Spell

This article is about spells in general. For information specific spells, including a list of spells in Ars Magica, see Category:Spells.

Hermetic Magic allows for the casting of spells in several ways. A magus may cast a ritual spell in a generally fixed manner. The magus may make use of Arcane Connections and Sympathetic Connections, employ Forceless Casting, or utilize Raw Vis during the casting. He may Master the spell to enjoy further benefits, and this is highly advisable as botching a casting while using raw vis can be disasterous.

He may also cast a formulaic spell using the similar options. Formulaic spells may also be fast-cast or multiple-cast if he has mastered the spell, and the caster may choose to vary his voice and gestures.

In casting a spontaneous spell the caster cannot use Spell Mastery. He may choose to cast the spell with or without expanding Fatigue. He may also employ Ceremonial Casting.

A magus can also cast a spell from a Casting Tablet.

Magi can invent spells in the laboratory. They can also reinvent spells following others' notes in Lab Texts, or following instructions through Teaching.

Non-Standard Spells

Only a magus versed in Faerie Magic can cast spells using this Outer Mystery; as a result, many Merinita spells are inaccessible to their brethern in other Hosues, even though they are often present in Hermetic libraries.

Any magus can cast a Potent Spell or a Theurgic Invocation, so such spells are often found in Hermetic libraries. However, only magi with Potent Magic or Hermetic Theurgy may invent them.

Spells can acquire side-effects through Arcane Experimentation. If these changes are useful or interesting, spells with such peculiarities - often not quite fitting into Magic Theory or the Spell Guidelines - would be preserved, so such spells too can be found in Hermetic libraries.

Spell Descriptions

• Many spells are described in ArM5, forming the core spells of the Order.
• Further canonic spells can be found in TMRE 26-27, 51, 116, HoHTL 72-75, 103, 139-141, HoHS 34-38, 63-70, 96-100, 129, HoHMC 36, 90 GotF 60, 72, Covenants 41, 51, 62, 77, 79, 96-97, 99-100, 104, 122. See also Spell Guidelines.
• The Canon also describes spells that are not accessible to most magi. These include Mutantum spells (HoHTL 101-103).
• See the Net Wizar'ds Grimoire wiki for fan-created spells

Legacy Page

The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at Legacy:spell