Shape the Matrix

A Magic Move. Available to all Casters.

When you project or trace a geometric matrix to manipulate reality, declare:

• your Intent
• your School
• your Technique Glyph (Faden, Stoss, Wacht, Anker, Kreis, or another unlocked Glyph)
• your Scale (Effect, Range, Area, Duration)
• your intended Tags (e.g., Forceful, Messy, Restraining, Defensive, Area)

If your declaration exceeds your current fictional permission, school limits, or known glyph access, the GM will tell you what is unstable before the roll.

Then, roll:

• +Finesse (for precise, delicate, or defensive shaping)

• +Willpower (for brute force, destructive, or desperate channeling)

• 10+ (Strong Hit): The matrix locks cleanly into reality. You achieve your intent. Choose one:

  • The spell gains an additional beneficial Tag (e.g., Lingering, Piercing).
  • You recover or retain narrative momentum (gain a +1 Forward).
  • You cast cleanly enough to avoid either collateral harm or immediate attention (choose one).

• 7-9 (Mixed Success): You successfully cast the spell and achieve your intent, but the matrix strains you or the environment. The GM offers two fitting consequences (glyph-aware and fiction-aware) from the menu below; you choose one:

  • Channel Strain (Harm): Take 1-Wound immediately (ignores armor/wards). Take 2-Wounds if the spell was highly ambitious.
  • Structural Bleed (Collateral): The magic bleeds into the environment in unintended, dangerous ways.
  • Resonant Echo: It attracts immediate, dangerous attention from enemies or beasts.
  • Bleeding Signature: A persistent hazard remains tied to your school/glyph expression (smoke field, warped footing, sensory static, anchor residue, etc.).
  • Geometric Blindness: You are locked out of that specific Technique Glyph for the rest of the scene.
  • The Monkey's Paw: The spell interprets your intent in the most unhelpful literal way possible.

  If you are Pushing the Matrix (too many tags for your Calculation, out-of-ready shaping, or beyond safe tier), the GM may include one overreach consequence in the offered pair.

• 6- (Miss): The matrix collapses instantly. The spell fails, mutates against you, or causes severe backlash. The GM makes a Hard Move that follows from your declared School + Glyph + Scale.