Magical Crafting: Alchemy & Spell Formula

Crafting physical magical assets requires time, the correct Skill, and raw materials (abstracted as a "Material Cache" of a Tier equal to the desired item). Both Alchemy and Spell Formula utilize these core mechanics.

Crafting is resolved using a Progress Track: to successfully create an item, you must accumulate Successes equal to the item's Tier.

1. Alchemy (The Recipe)

Alchemy creates consumable or physical items without requiring a Shaping roll to use.

• Time Cost: 1 Time Slot per crafting attempt. Consumes 1 Alchemical Material Cache.
• Roll: Academics + Nature
• Progress:
  • Success: Gain 1 Progress point.
  • Critical Success (10): Gain 2 Progress points.
  • (Simple Tier 1-2 potions usually take 1—2 Time Slots. Complex Tier 3+ formulas may take 3—5 dedicated Time Slots).
• Failure: 0 Progress; the Time Slot is spent. A Critical Failure ruins the batch, wasting the Material Cache entirely.
• Pushing the Limits: If a crafter misses a required success right before a crucial deadline, they can intentionally suffer Mana Burn (taking 1 Physical Health damage and applying Wound Penalties) to force 1 "fake" success, representing desperate and dangerous late-night cramming.

2. Spell Formula (The Schematic)

Formulas anchor spells into physical mediums for instant casting at double the spell's normal mana cost.

• Time Cost: 1 Full Day (3 Time Slots) per crafting attempt. Consumes 1 Anchor Material Cache.
• Roll: Calculation (or Finesse) + Academics. The crafter (or a willing ally) must also cast the Base Spell to anchor it.
• Progress:
  • Success: Gain 1 Progress point.
  • (Simple Tier 1-2 formulas usually require 1—2 full days. Complex Tier 3+ formulas require intense dedication over multiple days or weeks to accumulate successes).
• Failure: The day is spent with no progress. A Critical Failure destabilizes the matrix; the creator suffers 1 Physical Damage (Wound Penalty) from mana feedback, and the physical item shatters.