Spell Stack

Spell Layers

Magic is the spirit of the Caster's Will interacting with Source and Reality. Through their associations, words, and actions, they are able to create magical phenomenon. Of those, Spell Layers, or the "Spell Stack", visually represents the limits of magical conditions that can be present on a Subject or Object at once. This concept elaborates the special nature of magic, such as attracting and opposing forces, diminishing effects and returns, and the temporary nature of magic. In this Article, we'll look at how Spell Stacks affects spellcasting with "Positive" and "Negative" Conditions.

Spell and Effects Slots

When a Caster is under the effect of a spell, it goes onto the Stack. There are 6 Slots that form the Stack, in 2 horizontal rows of 3 slots. Spells and magical effects that may affect a Subject go onto its Stack, determined on whether or not the condition is considered a "Positive" or "Negative" effect.

The Subject places the new condition on the left or right of the row (as preferred by the Player). The duration of conditions are maintained within the slot, which can be represented by a dice or timer. Each time a new condition is applied onto the Stack, the prior condition slides towards the center of the row and the new condition takes its place. When a 3rd condition is applied, each prior condition accomodates by sliding to the left or right, until the 1st condition reaches the end of the Stack. If each condition still persists, the Subject will have a total of 3 magical conditions at the same time, the newest condition at the start and the oldest condition on the opposite end.

For example, a Blessing spell is applied first, to the left of the Top row on the Stack. The Subject then casts a Starlight spell, which presses the prior spell towards the center of the row. A 3rd spell effect, Invisibility is cast on the Subject. The Subject now has 3 "Positive" conditions and can't have any more at this time.

If a 4th condition is placed upon the Stack, it starts from the left and presses each of the other effects towards and away from the center. The 1st effect (as in the prior example, Blessing) is overwritten and otherwise, removed from the Stack. This guarantees that only 3 Positive conditions can affect a Subject or Object at any given time.

The Bottom Row of the Stack is used to record "Negative" Conditions which operate similarly as "Positive" Conditions, in that they move across the row when new conditions apply and dispel when a 3rd Condition or the duration ends.

If the duration of a spell effect causes a prior condition to be removed, slide the conditions across the Stack, if removing a spell would cause the Stack to leave an empty space (open slots in the 1st slot area doesn't require any movements since it leaves an open slot for new conditions.)

Spellcraft and Casting

When a Caster channels certain spells (specifically those that require FOCUS or continuous Cast per round), the Casting of the Spell uses a Spell Stack. As long as the Caster has a spell Stack available (Positive or Negative), the Caster can cast the spell. The Stack acts as a neutral, open slot for the purposes of spells that require a Stack to remain casting. However, if the Caster has 6 Conditions (3 Positive, 3 Negative), the 1st Positive Condition is the first to be removed.

Spell Properties, Synergies & Oppositions

Spell Properties, such as spell name, descriptors, House of Magic, and variable effects, also include any specific properties of the spell that might effect the Stack. These are included in the spell's description and "Restrictions" section which outlines how it is effected on the Stack, if at all.

Synergies also bolster each other when on the Stack. This special property may create synergistic effects with other spells or effects, such as empowering one or both effects. This works for both "Positive" and "Negative" Conditions. Other synergistic effects may affect the "Positive" and "Negative" Conditions rows.

Certain spells will cancel each other when they appear together on the Spell Stack. Many Elemental effects (such as Fire & Water, Light & Dark, etc) oppose each other. If opposing conditions appear, they may remove or dimish the effects of other active conditions.

Magic "Permanency" & Bindings

Magic, in its nature, is temporary; thus, so are the effects of magic. Durations are maintained within the Stacks, but certain spells create conditions of "Permanency", remaining on the Stack for an indefinite length of time. These effects "lock" the Stack, limiting the number of available slots. While it remains on the Stack, the row it inhabits is effectively reduced by 1. The magic has been bound and requires powerful Dispel Magic or for certain conditions to be met to remove the effect. If 3 slots are locked in this manner, the Subject can't be affected by magical effects that place conditions upon the Stack.

Enchanting Objects with Spell Stacks

Objects also have Spell Stacks. Any time an item accepts a new condition, it goes onto the item's Stack until the duration has ended. Any new effect is overwritten as in the processes above.

Enchanters are able to enchant conditions into items based on the spells they use to craft the item in the process. An Enchanted Item can only have 3 effects, determined when the item is crafted and enchanted. These effects are "bound", locking the Stack for the item as described above. Each time an item has a new enchantment in a Stack that has been properly bound and enchanted, the item receives a +1 Bonus on Attack and Damage rolls. Spells that normally effect Objects and rely on the Stack for conditions can't effect magical weapons and armor enchanted with 3 full slots. Magic weapons, armor, and tools must be of a certain quality to accept enchantments, naturally providing them with a +1 Bonus.

The process for creating weapons and armor of +5 quality is discussed in later chapters.

"Indirect" Magical Effects and Enhancements

Certain spells create "Indirect" effects as a result of their activation. Indirect effects still affect their Subjects as usual, but don't go on the Stack. Some examples of this would be standing in the area of a magical effect emanation or receiving the extended effect of another spell. Since Indirect effects don't directly effect the Subject, there can be numerous effects such as these affecting a target at once.