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com A Dozen Effects of Lingering Spell Energy
A Dozen
Effects of Lingering
Spell Energy
by Philip Reed Requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons®
Player’s Handbook
When a spell is successfully cast, the
arcane or divine energy released during the
process leaves a faint, invisible aura that is
ignored by all but the most powerful of spell-
casters. This invisible aura is often referred to
as lingering spell energy by those spellcasters
Spotting Spell Energy
In the round after a divine or arcane spell
is cast all characters within sight of the cast-
er of the spell may make a Spellcraft check
(DC 30 + spell level). On a successful check
the lingering spell energy is “seen” by the
spellcaster. Lingering spell energy appears
as a faint, glowing cloud of pure arcane
energy and is only spotted by those who
make a successful Spellcraft check. This
check is a free action and any spellcaster
who devotes the entire round to searching
for the spell energy gains a +5 bonus to his
roll but he also provokes an attack of oppor-
tunity from any opponent within 5 feet.
Tapping into
Spell Energy
Once the energy is spotted, all who have
seen it may attempt to tap into the energy.
The energy lingers for 1d4 rounds x the
level of the spell cast and tapping into
requires the character to be within the ener-
1
versed in its existence. The number of spell-
casters with knowledge of lingering spell
energy is small and, smaller still, is the num-
ber of spellcasters who have learned how to
tap into this invisible aura of magical power.
Open Game Content
All of the text of this PDF is presented
as open game content. While this means
absolutely nothing to your campaign it
does give other publishers permission to
use this material as long as they follow the
open game license (see the end of this
PDF).
About The Author
Philip Reed has been working profes-
sionally in the roleplaying game industry
since 1995. In that time he has worked for
such companies as Atlas Games, Privateer
Press, and Steve Jackson Games. Today
Philip spends his days at home running
Ronin Arts, writing and designing new
games, and reading whatever books inter-
est him at the time. To learn more about
Philip Reed – and Ronin Arts – please visit
www.philipjreed.com and www.roni-
narts.com.
www.creationcrash.com
gy’s cloud. A spell energy cloud extends a
number of feet from the original caster equal
to the spell’s level.
To tap into the spell energy requires a
Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the level of the
spell cast). Only one character may tap into
the energy from a single cast spell; if more
than one character attempts to tap into a sin-
gle cloud of lingering spell energy an
opposed Spellcraft check must be made. The
Using Tapped Spell Energy
Once the energy is tapped it must be
released within one minute or the character
may suffer permanent damage (see below).
There are a number of ways in which tapped
spell energy may be used, a few of which fin-
ish out this short PDF. DMs and players are
encouraged to create their own new uses for
tapped spell energy – as always, the DM has
the final say in what is and is not official in
his campaign.
ARCANE AND
DIVINE LINGERING
SPELL ENERGY
The basic rules introduced in this PDF
treat spell energy, no matter the source, the
same. DMs and players with an eye for
detail and complexity may choose to dif-
ferentiate between arcane and divine spell
energy when using these rules. To do so,
just pair like with like. Divine spellcasters
can spot and tap into divine spell energy
while arcane spellcasters can spot and tap
into arcane spell energy. It’s actually
amazingly simple to implement in a game
session but it’s an extra level of detail
(which is why this is being presented as a
variant to the basic system).
2
A Dozen Effects of Lingering Spell Energy
highest roller, as long as he equals or
exceeds the DC required to tap into the ener-
gy, has successfully tapped the spell energy.
As soon as lingering spell energy is tapped
the cloud is absorbed into the spellcaster’s
body. Those who had successfully “spotted”
the spell energy now see a faint magical
glow surrounding the character that success-
fully tapped the energy.
To place some control on the use of tapped
spell energy, the many uses have been broken
down by level of the spell tapped. If creating
completely new uses DMs and players
should consider the uses presented in this
PDF a guide.
NOTE: A spellcaster may not attempt to
tap the energy released by these various
effects.
DAMAGE FROM
UNUSED SPELL
ENERGY
If a caster has not released tapped spell
energy within one minute (possibly due to be
rendered unconscious or otherwise unable to
act) there is a chance that the caster will be
permanently harmed by the spell energy.
The caster must make a Will save (DC 20
+ the level of the tapped spell). If this check
succeeds the tapped spell energy has dissipat-
ed without harm and is gone forever. If the
check fails, the caster suffers 1 point of hit
point damage per level of the spell tapped –
there is a 5% chance per level of the tapped
spell that this damage is permanent.
www.creationcrash.com
Sample Effects
Acidic Spit
Level: 1
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex half
Spell Resistance: Yes
By making a successful ranged touch
attack, as a free action, the caster spits a glob
of acid that inflicts 1d4 points of damage on
the target. The targeted creature, if it makes a
successful Reflex save (DC 20), suffers only
half damage.
Arcane Heart
Level: 3
Range: Touch
Target: Caster
Duration: 30 minutes or until used, see
text
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
The caster fortifies his soul by completely
absorbing the tapped spell energy, as a free
action, melding its power with his own innate
magical skills. The caster is immune to the
effects of energy draining creatures or pow-
ers for 30 minutes or until an energy draining
effect is thwarted by this effect.
Arcane Surge
Level: 1
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
As a free action you unleash the tapped
spell energy in a pinprick of bright white
light that shoots forth from your hand and
strikes one creature – of your choice – within
range. The target of this spell suffers 1d4+1
points of arcane damage.
3
A Dozen Effects of Lingering Spell Energy
Arcane Surge, Greater
Level: 8
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
Like arcane surge, except it inflicts 10d8
points of damage on the target.
Aura of Desecration
Level: 4
Range: 10 ft. radius emanation, centered
on you
Duration: 5 rounds
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
As a free action you envelope yourself –
and the area around you – in an aura of evil
power that effects undead and turning
attempts. All turn attempts make within the
aura suffer a –4 profane penalty; all undead
within the area gain a +1 profane bonus on all
attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves.
Condemn
Level: 6
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One divine spellcaster
Duration: 6 rounds
Saving Throw: Will half (see text)
Spell Resistance: Yes
My making a successful ranged touch
attack against the chosen target, the target’s
ability to cast divine spells is eliminated for
the spell’s duration. This effect severs the
spellcaster’s connection with his deity for the
duration. If the target makes a successful Will
save (DC 26) the effect’s duration is cut in
half.
The target also loses all class abilities
related to his divine class for the duration of
this effect.
www.creationcrash.com
Consume Undead Strength
Level: 2
Range: Touch
Target: One undead creature touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
My making a successful touch attack
against any undead creature, as a standard
action, the caster inflicts 4d4 points of dam-
age to the undead creature. The caster also
gains a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength
for a number of rounds equal to the HD of the
undead creature successfully damaged by
this effect.
Divine Agent
Level: 5
Range: Touch
Target: Caster
Duration: 10 minutes
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
The tapped spell energy, as a standard
action, transforms the caster into an agent of
the gods, granting a +2 enhancement bonus
to all attributes and sheathing the caster visi-
ble divine energy that blinds all who look at
him (Reflex save DC 20 to avoid the blind-
ness effect).
Additionally, upon transformation, a blade
of fire appears in the caster’s hand (as per the
flame blade spell) and lasts until the caster
releases it or this effect ends.
Immunity to Chaos
Level: 9
Range: Touch
Target: Caster
Duration: 30 minutes
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
For the duration of this effect the caster
cannot be harmed by any spell, spell-like
ability, magic item, or supernatural effect that
has the [Chaotic] descriptor.
4
A Dozen Effects of Lingering Spell Energy
Mindfeed
Level: 7
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
By grasping the target’s head in your
hands, as a standard action, you drain 1d4
points of the target’s Intelligence and gain a
number of temporary hit points equal to 4x
the number of Intelligence points drained.
These hit points may raise you above your
maximum number of hit points and they
remain for 24 hours or until lost to hit point
damage.
Ray of Decay
Level: 2
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: Ray
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
As a standard action, on his turn, you fire
a magical ray. You must succeed a ranged
touch attack with the ray to deal 5d4 points of
damage to the target.
Temporary Healing
Level: 0
Range: Touch
Target: Caster
Duration: Variable, see text.
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
As a move-equivalent action, you may
transform the spell energy into 2d4 tempo-
rary hit points – add these to your current hit
points though you may not go over your
maximum number of hit points. These points
fade away at the rate of 1 hit point/round.
www.creationcrash.com
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System Reference Document Copyright
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A Dozen Effects of Lingering Spell Energy
copyright © 2004 Philip Reed, published by
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