Mage 2e Spellcasting Assistant
This tool helps calculate spellcasting mechanics based on the provided rules. Values update automatically as you change inputs. Always refer to the Mage: The Awakening 2nd Edition core rulebook for complete rules and context.
Character Basics
Gnosis 3 provides:
- Max Mana Spend/Turn: 3
- Yantra Limit: 4
- Ritual Interval (Standard Casting): 30 minutes
- Paradox Dice per Reach over free: 2
Step 1: Choose Spell
Step 2: Choose Casting Method
Improvised
Rote
Praxis
Praxis gains exceptional success on 3 spellcasting successes.
Step 3: Assign Reach
Calculated Free Reach: 0
Specific Reach Costs (Beyond Factor Advancement)
Spells already over Spell Control limit (adds 1 Reach + 1 Reach per spell over):
(Enter number of spells *currently* over limit. E.g., 1 if one spell is already active over your limit.)
Additional Reach for Custom/Other Effects (e.g., specific Attainments, unique modifications not in factors):
Total Required Reach (from Factors, Specific Costs, Custom): 0
Reach Spent Over Free: 0
Paradox Dice from this Spent Reach: 0
Step 4: Set Spell Factors
All factors start Standard. Primary Spell Factor gets a bonus. Other factors can be made Advanced by spending Reach (this is automatically calculated and added to Total Required Reach in Step 3).
Calculated Reach for Advancing Factors & Indefinite Duration: 0
Select Primary Spell Factor (gets bonus: Arcanum Dots - 1):
Casting Time
Range
Potency
Duration
Scale
Primary Factor Bonus (steps/levels): 0
Casting Time
Effective Casting Time:
Range
Effective Range:
Potency
Desired Potency Level (base 1):
Dice Penalty from Potency: 0
Duration
Select Duration:
1 turn (0 penalty)
2 turns (-2 penalty)
3 turns (-4 penalty)
5 turns (-6 penalty)
10 turns (-8 penalty)
20 turns (-10 penalty)
30 turns (-12 penalty)
Select Duration:
One Scene/Hour (0 penalty)
One Day (-2 penalty)
One Week (-4 penalty)
One Month (-6 penalty)
One Year (-8 penalty)
Indefinite (-10 penalty, +1 Reach from table, +1 Mana)
Dice Penalty from Duration: 0
Indefinite duration (from table) adds +1 Reach and +1 Mana.
Scale
Select Scale:
1 Subject / Size 5 / Arm's reach (0 penalty)
2 Subjects / Size 6 / Small room (-2 penalty)
4 Subjects / Size 7 / Large room (-4 penalty)
8 Subjects / Size 8 / Several rooms (-6 penalty)
16 Subjects / Size 9 / Small house (-8 penalty)
32 Subjects / Size 10 / etc. (-10 penalty, custom beyond this)
Select Scale:
5 Subjects / Size 5 / Large house (0 penalty)
10 Subjects / Size 10 / Small warehouse (-2 penalty)
20 Subjects / Size 15 / Large warehouse (-4 penalty)
40 Subjects / Size 20 / Small factory (-6 penalty)
80 Subjects / Size 25 / Large factory (-8 penalty)
160 Subjects / Size 30 / Campus (-10 penalty)
Dice Penalty from Scale: 0
Total Dice Penalty from Spell Factors (Potency, Duration, Scale): 0
Step 5: Determine Yantras
Yantra Limit (from Gnosis): 0 . Selected Yantras: 0
Total Dice Bonus from Yantras: 0
Max Yantra bonus to spellcasting roll is +5 *after* offsetting spell factor penalties.
For Instant Casting: Only one Yantra may be reflexive. Others extend casting time by one turn each.
Step 6: Check Dice Pool
Base Pool (Gnosis + Character Arcanum Rating): 0
Total Factor Penalties: 0
Total Yantra Dice Bonus: 0
Bonus from Extended Ritual: +0
Net Modifier from Yantras & Factor Penalties (capped at +5 total): 0
Final Spellcasting Dice Pool: 0
Step 7: Pay Mana
Mana for Improvised Common/Inferior Arcanum: 0
Mana for Indefinite Duration (from table): 0
Mana Spent to Mitigate Paradox (Step 8):
Total Mana Cost: 0
If Mana Cost > Max Mana/Turn (0 ) and casting is Instant, casting time is extended.
Step 8: Paradox
Determine Paradox Dice Pool
Paradox Dice from Spent Reach (Step 3): 0
Paradox rolls after first this scene (+1 per roll):
Sleeper Witnesses
If Sleepers witness, also consider quality modifiers for Paradox roll:
Paradox Dice removed by Mana (Step 7): -0
Calculated Paradox Dice Pool: 0
Paradox pool was gained then removed by penalties; roll chance die.
Paradox pool never gained dice, skip Paradox roll.
Contain or Release Paradox
Paradox Roll (GM Info)
GM rolls the Paradox Dice Pool. Results: Dramatic Failure (no Paradox, WP back, next Paradox roll no +1), Failure (no Paradox), Success (Paradox occurs), Exceptional Success (Paradox Condition + Paradox occurs).
Released Paradoxes
Paradox successes are spent on Anomaly effects AND apply as a dice penalty to the spellcasting roll. If spellcasting is dramatic failure, caster gets Paradox Condition.
Example Anomaly Effects (cost per Reach): Undo/apply Common Reach (1), Impose Condition (1), Change Subject (2), Abyssal Tilt (3), Summon Abyssal Rank 2 (5, +1 Rank/Reach).
Contained Paradoxes
Caster rolls Wisdom (0 dice). Successes remove Paradox successes but inflict 1 resistant bashing damage each. If Paradox successes remain, apply Paradox Condition. Spellcasting roll is NOT penalized.
Step 9: Roll Spellcasting
Final Spellcasting Dice Pool (from Step 6): 0
If Paradox was Released and succeeded, GM applies Paradox successes as a penalty to this roll.
Roll Results (Player Info)
Dramatic Failure: Magic fails. Caster gains a Condition based on intended outcome.
Failure: Magic fails.
Success: Spell takes effect as imagined.
Exceptional Success: Spell effect is better. Regain 1 Willpower. Choose one:
Bonus step in primary spell factor.
A Reach in primary spell factor.
Condition (Arcane Beats) on mage or subject.
All Mana spent refunded + 1 Mana gained.
Spell ignores Withstand, full Potency.
Praxis: Exceptional success on 3+ successes on spellcasting roll.
Rote (from Grimoire/by Creator): Spellcasting roll gains Rote Quality (reroll non-successes once).
Spellcasting Summary
Spell Name (if provided):
Casting Method:
Primary Arcanum:
Player Rolls:
Spellcasting Dice Pool: 0 dice
Target successes: Usually 1, or vs. target's Withstand. Modifiers for Aiming (+2, if not Instant) or other circumstances may apply.
GM Considers / Rolls:
Paradox Dice Pool: 0 dice
If Released Paradox succeeds, penalty to spellcasting roll.
If Contained, caster rolls Wisdom (0 dice) vs Paradox successes.
Costs & Key Factors:
Total Mana Cost: 0
Total Required Reach: 0 0 , Over Free: 0 )
Breakdown: Reach for Factors: 0 , Specific Costs (e.g. Spell Control): 0 , Custom: 0 .
Effective Casting Time:
Effective Range:
Potency Level:
Duration:
Scale:
Total Factor Penalty:
Yantra Dice Bonus: + (Selected: