✨ ICRPG Magic Systems

💡 The Magic Philosophy

The Toolbox Principle: Traditional magic systems give you a cookbook - specific spells with exact effects. ICRPG gives you a toolbox. A hammer can drive nails, pull them out, break windows, or forge metal. Your spells work the same way - one spell, infinite applications based on creativity.

In ICRPG, magic isn't about memorizing spell lists or tracking slots. It's about creative problem-solving with supernatural tools. Every spell is a verb, not a prescription.

⚙️ Core Magic Mechanics

How Magic Works

Example: Using "FREEZE"

Scenario: Goblins charging across a bridge

1. Player: "I cast FREEZE on the bridge to make it slippery!"
2. GM: "Creative! Roll d20 + INT vs the room TARGET of 14"
3. Player: Rolls 13 + 3 INT = 16 - Success!
4. GM: "Roll your magic effort to see how much you freeze"
5. Player: Rolls d10 = 6
6. GM: "The bridge becomes a sheet of ice! Goblins must make DEX attempts or slide off!"

📚 Magic Types & Sources

In ICRPG itself, spells usually arrive as loot or abilities: you find, earn or are granted a spell, cast it with an INT or WIS attempt against the room's TARGET, and roll Magic Effort for its power. The six approaches below are this guide's optional variants for flavoring magic at your table. They are homebrew, not official ICRPG rules, and the spell names, costs and tables are examples.

📜 Spell Lists (Traditional)

How it works: Learn specific spells from books/scrolls. Limitation: Can only cast known spells. Growth: Find new spells as loot.

Example Starting Spells: BURN, FREEZE, SHIELD

🌟 Word Magic (Flexible)

How it works: Combine magic words creatively. Limitation: GM interpretation required. Growth: Learn new words through play.

Example Combinations: FIRE + SHIELD = Wall of flames, FREEZE + WEAPON = Ice blade, LIGHT + ILLUSION = Hologram

🎲 Chaos Magic (Random)

How it works: Roll on wild magic table. Limitation: Unpredictable results. Growth: Gain control dice over time.

Roll d6: 1) Exactly what you wanted, 2) Close but weird, 3) Opposite effect, 4) Affects random target, 5) Wild surge!, 6) Reality hiccup

⚡ Effort Magic (Power-Based)

How it works: Spend effort to create effects. Limitation: Limited by effort pool. Growth: Increase maximum effort.

Example Effort Costs (homebrew): Cantrip: 1, Basic Spell: 3, Advanced: 5, Master: 10

🔮 Pact Magic (Bargained)

How it works: Request power from patron. Limitation: Patron may demand price. Growth: Deepen relationship with patron.

Patron Demands: Minor favor later, temporary weakness, spread patron's influence, sacrifice something dear

🧪 Component Magic (Crafted)

How it works: Combine physical ingredients. Limitation: Requires materials. Growth: Discover new recipes.

Example Recipes: Dragon scale + Mercury = Fire immunity, Ghost dust + Mirror = Invisibility, Lightning + Crystal = Energy blast

📊 Spell Effort Scaling

The More Effort, The More Effect

Magic Effort is a d10. This guide's rule of thumb for reading the result as the size of the effect (a GM guideline, not an official table):

Scaling Examples for "BURN":

• 1-2 Effort: Light a torch, singe an enemy, warm food
• 3-4 Effort: Ignite a person, melt a lock, create campfire
• 5-7 Effort: Fireball explosion, forge metal, cauterize major wound
• 8-10 Effort: Incinerate a room, melt through walls, phoenix rebirth

💎 Spell Loot

Loot is ICRPG's main reward, and spells make some of the best loot. The items below are examples to adapt, not official ICRPG items.

📜 Scroll of PORTAL

Single Use — Create a doorway through any barrier. Size depends on effort rolled. Found in wizard towers, ancient libraries.

🔮 Crystal of GLIMPSE

3 Charges per day — See through time - past or future. Clarity depends on effort. Drops from temporal creatures.

📖 Tome of SHAPE

Permanent Learning — Transform objects or self. Complexity based on effort. Hidden in shapeshifter lairs.

💀 Skull of COMMAND

Cursed Item — Control undead, but each use risks your soul. Necromancer's prized possession.

🌟 Star Fragment

Consumable Boost — Add +d12 to next spell effort, then it's consumed. Falls from celestial events.

🗡️ Runeblade Technique

Martial Magic — Channel spells through weapon attacks. Taught by battlemage masters.

🎨 Creative Spell Applications

One Spell, Many Solutions

🌊 FLOW

Combat: Redirect enemy attacks — Exploration: Part water to find passage — Social: Smooth conversation, ease tensions — Puzzle: Guide liquids through maze — Survival: Find underground water

⚡ SPARK

Combat: Lightning bolt attack — Exploration: Power ancient machinery — Social: Impressive light show — Puzzle: Complete electrical circuits — Survival: Start fires, signal allies

🍃 GROW

Combat: Entangle enemies in vines — Exploration: Create ladder from tree — Social: Impressive garden gifts — Puzzle: Grow specific plants for keys — Survival: Fast food cultivation

👁️ REVEAL

Combat: See through illusions — Exploration: Find hidden doors — Social: Detect lies — Puzzle: See invisible writing — Survival: Spot dangers/resources

💥 Magic Mishaps & Complications

The Cooking Metaphor: Magic is like cooking with fire. Usually you get a nice meal, sometimes you burn it a little, and occasionally you set the kitchen ablaze. The risk makes it exciting!

🎲 When You Roll a Natural 1... (pick one)

• Spell works but targets you
• Opposite effect occurs
• Wild magic surge
• Attracts magical attention
• The spell can't be cast again this scene
• Creates lingering curse

✨ When You Roll a Natural 20... (pick one)

• A much bigger effect (extra Effort)
• No cost (if your table uses spell costs)
• Affects multiple targets
• Permanent duration
• Teaches new application
• Impresses supernatural entities

📋 GM Guidelines for Magic

Making Magic Magical

✅ Say Yes To...

• Creative applications
• Combining spell effects
• Environmental interactions
• Narrative flourishes
• Risk/reward trades

❌ Say No To...

• Instant death spells
• Bypassing entire adventures
• Permanent mind control
• Breaking the economy
• Time paradoxes

🤔 Say "Yes, But..." To...

• Very powerful effects (cost)
• Affecting many targets (reduced power)
• Permanent changes (ritual required)
• Bending reality (consequences)
• Divine-level magic (patron attention)

🛠️ Magic Practice Workshop

🎯 Design Your Spell

Create a spell using the ICRPG philosophy:

1. Choose a single ACTION VERB
2. List 5 different applications
3. Define effort scaling (1-10)
4. Create one interesting limitation
5. Describe the visual effect

🏆 Key Takeaways

• ✨ Spells are verbs, not prescriptions
• 🎲 Effort determines scale, not spell level
• 🎨 Creativity beats complexity every time
• 📜 Magic as loot keeps it special
• 🔮 Flexibility enables player ingenuity