We continue from our last post with more updates on rune magic! These next few posts will be shorter than the other more “in depth” looks from previous updates (since we’ve covered most of the background details in the last post).
Today, let’s show off some of the revised and new runic scripts for Paths of Magic.
Runic Overload, by Allen Morris
To start, the basic designs of runes have changed slightly, to make them have clearer rules interaction with existing effects. You may know that runic scripts don’t use the normal schools of magic: they instead use their own “designs”, those being Alteration, Creation, Destruction, Invocation, Manipulation, and Revelation. Some of these designs had subdesigns, too, such as creation having Healing and Summoning subdesigns. But it wasn’t consistent.
In Paths of Magic, we’ve added a lot of subdesigns to the system, and ALL runic scripts now fit under a particular subdesign. Those designs are now as follows:
Alteration: Enhancement, Debilitation, Polymorph
Creation: Animation, Generation, Healing, Protection
Destruction: Affliction, Ruin, Unraveling
Invocation: Blessing, Celestial, Natural, Primordial
Manipulation: Conviction, Gravity, Teleportation, Time
Revelation: Detection, Insight, Thought
Quite a few of these are new, but most of them do what you might expect from the name (a Detection script lets you find stuff, while a Debilitation script debuffs or hinders enemies). Some of the weirder ones are Unraveling, which is the “antimagic” category for effects that dispel or negate magic, or “Animation” which creates magical constructs you can control.
The advantage of this change is we can now better match scripts to existing interactions with magical effects. For example, the aforementioned “Detection” scripts are treated as divination spells , which means effects that protect you from divinations will also work against detection scripts. This should help tables adjudicate how to work rune magic alongside existing spellcasters.
We’ve also worked on clarity of existing effects. If you read Path of Iron, you may remember that the majority of runic scripts functioned as existing spells (kinda like how the “Words of Power” system for Pathfinder had many similar effects to existing spells). However, in Path of Iron most of those scripts simply referenced the original spell. Saying something like “This script functions as X spell, but with the following changes.” That led to a LOT of look-up time for using the system, since you had to reference multiple other books to know what the scripts should do. In Paths of Magic, all scripts now contain their full rule text (instead of referencing an existing spell), which makes it much easier to digest how the new scripts function.
Of course, these changes aren’t quite as interesting as new content! If you read our last progress update, you may have noticed that rune magic is getting a sizable increase in its list of runic scripts (spells), going from 120 to 180. It’s evenly distributed across the levels and runic designs, giving one new script per design per level. Pretty much EVERY existing script has been updated in some fashion, be it for clarity, improved balance, or changing functionality entirely. The conjuring scripts, for example, used to function as summon monster but with a more limited list of creatures to summon. Instead, they’ve been replaced with the new anima scripts, which let you create a customizable construct of force, which both fits in better with the system’s themes and is more unique than just copying an existing spell.
The majority of the new scripts fill in a “functional” gap that previously missing from the system, especially for non-blaster archivists. The natural medicine script, for example, gives healing-focused scribes the ability to cure poison an disease, while the portal script gives players a traditional utility effect of long-range, instant teleportation (since previously they only had an equivalent of shadow walk).
I’ll send off this update with a few of these new scripts as a preview. Next time, we’ll talk about how rune magic is being expanded to be usable by every spellcaster in the game!
BLADEWARD
Design creation (generation) [metal]; Level 5
Casting Time 1 standard action
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels), see text
Effect one magical sword / 2 caster levels
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw Reflex half; Spell Resistance no
You create numerous magically-controlled blades, each one rapidly encircling your allies. Bladeward creates one longsword per two caster levels you have (max 8). Upon creating the swords, you designate willing creatures within the spell’s range to protect with the blades. A blade can only be designated to protect one ally at a time, and a single ally cannot have more than four blades protecting it at once. Once you choose an ally, the blade protects it for the duration of the script.
The blades spin around the creature in a 5-foot radius emanation that moves with the creature, shielding it from attackers and harming any that draw close. A creature (other than the protected ally) that starts its turn within the emanation takes 1d8 slashing damage per blade surrounding the ally. A Reflex save halves the damage dealt that round. This damage is considered magical, silver, and cold iron for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. At 15th level, the damage is treated as adamantine, as well.
Furthermore, for every two blades around the ally, they gain a +1 bonus to AC. This AC bonus is doubled against attacks of opportunity.
Overload: For every runic charge overloaded into this script, you create an additional sword.
ECLIPSE
Design invocation (celestial) [cold, darkness]; Level 8
Casting Time 1 standard action
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area 40-ft.-radius spread
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw Fortitude partial; Spell Resistance yes
Eclipse calls down the might of the moon upon the targeted location, enshrouding the area in a pitch-black veil. All creatures in the area at the time of casting take 1d8 cold damage per two caster levels (max 10d8) and 1d6 Dexterity damage as they are pierced by the intense cold of night. A Fortitude save negates the Dexterity damage but not the cold damage. This only occurs once, when the script is cast.
For the remainder of the script’s duration, the area becomes as black as midnight, immediately lowering the light level to darkness, regardless of existing conditions.
Overload: For every runic charge overloaded into this script, the script deals an additional 1d8 cold damage. If at least three charges are used, you can choose to make the darkness further ravage creatures in the area, requiring them to make a Fortitude save when they start their turn within or enter into the darkness or take 1d2 points of Dexterity damage.
STOP
Design manipulation (time); Level 5
Casting Time 1 standard action
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one creature
Duration 1 round/2 levels (D), see text
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes
The creature becomes frozen in time. It cannot take any actions, including speech. Each round on its turn, the subject may attempt a new saving throw to end the effect. This is a full-round action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. A creature frozen in time does not move at all: a flying creature stays in place, while running creatures halt mid-stride. The creature is unaware of actions outside of itself and does not need to breathe.
Overload: For every runic charge overloaded into this script, the duration increases by 1 round. For every two charges, increase the save DC by +1.