Adept Magic
Adepts: Intuitive Power and Thematic Magic
— The power flows through me like breathing; I don't cast spells, I simply am.
The intuitive approach makes Adept magic both powerful and personal. Not all pyromancers work identically — one might specialize in precise flame shaping while another focuses on explosive force. The magic reflects the practitioner's personality and grows with their understanding of their chosen theme.
At any time, without rolling, an Adept can produce minor effects that match their theme. These little tricks have no mechanical cost but could have significant narrative impact. Anything that generates points of effect requires an actual roll, but be generous with these little incidental perqs! If you allow an Adept, they cannot help but be who they are. The Aeromancer will dust his cloak with a wave before he thinks about it.
These little bits of color can't directly cause harm or provide mechanical bonuses, but they solve countless small problems and create atmospheric moments. Pyromancers light or snuff pipes and small flames, which isn't much until you're completely in the dark. Try lighting a torch in absolute darkness without matches — suddenly that Pyromancer's trivial power becomes invaluable.
Nontrivial Magic
Anything beyond trivial effects requires a roll. The Adept channels their theme's power through their will, adding their Adept rank and any relevant Maneuvers to their EL. Success creates points of effect that can be applied just like any other action.
The key limitation is overchannelling: if your rolled effect exceeds your Adept rank, you face a choice. You can voluntarily reduce the effect to match your rank, wasting the excess but staying safe — or you can channel the full power and make a resistance roll against the difference, taking any unresisted amount as harm… usually fatigue Complications, but potentially worse. This isn't a strict either/or proposition; Adept magic is as natural as breathing to them, so they can choose any amount of the rolled overchannelling to attempt, "pulling their punch" a little if they don't want to whole value, as long as the roll itself was an actual success.
Marcus is Level 4, Adept(Fire) 3 and rolls 7 points of effect for a flame blast. He can:
- Reduce it to 3 points, which is safe but wastes 4 points of potential; or
- Channel all 7 points but roll resistance against 4; if he only resists 2, he takes 2 points of Harm from overchanneling.
- Split the difference and roll against a 4, or 5, or 6…but you must commit to an amount, and it doesn't matter whether or not the target resists.
Thematic Flexibility
An Adept's power works through their chosen theme, which determines both capabilities and limitations. A pyromancer can melt ice, cauterize wounds, or forge metal, but struggles with tasks requiring delicacy. An aeromancer excels at soft power but faces challenges requiring solid force.
The GM and player should negotiate the theme's boundaries during character creation. "Shadow magic" might emphasize stealth and illusion, or focus strictly on managing light and darkness. Make sure the player and GM each have a clear understanding of what the other expects.