Oni gave me a copy of Stormfront, the first in the Dresden files books.   I started reading it yesterday and while I am only a few chapters into it,  I have to say I am enjoying it.  It has already given me a few ideas for  V&V.   
  I think it will be a quick read, and I should finishe it in a few days.    So thanks, Oni,  this goes  with Stormdance, as you both recomended  some good books.*



* He turned me on to the Lensmen, which I have already read two of the books from that series.

So far  Dresden used two spells.   Here is my take on them.

1. Postcognition:  Divination.  Pr=5  Dectection x4 to see into the immediate past of an area.   Range is Cxlevel in feet. VSM

2. Soulgaze: Divination, Enchantment Pr=10 Castor must make eye contact with target.  Castor rolls C vs target's C.   The number of successess reveals how much information the castor learns about their targets.   This information is always true.   THEN the target gets to roll vs Castor's C.  If the target's roll is better, he then learns about the castor.
Then whomever has the best success score, has a perment plus for any future die roll agains the other.   The loser  has a perment minus on any die roll against the winner. VSM



Harry used no componets other than thought with these spells, but he did have his cane/staff with him, so they could have been prepared spells.  I would add componets if they were used in V&V.

I think I will try to keep a running list of all of Harry's spells, as this is fun for me.

He used a Detect Magic on the scorpian necklace.

3. Detect Magic  Pr=5 ( divination) Caster can instantly see magic auras. Detect Hidden x3. If the roll is under caster’s intelligence, the circle of magic can also be gleaned.  VSM

4. Magic Circle: (Abduration) S,M  A magic circle is a useful spell for defining the boundries of magic.   This is useful in two ways; either keeping magic OUT of the circle, or keeping magic CONTAINED in the circle.
  The magician draws the circle.   For each foot radius of the circle, it cost 1 power.  It will automatically work against ambient, unfocused magic.  If the circle is challanged, then the wizard must roll I+Ld20.  The challanger rolls the same.   Whomever has the higher success roll, is the winner.  If the caster of the circle wins, the circle contains the magic, if the challanger wins, the circle is broken.   
    Now, other things can make the circle stronger, but so far, those are not in the book, but in my game  they have yet to found by aspiring wizards....

5. Summon Faerie: (conjuration) VSM PR=10.  The wizard must be in a place that is pleasing to faeries, no cities, garbage heaps, etc...  The wizard makes a ID20 roll vs the faerie's Wd20.  If the wizard has a higher success then the faerie is summoned. 
    If the wizard uses sweets, bread, milk, then the fae suffers a -1 on his save PER type of item (-3 max).


The book also mentions useing True Names*.   If a wizard knows its target's true name when casting a spell, and incorporates that name into the spell when cast, the target suffers a -5 on the save, or +5 damage, or 25% bonus of some sort in the wizard's favor.



* I already had this idea in my game ( I swear) but my one magic using player had not come across this information as of yet.

6. Light of Day: (evocation) VSM  Pr=4.  The magus must expose an imaculatly white hankerchief of cotton or silk to the sun.  Then when the spell is cast, the hankerchief will burn with the True Light of the sun.   This spell is perfect for repelling and attacking Undead.   Undead are treated as they are exposed to real sunlight.   Lasts as many actions as the caster has levels.

7. Eavesdrop:  (Enchantment) SM Pr=3/turn.  Increases the caster's sense of hearing by a factor of three.  So their detection score triples.   Lasts as long as the caster spends the power.

8. Fulmination:  (Evocation) VSM Pr=4  Caster summons a lighting bolt to attack their target.  2d8 damage as lighting control.  Caster needs a bit of amber.


Geomancy. 
Harry used a storm as a source of power for a fulmination spell.    He even stated that its tricky to do, and would only do so if he were desperate.
   The Earth is a source of magic, and tapping that souce requires extreme care.   Unlike most sorces which require a roll vs C, geomancy requires a roll vs Will.
   The Sorceror rolls W- the power points for the spell desired d20 and if he succeeds, then he has the power for the spell.  If he fails, there is a chance of mishap based on how poorly he failed.
    Ex.   Harry has a will of 15.  He taps the power of the storm for a spell.  He rolls a 17 so he failed.    Since he failed by 2,  he then rolls another d20.  If he rolls a 1 or 2, then the magic when haywire and who the hell knows what is going to happen!     When it comes to Geomancy,  the buyer must beware!

John wrote on Jul 17^th, 2011 at 10:36pm:


Your Spellcaster is working on it. He just happens to be way behind in updating his posts from his,my, adventures as well. He'll come along eventually.

11. Shadowself (alteration, enchantment) VSM Pr=15/hour.  The castor enchants his own shadow and sends his consciousness into it.  He can then use his shadow to travel quickly and without being hampered by material objects, and gravity.   It is similiar to astral projection.   In dark areas, the shadowself is invisible.   However light is very dangerous to one's shadowself.   It can not go into well lit areas, and light attacks do normal damage as well  dispelling the form. 
   The caster needs to make a candle with some of his blood mixed into the wax, and a wick with some of his hair braided in as well.   He then must sit and let the candle create a shadow for him.  If the candle is exstinguised, then the spell ends.

13. Fireball.  (evocation) VSM Pr=3  Needs a tiny ball of sulpher, or an existing flame.  As flame attack.  Range is  I+E.

14. Unlock: (enchantment) VSM Pr=3.  Unlocks one lock.  I+leveld20 for it to work.  If the lock is magically locked then the caster rolls I+leveld20 vs the I+level of the locking wizard.  Whomever has the higher succes score wins the contest.

15. Clean Sweep: (enchantment) VSM Pr=5 per hour.   Must have a straw from the broom that the wizard wishes to enchant.   Causes an ordinary broom to get up and sweep an area clean.  It will keep sweeping untill commanded to stop, or until the spell expires.

16. Scorpion Assassin: (Alteration, Necromancy) VSM Pr=20 per scorpion.  This horrid spell enchants a dead scorpion to animate, and attack.  The scorpion will grow accourding to the size change chart on factor each minute untill it is destroyed or it reaches the size factor equal to the level of the wizard.   This is a very dangerous spell.

17. Obedience: (Enchantment) VSM Pr=1+variable.   This spell can only be used under two strict conditions; one, the caster knows the target's true name, and two, the target has been summoned magically.
    If these conditions are met, then the wizard and utter this spell and take control of the summoned thing.    This involves a lot of effort, and strong will.
    The wizard rolls Wd20, the opposing wizard rolls Wd20, and the summoned rolls Wd20 ( if it has any Will!).  Whomever has the highest success score wins the challenge.   The variable power is equal to all the other two's successes.   Even if you don't win, the strain can be enournous.

I am going to count on my familiarity with the Dresden Books to help with my Spellcaster Dick Dante. NBow all he needs besides more spells and training is a Back Bone.

I didn't include any of his magic items.  I was more interested in the spells.  But here is a quick rundown of what he had.

A. Forcefield Bracelet.  As  the power.  It burnt out.
b. Blasting Rod.  Havested ambient magic power into focused powerblasts.
c. Pentagram Necklace.  It contained the essence of his mother.  I am sure this comes into play in future books.
d. Bob.  A skull with a spirit guide bonded to it.  I gives him formulaes for spells and potions.
e. Force Ring.  For every 5 power channeled into the ring, the wearer's carrying capacy doubles for purpouses of the next punch.

And the book goes pretty deep into potion making, and as cool as it is,  I have other ideas for potions.

No, I haven't read them.  My old group of gamers all did, and they would rave about them.

Well they do say good things come in small packages.

I read both  Fool Moon and Grave Peril   Here are some of the spells Harry used.

18. Soul Bond: Pr=10 +1 per level of the target. ( the caster must guess the aproximet level and spend the power, if this is not enough, the spell fails, so its best to err on the side of caution and spend too much) ( enchantment)  VSM  Caster needs a totem item to represent the target, like a voodoo doll.
      The caster casts the spell on the item and  the target must save vs his Cd100.  If successful, the target is bound and must move just like the voodoo doll.  If the doll is left alone, the target will just lay in  the same postion until the spell wears off.   Every time the doll is moved, the target gets a new save.  If left alone, the spell will wear off in 24 hours.   
   If the target is harmed, he gets a new save with each attack.

19.  Blow Out. (evocation) VS Pr=3+1 per tire.  Range is level x 10 feet.  This handy spell will blow out all targeted tires. Good for escapes!

20. Dimension Door ( conjuration) VS  This spell causes a rift between planes of existance.  It will stay open one hour per level of the caster.    The caster must know personally of the dimension he is trying to open, so its not really good unless  the caster has been there before.   Also, doors work two ways!

21. Enchant Missal:  ( enchantmen) Pr=5+3 per damage modifier. VSM  this spell places an enchantment on an item that the wizard then throws at a target.  It is dangerous cause the item enchanted takes equal damage, so be careful what you throw!

22. Blood Bond: ( Enchantment, Divination)  VSM  PR=15   The caster needs some blood from the target.  When cast  the caster then knows the general location and mood of the target.  Lasts one hour per level of the caster.

23. Mental Sheild:  (Abjuration)  VS  This spell creates a mental armor of 30 pluse the wizards level and intellegence.  This ADR works against any mental attack.   IF the mental attack does not do damage, then it works as a percentage against the attack working.    This percentage deplets and the mental ADR depletes.    It works  one minute per level of the caster.    PR=10

24. Wizard's Senses: (Divination) Pr=10 VS.  This spell enchances a wizard's senses by 5 for one turn per level of the caster.

25. Spirit wrack: (Necromancy, Aburation, Enchantment) Pr 35 VSM  This horrid spell tortures ghost and spirits.    The caster must always make a Cd20 roll or lose a point of charisma when this spell is cast. 
    When cast, the wizard must make a Id20 vs the spirit's Cd20.  If the wizard wins, then the spirit is held in antagonising pain.  The spirit will do what is asked of the wizard if it fails a Wd20 roll.   The spirit, due to the pain, is treated as fatigued.     The spell lasts one day per level of the wizard.   Once free, the wizard surely made and enemy for life!      The caster needs  ground bones of a person dead for over 100 years, and iron filings from an antique torture instrument.

26.  Dreamless Sleep: (Aburation, Enchantment) Pr=15.   VS   This spell causes a target to fall into a deep coma like dreamless sleep.  It lasts until the target is fully healed, and then they must save vs Ed20 per day to wake up.     There is no save when cast on an already sleeping target, but if cast on a waking or resisting target then the wizard must save Id20 vs the targets Ed20.
    This spell was created to fight back against Nightmares or other horrid creatures of the Dreamlands.

27. Ghostswarm: (Necromancy, Conjuration) VSM Pr=50.  This nasty spell can only be cast in a graveyard,  morgue or battlefield ( or other place where the dead hang out).   When cast it summons all the lingering spirits and causes them to go into a beserk frenzy.  They will attack ANYONE  in the area, so buyer beware!

28. Deathward: (Abjuration, Enchantmen, Necromancy) Pr=25.  VSM  Requires the castor to touch the target.   This spell prevents a patient from dying.  Simply, they can not die until the spell wears off.   They can be in pain, but that is how the cookie crumbles.  Duration equals castor's level times ten minutes.     The wizard needs  any medicine, or in the absence of that, a ripe apple.

you may enjoy the 1st few Necroscope books by Brian Lumley, before he goes off on a rifts tangent for like 4 books

I haven't read the role playing books yet,  I heard that they are full of spoilers.  I am reading the 8th book now, so I figure I will be done with the 13 books in about two more months.

Ok the book White Night confirmed a problem I have with wizards in popular fiction.

Both Harry's, Potter and Dresden's worlds suffer the curse of the mutant.

What that means is that  in most worlds, Star Wars included, one is born a wizard.   They are a race within like mutants in Marvel.  I don't like that.  I prefer that anyone can become a wizard by study and learning about magic.   If its an innate ablity then its a super power.   I know its nitpicky but it bothers me.

Other than that,   the Dresden files are excellent.

John allow me to provide an alternative line of thought to the mutant idea. I've read all of the Dresden books and I look at it kind of like this.

Not everyone but a lot of guys played high school football. A small percentage are born with the physical ability to play in college, an even smaller amount play Division I. Of those a tiny percentage are good enough to make it to the pros, let alone make a career out of it. Dresden's on the way to becoming a perrenial all-star.

But contrary to what some believe, I'm pretty sure teh Mannings aren't 'mutants'. 

The thing is none of those guys make it anywhere without putting in the hard work. It seems to me in Dresden's universe there's a whole lot of magic of one kind or another, but only those born with greater gifts that work at it make it to the big leagues.

No? Okay how about Wizards are to Butcher as Inhumans are to Stan Lee 

John wrote on Jun 20^th, 2012 at 9:37pm:



Cast a Forget Spell on yourself and read the 7th book. Then go read the 8th again. What's the problem???

Molly the Hottie

I am halfway through Side Jobs now,  but I need to stop and read Proven Guilty before I finish, as the short stories are in order.

(holy cow John, I forgot all about that post  )

It's okay to have dreams. Tim Tebow dreams of being a quarterback also ... poor kid. 

They can in The Ravenswood......

Commune with Local Spirit

Summon Local Spirit

I am so far behind in reading. Just picked up Side Jobs this morning. Good that it is short stories so I can read through it slowly.

Need to get some more Dick Dante ideas and just a Good Read with some relaxation after a crazy few months.

Yeah, I totally did not like Ghost Story. Next one is back to old standards.

John wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2012 at 12:25am:


But I felt in the Dresden books that you may not always know you were skilled at magic until you started to pursue it. Some people are completely incapable and some are OK at it, but you never know until you try.

Our real world doesn't have the means to try, so we'll never know.

It's less football and physical beauty than it is art and literature.

I read the first three chapters.  Just got to what Mab asked Dresden to do.   Then I put the book down for two days.  I like to let things simmer in my head when I am enjoying them.

I took Harry a minute to throw up the Will Power defense. Sure he has a strong will but maybe something else too so he can still concentrate during all that fighting.

No more spoilers. I was just starting that chapter

John wrote on Sep 16^th, 2013 at 9:29pm:

Marlon Brando?

Just finished the book.  Ok  Jimmy what are your thoughts?

It was better than Ghost Story, which was my least favorite.      The Dresden Stories are formulaic, but they are fun.    My only complaint was the out of place, and totally jarring speech about gay marriage.  I guess people still need to be conditioned in every medium.  Oh well.


(For the record,  don't think the government can limit what people do without good reason, and  if the only reason against gay marriage is religious, then its not valid, still doesn't mean I like this topic inserted into everything these days, and this was very ham fisted*)

My other favorites is the peak into Mac's past and  the secret identity of Santa Clause



* hehehe not to subtle gay love joke!

I am waiting until it come out in mass paperback like all my other copies.   I  can't break the pattern. So  until September, shut your fucking mouth.

So you finished Side Jobs?   What did you think of the Oblivion War that is going on behind the scenes?

I think its a great idea, but find it hard that the White Vampires would be fighting it, especially for the reasons given.

Finished Skin Game.

I loved the Hades plot, and I loved the moving forward of the Karen and Harry love plot.


But I thought  Butcher broke one of the rules of writing and it bothers me.  He lied to the readers.

Even though Harry hired the  Skinwalker before  Nicodemus,  Harry's inner thoughts talked about  him as if he didn't know home.  This was done to make the reveal that he was hired by Harry a shock, but it came off as a deliberate, and cheap, lie.  Why would Harry think about him as if he didn't know him, when it was not true.  The books are narrated by him, and he has never lied to the readers before.  True, he has kept things from us, but never out right changed the truth.    This really bothered me.

Other than that, I like where the books are going.  I love that Waldo is now a bad ass, and I love that Michael Carpenter played such a big role.  He is probably my third favorite character ( after Harry and Karen).

I assume you're talking about the older Dresden Files show that is available on Netflix?  I've never watched it, but had it in my queue to perhaps check out someday (I've also never read any of the books).  Is it not very good?

If the show was called  Frank Weems, Magic Detective we would like it.    I never understand why they by a show and then change it.

I actually liked the guy they cast in the  T V show.

I watched the first two episodes.   


I liked them.  Again,  if it was named something else,  I thing we would have enjoyed it.