Leveling up from 0 to Wizard level 1

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Bilgewriggler
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Posts: 233
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:25 am

Leveling up from 0 to Wizard level 1

Post by Bilgewriggler »

I happened across an old thread expressing doubt about the plausibility of a 0-level character hitting 10 XP and suddenly having full access to a full spread of wizard spells without any period of study, scribing into a grimoire, etc. I agree with the sentiment, but I can't justify depriving the character (and party) of the added power level that may be necessary to complete the funnel adventure. So I'm mulling over this alternative:

1) When the newly 1st-level wizard realizes that she's getting a sense of how to manipulate magical energies, she can attempt to use those energies to create any effect that might be imagined within the scope of level 1 spells.
2) The wizard makes a spell check and multiplies the result by her luck modifier.
3) The wizard rolls percentile dice and adds the outcome of step 2.
4) Consult the Mercurial Magic table using the outcome of step 3.
5) Interpret the MM result according to the spell check -- that is, use it as a template for the effect of the casting, and apply it in a progressively more positive fashion for high spell checks and a progressively more negative fashion for low spell checks.

For example:

Philgroth the Nascent (Int 12 luck 10) attempts to shoot flames from his hands at a monster. His spell check is a 13. Multiplying 13 x 0 gives us 0. His percentile roll is 95: Psychic focus. Ordinarily this would be a +4 bonus to spell checks for 1d4 rounds, but he only rolled a 13, barely a success, so instead he receives an (arbitrarily determined) +2 bonus for 1 round.

Millivria the Studious (Int 16, Luck 5) attempts to create a rope to climb up a cliff that confronts the party. Her spell-check is 21, resulting in a negative modifier of 42. Her percentile roll is 38, reduced below 1 by the modifier: At Great Cost. The result is that someone Millivria knows dies. But with an exceptionally good spell check, the judge applies this result to mean that the person who dies is an evil rival of Millivria. Had her spell check been 9 (normally a failure) the victim of the effect might have been a party member, but they would receive a saving throw against Millivria's spell check.

Osbert the Uninitiated (Int 14, Luck 17) attempts to control the actions of an NPC (or perhaps another PC). His spell check is 16, times 2 makes 32. His percentile roll is 66. Adding 32 gives us 98: Natural Born Talent. Osbert therefore gets to make a new spell check with a d30 and use the result to actually cast Charm Person.

This gives the newly leveled wizard access to magical powers in a way that reflects total inexperience and provides only a small likelihood of actually achieving the intended result, while still rewarding high spell checks and giving negative consequences for low ones.
Purple Planeteers:

Jingles Coinclink, Halfling, hag-hacked into haggis

Nurzual the Faceter – M Jwlr - Wiz - L
S 12 A 8 (-1) S 9 P 11 I 15 (+1) L 10
AC 9 HP 6 Mv 30 Init -1 Ref 0 Fort 0 Will 1
Chalk 1pc, 20 gp Gem, Backpack, 10’ chain, 10 sheets parchment, Kith pouch, small hammer, ray-gun, Rope 50', 5gp 10sp 274 cp
shortsword +0(1d6)
Ch Psn (no MM), Clr Spr 65, Force Manip 81, Rd Mag 12, Spidr Cl 69
Pl.Common (basic)

Snooth Inksplot Scribe RIP under cave-in, a crushing loss

Qort Quiddlegit M Hlr - Cler - N(C?)
S 11 temp 14 (+1) A 11 temp 14 (+1) S 6 (-1) P 5 (-2) I 6 (-1) L 5 (-2)
AC 10 temp 11 HP 8 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref t+1 Fort 0 Will -1
club +0 (1d4+1t) - hand mirror, holy wtr, wtrskin Kith drink 12 oz drunk, 31 cp
-2 Ms fire damage
Det Magic

Brandybland Shoetree F Coblr N
S 10 A 9 S 10 P 8 (-1) I 9 L 9
AC 14 HP 1 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref 0 Fort 0; Will -1
gldtr glaive +0 (1d10) - gldtr ch mail - Fe spike, shoehorn, 48 cp
Prof: dagger
Bilgewriggler
Deft-Handed Cutpurse
Posts: 233
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:25 am

Re: Leveling up from 0 to Wizard level 1

Post by Bilgewriggler »

I'd probably also rule that any successfully cast spell (as in the third example above) would become one of the wizard's known spells with the associated Mercurial Magic effect.

Once out of the funnel, of course, wizards could be assumed to use downtime to acquire their full slate of level-one spells.
Purple Planeteers:

Jingles Coinclink, Halfling, hag-hacked into haggis

Nurzual the Faceter – M Jwlr - Wiz - L
S 12 A 8 (-1) S 9 P 11 I 15 (+1) L 10
AC 9 HP 6 Mv 30 Init -1 Ref 0 Fort 0 Will 1
Chalk 1pc, 20 gp Gem, Backpack, 10’ chain, 10 sheets parchment, Kith pouch, small hammer, ray-gun, Rope 50', 5gp 10sp 274 cp
shortsword +0(1d6)
Ch Psn (no MM), Clr Spr 65, Force Manip 81, Rd Mag 12, Spidr Cl 69
Pl.Common (basic)

Snooth Inksplot Scribe RIP under cave-in, a crushing loss

Qort Quiddlegit M Hlr - Cler - N(C?)
S 11 temp 14 (+1) A 11 temp 14 (+1) S 6 (-1) P 5 (-2) I 6 (-1) L 5 (-2)
AC 10 temp 11 HP 8 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref t+1 Fort 0 Will -1
club +0 (1d4+1t) - hand mirror, holy wtr, wtrskin Kith drink 12 oz drunk, 31 cp
-2 Ms fire damage
Det Magic

Brandybland Shoetree F Coblr N
S 10 A 9 S 10 P 8 (-1) I 9 L 9
AC 14 HP 1 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref 0 Fort 0; Will -1
gldtr glaive +0 (1d10) - gldtr ch mail - Fe spike, shoehorn, 48 cp
Prof: dagger
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Raven_Crowking
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Re: Leveling up from 0 to Wizard level 1

Post by Raven_Crowking »

SoBH pbp:

Cathbad the Meek (herbalist Wizard 1): AC 9; 4 hp; S 7, A 7, St 10, P 17, I 13, L 8; Neutral; Club, herbs, 50' rope, 50 cp; -1 to melee attack rolls. Hideous scar.
Bilgewriggler
Deft-Handed Cutpurse
Posts: 233
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:25 am

Re: Leveling up from 0 to Wizard level 1

Post by Bilgewriggler »

Pretty cool! Simpler than my idea and more likely to produce the intended spell effect, but with a greater chance of misfire and its attendant chaos ...

Thanks!
Purple Planeteers:

Jingles Coinclink, Halfling, hag-hacked into haggis

Nurzual the Faceter – M Jwlr - Wiz - L
S 12 A 8 (-1) S 9 P 11 I 15 (+1) L 10
AC 9 HP 6 Mv 30 Init -1 Ref 0 Fort 0 Will 1
Chalk 1pc, 20 gp Gem, Backpack, 10’ chain, 10 sheets parchment, Kith pouch, small hammer, ray-gun, Rope 50', 5gp 10sp 274 cp
shortsword +0(1d6)
Ch Psn (no MM), Clr Spr 65, Force Manip 81, Rd Mag 12, Spidr Cl 69
Pl.Common (basic)

Snooth Inksplot Scribe RIP under cave-in, a crushing loss

Qort Quiddlegit M Hlr - Cler - N(C?)
S 11 temp 14 (+1) A 11 temp 14 (+1) S 6 (-1) P 5 (-2) I 6 (-1) L 5 (-2)
AC 10 temp 11 HP 8 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref t+1 Fort 0 Will -1
club +0 (1d4+1t) - hand mirror, holy wtr, wtrskin Kith drink 12 oz drunk, 31 cp
-2 Ms fire damage
Det Magic

Brandybland Shoetree F Coblr N
S 10 A 9 S 10 P 8 (-1) I 9 L 9
AC 14 HP 1 Mov 30 Init 0 Ref 0 Fort 0; Will -1
gldtr glaive +0 (1d10) - gldtr ch mail - Fe spike, shoehorn, 48 cp
Prof: dagger
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