3X3 EYES HERO

MAGIC NOTES

Unlike GURPS, there are no standard spells in the HERO System. One has the choice of making their own, or adapting spells from the Fantasy Hero line of books. However, within the realm of 3x3 Eyes, there are only three basic forms of magic. Normal magic (i.e. generic sorcery), Beast Magic (summoning of magical creatures), and Paper Charms (magic using paper talismans or ofuda). The only common factors between those three forms is each requires mana, and one must have the proper Magic Skill. Knowledge in one form of magic is of limited use when dealing with the others.

There is no real reason to forbid a regular magician to know some spells in paper magic format and even some beast magic. However, he would need to buy his Magic Skill twice, to represent his differing skill with the different types of magic. Of course the GM might not feel comfortable with that kind of magician in his campaign, and rule that only one kind of magic is available to each character.

This could get even more complicated if you follow the Chinese magic system with five elements, introduced by GURPS China. If this kind of magic is being used in the campaign, then Paper Charms magic should always be done according to the Chinese system, which means it's less effective in areas where the five-element system would not be "the way of nature." See GURPS China for further details.

4th Edition HERO System Magic Notes
Some of the "Church" spells found in the 4th Edition Fantasy Hero books are quite suitable for priests making paper charms and wards, and GMs might want to have a look at them. The other 4th Edition Colleges may or may not be considered suitable for use in 3x3 Eyes Hero. In addition, many 4th Edition Fantasy Hero Spell Colleges use a standard -1 set of Limitations for all spells. In may cases these Limitations are not quite suitable for the 3x3 Eyes setting. Limitations that fit into the genre include: Concentrate, Extra Time, Gestures, Incantations, Increased Endurance Cost, and Requires a (Magic) Skill Roll. The "Expertise" limitation, which requires that PC to have purchased "X" number of points in spells from a certain College before buying any more is not suitable for the 3x3 Eyes setting.

Of the various Spell Colleges given in 4th Edition Fantasy Hero, may of the individual spells make for a good starting point for PCs to create more complex spells. Unfortunately, the designers of the Spell Colleges felt it was necessary for each and every Spell College to have some sort of attack spell, defense spell, and a dispel magic spell. In many cases some of these spells seem a little contrived. The GM should feel free to discard the Basic spells from each and every college and concentrate more on the College and Unique spells. In addition, many of the Unique spells make excellent Sanjiyan-only spells.

Below are listed the individual 4th Edition Fantasy Hero Spell Colleges with comments on their suitability in regards to 3x3 Eyes Hero.

FANTASY HERO
This book has the best all-round spells.

• College of Air: Drop the OAF (sprite's wand).
• College of Animal Powers: Drop the OIF (necklace totem). This College might be a bit extreme for a 3x3 Eyes setting. The "Emperor of the Beasts" Unique Spell is perfect as a Sanjiyan-only spell.
• College of Demonology: Due to the nature of demons in the setting, this college may or may not be suitable for GMs to use. However, many of the spells make for great demon abilities. The Summon spells should all be dropped. If this college is used, then drop the IAF (medallion).
• Earth College: Drop the OAF (gemstone).
• College of Empathy: Drop the meditation requirement. This college is well suited to the setting.
• College of Fire: Drop the OAF (tinder). This is another college that works well with the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Illusionists: Drop the OIF (glass). This is the third straight college that works well within 3x3 Eyes.
• College of Necromancy: Drop the "Does Not Work On Ground Sanctified To A 'Good' Religion" limitation. This college works better as a list of possible demon-only spells, as it's far more "European" in feel than most 3x3 Eyes magic.
• College of Plant and Wood Magic: Drop the OAF (staff).
• College of Water Wizards: Drop the OAF (water).
• College of Storm Mages: This is a good 3x3 Eyes College. The Unique Spells are excellent for Sanjiyans to know.
• Church of Healing: Drop the "Religious Restrictions" and "Won't Work In Areas of Great Evil" Limitations.
• Church of War: This college doesn't really fit within the 3x3 Eyes setting, although individual spells may work. If used, drop the OAF (weapon) and "Religious Restrictions" limitations.

FANTASY HERO COMPANION 1
Most of the spells colleges in this book are well done, although a few a starting to look a bit contrived.

• College of Animal Control: What with the presence of Beast Magic in the 3x3 Eyes setting, this College should be discarded.
• College of Body Manipulation: The spells in this College are reminiscent of certain chi powers and other effects attributed to masters of assorted martial arts. Thus, these spells could be used in a 3x3 Eyes setting. If this is done, remove the OAF (totem) Limitation.
• College of Darkness: This college questionable as a 3x3 Eyes spell set. It could be used, but many of the Limitations would have to be carefully considered or discarded (such as the IIF ( onyx ring) or "Doesn't Work If Loud Noise Is Present").
• College of Sense and Exploration: These spells make fine individual spells for any magician to know. The Astral Projection spells is an excellent Sanjiyan-only spell.
• College of Ice: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Light: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Mentalism: Drop the OAF: Crystal and meditation requirement. This college is well suited to the setting.
• College of Metal: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Sonimancers: This college calls to mind the abilities displayed by those proficient in the kiai or war-shout as seen in Japanese myths and legends. Thus, these spells work well for certain Eastern mages.
• College of Time Mages: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Trade and Negotiation: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Transport: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting. Some of the spells are all right on their own, however.
• Church of Purity: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.

FANTASY HERO COMPANION 2
TThis book has some of the worst and most contrived spells and spell colleges I've ever seen (The college of Kelptomancy? Dragon Magic? College of Farie Magic?). The use of this book is debatable, although as with any Spell College, some of the individual spells may be useful.

• Dream Magic: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Shapers: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Builders: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• Sun Priests: As a College, this set of spells isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting. However, individual spells can be adapted and expanded on to make excellent 3x3 Eyes spells. If this is done, drop the OAF (sun disk) and "Religious Restrictions" limitations.
• Crystalmancy: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Kleptomancy: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Augmentation: As a College, this set of spells isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting. However, individual spells can be adapted and expanded on to make excellent 3x3 Eyes spells. If this is done, drop the OAF (gem stone) Limitation.
• Spirit Magic: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• Dragon Magic: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Animation: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Chaos Sorcery: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• Priests of Order: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Farie Magic: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting. Individual spells might be useful as a basis for powers of magical creatures.
• College of Nautical Magic: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• Witchcraft: Although this is basically a European style of magic, the spells in this College are quite suitable for the 3x3 Eyes setting, and can be used to construct a wide variety of simple spells for magicians of all types to know. In addition. the college virtually requires the caster to have a familiar, a common item among magicians in 3x3 Eyes. In the author's opinion, this College is probably the best thought out set of spells in Fantasy Hero Companion 2.
• College of Bardic Magic: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• Order of the Assassins: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• College of Northrton Magery: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting. It is an attempt to simulate Norse battle magics as found in many Scandinavian myths.
• College of Naming: Although the exact idea of the college is a bit questionable, the concept of having power due to knowing an objects "true name" is an old one. The spells in this College are very useful as general spells for any mage to know. The Unique Spells make for excellent Sanjiyan-only spells.
• College of Thaumaturgy: This idea of sympathetic magic; i.e. what happens to a small object will also happen to the large object it resembles, is a well established one. This College is an excellent source of spells for 3x3 Eyes. The GM may wish to rename individual spells, but most of the ones listed should work quite well. As with many other colleges, the Unique Spells make for excellent Sanjiyan-only magics.
• College of Warrior-Magery: This College isn't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.

5th Edition HERO System Magic Notes
Anyone who intends to run a 3x3 Eyes campaign really should invest in a copy of 5th Edition Fantasy Hero, as well as The Ultimate Mystic, and even The Mystic World campaign supplement for the official HERO System Champions setting. Of course, The Fantasy Hero Grimoire I & II provides hundreds of spells you can use. For the record, here are the various "Colleges" used in the two books:

THE FANTASY HERO GRIMOIRE I
The Fantasy Hero Grimoire I uses the HERO's Turakian Age setting to divide its spells up into common groupings. As with the 4th Edition Spell Colleges, GMs need to examine the Limitations of these spells and remove any that don't really fit. In many cases the Foci used with the spells probably won't fit with the general feel for 3x3 Eyes magic.

Alchemy: Chinese magic is full of alchemical creations. While many of these potions are going to be more generic fantasy in feel and tone, they should provide ideas for 3x3 Eyes GMs and Players alike.
• Conjuration: These spells are perfect for Beast Magicians, or to used as the basis for more specific Beast Magic spells.
• Divination: Just about any magical tradition has Divination spells, so this art should fit well into the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• Druidry: On the surface this looks like a form of Beast Magic, and some spells might work for Beast Magicians, but most of these spells are more akin to "nature magic" and as such might work more for general magicians.
• Elemental Magic: These spells cover manipulation of the elements (air, fire, water, earth, and so on), and are perfect to use as the basis for 3x3 Eyes magicians.
• Enchantment: This is a list of magical artifacts. Most are geared mainly towards fantasy role-play of the D&D sort, and probably are the sort of magical items you'd find in 3x3 Eyes. See the Magical Items section for more.
• Necromancy: These spells deal with the raising of the dead. Some might work as Taoist or Paper Charm spells, but you need to examine them closely.
• Sorcery: With regards to the Turakian Age magic system, these spells deal with the mind and how to affect/control it. Thus, they work well for demons, Sanjiyan, and other magicians.
• Thaumaturgy: These spells deal with the manipulation and alteration of energy and matter. Good spells for demons and the Sanjiyan.
  Witchcraft: See my comments on Witchcraft above. Many of these spells have a strong "traditional" feel to them and would work well in the 3x3 Eyes setting (even if the feel is European).
• Wizardry: This is a catchall for various magical spells. Many of them work well as Sanjiyan spells, especially those spells dealing with the manipulation of raw magical energy (such as the Mystic Dart or the Wizard's Shield spells).
• Divine Magic: Some of these make for excellent Paper Charm spells, especially for ghost-busting Taoists or Shintoists. Game Master will need to remove "Only When Serving The God's Purposes" Limitation, however.

THE FANTASY HERO GRIMOIRE II
As with the Fantasy Hero Companion 2, the spells in this book start to look a little contrived. However, most are far, far better then the spells in Fantasy Hero Companion 2.

Arcanomancy: This is the manipulation of pure magical energy (similar to some of the Wizard spells from Grimoire I). Thus, these spells are excellent for demons, familiars, and Sanjiyan.
• Areomancy: This is "battle magic" and doesn't seem to fit with the general feel of 3x3 Eyes spells.
• Black Magic: These spells involve the caster selling his soul to a demon (or other supernatural being). While not the sort of spells a PC should (or even could) know, you could use them for demons, monsters, or insane NPC sorcerers.
• Chaos Magic: Akin to Arcanomancy, this might work as a form of Sanjiyan magic, since it is the manipulation of raw "Chaotic" magical energy. However, unlike Arcanomancy, it seems a bit extreme for the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• Monster Magic: In general, these spells aren't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• Naming Magic: See my comments on the College Of Naming above.
• Professional Magic: These spells aren't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.
• Rune Magic: Similar to the College of Northrton Magery seen above, these spells require the use of spoken or written runes and symbols. They could be used as a form of Paper Charm magic, with the paper charm standing in for the carved or painted rune.
• Shamanism: These spells are perfect for Beast Magicians, or to used as the basis for more specific Beast Magic spells.
• Song Magic: In general, these spells aren't really suited to the 3x3 Eyes setting.

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