Occult Constraint

Posted on August 7, 2024 in D20

Class: 5e Wizard (only); applies to i20™ only.

Point of Acquisition: Level 1. This term denotes the point at which the Class is taken. Either at the time of Character Inception or when the initial level is taken as part of multi-classing. These are both moments of Actuated Awareness.

Formulae: Refers to all Cantrips, Occult Formulae, and Spells related to the School of Magic referenced.

Advantages

School of Depth: 1 School of Magic chosen by the Magus (this is the emphasis)
– This Feature can only be selected once.

Changes to the School Formulae

• Arcane Recovery: Normal + their Proficiency Bonus in spell slots but only from School of Depth.
• Starting Formulae: Half must be from the School of Depth.
• Learning Formulae: One of the two learned at a new level must be learned in the School of Depth.
• Prepared Formulae: Choose one per spell level of the School of Depth; This does not count against the list of prepared spells, but always is automatically. The magus can change one (of the same school) whenever they gain a level.

Disadvantages

Superficial Schools: 2 affected Schools of Magic chosen by the Magus (these are the weakness)

Flawed Training Materials: The Occult Primer (learning materials) and Codex (spell book) reference work can only lead its reader to the same outcome with the same schools; It is not a good general starting point and will have to be re-written as part of the process for the Path to Correct.

Changes to the School Formulae

• Weakened Formulae: No Proficiency Bonus is gained on spell attack or save for spells in affected schools.
• Arcane Recovery: No Formulae from the affected schools can be regained through Arcane Recovery.
• Starting Formulae: None from the affected schools can be known at the Point of Acquisition.
• Learning Formulae: The cost to learn/transcribe Formulae of the schools is doubled for affected school Formulae.
• Ritualized Formulae: No Formulae of the affected schools can be ritualized unless it is Prepared.

Non-Mechanical Detriments/Drawbacks

Personality Trait: Everything is about my limited study of [ my School of Depth ] – it is the best solution to all problems. When given a choice, I will always choose to attempt a solution related to it above others, even if I know it is likely to fail.

Culture Stigma: Given their lack of adherence to the normal methods and processes by which a magus learns (varies by setting and circumstance, but there is a ‘normal’ process) they would not likely be the product of a formal Occult Institution or Organization. If they were, they would have left it due to some calamity or odd circumstance before their training was complete. Given their unreliable nature, it would seem as if formal institution of magi would generally be reluctant to take in such practitioners without stipulations and/or added costs to deal with their frustration.

Lack of Foundation: It is pretty regular practice in some settings to give all magi the formulae for Detect Magic without it counting towards any starting formulae knowledge – it is foundational to the magus culture and taught to all members of Occult Organizations and apprentices. Additionally, Find Familiar would also be unavailable (or imperfect at best) because the magus would lack the perspective to process the resultant bond. Any normal starting bonuses to Occult Phenomenology from an organization or mentor would not be present nor would they be unable to employ Occult Aptitude Thematics.

• At the Point of Acquisition, a character cannot cast spells/enact formulae and wear armor they have proficiency with until the next level in the assumptive class. Unfettered Casting has its own advantages for magi.

Path to Correct the Restraint

If the character ever wishes to correct their knowledge and behavior, they may re-learn their craft in the normal ways when they gain a level. They already have a foundation, so it is considerably less that learning it from scratch. Some costs may be covered if they are a member of an Occult Institution or Organization. creating experienced characters: cannot automatically process overcoming it.

• Re-training: 20-Intelligence (min 2) in months. The cost is 1 Cost Portion per month.
• Make a new Occult Primer (learning materials).
• Acquire a new Codex (spell book).
• Scribe all the spells in their Codex again, at normal cost no matter the school. The time for this is outside of any time re-training and follows standard rules.
• Replace their Focus Point Item (Arcane Focus).

Experienced Characters: Individual GMs may allow a starting character with multiple levels to have already gone through the process of Correcting the Restraint.

Optional: Overcome the Constraint

If the character wishes to give up the level they gained, they may be able to retain some of the advantages of their improper learning from their increased breadth of understanding. In addition to doing all the required work still, for each of the following, make an Occult Phenomenology check:

• Average Difficulty check > They may keep 2 spell levels of extra Arcane Recovery for the School of Depth
• Average Difficulty check > (Minus the formalue level) For the extra prepared spell formulae of each level they have currently
• Average Difficulty check > They may choose 1 from the list of utility Cantrips : Light, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, or Unseen Servant
• Average Difficulty check > or the Personality Trait remains

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Source: Practitioners of Shallow Occultism