Skill Based Magic

[tedcahill2]

Aside from Truespeak or Truenaming or whatever, has there ever been a skill driven magic variant? Are there any game systems that have really good skill magic systems that use the d20 system?

[Nifft]

Warlock 12 can bypass item creation prereqs using UMD (a skill), and then use the items via UMD (still a skill).

There are some skill-keyed spells, like Healing Lorecall.

There are Vestiges which won't let you bind them unless you have enough skill ranks.

[lunaticfringe]

Use the Force in Star Wars SAGA. Some force powers have varying effects based on your check.

[tedcahill2]

I was thinking something of something more free form. Like instead of having spells per day casters made a skill check, in say a charm skill, to cast a charm spell.

[Nifft]

I was thinking something of something more free form. Like instead of having spells per day casters made a skill check, in say a charm skill, to cast a charm spell.

Take a look at Spheres of Power, maybe?

[Goaty14]

There are Vestiges which won't let you bind them unless you have enough skill ranks.

Notably, the highest amount needed is 5.

[unseenmage]

Artificer arguably uses UMD and item creation skills in place of Spellcasting.

Epic Spellcasting uses skills as a limiter.

The issue with skill based anything in 3.x/PF is that jacking one's skill bonus to absurd heights well above one's level is a few spells away.

[Dimers]

Aside from Truespeak or Truenaming or whatever, has there ever been a skill driven magic variant? Are there any game systems that have really good skill magic systems that use the d20 system?

Invocations in UA use various existing skills.

The Black Company campaign setting book by Green Ronin uses only skill-based casting for 3.X-ish d20 gaming, in a way that is neither excellent nor horrible. Hard to transport that system out of the world, though. It was made to suit an unusual and specific lore, and it's predicated on a different set of base classes. I can't really recommend it for general use.

Invocations, those are good anywhere. :smallsmile:


The issue with skill based anything in 3.x/PF is that jacking one's skill bonus to absurd heights well above one's level is a few spells away.

If the system operates on multiple skills, then another effect (for better or worse) is heightening the value of Intelligence and a broad class skill list.

[Feantar]

Pathfinder has a more developed* version of Invocations(Unearthed Arcana not Warlock) which is called Occult Rituals (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/occult-adventures/occult-rules/occult-rituals/). Invocations (and their design) are a very interesting way to approach magic - think of a party of mundanes with a couple extra skill points and no limitations on class skills(so they can get the relevant skills for the invocation) and suddenly magic retains the maximums of its power but it becomes more mystical, rare and dangerous.

*For some reason I find Occult Rituals a bit more confusing than invocations.

[Knaight]

This crops up in the broader d20 sphere every so often. With D&D 3.5 specifically the skill system is wonky enough to make it a pretty questionable idea.

[JustIgnoreMe]

As well as Black Company D20, the Slayers D20 has this, IIRC. Based on the fantasy anime, it's a fun little D20 system that is self-contained and doesn't lend itself to use in other D20 games, but the magic system might be portable.

[Aipaca]

Spheres of Power can make it work, and it has its own SRD with all the info you need to play with it.

[Psyren]

Other than Incantations/Rituals and 3rd-party content, no.


Notably, the highest amount needed is 5.

(Or even zero with ISR)

[thorr-kan]

The Black Company rules were released as True Sorcery by Green Ronin.

Invocations were also included in d20 Modern and Unearthed Arcana. They've been further expanded on by Zombie Sky Press in

The Game Mechanic used lesser invocations for their Ritual Magician in the d20 Modern supplement Modern Magic.

Ceremony Feats.