Spell Casting

Spell Casting is the defining ability of the magic-using professions and appears at first level in their skill tables rather than as a skill bought with experience. A first level caster is assumed to have finished an apprenticeship of 4-7 years under a skilled master, and so can read magical scripts and knows every first level spell open to their profession; higher level spells must be found and learned during play.

A caster can use any two known spells per day, plus one more for each level of ability gained, whatever the level of the spells. Spells are cast from memory, from a scroll or through a magic item; they are never forgotten after casting and need no daily preparation. Most take one full round and need speech and gestures, so a caster who cannot speak clearly or move freely cannot cast at all. Casters may use any weapon they can handle but cannot cast in armor; paladins are the exception.

A caster may learn a new level of spells every two levels of ability, reaching seventh level spells at levels 13-14 and obscure, ancient or original magic from level 15.