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Spheres of
Power is one massive book - 230 pages, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of
editorial, 1 page SRD, 3 pages of KS-backer-thanks, 2 pages of ToC, 1 page back
cover, leaving us with no less than 220 (!!!) pages of content, so let's dive
in!
As you can glean
from the sheer length of this book, my usual in-depth analysis would bloat this
review to extents unprecedented, so instead, I will paint in somewhat broader
strokes than usual - also, since, apart from the well-written
chapter-introduction fluff-texts, the vast majority of content herein is
CRUNCH.
So, the
basic principle is pretty simple: Spheres of Power represents an alternate
magic system that can work as a substitution for the default vancian casting
and alongside it. Personally, I'd suggest using it as a replacement, mainly for
a couple of reasons. For one, there is the factor of terminology. Spheres of
Power utilizes the term "Caster Level" to mean something different -
basically, it could be likened to the base attack bonus and, similarly, there
are full, 3/4 and 1/2 progressions for classes and the like you'd convert to
the system: Paladins, for example, would adhere to 1/2 CL-progression as
"low casters." Saving throws are no longer based on spell levels, and
instead adhere to the classic 10 + 1/2 caster level +casting ability modifier,
if appropriate. Casting ability modifiers (CAM) are dependent on the respective
class used. Casting time ranges from 1 hour to 1 swift action and distances
adhere to pretty much the concise close, medium, long distinction we already
know from spells.
Characters
utilizing the Spheres of Power-system also utilize spell points equal to class
level + casting ability modifier. It should be noted that the multiclass
rulings for these basic components are VERY smooth and easy to grasp. Spheres
of Power also introduces the MSB and MSD
- Magic Skill Bonus and Magic Skill Defense. MSB is equal to total levels in
casting classes; MSD is equal to 11 + total levels in casting classes. This
becomes relevant in instances of pure concentration or when pitting your
magical force against another caster becomes the relevant thing you're trying
to do. Concentration is d20+MSB+ability modifier - for spell-level
interactions, an effect's spell level is equal to 1/2 caster level, with the
option of manifesting a magical effect voluntarily at a lower caster level to
render concentration easier. Penetrating SR is done via d20+MSB - simple,
elegant and the same ease also works for any call for CL-checks: You instead
roll MSB.
...
And that's
about the basics. The system's core rules fit comfortably on two pages. That's
a GOOD thing. Even better, the presentation is so simple and concise, it
renders grasping the system hilariously easy. There also is no divine/arcane
divide anymore, just fyi - so yes, false gods and the like...suddenly a much
more likely narrative option. It gets better: Magic is divided not into
traditional schools and subschools, but into spheres. Each time your caster
level increases, you get magic talents - these can be used to unlock new
spheres OR to learn special tricks within your available spheres.
You see,
each sphere has basic abilities that work at-will (byebye, 5-minute adventuring
day/nova issue...)...and others, that require the expenditure of spell points.
Hence, you can actually remain relevant as a caster sans burning through your
resources and still shine in your core competences - though, obviously, burning
through your resources will yield its own benefits. This basic system also
allows for exceedingly simple customization of existing classes into the
frame-work of spheres of power, meaning you will not be missing out on your
favorite 3pp-class or archetype, just because your group opted to go for
Spheres of Power.
From the
very get-go, this radically changes how magic and particularly, magic
specialists, work - you no longer have a specialization represented in things
you can't do, but rather by the things you CAN do AND, at the same time, you
get magic that is less prone to resulting in nigh-godlike omnipotence casters
at high levels - basically, sphere casters will excel at their given fields,
with literally your choices each level mattering more than your class or its
access to ridiculous amounts of resources, but at the same time, they will be
at the same time more restricted. Magic at once becomes more manageable, but
also more reliable and less bursty than in the vancian default. A total of 20
spheres are provided and each covers a significant array of utterly awesome
options.
Let's take
the Alteration-sphere as the first example, shall we? If you're like me and
have been delving into the gritty details of shapechanging and its mechanics,
you'll have noticed a serious array of pretty complicated details hiding in the
proverbial shadows of polymorph-y effects - granted, the issues have been
mitigated a bit by Pathfinder, but there still are ample instances wherein a
particular modification of one's body becomes problematic and requires some
dedicated close-reading. Alteration's basic ability, Shapeshift, requires a
standard action to activate and shifts either you or a touched creature, with a
duration of concentration. Unwilling creatures receive a save and necessitate
the expenditure of 1 spell point to shift.
Additionally,
you can expend 1 spell point to maintain shapeshift for 1 round/caster level
sans concentration for 1 spell point. The ability is codified properly as a
polymorph effect, and yes, we get rules for interactions between shapeshift
effects, allowing you to MSB-check to see which shift prevails. Targets
affected lose extraordinary and supernatural abilities and instead gain those
noted...and yes, equipment and magic item activation is also properly covered.
Disguise-interaction can be found and intriguingly, targets can also be partially
changed via blank form, granting them e.g. low-light or darkvision, natural
attacks (all sporting the proper primary/secondary classification) or cosmetic
appearances.
Now this is
the extent of things you can do with just access to the sphere - sans talents.
Add talents into the fray and things become really interesting: Want to
transform into animals or makes other creatures into humanoids? Check. Just
affect the mind of the target, for a lycanthrope-like berserk, animalistic
state? Check. Add lunging to natural attacks? Check. Poach amid nice monster
abilities à la trip or tremorsense? Yup. Size changes? Bingo. You won't be able
to do them all unless you specialize, but if you wanted a shapechanger with a
focus on the undead and vermin...well, here you go, 2 talents and you're
covered. And btw.: I am only lightly touching on the options one single sphere
allows you to have...now contemplate what you can build with 20 of them!
Obviously,
the material provided herein not only shows some extreme care regarding its
rules-language and set-up, it also needs, by virtue of its "alternate
system"-ambition, be able to cover the most divisive aspects of magic, the
ones with the most potential for issues...and beyond complexity beasts like
aforementioned alteration, there are two spheres that pretty much exemplify the
basic tenets of combat-centric magic: Destruction and Life. Destruction's base
ability is somewhat notorious, since it originally provided force-damage blasts
at-will...which is a pretty nasty, since it is the best damage-type you can
conceivably have and makes incorporeal foes too easy to eliminate. It is my
happy duty to report that the damage-type has since been changed to
bludgeoning, rendering the warlock-y blasting the sphere grants as a base ability
less problematic.
The scaling
of +1d6 every odd level and the limited range still maintain reasons for
non-magical ranged weapons to exist, though you can use talents to extend the
range - again, a matter of player agenda. Each blast can be further customized
by one blast shape and one blast type talent, which allows for some form of
control. Now, yes, this is a pretty simple means of adding warlock-y blasting
capacity to your caster, but at the same time, this is the one sphere I'm not
completely blown away by - mainly, since I'm a huge fan of the highly
customizable ethermagic introduced in Interjection Games' Strange Magic-book:
The variety there and the unique options as well as the damage-scaling are a
tad bit more precise and refined and personally, I consider the
resource-management there a bit more compelling...but know what? If you're
mathematically up to the task, you can fuse the two/recodify ethermagic as its
own sphere - the easy basic structure of spheres of power allows for such
blending and ultimate, that is perhaps the biggest strength of the system.
The Life
sphere, then, would be the other means by which a system could be broken: After
all, this one is all about healing and by now you know how much I loathe any
system that provides infinite healing. The Life sphere does just that...and at
the same time, it doesn't. The base, at-will ability, allows you to provide
temporary hit points to a touched target, but only up to your CL and only when
the target is injured - basically, you can band-aid minor injuries, while major
ones require the expenditure of spell points for proper healing, which the
sphere also provides. While quite a few minor negative conditions and even
ability damage can thus be alleviated via the expenditure of spell points, the
tying to the resources of the respective character (remember: One pool of
points for ALL spheres...), suddenly, we have an interesting
resource-management game here that emphasizes the severity of different
injuries by virtue of whether they can be covered by invigorate or not. My one
gripe here is that invigorate's scaling could have been a tad bit less linear
at higher levels, when damage far eclipses its usefulness, but then again, I
can modify that to properly fit my own tenets with just a modicum of
preparation and basic math. The impressive component with this sphere, at least
in my book, is that it manages to provide an infinite source of
HP-replenishment without breaking the game in play - even in relatively gritty
contexts. Flavor-wise, it also does not suffer from in-game logic issues that
haunt similar solutions or healing surges...so yes, consider me thoroughly
impressed.
These three
spheres, highlighting some of the most problematic potential aspects, should
provide enough insight on why this system as a base set-up, has merit...but
we're not just left with it. Instead, we get no less than 11 (!!!) base
classes.
Since my usual
in-depth analysis would bloat this horribly, please bear with me as I'm going
through them at an enhanced pace:
The Elementalist: d8, 4+Int skills 3/4 BAB, good Fort- and Ref-save 3/4 caster progression via Cha. Take the Destruction sphere for free with slightly better elemental enhancements as well as some monk-y tricks like evasion. Another Airbender-esque class. Okay when you're looking for it with Spheres, but I've seen cooler takes on the concept.
The Eliciter: d8, 4+Int skills per level, 3/4 BAB, good Will-save, 3/4 caster progression via Cha. This guy is pretty much the instigator/enchantment-type of manipulator who supplements his spellcasting via 3+1/2 class level hypnotism-abilities; If gaslighting, (de-)buffing and generally being a good face is something you enjoy, then that's a great class for the subject matter.
The Fey Adept: d8, 4+Int skills per level, good Will-save, 1/2 BAB, full caster progression via Cha. If the name wasn't ample clue - here we get the illusion sphere as a bonus talent and generally supplement these tricks with shadow/nature-themed tricks. If creative illusions and fooling foes with nasty tricks is your game, then this is the one you want. Also, obviously, if you like the slightly sinister tint of fey-type material. (In Midgard, this would e.g. be interesting...)
The Hedgewitch: d8, 6+Int skills per level, 3/4 BAB, good Will-save, 3/4 caster progression via either Int, Wis or Cha, chosen at first level. This class chooses a tradition that can be considered a thematic "bloodline"-like concept that represents different takes on the concept of the witch, with individual, exclusive customization options.
The Incanter: d6, 2+Int skills per level, 1/2 BAB, good Will-save, full caster progression via Int, Wis or Cha. This essentially can be summed up as the full-caster grab-bag class - basically, you can trade in things like domains and bloodlines (obviously minus spells and the like) for specialization points, which can be gained by losing the bonus feats of the class in ever-increasing amounts. The class also allows for such specializations to modify the spheres. Nice one.
The Mageknight: d10, 2+Int skills per level, Full BAB, good Fort- and Will-saves, 1/2 caster progression via Int, Cha or Wis. This would be the pala, bloodrager, magus-y garb-bag class. With Stalwart (evasion for Fort-and Will-saves), it has one of my pet-peeve abilities at 3rd level and over all, feels a bit like it doesn't really manage the grab-bag aspect that well...nor its own schtick. Among the classes presented herein, it's perhaps one of the conceptually weaker ones.
The Shifter: d8,4+Int skills, 3/4 BAB, good Fort- And Ref-saves, 3/4 caster progression via Wis, would, surprise, be the kind of druidy/alteration-sphere-specialist that lets you (and allies) go full blown wolpertinger via further natural attack/tricks and customization options.
The Soul Weaver: d6, 2+Int skills, 1/2 BAB, good Will-saves, full caster progression via Cha. This would be the healer/cleric/necromancer-type character that is determined by channel energy and the duality of blessings and blights. Nice one!
The Symbiat: d8, 4+Int skills, 3/4 BAB, good Ref- and Will-saves, 3/4 caster progression via Int. perhaps the class with the coolest fluff: Basically, you have a strange psionic aberration from the far realms/outer dark fused with your very souls, granting better tricks of the Mind and Telekinesis spheres and psionic-flavored additional tricks. Anime-Psion, the class, effectively. I like it enough to be thinking about how to blend this with DSP's psionics.
The Thaumaturge: d8, 4+Int skills per level, 3/4 BAB, good Will-save, full caster progression via Int, Wis or Cha. Theme-wise, this one is a bit occult-y, having the ability to enhance his tricks for the chance of backlash and a general sense of the Spheres of Power-class for the grittier games...make no mistake, though: These guys can still go pretty much blast-happy on foes.
All right,
so that would be the base-classes...but that's not even close to the end of
this massive book. Instead, next, there are archetypes - in fact, one for each
core class. Don't want to do the conversion work? Here's what you need. Neat!
The 10-level bokor PrC would be particularly feasible for campaigns featuring
both spells and sphere-casting, since it can be envisioned as a hybrid
vancian/sphere-caster. Nice if you require the like; personally, I think
Spheres work better as a substitution.
Okay, where
things get interesting, at least for me, is with the advanced magic-chapter:
Instead of smashing these components into the design of the vanilla spheres,
the advanced magic talents provided can be envisioned as the rather brutal
options: 2-mile darkness? Check. Tsunamis and summoning? Check - This section
is absolutely, marvelously, brilliant. Why? Because it does right what so many
systems like this do not get: There is a lot table-variation out there. From
low-fantasy grit to epic high-fantasy, from magic suffused space-opera to
horror-esque sci-fantasy, there are infinite ways to play the game - and this
chapter collects the high-fantasy, huge AoE, narrative effects and takes that
requirement off the GM's shoulders: No skimming through the spheres and
disallowing certain options - simply restrict this chapter (or unlock) it at
your leisure and there you go. Quite honestly, this is absolutely stunning:
Want to play a game where PCs can unleash tsunamis against dragon-fleets?
Allow! Want to play gritty survival at low levels? Ban (at least for the
PCs...)! Simple, elegant and as tightly phrased and presented as possible. A
joy to read and a fistpump-worthy hell yeah moment if there ever was one.
Secondly,
rituals deserve special mention - know how I mentioned that imho, this works
best as a substitution? If you're like me, you will have rolled your eyes and
thought: "Oh great, so module xyz, which banks on spell zyx, now won't
work." Enter rituals. Basically, this allows you to redesign spells into
sphere-based rituals that duplicate the spell's effects and aligns them with
spheres. While personally, I'm not a big fan of adding the power imbalance of
the triple scaling axis of spells back in, particularly when a module requires
the like, a limited system-transparency is thus maintained...and you can still
tinker with the casting time (which is increased significantly) even further:
This allows magic to have a Sword & Sorcery-style flair: Sure, there is the
quick sphere-casting...and then, there is the time-consuming, dread, city-leveling
rituals...and you can add wonderful lists of exotic components to the fray for
further adventuring opportunities and means for the PCs to foil evil
ritualists. Optional pricing and tables of strange effects further supplement
this use of the rules.
The
Spellcrafting system that allows you to make your own magical effects, at least
to me, somewhat pales in its actual requirement (seeing how many spells can be
converted), but who am I to complain...particularly when my beauties, one of my
favorite sub-systems, incantations, are covered as well? This book, at this
point on my initial read, had achieved an almost creepy level of "EZG
likes it" - something further escalated by the copious player options that
not only manage to get counterspelling and circle casting and contingencies
right; no, beyond mere feats and the like, it was the accumulation of casting
traditions that further elated me to levels of joy seldom obtained: Basically,
you choose boons and drawbacks for casting traditions, representing benefits
and drawbacks of individual approaches to magic, with general and
sphere-specific ones all coming together in one glorious customization fest
that should have both players and GMS alike grin from ear to ear.
Okay, but
what about the magic items? One whole chapter is devoted to magic items,
crafting and modified effects, further underlining the massively-detailed,
holistic approach of the book. And yes, you'd be right in a way that this book
may sound daunting at first glance - it's really not. Also thanks to a massive
chapter guiding you through the implementation of rules, the cherry-picking
process and manipulation/creation of more of them - before actually delving
into several brief sketches of sample campaign settings sporting the rules- Oh,
and, just in case you're like me a grumpy guy and now would begin complaining
about "magic not existing in its own vacuum" and things like
"world consistency" - what about no less than 6 sample organizations,
including traits and TPA/CPA-levels? Heck yes.
But, you
know me: I'll still complain over the lack of NPCs. Well, we get those as well.
And skeleton/zombie/animated object toolkits. Oh, and char-sheets.
Conclusion:
Editing and
formatting are top-notch -while I
noticed very minor inconsistencies here and there (one ability reading:
(primary...) while another read (Primary...) and the like, at this point, any
complaints about those sound hollow. One pet-peeve of mine makes me constantly
cringe, though: The books gets cold damage wrong, constantly referring to it as
"frost damage" etc. - something that btw. also extends to the
expansion..but at least it is consistent in this glitch.
Layout
adheres to a beautiful 2-column full-color standard with ample of original
full-color artworks. The book comes fully bookmarked for your convenience and
provides an interactive version of the char-sheet. Unfortunately, I do not own
the physical copy of this book, so no, I can't comment on that version.
Adam
Meyers, Owen K.C. Stephens, Thomas Keene, Ryan ricks - gentlemen, you have me
utterly flabbergasted. It's time to come clean here: I wasn't excited about
this book in the least. Not at all. I saw the KS and literally thought
"Meh, don't need it." You see, the pitch of avatar/fiction-like
spellcasting simply didn't appeal too much to me. Damn, was I wrong. For one,
sphere casting is much (MUCH!) better balanced than vacian spellcasting and the
introduction of the material herein should end the martial/caster-strife for
most groups. Secondly, this book actually manages something just about
unprecedented: It manages to account for table variations in an almost uncanny
way: You can use Spheres of Power with Interjection Games-classes, psionics,
Akashic Mysteries...and actually get a balanced, cool game. similarly, you
could highly restrict it and go full-blown gritty...or utterly anime-style
high-fantasy. This system's modularity is a thing of true beauty, its easy
means for potential expansion a milestone. Now granted, there are some minor
aspects I am not a fan of - stalwart, the destruction-sphere's blasting and
similar elements all didn't blow me away - but see, that's the beauty of the
system: By means of its elegance and relatively open design, I see no reason
why a capable GM couldn't tweak, mesh and blend the living hell out of this
system.
Beyond an
increased emphasis on meaningful player-agenda, tight rules-language and a
holistic claim it actually manages to fulfill, spheres of power also has these
cool tidbits: From the advanced customization to relics and incantations, this
massive book takes just about anything you could complain about and tells you
"Jep, already covered that...here." This may very well be one of the,
if not the most refined, yet open casting systems I've seen in a long, long
time - one that still can, but doesn't need to, draw on the vast canon of
published Pathfinder-material.
If the
above, gushing monologue wasn't ample clue for you: Spheres of Power is a
phenomenal book, a tome of a quality you only rarely get to see and one that
is, quite frankly, significantly better than the limited KS-pitch back in the
day ever made me hope it could be. Spheres of Power is a universally,
absolutely superb book, one that cannot only inspire characters or the like -
it can inspire campaigns. It is my firm conviction that this book belongs into
the library of the distinguished Pathfinder-GM: There is an exceedingly high
chance that my next campaign will use these rules (alongside non-vancian
casting classes by e.g. Dreamscarred Press and Interjection Games) to take a
complete break from vancian spellcasting. Not because I don't like spells and
the vancian system - quite the contrary, actually. However, because I believe
that using this book and using different spellcasting methods lets you tell a
whole cosmos of different tales, of different power-levels and dichotomies
between casters and non-casters.
I'll say it
again - Spheres of Power is one of the most impressive books I've read in a
long while; it may not be perfect, but it is a massive inspiration and I
staunchly believe that any group can benefit from at least contemplating using
this book when starting a new campaign (or initiating a magic-altering
event/switching settings, etc.). Spheres of Power is a milestone-level book I
will certainly try to get in print. My final verdict will clock in at 5 stars,
seal of approval, nomination as a candidate for my Top Ten of 2015 as well as
the EZG Essentials-tag, since its facilitation for story-telling and its
ridiculously high scavenging/system-fusion potential. A stellar tome, well worth
every cent of its fair asking price.
You can get this superb, massive tome here on OBS and here on d20pfsrd.com's shop!
Endzeitgeist
out.
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