The legend of the Witch on the Sword in the Stone is a well-known tale that has been passed down through the ages. It tells the story of a powerful witch who was said to have possessed magical powers. According to the legend, the witch lived in a mysterious forest and was known for her ability to control the elements and cast powerful spells. One day, a brave knight came across the witch's forest and heard tales of her powers. Intrigued and determined to prove his own strength, the knight set out to find the witch and challenge her to a battle. As he ventured deeper into the forest, he faced numerous obstacles and trials, but he never wavered in his quest.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, he faced numerous obstacles and trials, but he never wavered in his quest. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the knight stumbled upon a clearing in the forest. In the center of the clearing stood a massive stone, upon which a sword was stuck.
Dragonsfoot
A forum for fans of games currently in production or available for free that try to recapture the magic of early editions of D&D and AD&D. Please read the forum announcements for a full list.
Free retro-clone downloads
Akrasia Personal Avatar of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 1460 Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:53 pm Location: Dominion of Canada
[C&C] Non-Vancian Staff-Based Spell Casting
Post by Akrasia » Mon Feb 07, 2005 8:45 am
Inspired by a past thread here on requiring that wizards use a staff as their spellcasting 'focus', as well as an idea for a more flexible (broadly 'nonVancian') approach to spellcasting, I came up with the following house rules:
Spellcasting Abilities
Daily spell lists for spellcasters.
Each day a spellcaster prepares a list of spells for each spell level that he can cast 'spontaneously' as he chooses. For example, a second level wizard with 15 intelligence can cast 4 0-level and 4 1st-level spells per day. He would thus choose a 'list' of four cantrips and four first level spells, and could cast any combination of those four cantrips and four first level spells that day (though cantrips cannot be cast in place of first level spells, and vice versa). For example, say the wizard prepared for his first level spells burning hands, charm person, identify, and spider climb. He could then cast each of those spells once that day, cast identify four times (and not cast any of the others at all), or cast burning hands twice and spider climb twice. This option obviously makes spellcasters a bit more versatile, but is balanced by the fact that many spells will be unavailable.
Wizard staffs and Illusionist wands.
Arcane spellcasters require no material components or normal 'spell books'. Instead, the wizard's focus is his staff. The wizard can choose one spell from each spell level known (i.e. one 0 level spell, one 1st level spell, etc.) that he can cast without his staff, but for all other spells he needs his staff. Moreover, all arcane magic is rune-based (so scrolls and books found typically contain runes of spells). As the wizard learns more spells, he carves these runes into his staff, so the staff serves the role of a 'spell book'. The exceptions are those spells he can cast without his staff -- those are tattooed onto the wizard himself (his hands and arms). As a consequence, the wizard is heavily dependent on his staff (this is the main constraint he faces, to balance the increased flexibility gained from the 'spell list' house rule I am using, and to keep the sorcerer more or less balanced with the wizard). The wizard's staff is considered a magical item, and has a spell resistance of 15 + the wizard's level. Spells like 'shatter' and 'warp wood' would have to overcome that resistance to work. Illusionists are like wizards, except they use multiple wands instead of a single staff (and normally try to conceal their wands 'up their sleaves' and whatnot).
So far they seem to be working rather well (though we are only two games into my new C&C campaign -- my earlier C&C games were both 'one shots').
My gaming blog: https://akraticwizardry.blogspot.com/Maliki Greater Deity of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 12579 Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2004 9:18 pm Location: Western Maryland
Post by Maliki » Sun Feb 13, 2005 9:33 am
Here's what I have come up with for a wizard using a staff as his focus.
From levels 1-3 he can only cast 0lvl spells without his staff.
From levels 4-7 he may cast 1st level spells without his staff.
From levels 8-11 he may cast 2nd level spells without his staff
From levels 12-15 he may cast 3rd level spells without his staff
From levels 16-19 he may cast 4th level spells without his staff
And at 20th level he can cast up to 5th level spells without his staff.
Also at 4th level the staff becomes a magical(+1) weapon, and provides the wizard with a (+1) bonus to AC. This bonus increases by 1 at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th level.
I will probably use a similar progression for the party's cleric with regards to what level spells he may cast without his focus(holy symbol). I will also grant him a +1 bonus to the number of undead he may turn at every 4 levels.(d12+1+chr mod at 4th level, d12+2+chr mod at 8th level, etc)
I haven't worked anything out for the druid yet, and I'm not worried about the illusionist class right now because there is none in my party.
Making slackers look like overachievers since 2004
Akrasia Personal Avatar of Dragonsfoot
Posts: 1460 Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:53 pm Location: Dominion of Canada
It was said that only the bravest and most worthy of knights could free the sword from the stone. Without hesitation, the knight approached the stone and attempted to pull the sword free. However, no matter how hard he tried, the sword remained firmly lodged in the stone. Frustrated and exhausted, the knight sank to his knees, ready to admit defeat. But just as he was about to give up, a voice echoed through the clearing. It was the witch, revealing herself for the first time. She explained that the sword could only be freed by someone who possessed both courage and humility. The knight realized that it was not his physical strength that would set him apart, but rather his inner qualities. With a newfound understanding, the knight focused his thoughts and summoned all of his courage and humility. As he grasped the hilt of the sword once more, a surge of energy flowed through him. With a mighty pull, the sword broke free from the stone, and the knight was victorious. The legend of the Witch on the Sword in the Stone serves as a reminder of the importance of inner strength and character. It teaches us that true power lies not in physical abilities, but in the qualities that make us who we are. It also reminds us that every challenge we face can be overcome with the right mindset and determination. So, let this tale inspire you to seek your own inner strength, to embrace your unique qualities, and to always strive for greatness. Just as the knight overcame the obstacles of the forest and claimed victory, so too can you overcome any challenges that stand in your way. Remember, the power lies within you..
Reviews for "The Witch on the Sword in the Stone: A Story of Heroism and Magic"
- Sarah - 2 stars -
I was really excited to read "Witch on Sword in the Stones" because I love fantasy novels, but I was so disappointed. The plot was confusing and all over the place, I couldn't keep track of what was happening. The characters were also very one-dimensional and I couldn't connect with any of them. Overall, I found it to be a disappointing read.
- John - 1 star -
I had high hopes for "Witch on Sword in the Stones" as it was highly recommended to me, but I couldn't get past the writing style. The prose was clunky and awkward, which made it difficult to immerse myself in the story. The pacing was also off, with the story dragging in some parts and rushing through important events in others. It just didn't work for me, and I wouldn't recommend it.
- Emily - 2 stars -
I struggled to finish "Witch on Sword in the Stones". The world-building felt underdeveloped, and I couldn't grasp the rules and dynamics of the magical elements. The dialogue was also stilted and unnatural, making it hard to believe in the interactions between characters. Overall, it just didn't capture my attention or leave a lasting impression.