If you’re walking in on the middle of the Advanced Fantasy Dungeons series, there’s an index here.

As I stated in my first attempt, the initial draft of these rules was messy in practice and strong in spirit, in the pursuit of driving priestly spell magic with relationship and fickleness instead of encumbrance and memory. Maybe, if gods are simply NPCs there’s ready a rule here we can lean on? The first section should remain the same:

Priests need not memorise a spell to cast it, but they must spend a watch dedicated to their priestly devotions. During priestly devotions, as you pray to your god, recite your deeds of the day. If your deeds impress your god, gain 1 piety. If they are contrary to their ways, lose 1 piety. If you do nothing to move your god, your piety remains the same.

You may always expend one piety if you have it to cast the spell you want.

But it changes from there:

If you do not want to spend piety, state the spells name, and make a reaction check, modified by your piety:

1-2. Unreceptive. You gain access to an inconvenient spell at a random level.

3-6. Suspicious. You gain access to a random or inconvenient spell at a similar level.

7-15. Uncertain. You gain access bro a similar spell at a similar level.

15-18. Deliberating. You gain access to the spell you want.

19-20. Receptive. You gain access to a similar spell, at a higher level than you can usually cast.

This spell must be the next spell you cast, until your next priestly devotions, unless you expand piety to get the spell you want. There is no limit on the amount of spells you can cast in a day.

The priest still gets a choice, but at the cost of their relationship with their god. Gods are ineffable, and sometimes provide powerful spells and bizarre guidance. But simpler abs use an existing rule. I reckon this is better.

This has been a part of the Advanced Fantasy Dungeon Series! Let me know your thoughts on priestly magic, if there are questions left unanswered, whether I’ve overlooked anything glaring, or anything of the sort!

Idle Cartulary

16th May 2022