A spell scroll is a piece of parchment, vellum, or paper inscribed with arcane runes and infused with magic power that allows the reader to cast a spell. Only characters with the Spellcaster Exceptional Ability (primary or secondary) can use a spell scroll. To anyone else, it’s just a piece of paper covered with strange markings.
In game terms, a spell scroll allows a character to use a Major Action to cast a spell during an Encounter without making a Spellcasting Check. In a sense, a spell scroll lets Spellcasters pre-cast spells to save time and reduce risk during the Encounter. In addition, a spell scroll created by a more experienced Spellcaster allows a less skilled Spellcaster to reliably cast a spell they wouldn’t feel safe trying on their own.
Creating Spell Scrolls #
Creating a spell scroll works exactly like casting a spell using the rules described in Chapter 14: Spellcasting with a few exceptions.
Selecting the Spell #
Only Instantaneous and One Round spells that take 6 seconds to cast may be placed on a spell scroll. In addition, spells cast using a spell scroll may not be maintained. Describing the spell and deciding how to use the rules to create the spell Effect are handled AS per the standard rules for Spellcasting.
Setting the Difficulty Score #
Determine the Base Difficulty Score using the standard rules for Spellcasting. In addition, the Adventure Guide should consider the following:
- Add a Drawback if the Spellcaster is unable to use their Spellcasting Talisman when creating a spell scroll.
- Add a Drawback if the Spellcaster is unable to move freely when creating a spell scroll.
- Add a Drawback since the Spellcaster is typically unable to use their hands for Spellcasting when creating a spell scroll since they are occupied with scribing the scroll.
- Add a Drawback to reflect the fact that spells are technically designed for casting, not for infusing into a spell scroll.
- The proper tools for the Spellcasting Check to create a spell scroll include a specially prepared material to write on, alchemical ink, and an appropriate writing utensil (see Materials and Costs below).
- The appropriate environment for creating a spell scroll is a sturdy writing table and comfortable seat in a quiet, well-lit place, completely free from distractions.
- Add one or more Drawbacks if the process of inscribing the spell scroll is interrupted for anything other than meals, sleep, and other biological functions.
Spellcasting Action Score #
Inscribing the spell scroll requires a Spellcasting Check. The Action Score for the Spellcasting Check is determined using the standard rules for Spellcasting. The Adventure Guide should consider the following:
- Add one or more Benefits if the character makes use of a workspace specially designed for creating spell scrolls.
- Add one or more Benefits if the character uses high quality materials or special ingredients that are especially well suited to the spell being written.
- The base time required to inscribe the spell scroll is 1 hour. Taking longer improves the chance of success. For each step up the time chart, add a Benefit to the character’s Action Score.
Material Preparation and Cost #
Preparing the physical scroll and creating the alchemical ink requires costly materials and ingredients. The cost is equal to the Spellcasting Check Difficulty Score x 10 SP, and preparing the materials takes hours equal to the Difficulty Score. The only way to reduce the time is to have another Spellcaster help with the work. The work is laborious but not prone to failure, so no Action Check is required. Note that the time to prepare the materials is in addition to the time required to inscribe the spell scroll.
The character must also have an appropriate writing utensil. This might be an enchanted pen, a quill from a magical creature, or some other tool well suited to the work. An appropriate writing utensil for inscribing scrolls costs around 150 SP.
Spellcasting Check #
At the end of the inscribing time, the player makes a Spellcasting Check for their character. On a failure, the effort to create the spell scroll fails. The scroll is destroyed and all the materials are lost. On a Critical Failure, the effort to create the spell scroll fails, all the materials are lost, the writing utensil is destroyed, and the Adventure Guide should select an appropriate catastrophic spell failure Effect.
On a success, the spell is inscribed onto the scroll and the spell scroll is infused with magical power. Make a note of the Spellcasting Check result and Effect. These numbers are used when determining the outcome of the spell when it is cast from the spell scroll in the future.
Buying Spell Scrolls #
If the Adventure Guide allows, and if it fits the setting of your game, characters may purchase spell scrolls created by other Spellcasters. The cost of a spell scroll is typically equal to twice the cost of the materials used to create it plus 4 SP/day of work spent preparing of the materials and inscribing of the spell scroll. If the Spellcasting Check result was especially high, the Adventure Guide may wish to increase the price to 3x, 4x, or even 5x the cost of the materials.
Using Spell Scrolls #
To cast a spell from a spell scroll, the character must have the spell scroll out and in hand. Reading the spell scroll takes a Major Action and doesn’t require an Action Check. The spell goes off AS soon AS the character completes their Action, with a Spellcasting result equal to the result the creator achieved when they made their Spellcasting Check during the creation of the spell scroll. Use this result to determine if the spell hits its targets, the Effect of the spell, and any of the spell’s other outcomes.