Arcane Symbols
Arcane Symbols is the skill which determines a character's proficiency with scrolls. Increased training in this skill allows one more success when activating scroll, deceiphering scrolls, and adds to the duration of magic cast from scrolls. In addition, certain traps (such as scarab and glyph traps) are easier to spot and/or disarm.
| Type | Square | Semi | Pure | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profession | Rogue | Warrior | Monk | Bard | Paladin | Ranger | Cleric | Empath | Savant | Sorcerer | Wizard |
| Max Ranks Per Level | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | 2 | 2 |
| Training Point Cost | 0/7 | 0/7 | - | 0/4 | 0/5 | 0/5 | 0/2 | 0/2 | - | 0/2 | 0/1 |
Reading Scrolls
To view which spells appear on the scroll, read it. The precise amount of skill which is required to read each spell which appears on a scroll is unknown.
Calculating Activation Success
Modifiers = (Arcane Symbols Skill bonus × 2) + (Stat Modifier) + (Magical Knowledge Bonus) + (INTUITION bonus) + (LOGIC bonus) - (Spell Level × 10) - (Armor Penalty) - (Encumberance Penalty)
Stat Modifier
Stat modifiers are determined by which spell circle the spell to be activated is in (round down). For this table, use stat bonus and not the value of the stat itself.
| Circle Number | Spell Circle | Modifier Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| 100s | Minor Spiritual | WISDOM |
| 200s | Major Spiritual | (WISDOM/2) |
| 300s | Cleric Base | (WISDOM/2) |
| 400s | Minor Elemental | AURA |
| 500s | Major Elemental | (AURA/2) |
| 600s | Ranger Base | WISDOM |
| 700s | Sorcerer Base | ([WISDOM+AURA]/4) |
| 900s | Wizard Base | (AURA/2) |
| 1000s | Bard Base | Not Confirmed |
| 1100s | Empath Base | Not Confirmed |
| 1600s | Paladin Base | Not Confirmed |
Magical Knowledge Bonus
Whether or not the spell to be activated lies within a character's sphere of magic can enhance the possibility of success (cumulative).
| Character has direct knowledge of the spell to be activated (regardless of whether or not they can use it yet) |
+20 |
| Character can learn spells from the same circle of the spell to be activated | +20 |
| Character can learn spells from the same sphere of the spell to be activated | +20 |
| Character has no influence in the spell's sphere | 0 |
- Warriors and rogues are not magical enough to claim influence in any sphere; they receive bonuses for both minor circles and none for all others.
- Hybridists (bards, empaths, and sorcerers) are considered aligned with multiple spheres, and receive bonuses accordingly.
Armor Penalty
If the character is considered fully trained for the armor they are wearing, there is zero penalty. If they do not possess sufficient Armor Use ranks, there is a penalty. Armor penalties do not apply when using the tap or rub activators.
Encumberance Penalty
For each additional second of RT added to a character's attack due to encumberance, they receive a +5 penalty to the activation. For instance, the RT imparted when swinging a broadsword unencumbered is 5 sec. If encumberance caused the swing to extend to 7 sec, they would receive a +10 penalty to the calculation of activation. Encumberance penalties do not apply when using the tap or rub activators.
Calculating Duration
Calculating the duration of magic invoked from a scroll is much similar to activating magical items. Each two ranks of Arcane Symbols counts as one 'phantom rank' of the spell circle to which the magic belongs.
Duration = Base Duration + ([AS Skill Ranks ÷ 2] × Per Spell Rank Duration)