Spheres of Power is an independent magic system that can be used alongside or replace the core Pathfinder spell system. It grants a magic-user the ability to accomplish great things that would otherwise be impossible, such as bending fire, summoning angels, and more. Prerequisites for spherecasting include a maker’s call class feature or phantom recall class feature.
Key abilities in spheres include Wisdom, which grants spell points per day and Wis Tradition, which has focus and verbal components. Unassigned spell points cannot be spent on sphere abilities until assigned. A spheres of power character receives a caster level progression, a talent progression, and a spell point pool. Caster level progressions follow the same rates as BAB, and all sphere effects are generally treated as spells of a level equal to the number of spell points spent on them.
Spheres of Power is oriented around spheres, each one encompassing a single overarching theme of magic. Casting Ability Modifiers exist for different classes in the system, and all classes have access to all abilities. There is no distinction between arcane and divine spells, and there is no distinction between arcane and divine powers.
The Bloodline Arcana is the bloodline arcana, with each bloodline having powers, spells, and talents. High-level vancian spells are more powerful than high-level spheres abilities, but occultist mental powers can be chosen from these powers. Spell Points are a resource for spherecasters, and the Sage class has a ki pool, but it is treated as spell points. The Tech sphere uses a ki pool for abilities that normally require ki.
📹 Spheres of Power Explanation (PFRPG)
A description of the Spheres of Power system, made for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
Do abilities count as spells?
Activated and triggered abilities on the stack are not spells and cannot be countered by effects that specifically counter abilities. Static abilities, which don’t use the stack, cannot be countered at all. Ability categories include spell abilities, activated abilities, triggered abilities, and static abilities. Some activated or triggered abilities are also mana abilities, while some static abilities are evasion abilities or characteristic-defining abilities.
Some abilities may be indicated by a keyword, and certain card types grant intrinsic abilities. Each separate ability of a card is listed on a different line, functioning independently of each other. Removing abilities is not common, but removing creature abilities falls under White and Blue’s color pie.
Is a planeswalker ability a noncreature spell?
It should first be noted that planeswalkers, including all Gideons that can transform into creatures, are classified as noncreatures. This is because they do not have a Creature in their type line.
Is a mana ability a spell?
The text explains that an ability with a target is not a mana ability, even if it can put mana into a player’s pool when it resolves. This applies to triggered abilities that produce mana but trigger from an event other than activating a mana ability, or triggered abilities that trigger from activating a mana ability but cannot produce mana. A spell cannot be a mana ability, even if it can put mana into a player’s pool when it resolves. Some older cards with the card type “mana source” have been errata and are now instants.
What counts as spells?
A spell is a card that has been cast and placed on the stack, or a copy of another spell. It is only a spell when on the stack, and in most other zones, it is simply a card or a permanent when on the battlefield. All card types, except lands, are types of spells, and even permanent cards are typically cast as spells before becoming permanents. Spells exist as game objects, and their rules determine interactions and effects between the casting of the spell and its taking effect. A copy of a spell is also a spell, even if it doesn’t have a card associated with it.
Do spell-like abilities count as spells?
Spell-like abilities are magical abilities that work like spells but have no verbal, somatic, focus, or material components. They usually have a limit on how often they can be used, with constant spell-like abilities having no use limit. Using all other spell-like abilities is standard, and using them provokes attacks of opportunity. A concentration check can be attempted to use them defensively and avoid provoking attacks. Spell-like abilities cannot be used to counterspell or counterspelled.
For creatures with spell-like abilities, the designated caster level defines how difficult it is to dispel their effects and any level-dependent variables. The caster level doesn’t affect which spell-like abilities the creature has, but sometimes it is lower than the level a spellcasting character would need to cast the spell of the same name. If no caster level is specified, the caster level is equal to the creature’s Hit Dice.
Some spell-like abilities duplicate spells that work differently when cast by characters of different classes. A monster’s spell-like abilities are presumed to be sorcerer/wizard versions, but if the spell is not a sorcerer/wizard spell, it defaults to cleric, druid, bard, paladin, or ranger.
What is considered a spell?
A spell is a series of words with magical powers, dictating thoughts and actions. It can refer to the magic words you say or describe being under the influence of those words. While not often encountered in real life, the term is often used figuratively to describe times when a magical power controls your actions. The verb “to spell” can also refer to reciting the letters in a word, like competitive spellers in a spelling bee. Spells can be written or named, orally recited, or given the spelling of a word.
What is considered a spell in DND?
A spell is a discrete magical effect that shapes the magical energies in the multiverse into a specific expression. It involves a character carefully plucking at invisible strands of raw magic, placing them in a specific pattern, setting them vibrating, and releasing them to unleash the desired effect. Spells can be versatile tools, weapons, or protective wards, dealing damage, imposing conditions, draining life energy, and restoring life to the dead. Thousands of spells have been created over the multiverse’s history, many of which are long forgotten or may be recorded in ancient ruins or the minds of dead gods.
Do Planeswalker abilities count as spells?
Planeswalkers are spells that can be cast while on the stack, becoming permanent on the battlefield when cast. The utilization of a planeswalker’s loyalty ability does not constitute the casting of a spell. The term “spell” may prove perplexing to novice Magic players, as it can signify either an instant or sorcery spell.
What isn’t considered a spell in MTG?
In MTG, a spell is any card cast by a player, usually from their hand, but can also be cast from other areas of the battlefield, such as the library or graveyard. Land cards are not considered a spell. During a game, players will take actions such as tapping and untapping their cards, casting spells, and attacking/blocking with creatures. Tapping and untapping are crucial for indicating that a card has been used for the turn, such as using a land for mana, attacking with a creature, or activating an ability with a symbol.
To cast a spell, players must pay its mana cost by tapping lands or other permanents to make the required amount and type of mana. For example, to cast Serra Angel, players could tap three basic lands of any type plus two Plains.
What counts as playing a spell in MTG?
In MTG, a spell is any card cast by a player, usually from their hand, but can also be cast from other areas of the battlefield, such as the library or graveyard. Land cards are not considered a spell. During a game, players will take actions such as tapping and untapping their cards, casting spells, and attacking/blocking with creatures. Tapping and untapping are crucial for indicating that a card has been used for the turn, such as using a land for mana, attacking with a creature, or activating an ability with a symbol.
To cast a spell, players must pay its mana cost by tapping lands or other permanents to make the required amount and type of mana. For example, to cast Serra Angel, players could tap three basic lands of any type plus two Plains.
What counts as spell in MTG?
In Magic the Gathering (MTG), a spell is any card cast by a player, usually from their hand, but can also be cast from other areas of the battlefield, such as the library or graveyard. Land cards are not considered a spell. During a game, players take actions such as tapping and untapping their cards, casting spells, and attacking/blocking with creatures. Tapping a card means turning it sideways to show it has been used for the turn, such as using a land for mana, attacking with a creature, or activating an ability with a symbol. Tapping a card requires untapping it to use it again. To cast a spell, players must pay its mana cost by tapping lands or other permanents to make the required amount and type of mana.
📹 Building an OC:A Spheres of Power Explanation part 4
A description of how to build a custom character in Spheres of Power. For Pathfinder. OC Character Sheet: …
Alright I know this was posted 4 months ago and idk how often you check this …..but I wanna see someone play this like a series or one shot or special campaign made to flex each character sphere and what they do. Anything. When search there are about 3-5 reviews all outdated but no one playing it. Now I understand that’s not your responsibility, but this is such an amazing system it needs to be shared more. Hell im tempted to do my own run through if I was more familiar with running a pathfinder game.
If these “Build articles” come back, I’d like to make a suggestion. Megaman. More specifically, use a character like Megaman to reflect the fact that any given character concept can be created in many different ways using spheres (Ex. you could use a Blaster for the arm cannon and various destructive magics, Arcanopulser as a class that was basically designed to replicate aspects of Robot Masters, of even Technician with a Gun and various gadgets)