How Magic Works

Casting a spell takes four things: a book, reagents, mana and free hands. This page explains the mechanics of spellcasting — what each skill does is on the Magic Skills page.

What happens in a cast

1. You choose the spell (from your book or a scroll).
2. The words are spoken and the casting time runs. If you are hit during this time the spell fizzles — your reagents and mana are lost.
3. Reagents and mana are spent, and the spell goes to the target.
4. During the recovery time you cannot cast a new spell.

The spell fails (fizzle)

There are two reasons:

• Your skill is not high enough. Every circle has a lower threshold; below it, your spells often fizzle → Magery circle table.
• You took a hit. Taking damage while casting breaks the spell. That is why mages hide behind shields, cast while running, or steady themselves with the Protection spell.

Timing: faster casting and recovery

The Protection spell slows you down: while Protection is on, faster casting drops by 2 points. It trades speed for not being interrupted when hit; in PvP it is a deliberate choice.

Spells get slower by circle: an 8th circle spell always takes longer than a 1st circle spell.

Mana and reagents

• Mana: the cost rises with the circle. The cap for "lower mana cost" is 40%.
• Reagents: each spell has its own reagents; they are cheap at the mage merchant. If "lower reagent cost" reaches 100% you spend no reagents at all — the property mages look for most.
• Necromancy and Chivalry work separately: necromancy spends its own dark reagents, chivalry spends tithing points.

Hands and armor

• The weapon and shield in your hands go to your backpack. If you cast while holding a weapon or shield, both drop into your backpack and you have to equip them again. If the item says "spell channeling", it stays in your hand.
• Metal armor stops mana. Plate/chain/ring/bone armor stops meditation; leather armor or a piece with "mage armor" causes no problem → Armor and Resistances.

Damage and resistance

Attack spells also carry a damage type: Fireball deals fire damage, Energy Bolt energy damage. The target absorbs as much as its resistance to that type — which is why a good mage does not rely on a single type of spell.

What raises damage on your side:

Source	Effect
Evaluating Intelligence	The biggest multiplier on spell damage
spell damage increase (item)	Adds as much as it says
Intelligence	Your mana pool; indirectly, how many spells you can cast

On the other side is Resisting Spells: it reduces damage and shortens paralysis and poison.

Scrolls

Casting from a scroll makes it two circles easier: even with 0 skill you can cast a 3rd circle scroll. This is the cheapest way for a new mage to progress; you can also write scrolls yourself with Inscription.

Wands also carry ready spells: lines such as "fireball charges" show how many uses are left.

Travel spells

Spell	What it does
Mark	Records where you stand onto a rune
Recall	Teleports you to the place on the rune
Gate Travel	Opens a gate anyone can enter
Teleport	You jump a few tiles away; it does not cross walls

Runes and runebooks are made with Inscription. Travel rules (where you cannot teleport) → Travel.

Other pages: Item Properties · Magic Skills · Armor and Resistances · Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence · Combat