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Arcanist

Attribute	Value
Hit Die	d6
HP/level	4
Weapon Prof.	Simple Weapons, Wand, Staff, Orb
Armor Prof.	None
Saving Throws	Int, Wis
Bonus Skills	Arcana

Level	Special Ability
1	Forma (1st), Spell Focus
2
3	Forma (2nd)
4
5	Forma (3rd)
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Spell Focus

Casting is hard. But it's easier with a focus!

Wands: targeted spells
Staves: concentration spells
Orb: area spells

Forma

You are able to cast spells by evoking the power of ancient symbols, power words, and arcane formulae. While helpful, these are but aids to master the mental control needed to to envison formae, which form the basis of spells.

Formae (the plural) each describe a fundamental magical effect, such as opening a portal, or creating light, or transforming an object's shape. To do more complex things, it is possible (through even greater mental effort) to combine multiple formae at the same time. A spell comprised of a single forma is described as one of the "First Order", whereas one comprised of multiple is "Second Order". "Third Order" does not describe three formae, but instead describes a combination of multiple forma, at least one of which is Second-Order. One can imagine Fifth Order spells as quite complex indeed.

You do not use an Energy mechanic to cast spells. Rather, you roll skill checks, the DC of which is based on the difficulty of the formae and adjectivae involved; failure on these checks can cause negative consequences.
By default, when casting spells, you use mnemonics, which are mental aids in the form of geometric symbols, arcane words, gestures, etc. These are not themselves the components of magic, but rather devices that aid in the construction of formae in your mind. It is nearly impossible to learn formae without them, although it is possible to cast a well-known spell without them, if necessary. When deprived of your mnemonics, you suffer a penalty to the spellcasting check: -5 if deprived of your voice and -5 if deprived of your ability to gesture.

Name	Translation	Description
Lux	Light	Creates light
Impello	Force	Move matter with kinetic force
Parma	Shield	Block the motion of energy and matter
Aperio	Open	Opens doors, containers, etc
Ordo	Order	Mend damaged objects, organize sets of things, etc
Purgo	Purge	Separates impurities from the whole
Voce	Voice	Creates sound
Vide	See	Grants sight, physical or metaphysical
Ignis	Fire	Creates fire or heat
Appareo	Appear	Teleport yourself
Porta	Portal	Create portals within or beyond your dimension
Velo	Veil	Create illusions which hide creatures or objects from sight
Formo	Transform	Change the shape of an object or creature
Glacies	Ice	Creates cold or ice, freezes objects or surfaces
Tenebrae	Darkness	Creates areas of magical darkness, obscures vision
Volare	Fly	Grants the ability to levitate or fly for a short duration
Curare	Heal	Restores health or cures minor ailments
Animare	Animate	Animates objects or creates temporary magical constructs
Tempus	Time	Alters the flow of time briefly (slow, haste, etc)
Mens	Mind	Reads thoughts, communicates telepathically, or influences emotions
Terra	Earth	Manipulates earth, stone, or minerals
Aqua	Water	Controls or creates water, manipulates liquids
Ventus	Wind	Generates gusts of wind, manipulates air currents
Umbra	Shadow	Manipulates shadows, creates shadowy illusions

Lux (Light)

Let there be light!

Skill Use	DC	Description
Fiat Lux	10	Creates an orb of light while you concentrate. Occupies a hand or focus slot.
Light Orb	14	Orb of light can fly as you direct, within line of sight.
Flashbang	17	Creates a sudden burst of light that blinds creatures (Con ends). Disadvantage if lighting was dim before you cast it.
Searing Light	20	Focused light beam causes fire damage.

Impello (Force)

Ordo / Ordino (order): mend what is broken; organize what is chaotic
Parma / Contego (shield): protect yourself
Porta (portal): you know, portals?
TBD (passage): opens doors, containers, etc
Purgo (purify): removes impurities/dirt/etc
Ignis / Ardeo (fire): burns
Voce / Loqui (speak): produce a sound your voice is capable of
Vide (see): see that which you cannot see

2nd-Order Uses

2nd Skill	Spell	DC	Description
Vide (See)	Hidden Light	20	Create light invisible to the eye (infrared), which you then see with the aid of divination. Effectively nightvision.
Impelle (Force)	Lux Impello	17	Creates an orb of focused light, then hurls it at a foe, causing fire damage.

Adjectivae

Inversa (reverse): light to darkness, push to pull, fire to cold, etc
Persevero: extend a spell's duration beyond concentration
Roboro: intensify a spell's effect

Ideas

Two uses for each base power:

Sustained (Fluere): what you can do continuously (concentration). Example: force shield, lux, flames!
Burst (Impleo): what you can do when you charge up a round's worth of mana and let it go all at once. Example: magic missile, flashbang, fireball?

More ideas:

Enchant into item (imbuo)
Contingent cast
Soul bind

Paths

Wizard

Sorcerer

Golemwright

Chronomancer

Battlemage

AKA Warden

They get enchantment points to basically create their own magic items. Like Harry Dresden, obv.