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Just want to make sure I understand the Magic rules

A topic by Mograg created Dec 29, 2021 Views: 316 Replies: 2
Viewing posts 1 to 2

Hi - just want to make sure I understand the Magic rules (page 18) - can you kindly advise me?  I understand that a character can obtain magic spells as part of character creation and as a consequence of Stress Fallout.  But what about the character who, say, raids an occultist's lair and finds a book that teaches a spell or two?  Are these books treated as Scrolls (page 20)?  Seems weird that the book would disappear after one use.  Or - instead - does the character study the spell(s) from the spellbook and add them to his/her Inventory slots?  That way the spellbook does not disappear when the spell is cast.  The book is probably safe at home in the character's study or whatnot.  And - once the spell is cast - if the character fails to retain the spell (failed CTRL save), I imagine they can go back to the spellbook at a later time and 'reload' the spell into their Inventory.  Does all this sound correct and reasonable?  I'm thinking of spell books that are found as a consequence of investigating a Cthulhu-type mystery (old book found in a haunted house, etc.) instead of spontaneous magic generated as part of character creation or as a result of Stress Fallout.  Am I doing it 'right?'  Thank you for any advice or insight you can provide!

Developer

First off, I will always er on the side of the table's interpretation, and that going with what makes sense to the narrative is always most important.  I think that your approach to having them learn it from the book and then having to going back to study it if they forget the spell is a nice to make narrative sense of it being a book and resource gained in play.

An alternative approach would be to treat the book like a relic, making it have a "cost" to recharge. 

I'm also a fan of the book being something in which you can create a more specific magical spell with.

Either way you go I think will be fun for the players. 

Thanks - this gives me some excellent options.  While always keen to read the mood of the table and suit our style of play to whatever feels best for our local crew, I also like to check in with the game's creator (when possible), to make sure I've 'got it right' from the get-go, then our table can decide how many liberties we'd like to take with what is originally intended.  I very much appreciate your being open to questions.  Liminal Horror is a fantastic game!