There is no system in Palladium games for the time taken to learn spells. For this reason, the Author has come up with a relatively simple system for the learning of spells. Much of spells is the feel of the magic not actual words, a spell caster uses words to grab onto the magic forces but two different spell casters may use different words to cast the same spell. Because a spell caster understands magic better when they get more experience, higher level spell casters can learn spells faster. Also because a spell caster is better able to explain a spell in depth than a book, a person can also learn faster from another spell caster than they can from a book. As well, both speed reading and total recall reduces the time required to learn a spell.

Base Time:

Sixteen (16) hours per level of spell (Example: A third level spell requires 48 hours to learn).
This can be done in any combination from one hour per day to twenty-four hours per day (depending on caster's endurance). If the person studies for less that one hour per day studying then no learning of the spell will be done but the spell caster will not loose time either. The amount of actual time spend learning a spell is limited by the casters endurance, some supernatural creatures will study straight through several days to learn a high level spell. If a spell is not studied for one week, unless the caster has total recall, the caster needs to start over.

The spell caster requires one (1) hour per level of experience less time per level of the spell to learn the spell if learning from a book or other written material. This is increase to two (2) hours per level of experience per level of the spell if the spell caster learning the spell has the psionic ability of Speed Reading.

If being taught by another spell caster, reduce the time required to learn the spell by a half (0.5) hour per level of experience of the mage teaching the spell per level of the spell and one (1) hour per level of the spell caster learning the spell (Speed Reading in this case has no effect.)

If the spell caster has psionic ability of Total Recall, then reduce all time required by one half, either learning from a book or by being taught. This is done after the time other time reductions are used.
If the spell caster has the special ability of Excellent Memory (Rifts: Lone Star page 97) , reduce time required by 25% (Not cumulative with Total Recall.)

No matter, how much reduction, a spell will always require at least one hour per level of the spell.

Shadow Sabre, a fourth level Battle Mage wishes to learn the Tenth level spell of Banishment. The spell initially requires 160 hours. Being fourth level and since she has speed reading, the spell is reduced by 8 hours per level of the spell or a total of 80 hours. This reduces the time required to 80 hours. Shadow Sabre also has total recall which halves the time required to 40 hours. This is not smaller than 10 hours, so it is not increase to ten hours. These 40 hours then can be divided any way Shadow Sabre wishes. In this case she chooses to study in 16 hour days and can learn the spell in 2.5 days.

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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 2000, 2007, & 2012, Kitsune. All rights reserved.