The Grimoire - Agone, Prehensility

The final book in the Agone system I have is "The Grimoire: Volume 1". I am not  able to find that there was ever a Volume 2 printed and released in the United  States. I suspect that there may be a French version of the book but can not  state that with 100% certainty. If there isn't then this is a good reason to  never print Volume 1 on a book when you don't already know there will be a  Volume 2.

I have actually read less of this that I have the Gray Papers. This is a book,  as the title would suggest, dealing with Magic. I really do want to dig the book  out of storage or if it is easier just find another copy and give it a good  reading. Since I am not sure I even cracked the book open before I ended up  scanning it and storing it I will have to leave you with simply the information  from the back and the assumption that it will be as good as the other books  written for the Agone system have been.

Published: 2001
Pages: 144

From the back cover:

The Muses are the creators of Harmundia. Since the dawn of time, Concordists  have paid homage to them with their opuses. But today the Concordists are few in  number.

Most mages do not concern themselves with the Magical Arts of Tune, Scansion,  Shape, or Vista. Instead they use the sparks of their Dancers to develop  powerful spells.

But the Enemy draws near, and neither the Cipher-sorcerer order, nor the  Concordists are able to deal with the threat alone. The Arts have been tainted  and the order is corrupted!

There is only one hope... It is time for you to rediscover the Arts of Magic.

The Grimoire Volume 1 contains all the knowledge necessary to complete a  player's understanding of Ciphered Mages and Concordists, as well as additional  information for the Eminence Grise revealing the most powerful secrets of  Harmundia, including the Square and the Cipher-sorcerer.

This sourcebook will disclose the techniques of the most potent mages, numerous  new spells and opuses, the fundamentals of the devastating practice of  Choreography, the methods of artifact creation, and other arcane mysteries  reserved exclusively for the most experienced players.

The Grimoire also describes numerous new assets and faults, and includes  "Requiem for a Dead Mage," a lengthy drama set in Lorgol.



Spell:

Prehensility

Level: Second
Range: 6"
Duration: 1 Turn/Level
Area of Effect: One Creature
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 6 Segments
Saving Throw: None

By means of this spell the magic user is able to give the target of the spell  prehensile appendages. The spell does not add any appendages but modifies the  existing ones.

The recipient of the spell will have the same level of dexterity and range of  motion in the newly prehensile appendages as they do in their hands. This will  allow the recipient to perform action they would normally do with their hands  with their feet should their hands be otherwise occupied or restrained.
The spell will not allow additional attacks with the modified appendages in  combat.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the write ups last,  were all written up or conceived of back in the 80's so the terminology may not  appropriate for anything other than 1e and depending on how well I did back then  it may be slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of spells  that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :) Please feel free to  comment on them but try not to be too hard on me. If anyone wishes to use these  in anything they print please let me know in advance and all I ask is proper  credit.

A Magical Medley, Decoys

Let me start by saying that I have never used the FUDGE system and I don't think that I owned it when I bought this book. I am certain that I have since picked it up but never played it. When I bought this I purchased it because first the price was right and then secondly the fact that it presented a number of different magic systems.

The book presents a total of six magic systems which run the gambit of types of magic. These could be used as is and as presented but they could just as easily be tweaked and renamed to fit into any campaign. The book includes conversion information for other systems including one that might work for well too known game system.

The six different magic systems presented are: African spirit magic, Bioenergetics, Celtic magic, Chinese magic, The Gramarye (pseudomedieval magic), and Occultism. The length of space devoted to each varies but I don't think any are cheated. The book also includes a short section on magic items and a dozen adventure seeds. It also includes a short dungeon crawl that though written for FUDGE could be converted.

In the end I think this was a good acquisition even if I had never eventually picked up the system. The magic systems can easily be converted to any other game system or used as inspiration. If there is anyone working on a new game and looking for some alternative ideas for magic systems this would serve them well.

From the Publisher:

A Magical Medley is a magic-rich supplement for Fudge and other role-playing games. Medicine man, biomancer, magician, monk, sorcerer, or occultist: A Magical Medley has something for everyone! We've compiled a variety of magic systems and magic-related miscellany for use with Fudge and other role-playing games. Magic systems include: African Spirit Magic, Bioenergetics, Celtic Magic, Chinese Magic, The Gramarye, and Occultism.

Plus: How to design your own magic system to suit any campaign; tips on integrating Fudge magic systems with other RPGs (and how to use GURPS Magic with Fudge), interesting magic items and tips on designing more, and adventure seeds to help GMs create their own magic-related adventures. There's also "The Tomb of Shrak Ironfist," a complete fantasy adventure loaded with magical traps and tricks.

This is an unabashed dungeon crawl in the best spirit of the early days of fantasy role-playing, and combines a touch of horror with the mystical to provide a memorable adventure.

A Magical Medley is a Pyramid Pick (reviewed in Issue 28, November/December 1997). It was also nominated for an Origins Award in the Best Roleplaying Supplement category of 1997, with competition from the likes of Delta Green from Pagan Publishing (the winner).



Spell:

Decoys

Level: Fourth
Range: 12"
Duration: 1 Turn + 1 Round/Level
Area of Effect: 2 Creatures/Level
Components: v,S
Casting Time: 2 Segments
Saving Throw: None

When this spell is cast the magic user causes two events to occur. The first will be that the target creatures selected will become invisible. The second is that a exact duplicate of the creatures made invisible will appear next to them.

The duplicates that appear are actually illusions though they will have form if actually touched and generate heat signatures. When created the decoys will immediately take off as a group in the direction specified by the caster. This should allow the invisible group to slip away.

The decoys will proceed as a group until such time as an option for directions occurs. When this occurs there is a 50/50 chance that the group will remain intact or split evenly. This will occur every time that an option to go different directions occur. If the group remains intact the DM should determine randomly what direction the group goes.

If the group that is pursuing the decoys catches them and engages them in combat the decoys will pretend to put up a fight but can never hit or do damage. Each decoy can be struck three times in combat before "dying" but any magical attack will cause them to "die". The remains will continue to be visible until the duration of the spell expires.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the write ups last, were all written up or conceived of back in the 80's so the terminology may not appropriate for anything other than 1e and depending on how well I did back then it may be slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :) Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on me. If anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please let me know in advance and all I ask is proper credit.