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Newly-created Magic-Users, Illusionists and Necromancers begin with four random Level 1 spells in their spellbooks, in addition to Read Magic.
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Detect Magic: All arcane casters can detect magical resonance at will, provided the caster can concentrate without distraction and physically touch the subject. Only the existence of magic is detected, not its nature or strength. Each attempt requires one turn.
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Read Magic is not necessary to decipher scrolls, but it is necessary to decipher spellbooks.
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Arcane casters can add new spells of their choice to their spellbook when new spell slots become available to them, but only after training with a mentor or performing research. This is the standard spellbook rule in OSE.
- It takes one day per spell level per spell to learn spells in this manner.
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Transcribing spells from a spellbook or scroll to another spellbook requires proper tools, and takes one uninterrupted hour per spell level per spell. There is no chance of failure, unless the transcription process is interrupted, in which case it automatically fails. Further attempts can be made without restriction.
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Ritual Casting: Magic-Users, Illusionists and Necromancers may cast spells from their own spellbook beyond their slot capacity (but not beyond their level limit) if they spend one uninterrupted turn per spell level (e.g. a 3rd level spell takes three turns to cast).
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Scrolls of a higher level than the caster’s capability can be cast by any appropriate class of any class level, but they cannot be copied into spellbooks. This prevents scroll-hoarding and simultaneously encourages their use as “one-and-done” power boosts.
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Magical Research:
- Creating New Spells: It requires one uninterrupted day per spell level per spell to properly research a new spell, with the assumption that proper tools are at hand. Research costs 1000 gp per spell level per spell. These rules apply to both arcane and divine spells.
- Creating Magic Items: The standard OSE rules apply; however, all casters can attempt to create items at any level.
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Turn Undead: All optional limitations for Turning Undead, as described in the Advanced Fantasy Player’s Tome, are in effect.