The time has come to call down the thunder!
Spellbound is a totally portable system of magic that brings the power of SRD spells into a new age.

What is High Magic?
It is an Enigma. Spellbound doesn’t attempt to codify exactly how or why magic works. The development and casting of spells may be a matter of rote and discipline or it can be a wild display of reckless bravado. Two characters sharing the same class and the same spells may come from backgrounds and traditions so different that they’re unable to recognize each other’s magic. Still, all high magicians have one thing in common: results!

It is Power. In the hands of the most learned, high magic can shake the very foundations of reality. With the material found in Spellbound, Spycraft 2.0 characters gain access to the full range of d20 System spells, from humble Level 0 cantrips to the mighty workings of Level 9 incantations. Still, with traditional Spycraft characters a cut above other d20 counterparts, spellcasters remain entirely balanced in play.

It is Everywhere. High magic is usually well known in worlds where it exists, but Spellbound is designed to work in conjunction with any campaign concept, no matter how prevalent the setting’s magic. This spell system can act as the cornerstone of fantasy play, as a facet of everyday modern life in an alternate now, or as a powerful tool alongside hyper-drives and alien races in futuristic campaigns. As with all Spycraft 2.0 products, Spellbound is highly modular, making literally any application not only possible but also painless to achieve.

What’s different about Spellbound?
Spellbound employs many elements common to d20 System magic, but simplifies several aspects and adds a few twists. Some of the most important changes follow.

• Skill checks to cast spells. Unleashing magical forces takes effort and practice… and sometimes goes astray.
• Unlimited Level 0 spells. Casters can perform an unlimited number of Level 0 spells, quickly establishing their personal flavor as masters of magic.
• One roll per participant. Casters need only roll once to cast an attack spell and determine whether they hit their target. Likewise, a target need only roll once when he’s allowed a save. Spell resistance and other rules are folded into these two rolls rather than generating additional checks.
• Saves are based on the caster, not the spell. The save DC for spells is a function of the caster’s magical proficiency, not the spell’s level. Every magic feat learned makes all of a caster’s magic stronger.
• No single key attribute for casters. The casting check, number of spells known, and spell saves are all based on different attribute scores, making the Spellbound caster much more than a “one attribute wonder.”
• No minimum attribute score to learn high-level spells. Characters aren’t forced to pour points into a specific attribute just to receive the full benefit of their class at high levels.
• Skill-based spell knowledge. Because casters learn spells based on their ranks in the Profession skill, they continue to expand their repertoire even while gaining levels in other classes.
• One school at a time. Each class focuses exclusively on a single school, reducing overlap of abilities and securing a unique role for each type of caster.
• Flexible casting. The Spellbound caster doesn’t have to prepare his spells in advance and may choose freely from amongst the spells he knows when casting. Thus he may cast a large number of low-level spells or a few select high-level spells as the situation warrants.
• Clear and concise range, point of origin, and area of effect. Spellbound features one easy-to-understand, easy-to-use system for determining not only the location of a spell but the behavior of its effect when it’s triggered.
• Universal spell resistance. Players need not pause the game to look up whether a spell can be resisted; rather, spell resistance defends against all spells with one easy and uniform rule.
• No armor and weapon restrictions. Spellbound casters can wear any armor and use any weapons they like, though heavier armors do imply a penalty with certain spellcasting efforts.

The Channeler is the first product in Crafty Games' Spellbound line of products for Spycraft 2.0. This .zip file includes both a full-color screen version and a printer-friendly version.

Reviews

• DriveThruRPG (Megan Robertson)
• RPGNow (Chris Gath)