Game Design

Concepts, Condition Scales, and Spell Design

A very helpful distinction to make is whether things are Permanent, Persistent, or Temporary. Consider your ability scores. The value of your ability scores is considered permanent: you "have" a STR of 16. When you get to level four and gain a point to spend on raising an ability, that gain is considered permanent. As a general rule, very few things in the game should alter statistics permanently. The reason why leveling is so important is because it is the most common way of permanently increasing your character's attributes.

Now suppose you find some Gauntlets of Ogre Power that raise your strength and decide to always wear them. You would then have a persistent change to your strength. You can consider your strength to be higher unless some situation neutralizes your gauntlets (they get removed, suppressed, destroyed, etc). Alternatively, you might be fighting a shadow and take some strength damage. This damage sticks around until it heals, and would also be considered persistent. Lots of things in the game are persistent: items and damage are two pervasive ones.

During that big combat you drink a Potion of Bull Strength, and you gain a temporary muscular surge. The potion effects lasts for a specified time and then your strength reverts to its previous state. Or you could be trapped in a funky zone of enfeeblement that lowers your strength while you are in it but has no effect once you leave. There are numerous effects that are temporary: their most notable sources are spells and magic.

Pretty much every attribute in the game can be classified into these three rough categories. Hit points, for example, are a permanent stat. Your current hit point total is a persistent value, modified by damage taken and healing received. Temporary hit points are a special thingie that last briefly but allow you to take damage from them first. Your Natural Armor is a permanent stat of your armor class (or if you want _really_ permanent, the base of 10). The Armor and Shield you are wearing is a persistent change to your AC. Temporary alterations range from being flat-footed to having cover to exotic magic stuff.

Even though these three concepts deal with time, we will collectively call them the Power of a game effect. One reason is because "duration" the word is already a well specified attribute of spells. The other reason is because the Power Scale (Permanent, Persistent, or Temporary) will be the first heuristic we'll use to start balancing game effects, in particular spells.

A Brief Foray into Ability Score Power - There is a difference between the effects that ability scores have on leveling and during gameplay. Leveling is a permanent change to your character; playing results primarily in persistent power changes. Several loopholes can exploited if this distinction isn't carefully drawn. For example, neither a temporary change (Fox's Cunning) or persistent change (always worn Helm of Insight) in Intelligence should alter the number of ranks you have in skills, nor the number of skill points you have to spend when you level. Only your permanent intelligence affects how many skill points you have to spend when you level. Said differently, the Permanent Power of your INT is different than the Persistent Power, even though they largely overlap.

In a similar fashion, Constitution affects how many hit points per hit die you gain while leveling. That is the Permanent Power of CON... and is currently mis-used as the Persistent Power. Let me show why using CON to temporarily raise and lower your Hit Points per Hit Die is not what we want. First, ability damage is a persistent effect, and should entail persistent consequences. Lowering any other ability to zero results in incapacitation (a non-permanent power effect) but lowering CON to zero as written results in death (a permanent power effect). Sheer hit point loss of -5 Damage per Hit Die is enough to outright kill anyone except perhaps the fully-healed above average fighter types, even without the additional 3.5 rule that 0 CON = death.

Second, ability damage to CON scales with level in an undesirable way. Suppose a minor poison does 2 points of CON damage. This results in a mere one hit point loss to a first level character... but 20 hit points to a 20th level character! Minor poisons should not affect higher level characters more severely than lower level characters. Moreover, hit points have linear magnitude in every other game mechanic.

We'll fix this by changing the effect of raising and lowering abilities into effects of persistent power: i.e. damage. So, raising your CON results in hit points added to your current hit point total directly (even above your permanent total); lowering your CON removes hit points directly (i.e. you take damage). This is done on a 1 for 1 basis, i.e. 1 hit point per CON point change. Similarly, altering Wis and Chr results in direct changes to your number of Block and Luck Points (potentially resulting in negative points which are subtracted off the next time you level). This ensures that the raising and lowering of a stat leaves you in the same state that you were in before, but that the effect of persistent ability change is the same for each character (regardless of level).

Of course, changing an ability score affects the modifier and all gameplay rules associated with it. This includes bonuses and penalties to rolls, how many Action points you can spend per roll, etc. A character with zero STR, DEX, or CON is helpless; a character with zero INT, WIS, or CHR is unconscious.

As a final note, Barbarian Rage is now changed so that they gain Temporary HPs equal to their level per 2 points of CON, in addition to the direct change to current HP total as described above. This is a class ability (to withstand more punishment while raging) and not a general feature of raising CON. Note that temporary hit points do not result in persistent healing.

Terminology

• Attribute - A measurable aspect of a game entity, usually represented with a numeric value. Common creature attributes include: Ability Scores, Hit Dice, Size, Skills, Armor Class, Hit Points, BAB, BMB, BSBs (Saves), Movement, Initiative, etc.
• Condition - (1) status = An attribute usually measured by presence (or absence). Certain related conditions come in Scales that can be represented by a numeric value (see below). Common creature conditions include: Flat-Footed, Prone, Fatigued, etc. (2) situation = Some conditions are implied by the circumstances: for example, In Combat, Underwater, etc. We will use the word "condition" to mean (1) by default; when we wish to differentiate (2) specifically, we'll use the word "situation". Condition and status are both mass nouns, i.e. can refer to a specific singular condition or the overall sum of all your conditions.
• Rule - Specifications detailing how attributes, conditions, situation, Effects and Actions are combined to create Outcomes. Most rules achieve this by employing Rolls, and are sometimes considered synonymous with them. For example, the Initiative Roll is a rule specifying the order in which people take actions during combat.
• Ability - (1) special ability = License to alter a rule in a well defined way. (2) ability score = One of Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Chr. We will use the word "ability" to mean (1) by default; when we wish to differentiate (2) specifically, we'll use the word statistic or "stat". Common abilities include: Feats, Spells, Special Attacks, etc.
• Effect - (1) rule modification = the way an ability modifies a rule. (2) outcome = what happens in the game after an action is taken. Outcomes can include "nothing". We will use the word "effect" to mean (1) by default. When we wish to differentiate (2) specifically, we'll use the word "outcome". Common effects include: Feat Effects, Spell Effects, Special Effects, etc. (heh, heh ;-)

• Base - A permanent attribute value. For example, your base movement. Specifically refers to the value before persistent and temporary modifications.
• Limit - A maximal or minimal value an attribute may possess. Possibly a function of situation.
• Modifier - (1) roll modifier = A change applied to a die roll. A combined modifier is the sum of all bonuses and penalties. (2) ability modifier = More specifically, the modifier derived from ability stats. (3) persistent modification = An alteration of a base attribute value. (4) consideration = An alteration to one effect, usually due to another effect. (5) delimit = An alteration of an attribute limit. We will use the word "modifier" primarily to mean (1) or (2) by default.
• Bonus - (1) roll bonus = A positive modifier, increasing the chances of success. (2) benefit = something which makes an effect or attribute better (3) relaxation = something which beneficially affects limits. We will use the word "bonus" to mean (1) by default.
• Penalty - (1) roll penalty = A negative modifier, increases chances of failure. (2) detriment = something which makes an effect or attribute worse (3) restriction something which detrimentally affects limits. We will use the word "penalty" to mean (1) by default.

• Action - The basic unit during combat. Actions come in seven basic types: Full Round, Standard, Move, Swift, Free, Immediate, and Opportunity. These types can be traded for one another according to specific rules. Every action you take during combat must be Equivalent to one of these basic types. Each round on your initiative you gain one Standard, one Move, one Swift, and one Opportunity to spend. One Free action is granted on every other action that you take; a Full Round action grants four Free Actions.
• Choice - Actions come in two types: Proactive and Reactive. You choose when to take a proactive action. Reactive actions can only be taken in response to something else.
• Timing - Timing comes in three types: Independent, Dependent, and Interrupt. Independent actions can be taken on their own. Dependent actions must be taken as part of an independent action. Dependent actions can be taken before, during, or after an independent action, but are always considered part of it. Interrupt actions pre-empt current action, invoking an action stack.

Action	Choice	+ Timing	= Can be taken	AoO (usually)	Typical Free Actions
Full Round	Proactive	+ Independent	= Your turn	Sometimes (magic)	Speak, Draw Ammo
Standard	Proactive	+ Independent	= Your turn	Sometimes (magic)	Speak, Draw Ammo, Drop Item
Move	Proactive	+ Independent	= Your turn	Usually (threatened)	Speak, Draw Weapon, Ready/Drop Shield
Swift	Proactive	+ Dependent	= Your action	Never	Prepare Components, Cease Concentrate
Free	Proactive	+ Dependent	= Your action	Never	NA
Immediate	Proactive	+ Interrupt	= Anytime	Never	Speak, Prepare Components, Cease Concentrate
Opportunity	Reactive	+ Interrupt	= When Provoked	Never	Speak

All These Can Be Traded	= Into These	When
Standard + Move + Swift	= Provocation	Your Turn
Standard + Move	= Delay	Your Turn
Standard + Move	= Full Round	Your Turn
Standard	= Move	Anytime
Swift	= Immediate	Anytime
Swift	= 5ft Move	If no Movement
Opportunity	= Attack	Before provoking action

Note that readied actions have been significantly changed. The same effect can be achieved by trading your actions to define a provocation, and then using your opportunity action to attack if that occurs. Your initiative order always changes when you pro-actively interrupt someone. The provocation trigger goes away on your next initiative order (or if you use it, of course).

However, being able to use a standard action as an interrupt is quite powerful, and shouldn't be freely available. It is a feat or class ability in power, and will get moved into them.

Lastly, note that Casting a Quickened spell has been changed into a Swift action and put on the same scale as the 5ft move.

Condensation Fallacy
Level limits
+10 on Jump vs. +10 on attack roll
Critical Hits

Let's expand this idea by creating Scales for certain status effects. For example, exhaustion already has a proto-scale: fatigued stacks with itself to create exhaustion. We'll create a new scale called Vitality where fatigue is the negative status. As a new twist, we'll also create a positive status called vigor which will be the opposite of fatigue. Fatigue and Vigor effects counter one another, whether they come from spells, special attacks, the situation, etc.

As a general design rule, each step on these scales will incur a +1 or -1 on a die roll. Since ability modifiers increase in steps of 2, that means that the smallest ability change will be +2 or -2. Two steps away from "normal" status often incurs another related condition. Four steps away from the normal is the most extreme state or condition. The penalty extreme usually results in incapacitation; the bonus extreme usually gets a special benefit.

If done carefully, these condition scales can become the basis for a large chunk of common game situations. This includes not only spell effects, but also class abilities, special monster attacks, etc. Moreover, it will allow all these different sources to interact in a game meaningful way. Last but not least, it ensures better game balance by making effects more consistent.

A Scale Example

This scale measures a characters vitality. Normally, a character is at Vitality 0. If you get Tired, that is one step less vitality, i.e. Tire = Vitality -1. While Tired, you have -2 Str, -2 Dex, and -5' Movement; moreover, your Str and Dex modifiers are both reduced by 1. If get Tired again, then you would step to Fatigued = Vitality -2. While Fatigued, you would have -4 Str, -4 Dex, and -10' Movement. In addition, you would not be able to run or charge. Another tiring brings the penalties to -6 Str, -6 Dex, and -15' Movement, in addition to no running or charging. Being Tired one last time brings you to the worst state: Exhaustion. Not only do you get -8 Str, -8 Dex, -20' Movement, can't run, and can't charge, but in addition you are Exposed. (Exposed is a new condition meaning -2 to AC and losing Dexterity Bonus to AC (if any).) While Exhausted = Vitality -4 further Tiring has no effect; you're as wiped out as you can get.

How do you reverse these effects? Well, one way is to cooldown toward the zero point. The value listed on each scale is the factor multiplied by the current scale value to see how long it takes to reach the next scale value. In our example, the cooldown factor is "1 hour of rest" for negative scale values. So, 4 hours of rest are needed to go from Vitality -4 to Vitality -3. Then 3 hours, 2 hours, and finally 1 hour to go the last step from Vitality -1 to Vitality 0. The useful numbers to remember are x10, x7, and x3. It takes 7 times the cooldown factor to go from 4 to 2, and 3 times the cooldown factor to go from 2 to 0; so it takes 10 times total to go from extreme to equilibrium.

Certain things can increase your vitality above normal by giving you Zest. The positive scale works analogously to the negative one. Each step gains you +2 Str, +2 Dex, and +5'. In addition, at Vitality +2 you are Invigorated and gain XXX. The most extreme zesting is Vitality +4 when you become Driven. At the point you have +8 Str, +8 Dex, +20' movement, XXX, but you also gain No Drowsy. This means that you cannot be affected by negative Alacrity effects (Drowsy is Alacrity -1). All the scales work this way: negative extremes result in loss of actions, positive extremes gain immunities.

Do zest buffing, cancellation
Define Resist, Resistance, Immunity
Flesh out new status scales and effects, more condition names
  Workout Shock -> Stun scale
  Suffocation
  Ambient
  Knockback rules?  10pts = 5ft?  For throw use DC Heroes scale

Best +4	Good +2	Good +1	Scale 0	Bad -1	Bad -2	Worst -4
Driven	Invigorated	Zest	Vitality	Tire	Fatigued	Exhausted
No Drowsy		2 Str, 2 Dex, 5' Move			No run, No Charge	Exposed
Furied	Raged	Anger	Brawn	Frail	Debilitated	Wasted
No Fear		2 Str, 2 Con, 1 Will, [-2 AC]			No run, No Charge	Exposed
Gorged	Replete	Sate	Hunger	Starve	Famished	Nauseated
No Ill		2 Con, 2 Dex, 1 Init			No Full Action	Move only
Vigilant	Sharp	Alert	Alacrity	Drowsy	Sluggish	Asleep
No Flat-Footed		2 Int, 2 Chr, 1 AC Dodge				Unconscious
Wisened?	Astute	Shrewd	Sanity	Disturb	Confounded	Confused
No Perturb		2 Int, 2 Wis, 1 Refl				Random Act
Determined	Assured	Poise	Composure	Perturb	Unsettled	Dazed
No Gloom		2 Wis, 2 Chr, 1 Fort				No actions

Confusion is now an INT check where your action is determined by roll:

Roll DC	Confused Action
Nat 1	Attack Nearest Creature
<= 2	Attack Nearest Creature
3-6	Flee from Caster / Source
7-12	Babble Incoherently
13-14	Attack Caster / Source
15+	Act Normally
Nat 20	Act Normally

Combat Scales

Best +4	Good +2	Good +1	Scale 0	Bad -1	Bad -2	Worst -4
Fated	Benisoned	Bless	Favor	Bane	Condemned	Doomed
No Hex		1 Attack, 1 Save
Zealous	Hopeful	Cheer	Outlook	Gloom	Despairing	Despondent
No Disturb		1 Attack, 1 Save, 1 Skill				Exposed
Valorous	Heroism	Brave	Courage	Fear	Frightened	Panicked
	+10' if LOS pursuit	1 Attack, 1 Save, 1 Skill, 1 Ability			Run Away	Cower if cornered
Hardy	Fit	Well	Health	Ill	Sickened	Diseased
No Tire		1 Attack, 1 Save, 1 Skill, 1 Ability, 1 Damage				Extra effects
Bountied	Gifted	Boon	Karma	Hex	Vexed	Jinxed
No Bane		1 All Rolls				Drop items?
Peaked	Waxed	Increase	Level	Decrease	Waned	Nadired?
		1 All Rolls, 4 Pers HP (1 BAB, 1 BMB)

Afflict? Scales

Best +4	Good +2	Good +1	Scale 0	Bad -1	Bad -2	Worst -4
			Sight	Dazzle	Glared	Blinded
Spot +8, Search +8		1 Init, 1 Spot, 1 Search, 1 Hide, 1 Disguise				Spot Fail, Exposed
			Hearing			Deafened
Listen +8, Move Silent +8		1 Init, 1 Listen, 1 Move Silent, 1 Balance, 1 ASF				Listen Fail, Exposed
		Hyper	Touch	Numb	Needled	Benumbed
Sleight Hand +8, Disable Device +8		1 Sleight Hand, 1 Disable Device, 1 Open Lock, 1 Use Mundane				Sleight Hand Fail, Disable Device -8
		Whet	Taste/Smell	Dull
Survival +8, Know Nature +8		1 Survival, 1 Know Nature, 1 Handle Animal, 1 Craft Magic				Survival Fail, Heal -8
Silver Tongued		Glib	Voice			Muted
Sway +8, Bluff +8		1 ASF, 1 Sway, 1 Bluff, 1 Diplomacy				V Spell Fail, Sway -8
			Mobility	Hamper	Entangled	Confined
	No AoO	1 Attack, 2 Dex, 2 ASF, 5' Move			No Run, No Charge	No Move
			?	Shock		Stunned
						Drop, No Act Exposed

CONDITIONS BY CATEGORY

That aren't on the scales above

Category	Associated Conditions
Abilities	Ability Damaged, Ability Drained
Hit Points	Injured, Disabled, Dying, Stable, Dead, Temp HPs, CON HPs
Non-Lethal HPs	Staggered, Unconscious
Movement	Checked, Knocked Down, Blown Away, Prone, Hasted, Slowed
Grappling	Grappling, Pinned
Armor Class	Flat-Footed, Exposed
Encumbrance	Overloaded (or Heavy, Medium, and Light Loaded for 3.5)
Form	Ethereal, Incorporeal, Invisible, Gaseous, Petrified, Polymorphed
Exotic	Poisoned, Drained, Paralyzed, Turned, Cursed, Charmed, Fascinated, Stunned

BASIC ATTRIBUTES

Core Stats	Armor Class, HPs, Class + Levels, Abilities, Saves, Move, Init
Basic Stats	Race, Alignment, Gender, Size, Type, SubType
Descriptive Stats	Height, Weight, Eyes, Hair, Age
Senses	Vision (Dark, Lowlight, Infra, Ultra), Tremorsense, Blindsense
Stuff	Skills, Feats, Equipment
Weapon	Damage, Crit, Handedness, Space, Reach, Range, Hardness, Hps, Quality, Material, Magic Plus, Magic Abilities
Damage Type	Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing, Non-Lethal

COMMON ROLLS

Combat	AB (#Attacks), MAB, RAB, SzAB, Damage, Critical, Save
Skills	ACP
Class Related	Turn, ASF
Ability	Checks

Spell Design

  Comparability is the basic Heuristic.  

  Severity Heuristic
  Temporary = 1 rd to 1 min / BMB
  Persistent = 2 min to 10 min / BMB
  Permanent = 1Hr+ / BMB

  Temporary effects = 1st - 5th
  Persistent effects = 3rd - 7th
  Permanent effects = 5th - 9th

  Use above Condition Scales
  Trade lower category two for 1 for higher

  Damage Heuristics
  Evocation spells
  Cure / Inflict
  1 Scale Step ~ 1 Die damage

  Chain Heuristics
  Spells should double in effect every two levels
    Duration
    Status
  Spells should increase linearly in target in level
    Area of Effect
    # Targets
    HD scale per BMB (4 + 3)

  Augmentation Heuristics
  Metamagics feats
  Make guidelines for spell mods 
    Mass = +4, Close, 1 Target/L
  Additional Status Effects
  
  Equivalency Heuristics
  5 Summons = Convoke Monster, Conjure Ally, Illusion Shadow, Transmute
  Constructs, Necromancy Undead
  CR Scale per BMB

  Class Level Heuristics
  SL should raise / lower affect by CL at most

Here's a chart summarizing the new descriptors and aspects. Italicized entries are new or changed from an old descriptor.

		Evocation	Enchantment	Conjuration	Transmutation	Convocation
Arcane	Element	Energy (Arcane)	Charm	Create	Change	Warp
	Air	Electricity	Befriend	D-Reek	Size	Port
	Earth	Impact	Daze	C-Obstruct	Material	Pocket
	Fire	Heat	Suggest		Speed	Move
	Water	Cold	Sleep	D-Acid	Shape
	Void	Sonic	Blank	C-Force		Plane
Divine	Alignment	Energy (Divine)	Compel	Destroy	Add	Muster
	Good	Positive	Stun	C-Shelter	Bonus	Gather
	Evil	Negative	Hold	D-	Morph
	Law	Canonic	Command	C-Make	Animation	Summoning
	Chaos	Entropic	Confuse	D-Wreck	Modality	Calling
	Neutral	Balance	Impel
		Fire	Air	Earth	Water	Void

		Thaumaturgy	Necromancy	Divination	Illusion	Abjuration
Arcane	Element	Bolster (Spirit)	Weaken (Spirit)	Scry	Deceive	Prevent
	Air	Dismiss	Possess	Detect	Glamer	Absorb
	Earth	Enrage	Fear	Remote	Filter	Hedge
	Fire	Invigor	Sap		Figment	Trigger
	Water	Inspire	Despair	Locate	Mislead	Immunity
	Void	Boost	Afflict	I-Communicate	C-Erase	Interdict
Divine	Alignment	Heal (Soul)	Harm (Soul)	Intuit	Confound	Protect
	Good	Life	Death	Augur		Defend
	Evil	Cleanse	Curse	Identify	Shadow	Sentry
	Law	Restore	Cripple	Verify	Beguile	Sanctum
	Chaos	Boon	Hex	Dream	Prism	Save
	Neutral	Light	Dark	S-	D-	Resist
		Good	Evil	Law	Chaos	Neutral

Creatures Chart
Element	Insider	Fantastics	Naturals	Demihumans
Air	Insider (Air)	Fey		Humanoid (Elf)
Earth	Insider (Earth)	Magic Beast	Animal	Humanoid (Dwarf)
Fire	Insider (Fire)	Aberration	Vermin	Humanoid (Halfling)
Water	Insider (Water)	Monstrous Humanoid		Humanoid (Gnome)
Void	Insider (Ethereal)	Plant	Flora	Humanoid (Human)
Alignment	Outsider	Animated	Dragon	Metahumans
Good	Outsider (Good)	Deathless	Dragon (Metallic)	Humanoid (Aquatic)
Evil	Outsider (Evil)	Undead	Dragon (Chromatic)	Humanoid (Orcish)
Law	Outsider (Law)	Constructs	Dragon (Crystal)	Humanoid (Serpish)
Chaos	Outsider (Chaos)	Ooze		Humanoid (Goblish)
Neutral	Outsider (Astral)	Elemental		Giant

Families List
Family	Opposite	Distinction
Alien = Insider + Outsider	Native	Planar, No eat, No sleep
Inorganic = Animated + Plant	Organic	No criticals, No sleep
Unliving = Animated + Alien	Living	No eat, No sleep
Person = Demi + Meta	?	Used for spells

Dominance / Alliance Chart						Materials List
Positive	Slime	Cold	Crystal	Canonic		Solid	Fluid	Flesh
Liquid	Good	Water	Law	Stone		Crystal	Shimmer	Wood
Electricity	Air	V-S/N-H	Earth	Impact		Stone	Mist	Breath
Mist	Chaos	Fire	Evil	Metal		Metal	Liquid	Blood
Entropic	Shimmer	Heat	Sludge?	Negative		Sludge?	Slime	Corpse

Elements are in dominance Clockwise. Alignments are in dominance Counter-clockwise. Materials are associated with their closest energies and elements. Oppositions have inherent vulnerabities to their counterparts.

Schools Redefined

• Abjuration - Abjuration deals purely with Prevention and Protection. A protection allows something to happen, but gives a benefit when it does; a prevention stops something from happening altogether. (For example, Protection from Missiles gives a Defend bonus to AC; Prevent Missiles Hedges them out entirely.) Breaking / Removal aspects have been moved to Thaumaturgy. A good rule of thumb is: Abjurations are always done before the thing you want to protect against; Thaumaturgies are usually done after the event. Abjurations come in all aspects: to protect against any aspect from any other school.

  Aspect	Description	Templates
  Protect	Gives benefit against specific foes / condition	Shield of, Protection from, Resistance to, Cloak of, Aura of,
  Prevent	Prevents specific occurrence from happening	Shell, Globe, Circle of, Ward, Lock, Absorption of
  Descriptor	Description	Spells
  Absorb	Damage Absorption to damage descriptors / aspects	Protection from Energy
  Defend	A bonus, usually combat or save related	Protection From Evil, Resistance, Protection from Spells
  Immunity	Target immunity to descriptors or aspects of magic	Spell Immunity, Mind Blank
  Hedge	Area-related obstruction, one-way screen	Antilife Shell, Protection from Arrows
  Interdict	Suppression of descriptors or aspects of magic	Antimagic Shell, Globe of Invulnerability, Dimensional Anchor, Dimensional Lock
  Resist	Damage Reduction / Resistance to damage descriptors / aspects	Resistance to Energy
  Resistance?	Spell Resistance to descriptors, aspects, or spells in general
  Sanctum	A benefit tied to a limited area	Consecrate, Desecrate
  Sentry	A spell trigger keyed to creatures entering an area	Glyph, Magic Mouth, Symbols
  Trigger	A spell trigger keyed to an event happening to a target	Contingency

• Convocation - Dedicated primarily to Warping (moving stuff around) and Mustering (summoning things to you).

  Aspect	Description	Templates
  Muster	Summon things to you
  Warp	Opening tears in space to move things around
  Descriptor	Description	Spells
  Gather	Bring something to you	Instant Summons
  Kinesis	Moving things via warping physical space	Telekinesis, Mage Hand, Move Earth
  Plane	Creating warps for planar travel	Ethereal Jaunt, Astral Projection, Gate, Plane Shift
  Pocket	Creating warps for volume	Rope Trick, Refuge, Maze
  Summon	Bring a creature to fight for you	Summon Monster, Summon Nature's Ally?
  Teleport	Creating warps for your movement	Blink, Dimension Door, Teleport, Word of Recall

• Conjuration - Conjuration is focused on creation and destruction, primarily of physical objects. Calling, Summoning, and Teleportation has been moved to the Convocation School. It deals some damage by creating things that destroy (corroding acid, crushing hands, etc.). Examples: Fog, Cloud, Wall, Sphere, Hand

  Aspect	Description	Templates
  Create	Bringing something into existence	Cloud
  Destroy	Trying to demolish something
  Descriptor	Description	Spells
  Acid	A corrosive acid that deals damage over time	Acid Arrow, Acid Cloud
  Force	A persistent creation of force	Floating Disc, Hand spells
  Make	Creating an object from nothing	Minor Creation, Major Creation
  Obstruct?	Intended to hamper foes	Web, Wall spells, Obscuring Mist
  Reek	A nauseating reek that changes status	Stinking Cloud
  Wreck	Direct object destruction	Shatter, Disintegrate

• Divination - A school focused on Scrying and Intuiting.

  Boy, this school and the Illusion school needs some serious work.

  Aspect	Description	Templates
  Scry	Improving the ability to sense at a distance / communicate
  Intuit	Divining unknown knowledge. Note Locating is part of Scry.
  Descriptor	Description	Spells
  Augur	Gain information about the future	Augury
  Communicate	Enables communication at a distance	Telepathic Bond
  Detect	Sense that which might be hidden	Detect Snares and Pits, Detect Secret Doors, Detect Scrying
  Identify	Gain information about attributes	Identify, Deathwatch
  Locate	Finding something	Find the Path, Locate Creature, Locate Object
  Remote?	Sensing at a distance	Prying Eyes, Clairaudience, Clairvoyance
  Verify	Learn whether something is true or not	Zone of Truth (hmmm), Contact Other Plane

• Enchantment - Enchantments are mind affecting spells that Charm or Compel the subject.

  Aspect	Description	Templates
  Charm	Changes mental state of target
  Compel	Forces the target into a condition
  Descriptor	Description	Spells
  Befriend	What we normally think of as a charm	Charm Person, Charm Monster
  Blank	Suppresses all thought and action
  Command	Commands for the target	Command, Geas, Quest
  Confuse	Target acts randomly each round	Confusion
  Daze	Dazes the target	Daze, Daze Monster
  Impel	Odd, harmless impulses	Hideous Laughter, Irrestible Dance
  Hold	Paralyzes the target	Hold Person, Hold Monster
  Stun?	Some harmless good thingie
  Sleep	Target falls asleep	Sleep, Deep Slumber
  Suggest	Influencing action via suggestions	Fascinate, Suggestion

• Evocation - Evocation has been restored to the serious damage school. It deals its whoop by importing potent Energy, either Arcane (Elements) or Divine (Alignments), that does direct damage. The hallmark of an evocation is duration: all evocation spells are now instantaneous (or less than one round). Things that stay around for awhile (i.e. Walls of Fire) are Conjurations, even though they use forms of energy. The old Force has been split into two descriptors: Impact (brief evocative energy that does direct damage) and Force (persistent conjuration). Other Evocations (like Light and Dark) have been moved to the Thaumaturgy and Necromancy schools.

  All evocation damage has an associated status effect. Lesser evocations will simply do damage; more powerful evocations will do damage and incur a debilitating status. Damage and status effects scale depending on association. Natives to an element or alignment energy are immune to its effects (or have the least effect); oppositions take double damage (or the greatest effect). Everyone else takes the normal damage or effect.

  Element	Energy	Status	Opposition	Types Affected		Alignment	Energy	Status	Opposition	Types Affected
  Air	Electricity	Stun	Earth			Good	Positive		Evil
  Earth	Impact	Knockback	Air			Evil	Negative		Good
  Fire	Heat		Water			Law	Canonic		Chaos
  Water	Cold	Sleep	Fire			Chaos	Entropic		Law
  Void	Sonic	Deafen				Neutral	Harmonic		LG, LE, CG, CE

  Aspect	Description	Templates
  Arcane Energy	Deals instantaneous direct damage and effects.	Orb, Ray, Ball, Bolt, Blast, Burst, Cone
  Divine Energy	Deals instantaneous direct damage and effects.	Searing, Word of
  Descriptor	Description	Spells

• Illusion - This school has been dramatically expanded. Illusion spells can now deal plentiful non-lethal damage, emulating Summoning and Evocation spells. Phantasms and Shadow can deal a portion of their damage as real lethal damage.

  Take this section with a grain of salt ftm, needs work
  

  	Mental	Real
  Sense	Figment	Glamer
  Impair?
  Non-Lethal Damage	Pattern	Prism
  Lethal Damage	Phantasm	Shadow

  Aspect	Description	Templates
  Descriptor	Description	Spells

• Necromancy + Thaumaturgy: Soul - Paired schools both dealing with the spirit and the soul. Thaumaturgists affect them positively; necromancers affects them negatively. Soul effects differ from spirit effects in that they are permanent. The exception is Chaos effects: due to the disintegrating nature of Chaos they fade quickly.

  Aspect	Description	Templates
  Heal	Any positive benefit to HPs or health status	Cure, Remove, Restore
  Harm	Any negative penalty to HPs or health status	Inflict, Curse, Afflict
  Descriptor	Description	Spells
  Boon	A bonus to combat, saves, or other rolls
  Cleanse	Removes curses / purifies materials	Bless Water, Remove Curse, Purify Food and Drink
  Cripple	A permanent Affliction, Sap, or Despair	Feeblemind, Energy Drain
  Curse	A permanent Hex	Curse Water, Bestow Curse, Contagion, Blindness, Deafness
  Dark	Any dark giving spell (but not aligned energy)	Darkness, Continual Darkness
  Death	Moves you closer to being dead	Inflict Wounds, Slay Living, Power Word Kill
  Hex	A penalty to combat, saves, or other roll	Hexblade curse
  Light	Any light giving spell (but not aligned energy)	Light, Continual Flame, Faerie Fire
  Life	Moves you closer to robust life	Cure Wounds, Raise Dead, Resurrection
  Restore	Removes any Afflictions, Saps, or Despairs	Restoration, Heroes Feast

• Necromancy + Thaumaturgy: Spirit - Paired schools both dealing with the spirit and the soul. Thaumaturgists affect them positively; necromancers affects them negatively. Since spirit effects deal primarily in emotions and status effects, they are always temporary in nature.

  Aspect	Description	Templates
  Bolster	A temporary favorable increase (attribute, bonus, status)
  Weaken	A temporary unfavorable decrease (attribute, penalty, status)
  Descriptor	Description	Spells
  Afflict	Direct damage to an attribute (abilities and levels)	Ray of Enfeeblement
  Boost	A temporary increase of an attribute (abilities and levels)	Fox's Cunning et al
  Despair	A temporary combat penalty (wide ranging)	Crushing Despair
  Dismiss	Put souls back in their proper place	Dismissal, Exorcise
  Enrage	A temporary increase in Bravery status	Rage
  Inspire	A temporary combat bonus (wide ranging)	Bless, Prayer, Good Hope
  Invigor	A temporary increase in status or skill (non-rage/fear related)
  Possess	Move souls somewhere they shouldn't be	Magic Jar, Possession
  Sap	A temporary decrease in status or skill (non-rage/fear related)	Ray of Exhaustion

• Transmutation - Changing one thing into something else, or Adding a feature onto something.

  Aspect	Description	Templates
  Change	Altering the size, shape, material, or speed of something	Item
  Add	Adding a bonus, animation, modality, or polymorphing to something
  Descriptor	Description	Spells
  Animation	Grants power of movement (and attack); like Summon for Constructs	Animate Object [Animate Dead? Necro?]
  Bonus	Additional bonuses to object or creature	Magic Weapon
  Material	Classic material transmutation	Transmute X to X, Gaseous Form
  Modality	Adds a new modality to an object or creature	Water Breathing, Spider Climb, Jump, Darkvision
  Polymorph	Multiple changes at once, which result in additions	Polymorph
  Shape	Morphing an object in appearance but not substance	Mend
  Size	Making something larger or smaller	Enlarge, Reduce
  Speed	Making something faster or slower	Expeditious Retreat, Haste, Slow, Time Stop

TO DO:
Think more on Conjuration, Divination, Illusion schools
  Finish descriptor Writeup
Metamagic Cure equivalencies
  1 pt cure = 1 pt ability damage
  2 pt cure = 1 step scale change
Classify all known spells / extend spell chains as need be, Excel sheet