Verb:PREPARE

The PREPARE verb is used to prepare a spell, which readies it in the character's mind for casting. Such preparation is instantaneous, and the verb is largely a hold-over from the past when spell preparation induced cast roundtime. The verb became largely unneeded with the implementation of the INCANT verb and the associated INCANT SET options for CHANNEL and EVOKE, though it is still useful for multi-casting or spells with non-standard casting mechanics. Once a spell is prepared, it may either be released by means of the RELEASE verb, or cast by means of the CAST verb. If not manually released or cast, the spell will automatically release after 30 seconds, expending mana.

Usage

• PREPARE {spell name/number/mnemonic}
• PREPARE PHRASES

Preparation Phrases

There are a variety of messages when a character prepares a spell, based on the spell circle and whether it is a combat or non-combat spell (or, in the case of bards, whether they have spellsongs already active). Characters may also get custom spell preparation phrases from merchants.

Spell Circle	Non-Combat	Combat
Minor Spiritual	You gesture while calling upon the lesser spirits to aid you with the Spirit Warding I spell... X gestures while calling upon the lesser spirits for aid...	You utter a light chant and raise your hands, beckoning the lesser spirits to aid you with the Fire Spirit spell...
Major Spiritual	You trace a sign while petitioning the spirits to bestow their aid with the Spirit Shield spell... X traces a sign while petitioning the spirits for cognition...	You trace a sign while beseeching the spirits to empower you with the Calm spell...
Cleric Base	You raise your hand while murmuring a soft orison, focusing on the Prayer of Protection spell... X raises a hand while murmuring a soft orison...	You chant a reverent litany, clasping your hands while focusing upon the Bane spell...
Minor Elemental	You gesture and invoke the powers of the elements for the Magic Item Creation spell... X makes a quick gesture while calling upon the powers of the elements...	You trace a simple rune while intoning the mystical phrase for Elemental Dispel...
Major Elemental	You recite a series of mystical phrases while raising your hands, invoking Charge Item... X recites a series of mystical phrases while raising his hands...	You intone a phrase of elemental power while raising your hands, invoking Stone Fist...
Ranger Base	You make a simple motion, quietly invoking the Whispering Willow spell... X makes a nearly imperceptible motion while whispering a soft phrase...	You gesture while summoning the spirits of nature to aid you with the Spike Thorn spell...
Sorcerer Base	You begin drawing a faint, twisting symbol while softly intoning the words for Scroll Infusion... X begins drawing a faint, twisting symbol as he utters an arcane invocation in hushed tones...	You trace an intricate sign that contorts in the air while forcefully invoking Mind Jolt...
Wizard Base	You trace a series of glowing runes while chanting the phrase for Minor Elemental Edge... X traces a series of glowing runes while chanting an arcane phrase...	Your hands glow with power as you invoke the phrase for Major Shock...
Bard Base*	??	You change your tune slightly, adding the element for Lullabye to your song...
Empath Base	You concentrate while murmuring the simple, mystical chant for Organ Repair... X murmurs a simple, mystical chant...	You focus your thoughts while chanting the mystical phrase for Wither...
Minor Mental	You fold your hands and deeply intone a sonorous mantra, focusing your mind upon the Iron Skin spell... X folds her hands and deeply intones a sonorous mantra...	You take a deep breath and focus inward, raising a hand and quietly murmuring the words of the Force Orb spell...
Paladin Base	You trace a simple symbol as you reverently call on your patron in the prayer for Mantle of Faith... X traces a simple symbol as she reverently calls upon the power of her patron...	You motion forcefully as you confidently call on your patron in the invocation for Pious Trial... X confidently calls upon her patron as she motions forcefully...
Arcane	You scribe invisible signs in the air while chanting the phrase for Mystic Focus...	You gesture sharply and recite the esoteric command for Death Cloud...

* Bard Base prep phrases are based on whether you have spellsongs active already, rather than whether you are preparing a combat spell.

Custom Spell Prep

A custom spell prep(aration) will take any of the messages listed above that a character has access to and change it to something else. Characters may have up to 50 messages to toggle between using PREPARE PHRASES. Players may obtain custom spell preps at festivals and pay events when GameMasters see fit to offer them. They may be offered as preps that are pre-written by GMs, or as a delayed service that the player will design under the guidance of the offering GM.

Custom spell preps must be turned on before they can be used by using PREP PHRASE ON.

>prep phrases
You know the following phrases:

  1. ... (Restricted to Phase.)
  2. ... (Restricted to Minor Elemental spells.)
  3. ... (Restricted to Sorcerer Base spells.)

Use prep phrases off to turn off your special messaging.
See PREP PHRASES HELP for more info.
>

>prep phrase help
When preparing a spell, you can do so in the standard fashion that any other Sorcerer would.  You also have the choice to use your own knowledge of spell preparation to do things a little differently.  Some special preparations only work for a specific spell; others will work for an entire circle of spells.  Rarely, a method may be devised that will work for all spells.

You will attempt to prepare spells in the order of phrases shown in PREP PHRASES.  If a preparation method is not valid for the spell or spell circle you are using, it will move down the list until it finds a valid one, or defaults to regular preparation.

Use PREP PHRASES <number> <new slot> to swap your order of preparations.

>prep phr 3 1
Phrase in slot 3 swapped with the one in slot 1.

• Many examples can be found here

Use PREP PHRASES <number> <new slot> to rank spell preps. For example, a prep that applies to a single spell should be ranked higher than one that applies to a spell circle, which should in turn be ranked higher than one that applies to all spells. If the prep that applies to all spells is ranked the highest, it will overrule both the circle spell prep and the single spell prep until swapped into the proper order. In the example provided in the log if 1 were swapped with 3 the prep for Phase would not appear since the Sorcerer Circle prep would overrule it.

Note: There is a difference between custom spell preps and custom spell messaging such as Custom Grasp of the Grave and custom bolt messaging. Those messages that appear after the spell is cast will not show up in PREP PHRASES. See each service's article for the rules of that service.

See Also

• Advanced Spell Messaging