Reading & Understanding the Spellbook Canon

The Spellbook Canon (also known as Spell Scripts) are sheets of paper with your character's spells written on them. For every spell that your character can cast they will be given a Canon sheet. The Canon describes (for yourself and your character) how the spell works, what you have to do to cast it and what happens when you do.

A. Care and Handling of Your Canon

If you have any intelligence at all you'll realize that all of your Canon sheets should be kept together in a safe place. I suggest a binder or other book-like object. As a Player, be sure that you have your Canon with you any time you want your character to cast a spell. You MUST have the Canon for a spell with you if your character is going to cast it. Players may not copy or distribute their Canon sheets to other Players or anyone else. As a Character, your Canon is your spellbook and should be very important to you. It can be stolen by other characters and used against you, it is a very personal personal item, after all.

B. What Does It All Mean?

Blank Canon Sheets:
[ FRONT ] [ BACK ]

The sample Canon sheets given above have boxes marked with field names. Each of those fields will describe the features and effect of the spell.

1. Catalog Number
   This is for administrative purposes only, ignore it.
2. Spell School
   For a complete listing of the Spell Schools in the game go to the "in character" section of this web site and read the Encyclopedia of Magickal Methods.
3. Spell Class
   This is a sub-category of the Spell School. 'Hemetic' would be the spells School and 'Alchemy' would be the spells Class.
4. Spell Name
   The name of the spell most spell names are unique.
5. Casting Cost
   The number of Psyche points it costs to cast the spell.
6. Initial Forces Cost
   The number of Psyche points the caster spend towards the Force of the spells. There are two uses for the Force of a spell. First, the Force is the strength of a spell for use when someone besides its caster is trying to deactivate the spell. Second, the Force of a spell is sometimes used as a Pool to augment the attribute Pools of the character affected by the spell.
7. Maintenance
   The number of Psyche points it costs to keep the spell active, how much and how often the cost must be paid.
8. Spell Type
   What kind of enchantment is created by the spell; an instant effect, a talisman, a magic item, etc.
9. Spell Function
   This field no longer appears on the Spell Canon.
10. Effect Duration
    For how long and underwhat conditions the spell remains active.
11. Spell Effect
    A simple description of what the spell does.
12. Personal Item Required?
    This field no longer appears on the Spell Canon.
13. Charge Cost
    Some spells create gizmos which must be assigned a number of charges. This is the number of Psyche points it costs for each charge. The entire charge cost must be paid at the time of the casting.
14. Trigger Cost
    Some spells create gizmos which have unlimited charges, in that case each time the gizmo is used the charge must be paid for. The trigger cost must be paid by the wielder of the gizmo each time the gizmo is triggered.
15. Untrigger Cost
    Some unlimited charge gizmos need to be untriggered, this is how much you must pay to do so.
16. Components
    The items needed to cast the spell. Within reason, players are encouraged to acquire all props listed in the components list in order for their character to cast the spell (see Generic Idiot Clause below).
17. Procedure
    This is what the spellcaster must do to cast the spell. Where possible, players are encouraged to roleplay the performance of the casting of the spell (see Generic Idiot Clause below).
18. Result
    The result text describes what happens when the spell is cast.
19. Special
    Extra information that doesn't fit into any other field.
20. God Approved
    This field should always be marked "Yes". If you get one that's marked "No" give it back to God.
21. Is a Force Upgrade Possible?
    This field no longer appears on the Spell Canon.
22. If So, How May This Be Done?
    This field no longer appears on the Spell Canon.
23. Who Wrote This Spell?
    This field no longer appears on the Spell Canon.
24. To Counter
    Ignore this.
25. Trigger
    This too.
26. Untrigger
    And this.
27. Runes, Knotwork & Idiograms
    If there is a specific image associated with the spell, and God has gone to the trouble of scanning it in and adding it to the database, this is where it will appear.
28. Generic Idiot Clause, No. 1
    "This spell was written for use in the Game Universe only. Do not expect it to work in the real world. Do not attempt to follow its instructions verbatim when a socially unacceptable or dangerous course of action is directed. Never draw or use blood or in any way harm anybody (including yourself). Do not introduce into your (or anyone else's) body any concoctions created by following spellcasting procedures. Always substitute safe, non-toxic, non-abominational, not likely to get you landed in jail, substances and items for any even remotely questionable components."