05 Magic System

Purpose: Magic is the physical act of shaping geometric structures in your soul and forcing raw atmospheric mana through them. This act is called Shaping. This document defines the live casting grammar, risk engine, and progression framework for Technique Glyph play.

1. Core Loop & Resolution

Magic runs through the standard PbtA flow: fiction -> move trigger -> fiction.

When you cast structured magic in danger, you trigger Shape the Matrix by declaring:

1. Intent
2. School
3. Technique Glyph
4. Scale (Effect, Range, Area, Duration)
5. Tags

You then roll:

• 2d6 + Finesse for precise, defensive, controlled shaping
• 2d6 + Willpower for forceful, destructive, desperate shaping

Domain Limits by School (Constraint First)

Each core school is defined by limits as much as capability:

• Projection: Generates force and elemental output;
• Alteration: Transforms existing matter/states; can't create mass from nothing.
• Dimensionalism: Rules movement and spatial relations;
• Divination: Reads patterns, traces, and signals;
• Illusionism: Shapes perception and deception;
• Animation: Grants autonomy and behavioral routines;
• Abjuration: Excels at defense, denial, and containment;
• Soul Magic: Excels at invasive, identity-level effects;

If an intent violates school constraints, reject it in fiction or require explicit cross-school support and added cost/risk.

Mana Track (Fueling the Matrix)

Your Mana Track is:
4 + highest of (Calculation, Finesse, Willpower)

Typical costs:

• Trivial: 0 ticks
• Standard: 1 tick
• Complex/Hard: 2 ticks
• Miracle: 4+ ticks (GM sets exact cost by scope/stakes)

If your track is full and you are forced to mark further ticks, each additional mark inflicts 1-Wound.

2. Technique Glyph Framework

Casting Grammar

All live structured casting uses:
Intent -> School -> Glyph -> Scale -> Tags

Baseline Technique Glyphs

• Faden (Thread): precision weave, subtle control, selective targeting
• Stoss (Burst): impulse release, immediate force, tempo pressure
• Wacht (Ward): boundary denial, interception, protection
• Anker (Anchor): persistence, delayed triggers, tethered effects
• Kreis (Ritual): layered sequence, setup-for-scale, stable scene shaping

Expansion Technique Glyphs

• Siegel (Seal): lock states, closure, anti-tamper containment
• Spiegel (Mirror): inversion, redirection, reactive counters
• Fluss (Flow): transfer and conversion of energy/pressure
• Schleier (Veil): concealment, filtering, signature masking
• Puls (Pulse): rhythmic scans/disruption/pressure waves
• Gitter (Lattice): linked nodes, distributed structure, networked effects
• Hall (Echo): delayed replay, cadence chaining, repeat signatures
• Band (Bind): relational tethering, restraint, synchronized states
• Hohl (Hollow): suppression pockets, subtractive zones, dampening
• Schmiede (Forge): durable construction and reinforced magical architecture

3. Tiered School Glyph Access

Technique glyph access is school-specific and cumulative.

Locked design decision: Ward school (Abjuration) keeps native pair Wacht + Anker.

4. Casting Procedure

Step 1: Declare Intent + School + Glyph

State what you want in fiction, which school you are invoking, and which unlocked technique glyph you are shaping.

Step 2: Declare Scale

Declare Effect, Range, Area, Duration before rolling. GM sets Mana Track cost.

Step 3: Add Tags and Check Stability

Declare tags that matter in fiction (forceful, restraining, lingering, etc.).

You are Pushing the Matrix when:

• your tags exceed Calculation,
• you shape a non-ready glyph in a tense scene,
• or you exceed tier-safe scope.

On mixed results while pushing, expect hard choices (drop potency, absorb strain, accept instability).

Step 4: Roll Shape the Matrix

Resolve using Shape the Matrix.

Step 5: Between-Scene Stabilization

Use Research Matrix and progression moves to convert unstable field techniques into reliable spell formulas.

5. Matrix Collapse and Failure

7-9 Consequences (Hybrid Choice)

On a mixed success, the GM offers two fitting consequences (from collapse patterns and current glyph context); the player chooses one.

Baseline collapse menu:

1. Channel Strain: take 1-Wound (2 for catastrophic scale).
2. Structural Bleed: collateral environment harm.
3. Resonant Echo: dangerous attention drawn.
4. Bleeding Signature: persistent hazard tied to current school/glyph.
5. Geometric Blindness: lock out the declared technique glyph for the scene.
6. Monkey's Paw: intent manifests in a literal but harmful interpretation.

6- Hard Moves

On a miss, the GM makes a hard move that follows from:

• declared school,
• declared technique glyph,
• declared scale,
• and immediate fiction.

6. In-Fiction Glyph Learning

Technique glyphs are learned through play, not only level-up:

• mentorship,
• recovered notes/artifacts,
• risky self-experimentation,
• leverage and bargains.

Use the progression framework in 04 Progression for:

• Glyph Leads
• Decode the Pattern
• Glyph Mastery clocks
• rarity and faction gates

Out-of-tier provisional shaping adds exactly one extra pressure source (never multiple from that rule): +1 tick cost, mandatory mixed complication, or temporary instability.

7. Legacy Formula Compatibility

Legacy component formulas (older Function/Medium/Modifier notation) remain valid in play.

During migration:

• infer a default technique glyph from use-pattern and school context,
• keep memorized benefits,
• and rewrite only when a formula needs active table use.

This keeps current grimoires usable while the vault transitions.

Appendix: Quick Casting Card

1) Build Declaration

Intent -> School -> Glyph -> Scale -> Tags

2) Check Fiction + Cost

• confirm fictional permission and school limits
• set Mana Track cost from declared scale
• apply overreach warning if pushing

3) Roll

Shape the Matrix (+Finesse or +Willpower)

4) Resolve

• 10+: clean success and one benefit
• 7-9: GM offers two fitting consequences; player picks one
• 6-: hard move from school/glyph/scale fiction

5) Stabilize Later

Between scenes, codify recurring techniques via Research Matrix and progression moves.

Progression ================================================== Crafting