level Magic User Spell): The caster concentrates his mind to a section of the Outer Darkness described as "a dimension of pure chaos, pure evil." & certain ancient chaotic spell books This other dimension is heavily implied throughout to actually be Hell itself. The Supplicants themselves arrive with a round through every physical surface around the caster. They are an evil presence and a life force possessing telekinetic abilities, tormenting its victims with the aim of compelling them to return with them to their hellish abode.The victim must make a save vs or be carried off never to be seen again. The supplicants are covered in a strange variety of wounds, stitches,etc. They exist partly within our universe & along the access of hyper dimensional reality. Only magic weapons may damage them. They may only stay in the material universe for 2 rounds. They're summoning is often accompanied by various horrid sounds of the damned along with the sound of birds wings. Once they leave slimes,jellies, etc. are found at the place of casting. Anyone contacting these should roll on the Gorgon Milk Dungeon funk table. This spell may only be cast 2 times a day or the supplicants may carry off the caster. They may anyway roll 1d6 on a roll of 5 or above the supplicants come for the caster.
    This spell is dreaded throughout the space ways & casters often have a standing bounty upon their heads

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  15. Black Horizon(Magic User 6th level spell):This spell generates an artificial black hole to use the immense gravitational power to bridge two points in spacetime, greatly reducing travel time between astronomical distances. The spell caster must make a save vs.their level or attract the attentions of some entity as the space ship slides through the Outer Darkness

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  16. Azetbur's Absolutely Useful Stasis (Magic User 3rd Level Spell/4th level Clerical)Caster hits the victim of the spell with a blast of cold causing the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold can be used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions.The victim must make a save vs.or the process begins within a round. The victim can be placed in this state infinitely unless recalled by the caster or medical means.

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  17. Black Horizon(Magic User 5th level): The caster creates a gravity gate way which generates an artificial black hole to use the immense gravitational power to bridge two points in spacetime, greatly reducing travel time between astronomical distances for the space ship. As the ship crosses the game in spacetime by shunting itself through the Outer Darkness there is a chance that the caster will be noticed by the demonic inhabitants of the Outer Darkness unless a save vs is rolled by the caster. This spell may only be used twice a day or the caster may be drawn into the black hole & torn apart as his soul is eaten by the demons of the Outer Darkness

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  18. Please use the above version of the Black Horizon spell & delete the 6th level version. The second one is more evocative in the words of my other half

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  19. @Needles: All of the above spells are in the PDF that we're doing lay-out for now. If you have any more that you want to toss into the mix, let us know!

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  20. Fantastic there will be more in the mix for Sunday's post! Stay tuned for twisted brain trassmission!

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  21. Here's those spells as promised! I'd like to see these included if possible http://swordsandstitchery.blogspot.com/2012/01/few-twisted-terrible-spells-for-your.html

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  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

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