Magical Energies in the Marvel Universe (MSH)

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MAGICAL ENERGIES

What energies a magic-wielder draws upon is decided at the outset of the character’s creation. Magical energy can be drawn from three different sources: personal, universal, and dimensional. Each source of energy yields a slightly different form of magic, although it is easy to achieve the same result using different sources. Most magic-wielding characters have more than one source that they have learned to tap into. Learning the differences between these energies is the key to being an efficient magic-wielder.

Personal Energies[/i] are derived from the personal energy of the character’s soul/mind/body. This energy fuels any power or spell that affects the caster himself or a willing subject; trances, astral form, thought projections, physical alterations, and so forth can all use personal energy.

Universal Energies are gained by tapping this universe’s ambient magical energy and channeling it for special effects. It is used for spells and powers affecting the world outside the sorcerer.

Teleportations, attacks, illusions, and so on, tap the energy fields of the universe, using the magician as a focus.

Dimensional Energies[/i] are used by tapping beings or objects of power dwelling in mystical dimensions, tangential to our own. This form of energy is the least wearing upon the user. The sorcerer may only use these energies for powerful spells, groups of spells, or to ask for things that the being or aspect called upon would and/or could provide. The dimensional energies are usually gained by the recitation of spells, either ritualized ones found in various mystical texts or by original spells invoking extra-dimensional assistance. If calling upon an extradimensional being it is important to remember that the magic-wielder makes himself known to the being he is calling, and often to other magic-wielding beings powerful enough to monitor the use of dimensional energy.



Taken from MHAC9- Realms of Magic Book 1: Manual of Magic by Kim Eastland

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Each type of energy has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Personal Energies are automatically available, but may only be used on the wielder or on a willing target. A green Psyche FEAT is required for success. (There may be cases where the target is restrained but less than willing. In those cases, a red FEAT would be required for success.) Spells that use personal energy require no chanting or gestures to succeed*. Use of personal energies has some effect on the wielder. For each turn of Power use, the caster loses one Health point. If Health is reduced to 0 as the result of these actions, the mage becomes unconscious. Do not allow an Endurance FEAT, unless other circumstances (say, the hero loses consciousness above an active nuclear reactor) merit it.

The success of spells using Universal Energies depends on the type of spell. All spells that affect the Psyche or abilities of the target grant that target a Psyche FEAT to avoid the effect, treating the caster's Psyche as the Intensity of the attack. If the Psyche FEAT is successful, the attacking magic-wielder's Psyche is reduced by one rank for 1-in turns. If Psyche is reduced below Good, the caster loses the ability to cast spells. Universal spells require a gesture or chant to cast, and the caster must have his hands and mouth free*.

Spells that rely on Dimensional Energies may duplicate those of personal and universal effects, but draw their energy from an outside source. Those extra-dimensional entities that are listed as the magic-wielding character's Contacts are considered Friendly to the mage's actions, and may be called on to work the listed spells. Those that are not listed are considered Neutral or Unfriendly Contacts, and those that the mage has personally offended are considered Hostile. Dimensional energy spells automatically have an initiative roll of 10 and require both chanting and gestures to entreat the force to respond*.

Example: The good Doctor Strange has listed on his card as Contacts the Vishanti, Cyttorak, Hoggoth, Raggadorr, and Seraphim. He is considered Friendly to these Powers. Ikonn is not listed, though Doe Strange does have Illusion Powers that draw on him. He is considered Neutral. Dormammu, whom Strange called on early In his career end later discovered to be an evil force (a real sludge-bucket), is Hostile.

To cast a spell requiring dimensional energies, make a Popularity FEAT treating the caster's Psyche as Popularity. If the FEAT is successful, the dimensional energy it, granted, and the spell goes off as noted. If the FEAT is unsuccessful, there will still be a magical effect, but it will be of significantly less power, and may have other effects as well:

• It the being is Friendly to the mage (listed as a Contact), the spell goes off at 3 column shifts less powerful than the listed power. Example: The character has a distance Entrapment Power which he refers to as the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak, at Amazing (47) rank. The entity is listed as a Contact, but the Psyche FEAT fails. The spell goes off, but is only of Excellent(20) rank Strength.

• If the being is Neutral to the mage, the call will go unanswered. The spell will fail. Example: Doctor Doom attempts to summon the Flames of Falroth to reintegrate his body Falroth does not give two hoofs about this Doom fellow, so that when the FEAT fails, nothing happens.

• If the being is Unfriendly to the mage, the Judge must make a decision. It may respond either as Neutral or Hostile. Look at the hero's involvement with that being. Has he called on it before? Was it once a Contact? Is the situation dire? If all else fails, the Judge rolls a single die: on a result of 1-7 the entity or power is Neutral, if 8-10 the entity is Hostile.

• If the being is Hostile to the mage, retribution is swift and sure and totally up to the Judge. If the being is hateful of all life, a gate may be opened, allowing it to enter this dimension. If the caster is in combat, the being called upon may aid the opponent. If the being is rather a dimension that the mage has gotten on the bad side of (such as Raggadorr), the caster may suddenly find himself sucked into that dimension, before that being, or tossed into another dimension entirely. It is not a good idea to attempt to summon Hostile beings.

Shifts for casting Spells

A number of conditions may affect the casting of spells, resulting in column shifts. These shifts are made at the time of the casting, and may reduce a spell below Feeble to Shift 0, At Shift 0, a spell is impossible. All Shifts are cumulative.

-1CS • if the target of the spell is from a different dimension than the caster
• if the caster is in astral form

-2CS • if the target is more than 30' in size or occupies more than one area

+1CS • if the area in which the spell is cast is familiar to the mage or to the Powers he invokes (home turf advantage)

+2CS • if the spell is cast in ceremony
• if the form of the spell comes from an ancient book or tome found during the campaign

+3CS • if the target of the spell is a willing subject for dimensional and universal energies

A ceremony is an established ritual by which certain actions are taken to achieve desired results. Ceremonies are only used for Universal and Dimensional energies. A ceremony takes a number of rounds equal to the rank number of the spell being cast.





*This would be in lieu of using Mechanisms as outlined in MA3- The Ultimate Powers Book. If using that fine piece of work, use the rules listed there instead.

Taken from MA0- Marvel Super-Heroes Advanced Set Player's Book by Jeff Grubb & TSR, inc.