Arcane spells, divine spells, and psionic powers are all representative of abilities beyond the scope of most ordinary individuals, and are called as a group FX abilities. FX abilities are features of a few advanced classes, and are not available to basic classes. FX abilities have a number of similarities to each other as well as obvious differences.
A spell is a one-time magical effect. Magic is used by individuals with magical power, which include spellcasters and creatures with spells and spell-like abilities. Spells can be arcane or divine.
Arcane spells involve direct manipulation of mystic energies. These manipulations require long study, and tend to produce dramatic results.
Divine spells draw power from an unworldly source, be it from within the caster's own beliefs or some greater entity of power. Divine spellcasting requires meditation and provides more utilitarian effects, including the ability to heal the wounded. Some spells may be cast by both arcane and divine caster, functioning as arcane spells when cast by arcane casters and divine spells when cast by divine casters.
Most spells require the caster to speak some utterance, make complex gestures, or sometimes expend an object or a small quantity of some substance. The spellcaster's activity is visible to others, and the effects often are too, but the magic itself is not.
Each spellcasting advanced class learns and casts spells differently. See the class description for more details.
To cast a spell, the character must be able to speak (if the spell has a verbal component), gesture (if it has a somatic component), and manipulate some material (if it has a material component) or focus (if any). Additionally, the character must concentrate to cast a spell. (See the Concentration skill)
If a spell has multiple versions, the character chooses which version to use when he or she casts it.
A character may fail when trying to cast an arcane spell while wearing armor. Chance of failure depends on the type of armor and the character's proficiency with it.
| Armor Type | Arcane Spell Failure (Proficient) | Arcane Spell Failure (Nonproficient) |
|---|---|---|
| Light | 10% | 20% |
| Medium | 20% | 30% |
| Heavy | 30% | 40% |
These skills may be available in campaigns using FX.
The normal Concentration skill expands to include FX applications, as defined below.
Check: A character must make a Concentration check whenever he or she may potentially be distracted while engaged in an activity, including casting a spell, manifesting a power, or concentrating on an active spell/power, that requires the character's full attention.
If the check succeeds, the character may continue with the action as normal. If the check fails, the action automatically fails and is wasted. If the character was in the process of casting a spell/manifesting a power, the spell/power is lost. If the character was concentrating on an active spell/power, the spell/power ends.
In situations where the distractions listed under the concentration skill occur while a character is casting a spell/manifesting a power, add the level of the spell to the DC.
Try Again?: A character can try again, but doing so doesn't cancel the effects of a previous failure.
Special: By making a check (DC 15 + spell/power level), a character can use Concentration to cast a spell/manifest a power defensively, thus avoiding attacks of opportunity. If the check succeeds, the character can attempt the casting/manifesting without incurring any attacks of opportunity.
Use this skill to identify spells as they are cast or spells already in place.
Check: The character can identify spells and magic effects.
Additionally, certain spells allow a character to gain information about magic provided that he or she makes a Spellcraft check as detailed in the spell description.
Try Again?: See above.
Time: Unless otherwise indicated, using the Spellcraft skill is a move action.
| DC | Task |
|---|---|
| 15 + spell level | Identify a spell being cast. (The character must see or hear the spell's verbal or somatic components.) The character can't try again. |
| 15 + spell level | Learn a spell from a spellbook or scroll. The character can't try again for that spell until he or she gains at least 1 rank in Spellcraft. |
| 15 + spell level | Prepare a spell from a borrowed spellbook. One try per day. |
| 15 + spell level | When casting detect magical aura, determine the school of magic involved in the aura of a single item or creature the caster can see. (If the aura isn't a spell effect, the DC is 15 + one-half caster level.) |
| 20 + spell level | Identify a spell that's already in place and in effect. (The character must be able to see or detect the effects of the spell.) The character can't try again. |
| 20 + spell level | Identify materials created or shaped by magic. The character can't try again. |
| 20 + spell level | Decipher a written spell (such as a scroll) without using read magic. One try per day. |
| 25 + spell level | After rolling a saving throw against a spell targeted at the character, determine what spell was cast upon the character. This is a reaction. |
| 25 | Identify a potion. This takes 1 minute. |
| 20 | Draw a diagram to augment casting a dimensional anchor on a summoned creature. Takes 10 minutes. The character can't try again. The GM makes this check. |
| 30 or higher | Understand a strange or unique magical effect. The character can't try again. |
Use this skill to activate magic devices, including scrolls and wands that the character could not otherwise activate.
Check: A character can use this skill to read a spell from a scroll or spellbook or activate a magic item. This skill lets the character use a magic item as if he or she had the spell ability or class features of another class or a different allegiance.
When a character is attempting to activate a magic item using this skill, he or she does so as an attack action. However, the checks the character makes to determine whether he or she is successful at activating the item take no time by themselves and are included in the activate magic item attack action.
A character makes Use Magic Device checks each time he or she activates a device such as a scroll or a wand. If the character is using the check to emulate some quality in an ongoing manner, he or she needs to make the checks once per hour.
| Task | DC |
|---|---|
| Activate blindly | 25 |
| Decipher a written spell | 25 + spell level |
| Emulate class feature | 20 |
| Emulate ability score | See text |
| Emulate allegiance | 30 |
| Use a scroll | 20 + caster level |
| Use a wand | 20 |
Activate Blindly: Some magic items are activated by special words, thoughts, or actions. A character can activate such items as if he or she was using the activation word, thought, or action even if he or she is not, and even if the character doesn't know it. The character does have to use something equivalent. He or she has to speak, wave the item around, or otherwise attempt to get it to activate. The character gets a +2 bonus on the check if he or she has activated the item at least once in the past.
If the character fails the check by 10 or more, he or she suffers a mishap. A mishap means that magical energy is released, but it doesn't do what the character wanted it to. The GM determines the result of a mishap. The default mishaps are that the item affects the wrong target or that uncontrolled magical energy deals 2d6 points of damage to the character.
Decipher a Written Spell: This works like the same use of the Spellcraft skill, except that the DC is 5 points higher. Deciphering a written spell takes 1 minute of concentration.
Emulate Class Feature: Sometimes a character needs a class feature to activate a magic item. The character's effective level in the emulated class equals his or her check result minus 20.
This skill use doesn't allow the character to use the class feature of another class. It just lets the character activate items as if he or she had the class feature.
If the class whose feature the character is emulating has an allegiance requirement, the character must meet it. This may require a separate check to emulate allegiance (see below).
Emulate Ability Score: To cast a spell from a scroll, a character needs a high ability score in the appropriate ability (Intelligence for arcane spells, Wisdom for divine spells). The character's effective ability score (appropriate to the class he or she is emulating when he or she tries to cast a spell from a scroll) equals the character's check result minus 15. If the character already has a high enough score in the ability, he or she doesn't need to make this check.
Emulate Allegiance: Some magic items have positive or negative effects based on the user's allegiance. The character can use these items as if he or she were of an allegiance of his or her choice. The character can only emulate one allegiance at a time.
Use a Scroll: Normally, to cast a spell from a scroll, a character must belong to a class that has access to the arcane or divine spell inscribed therein. This use of the skill allows the character to use a scroll as if he or she were of the appropriate spellcasting class. The DC equals 20 + the caster level of the spell the character is trying to cast from the scroll. To cast a spell from a scroll, the character must first decipher it.
In addition, casting a spell from a scroll requires a minimum score of 10 + the spell's level in the appropriate ability. If the character doesn't have a sufficiently high score, he or she must emulate the ability score with a separate check (see above).
Use a Wand: Normally, to use a wand a character must belong to a class that has access to the arcane or divine spell ensorcelled therein. This use of the skill allows the character to use a wand as if he or she was of the appropriate spellcasting class.
Try Again?: Yes, but if the character ever rolls a natural 1 while attempting to activate an item and he or she fails the check, then the character can't try to activate that item again for 24 hours.
Special: A character can't take 10 or take 20 with this skill.
The character has trained your mind to resist certain injuries and threats while also gaining a few select benefits.
Check: The DC and effect depend on the task attempted.
| Task | DC |
|---|---|
| Resist fear | 15 |
| Memorize | 15 |
| Tolerate poison | Poison's DC |
| Willpower | 20 |
Resist Fear: In response to a fear effect, the character can make an Autohypnosis check on his or her next action even if the character has been overcome by fear. A successful check grants the character another saving throw with a +4 morale bonus to resist the fear effect.
Memorize: The character can attempt to memorize a long string of numbers, a long passage of verse, or other particularly difficult piece of information. Each successful check allows the character to memorize up to 250 words or the equivalent of what could be comfortably contained on an 8 1/2-by-11-inch sheet of paper. The character always retain this information; however, he or she can only recall it with a successful Autohypnosis check.
Tolerate Poison: In response to being poisoned, the character can make an Autohypnosis check on his or her next action. A successful check grants the character a +4 morale bonus on his or her saving throw to resist the poison's secondary damage.
Willpower: If reduced to 0 hit points (disabled), the character may make an Autohypnosis check. If successful, the character can perform a strenuous action without taking 1 point of damage. A failed check carries no penalties -- the character can choose not to perform the strenuous action. If the character does perform the strenuous action after failing the check, he or she takes 1 point of damage, as normal.
Try Again?: For resist fear and memorize, a character can make a check once per round. A character can't try again to tolerate poison. A character can't try again in the same round for willpower.
Special: A character can take 10 on Autohypnosis checks, but can't take 20.
Most uses of Autohypnosis are attack actions. Willpower is a free action that can be attempted once per round.
Use this skill to identify psionic powers as they manifest or psionic effects already in place.
Check: A character can identify psionic powers and effects.
| DC | Task |
|---|---|
| 15 + power level | Identify a psionic power as it manifests. (The character must sense the power's display or see some visible effect to identify a power.) The character can't try again. |
| 20 + power level | Identify a power that's already in place and in effect. (The character must be able to see or detect the effects of the power.) The character can't try again. |
| 20 + power level | Identify materials created or shaped by psionics. The character can't try again. |
| 30 or higher | Understand a strange or unique psionic effect. The character can't try again. |
Try Again?: See above.
Time: Unless otherwise indicated, Psicraft is a move action.
Spells have a number of defining characteristics that distinguish each spell from the others. Each spell description includes most or all of the following pieces of information.
The first line beneath the spell's name provides the school (and perhaps also a subschool) that the spell belongs to. Schools provide a way of grouping together spells that have certain characteristics in common.
Abjuration: Spells of this school are protective spells. They create physical or magical barriers or negate magical or physical abilities.
Conjuration (Creation): This type of spell manipulates matter to create an object or creature in a place the spellcaster designates. If the spell has a duration other than instantaneous, magic holds the creation together, and when the spell ends or is dispelled, the conjured creature or object vanishes without a trace. If the spell has an instantaneous duration, the created object or creature is merely assembled through magic. It lasts indefinitely and does not depend on magic for its existence.
Conjuration (Healing): Certain divine conjuration spells can heal creatures or even bring them back to life.
Conjuration (Summoning): A summoning spell instantly brings a creature or an object to a place the caster designates. When the spell ends or is dispelled, the summoned creature is instantly sent back to where it came from, but a summoned object is not sent back unless the spell description specifically indicates this. A summoned creature also goes away if it is killed or dropped to 0 hit points.
Conjuration (Teleporting): A spell of this type transports one or more creatures or objects a great distance.
Divination: These spells enable you to learn information, to find hidden things (true seeing), or to foil deceptive spells.
Enchantment: An enchantment spell affects the minds of others, influencing or controlling their behavior. All enchantment spells have the mind-affecting descriptor (see below for more on spell descriptors).
Evocation: These spells manipulate energy or tap an unseen source of power to produce a desired end. In effect, they create something out of nothing. Many of these spells produce spectacular effects, and evocation spells can deal large amounts of damage.
Illusion: Illusion spells deceive the senses or minds of others.
Saving Throws and Illusions (Disbelief): Creatures encountering an illusion effect usually do not receive saving throws to recognize it as illusory until they study it carefully or interact with it in some fashion. This allows them to disbelieve the illusion. If any viewer successfully disbelieves an illusion and communicates this fact to other viewers, each such viewer gains a saving throw with a +4 bonus.
Necromancy: Necromancy spells manipulate the power of death, unlife, and the life force. Spells involving undead creatures belong to this school, as do spells that utilize negative energy to deal damage.
Transmutation: Transmutation spells change the properties of some creature, thing, or condition.
Universal: A small number of spells belong to no school and are designated as universal. The type of magic they involve does not fall into one of the above categories.
Descriptors are a way of classifying spells (often from different schools) that have some common characteristic.
A spell's descriptors (if any) appear in brackets on the line identifying the school. Descriptors used for spells include cold, electricity, fear, fire, force, language-dependent, light, mind-affecting, and sonic.
The relative power of a spell is indicated by its level. A spell's level also indicates whether a particular spellcaster is capable of preparing and casting the spell.
Spell Slots: Every spellcaster can prepare as many spells every day as he or she has spell slots. (See the advance class description for details.)
Spell slots have levels just as spells do; a spell slot of a certain level is designed to hold a spell of that level. It's possible, however, to place a lower-level spell in a higher-level spell slot if you desire. A character doesn't have to fill all spell slots with prepared spells every day (although it usually makes sense to do so).
Every spell has at least one type of component that the spellcaster must provide at the time of casting.
Verbal (V): To cast a spell with a verbal component, a character must speak in a firm voice. If the character cannot speak, he or she can't cast such a spell. A spellcaster who has been deafened has a 20% chance to spoil any spell he or she tries to cast if that spell has a verbal component.
Somatic (S): To cast a spell with a somatic component, a character must gesture freely with at least one hand. A character can't cast a spell that has a somatic component while bound, grappled, or with both hands full or occupied. If an arcane spellcaster casts a spell with a somatic component while wearing armor, the armor may bring with it an arcane spell failure chance.
Material (M): A material component is an object or a small amount of some substance that the caster must have on hand. It is expended and disappears when the spell is cast. Preparing these materials is a free action. The purchase DCs for expensive material components are included in the spell descriptions; if no value is given, assume a purchase DC of 2.
Focus (F): A focus is similar to a material component, except that it is not expended when the spell is cast.
Divine Focus (DF): Some divine spells require the caster to provide a divine focus. Unless some other focus is specified in the spell description this is a holy symbol of the character's.
Sometimes the Components entry of a spell description contains the entry "M/DF". This indicates a spell that can be cast as either an arcane spell or a divine spell -- an arcane caster casting it needs the specified material component, while a divine caster needs to provide a divine focus.
This entry tells how much time is needed to complete the casting of a spell once it is begun.
Casting a spell with a casting time of 1 action is an attack action. The spell takes effect immediately.
Casting a spell with a casting time of 1 full round is a full-round action. A character can take a 5-foot step before, during, or after casting, but you cannot otherwise move. The spell takes effect at the beginning of that character's turn in the round after he or she began to cast it. The character then acts normally after the casting is completed.
A spell that takes 1 minute to cast comes into effect just before the character's turn 1 minute later (the character spends each of those 10 rounds casting as a full-round action).
When a character begins a spell that takes 1 full round or longer to cast, he or she must continue the invocations, gestures, and/or concentration from one round to just before his or her turn in the next round (at least). If the character loses concentration after starting the casting and before it is complete, the spell is lost (see the Concentration skill).
A character retains his or her Dexterity bonus to Defense while casting a spell.
Attacks of Opportunity: Generally, if a character attempts to cast a spell, he or she provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening enemies. Table: FX Actions in Combat specifies whether a certain activity provokes attacks of opportunity (AoO). If a character takes damage from an attack of opportunity, he or she must make a Concentration check or lose the spell he or she was trying to cast.
Casting on the Defensive: A character may attempt to cast a spell while on the defensive. This option means casting the spell while paying attention to threats and avoiding blows. In this case, the character are no more vulnerable to attack than he or she would be if the character was just standing there, so casting while on the defensive does not provoke an attack of opportunity. It does, however, require a Concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to pull off. Failure means the spell is lost..
| Attack Actions | AoO? |
|---|---|
| Activate a ring, rod, staff, wand, or wondrous item | No |
| Cast a spell (attack action casting time) | Yes |
| Concentrate to maintain an active spell or power | No |
| Dismiss a spell or power | No |
| Drink a potion | Yes |
| Manifest a power (attack action manifestation time) | Yes |
| Read a scroll | Yes |
| Turn or rebuke undead | No |
| Use spell-like ability | Yes |
| Use supernatural ability | No |
| Use extraordinary ability | No |
| Use touch spell on self | No |
| Move Actions | AoO? |
| Direct or redirect an active spell or power | No |
| Full-Round Actions | AoO? |
| Cast a spell (full-round action casting time) | Yes |
| Manifest a power (full-round action manifestation time) | Yes |
| Use touch spell on up to six friends | Yes |
| Free Actions | AoO? |
| Cease concentration on a spell or power | No |
| Prepare spell components to cast a spell | No |
| Make Spellcraft check on counterspell attempt | No |
A spell's range indicates how far from the caster it can reach -- the maximum distance from the caster that the spell's effect can occur, as well as the maximum distance at which the caster can designate the spell's point of origin. If any portion of the spell's area would extend beyond the range, that area is wasted.
A spell's range usually falls into one of the following categories.
Personal: The spell affects only the caster.
Touch: The caster must touch a creature or object to affect it. To use a touch spell, the caster casts the spell and then touches the subject, either in the same round or any time later. In the same round that the character casts the spell, he or she may also touch (or attempt to touch) the target. The caster may take his or her move before casting the spell, after touching the target, or between casting the spell and touching the target. A character can automatically touch one friend or use the spell on his or herself, but to touch an opponent, the character must succeed on an attack.
Touch Attacks: Since the character only needs to touch the enemy, he or she makes a touch attack instead of a regular attack. Touching an opponent with a touch spell is considered to be an armed attack and therefore does not provoke attacks of opportunity when it is discharged on an armed opponent. However, the act of casting a spell does provoke attacks of opportunity.
Touch attacks come in two types: melee touch attacks (for touches made with the character's hand) and ranged touch attacks (for touches made with projectile and ray effects). The caster can score critical hits with either type of attack. The opponent's Defense against a touch attack does not include any equipment bonus or natural armor bonus. The opponent's size modifier and Dexterity modifier both apply normally.
Holding the Charge: The caster does not have to touch the target immediately after casting a touch spell. Instead, he or she can "hold the charge," waiting to discharge the spell at a later time. If the character touches anything with his or her hand while holding a charge, the spell discharges. Otherwise, the character can make touch attacks round after round, until he or she succeeds (and thus discharge the spell). A character can touch one friend (or his or herself) as an attack action, or up to six friends as a full-round action. If the character casts another spell, the touch spell dissipates.
Close: The spell reaches up to 25 feet away from the caster. The maximum range increases by 5 feet for every two full spellcasting class levels.
Medium: The spell reaches up to 100 feet + 10 feet per class level.
Long: The spell reaches up to 400 feet + 40 feet per class level.
Range Expressed in Feet: Some spells have no standard range category, just a range expressed in a unit of measurement (usually feet).
Some spells have a specific target or targets. A caster uses these spells directly on creatures or objects, as defined by the spell itself. The caster must be able to see or touch the target, and must specifically choose that target. The caster does not have to select his or her target until he or she finishes casting the spell.
If the character casts a targeted spell on the wrong sort of target the spell has no effect.
If the target of a spell is the caster ("Target: You"), the caster does not receive a saving throw, and spell resistance does not apply.
Subject: The descriptive text of spells makes a distinction between "target" and "subject." The target of a spell is the creature(s) or object(s) it is directed against. A target becomes a subject if it fails a saving throw against the spell and is thus affected by the magic.
Some spells create or summon things rather than affecting things that are already present. The caster must designate the location where these things are to appear, either by seeing it or defining it. Range determines how far away an effect can appear, but if the effect is mobile it can move regardless of the spell's range.
Ray: Some effects are rays. The caster aims a ray as if using a ranged weapon, though typically the character makes a ranged touch attack rather than a normal ranged attack. As with a ranged weapon, the character can fire into the dark or at an invisible creature and hope to hit something. A character doesn't have to see the creature he or she is trying to hit, as with a targeted spell. Intervening creatures and obstacles, however, can block the caster's line of sight or provide cover for the creature being aimed at.
If a ray has a duration, it's the duration of the effect that the ray causes, not the length of time the ray itself persists.
Spread: Some effects, notably clouds and fogs, spread out from a point of origin to a distance given in the spell description. The effect can extend around corners and into areas the caster can't see. Figure distance by actual distance traveled, taking into account turns the spell effect takes. The caster must designate the point of origin, but need not have line of effect (see below) to all portions of the effect.
Some spells affect an area. The caster selects where the spell starts, but otherwise doesn't control which creatures or objects the spell affects. Sometimes a spell describes a specially defined area, but usually an area falls into one of the following categories.
Burst: As with an effect, the caster selects the spell or power's point of origin. The spell or power bursts out from this point, affecting whatever it catches in its area.
A burst spell has a radius that indicates how far from the point of origin the spell's effect extends.
Cone: A cone shoots away from the caster in the direction he or she designates. A cone starts in a square adjacent to the caster and widens out as it goes. A cone's width at a given distance from you equals that distance. Its far end is as wide as the effect is long.
Creatures: Some spells affect creatures directly (as a spell with a target does), but they affect creatures in an area of some kind rather than individual creatures the caster selects. The area might be a burst, a cone, or some other shape.
Many spells affect "living creatures," which means all creatures other than constructs and undead.
Cylinder: As with a burst, the caster selects the spell's point of origin. This point is the center of a horizontal circle, and the spell shoots down from the circle, filling a cylinder.
Emanation: Some spells have an area like a burst except that the effect continues to radiate from the point of origin for the duration of the spell.
Quarter-Circle: Some spells have a quarter-circle-shaped area. Like a cone, the effect starts in a square adjacent to the caster and widens out as it goes.
Spread: Some spells spread out like a burst but can turn corners. The caster selects the point of origin, and the spell spreads out a given distance in all directions. Figure distance by actual distance traveled, taking into account turns the spell effect takes.
Other: A spell or power can have a unique area, as defined in its description.
(S): If an Area or Effect entry ends with "(S)" (standing for "shapeable"), the caster can shape the spell. A shaped effect or area can have no dimension smaller than 10 feet.
Line of Effect: A line of effect is a straight, unblocked path that indicates what a spell can affect. A line of effect is canceled by a solid barrier. It's like line of sight for ranged weapons, except it's not blocked by fog, darkness, and other factors that limit normal sight.
A caster must have a clear line of effect to any target that he or she uses a spell on, or to any space in which he or she wishes to create an effect. The caster must have a clear line of effect to the point of origin of any spell he or she casts or power he or she manifests. For bursts, cones, cylinders, and emanation spells, the spell only affects areas, creatures, or objects to which it has line of effect from its origin (a burst's point, a cone's starting point, a cylinder's circle, or an emanation spell's point of origin).
A hole of at least 1 square foot is sufficient to allow a line of effect through an otherwise solid barrier. If any given 5-foot length of barrier contains such an opening, that 5-foot length is not considered a barrier for purposes of a spell's line of effect (though the rest of the barrier still counts as normal).
Directing or Redirecting Effects: Some spells allow the caster to redirect the effect to new targets or areas after casting the spell. Redirecting a spell requires a move action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. It also doesn't require concentration.
The Duration entry of a spell description tells how long the effect of the spell lasts.
Timed Durations: Many durations are measured in rounds, minutes, hours, or some other increment. When the time is up, the magical energy goes away and the spell ends. If a spell's duration is variable, the GM rolls it secretly.
Instantaneous: The spell energy comes and goes the instant the spell is cast, though the consequences of the spell might be long-lasting.
Permanent: The effect remains indefinitely, but is sustained by lingering magical energy. If the energy goes away, so does the effect.
Concentration: The spell or power lasts as long as the caster concentrates on it, possibly up to a specified maximum amount of time. Concentrating to maintain a spell is an attack action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. Anything that could break the character's concentration when casting a spell can also break his or her concentration while maintaining one, causing the spell to be ruined (see Concentration, below). A character can't cast a spell while concentrating on another one.
Sometimes a spell lasts for a short time after the character ceases concentrating. In these cases, the spell keeps going for the stated length of time after the character stops concentrating.
Subjects, Effects, and Areas: If a spell affects creatures directly, the result travels with the subjects for the spell's duration. If the spell creates an effect, the effect lasts for the duration. The effect might move or remain still. Such an effect can be destroyed prior to the end of its duration. If the spell affects an area, the spell stays with that area for the spell's duration. Creatures become subject to the spell when they enter the area and are no longer subject to it when they leave.
Discharge: A few spells last for a set duration or until triggered or discharged. The spell remains in place until the triggering condition is met (at which point it takes effect) or the maximum duration is reached (at which point it dissipates, with no effect).
(D): If the Duration entry ends with "(D)" (standing for "dismissible"), the caster can dismiss the spell at will. The caster must be within range of the effect of the spell to dismiss it. Dismissing a spell is an attack action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. A spell that depends on concentration is dismissible by its very nature, and dismissing it does not require an action (since all the caster has to do to end the spell is to stop concentrating).
Most harmful spells allow an affected creature to make a saving throw to avoid some or all of the effect. The Saving Throw entry in a spell description defines which type of saving throw the spell allows and describes how saving throws against the spell work.
Negates: This term means the spell has no effect on a creature that makes a successful saving throw.
Partial: The spell causes an effect on its subject. A successful saving throw means that some lesser effect occurs.
Half: The spell deals damage, and a successful saving throw halves the damage taken (round down).
None: No saving throw is allowed.
Disbelief: A saving throw is not allowed purely on the basis of encountering the spell. Rather, the creature gets a saving throw only after interacting with or carefully studying the spell. A successful save lets the subject ignore the effect.
(Object): The spell can be cast on objects, which receive saving throws only if they are magical in nature, or if they are attended (held, worn, or grasped) by a creature resisting the spell, in which case the object gets the creature's saving throw bonus unless its own bonus is greater. (This notation does not mean that a spell can only be cast on objects. Some spells of this sort can be cast on creatures or objects.)
(Harmless): The spell is usually beneficial, not harmful, but a targeted creature can attempt a saving throw if it wishes.
Saving Throw Difficulty Class: A saving throw against a spell has a DC of 10 + the level of the spell + the spellcaster's bonus for the relevant ability (see spellcasting advanced class for details).
Succeeding at a Saving Throw: A creature that successfully saves against a spell without obvious physical effects feels a hostile force or a tingle, but cannot deduce the exact nature of the attack. Likewise, if a creature's saving throw succeeds against a targeted spell the caster senses that the spell has failed. The caster does not sense when creatures succeed at saving throws against effect and area spells.
Voluntarily Giving up a Saving Throw: A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a spell's result. Even a character with a special resistance to magic can suppress this resistance if he or she wants to.
Items Surviving after a Saving Throw: Unless the descriptive text for the spell specifies otherwise, all items carried and worn are assumed to survive a magical attack.
If an item is not carried or worn and is not magical, it does not get a saving throw. It is simply dealt the appropriate damage.
Spell resistance is a special defensive ability that protects against spells. Each spell description includes an entry that indicates whether spell resistance applies to the spell (if so, Yes; if not, No). In general, whether spell resistance applies depends on what the spell does:
Targeted Spell: If the spell is targeted at a creature, spell resistance applies. If the spell targets multiple specific creatures, spell resistance applies to those individuals that have it.
Area Spell: If the target is within the area of a spell, its spell resistance applies. The spell resistance protects the resistant creature without affecting the spell itself.
Effect Spell: Most effect spells summon or create something and are not subject to spell resistance. Effect spells that affect a creature more or less directly are sometimes subject to spell resistance.
Level Check: If a spell is being resisted by a creature with spell resistance, the caster must make a level check (1d20 + caster level) and get a result at least equal to the creature's spell resistance for the spell to affect that creature. If the caster fails the check, the spell doesn't affect the defender. The defender's spell resistance is like a Defense score against magical attacks.
(Harmless) and (Object): These terms mean the same thing in a spell resistance entry as they do for saving throws. A creature with spell resistance must voluntarily drop the resistance in order to receive the effects of a spell noted as harmless without the level check described above. Doing so is an attack action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once a creature lowers its resistance, it remains down until the creature's next turn, at the beginning of which it automatically returns. A creature's spell resistance never interferes with its own spells, powers, items, or abilities.
Only spells and spell-like abilities are subject to spell resistance. Extraordinary and supernatural abilities (including enhancement bonuses on magic weapons) are not. A creature can have some abilities that are subject to spell resistance and others that are not.
Spell resistance does not stack with power resistance, and vice versa.
A spell's descriptive text explains how the spell works or what it does and includes necessary information such as the spell's material component.
Spells and Critical Hits: A spell that requires an attack roll can score a critical hit. A spell attack that requires no attack roll cannot score a critical hit.
Distracting Spellcasters and Psionic Characters: A character can ready an attack against a character or creature with the trigger "if he or she starts casting a spell or manifesting a power." If the attack succeeds in damaging the character or otherwise distracting him or her, he or she may lose the FX ability he or she was trying to use (as determined by his or her Concentration check result).
Readying a Counterspell: A character may ready a counterspell against a spellcaster (often with the trigger "if he or she starts casting a spell"). In this case, when the spellcaster starts a spell, the character gets a chance to identify it with a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + spell level). If the character does, and if he or she can cast that same spell (are able to cast it and have it prepared), the character can cast the spell as a counterspell and automatically ruin the other spellcaster's spell. Counterspelling works even if one spell is divine and the other arcane.
If a caster ever tries to cast a spell in conditions where the characteristics of the spell (range, area, and so forth) cannot be made to conform, the effort fails and the spell is wasted.
Spells also fail if the caster's concentration is broken. Arcane spells (but not divine spells) might fail if the character is wearing armor while casting a spell that has a somatic component.
Mages cast arcane spells. Arcane spells involve the direct manipulation of mystic energies. These manipulations require natural talent and long study. Compared to divine spells, arcane spells are more likely to produce dramatic results, such as flight, explosions, or transformations.
The rules for which spells, and how many spells, an arcane spellcaster can cast are given in the class description. The class description also includes information on how the character prepares spells each day.
To decipher an arcane magical writing, a character must make a successful Spellcraft check (DC 20 + the spell's level). If the check fails, the character cannot attempt to read that particular spell until the next day. A read magic spell automatically deciphers a magical writing without a skill check. If the person who created the magical writing is on hand to help the reader, success is also automatic.
Once a character deciphers a particular magical writing, he or she does not need to decipher it again. Deciphering a magical writing allows the reader to identify the spell and gives some idea of its effects (as explained in the spell description). If the magical writing was a scroll and the reader can cast arcane spells, he or she can attempt to use the scroll.
Unlike arcane spells, divine spells draw power from the strength of the spellcaster's beliefs. Divine spells tend to be less flashy, destructive, and disruptive than arcane spells. What they do that arcane spells don't do is heal.
The rules for which spells, and how many spells, a divine spellcaster can cast are given in the class description. The class description also includes information on how the character prepares spells each day.
Divine spells can be written down and deciphered just as arcane spells can (see Arcane Magical Writings, above). Any character with the Spellcraft skill can attempt to decipher the divine magical writing and identify it. However, only characters who are capable of casting the spell in its divine form can cast a divine spell from a scroll. (The character does not have to have the spell prepared; he or she only has to be capable of preparing and casting it in general.)
A psionic power is a one-time psionic effect manifested by a psionic character or creature. Psionic powers require power points to use, although naturally psionic creatures can manifest their powers a certain number of times per day with no power point cost.
Each psionic power is tied to a specific ability, which is the key ability for that psionic power. A psionic character must have a key ability score equal to at least 10 + the power's level to manifest a particular power.
Unlike arcane spellcasters, psionic characters don't have spellbooks and they don't prepare their powers ahead of time. A psionic character's level limits the number of power points available for manifesting powers. A psionic character has a set number of powers available that he may manifest at will, provided he has sufficient power points to pay for the manifestation.
A power manifests when the psionic character pays its power point cost. The character pays the cost, and the power manifests immediately.
Psionic powers don't require special gestures, words, or materials. They operate as thoughts made manifest. Most powers do have a noticeable display associated with their use, however.
Psionic advanced classes describe how many powers each class knows by level, as well as how many power points they have available each day.
To manifest a power, a character selects one power that he or she knows and pays the power point cost.
A power's cost is determined by its level, as shown below. Every power's cost is also noted in its description for easy reference.
| Power Level | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power point cost | 0/1* | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
In most significant respects, manifesting a psionic power follows the same rules as casting a spell. The differences between a power description and a spell description are summarized in this section. See How to Read a Spell Description, above, for information that is the same for both psionic powers and spells.
The first line beneath the power's name provides the key ability associated with the power. A psionic character must have a score in this ability equal to at least 10 + the power's level in order to manifest the power.
Descriptors are a way of classifying powers that have some common characteristic. Descriptors are often useful for knowing which creatures are or are not affected by a power. A power's descriptors (if any) appear in brackets on the line containing the key ability. Descriptors for powers include compulsion, electricity, fire, language-dependent, and mind-affecting.
The relative strength of a power is indicated by its level. A power's level also indicates whether a particular psionic character is capable of using the power, based on the character's class level and key ability score.
When psionic powers manifest, secondary displays usually accompany the primary effect. The psionic display may be auditory (Au), material (Ma), mental (Me), olfactory (Ol), or visual (Vi). Each power describes the sort of display that accompanies it.
Manifesting a psionic power is either an attack action or a full-round action, depending on the power. See the power descriptions for details.
Each psionic power has a range, as listed in the power description. A power's range is the maximum distance from the psionic character that the power's effect can occur. The range categories are the same as the ones used for spells.
These terms are defined and used the same as they are for spells.
Most harmful powers allow an affected target a saving throw to avoid some or all of the effect. Each power lists which saving throw type applies. The DC for a saving throw to resist a power is 10 + the power's level + the psionic character's key ability modifier. The terms used to define the various types of saving throws and results are the same as for spells.
Power resistance is a special defensive ability that protects against psionic powers. If a psionic character faces a creature with power resistance, he or she must make a level check (1d20 + psionic character's class level) equal to or greater than the creature's power resistance for the power to affect it.
Each power description includes an entry that indicates whether power resistance applies to the power (if so, Yes; if not, No). Other details are the same as for spell resistance.
All powers of a certain level have the same power point cost. The point cost to manifest a particular power is also provided in that power's description.
A power's descriptive text explains how the power works or what it does.
If a character tries to manifest a power in conditions where the characteristics of the spell (range, area, and so forth) cannot be made to conform, the effort fails and the power is wasted.
Powers also fail if the character's concentration is broken (see the Concentration skill).