Description: Spellcasters may perform some form of self-sacrifice to convert some of their life energy into magic. This translates into either an upgrade to the power of a magical effect, resistance to harm caused by magic or a bonus to spell rolls at the cost of ability score points, hit points or spell fatigue.
Find it in: Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG
Keywords: Dark, Fantastical, Gritty, High-Magic, Pulpy, Tense, Weird
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Low Fantasy, Superhero, Sword and Sorcery
A.K.A. Inner Strength Points, Psi Points
Description: Characters have a pool of magical energy that they spend to cast their spells rather than spell slots or exterior fuel for magic. These are often based on magic and replenished with rest.
Find it in: Palladium Fantasy Roleplaying Game, The Dozen Dooms, Dungeons & Dragons 3e Unearthed Arcana, AD&D2e Player's Option: Spells & Magic, Dungeons & Dragons 3.5e Psionics Rules
Keywords: Fantastical, High-Magic, Weird
Genres: Epic Fantasy, High-Fantasy, Pulpy, Sword & Sorcery
Description: Rather than using pre-defined spells characters describe a desired magical effect, and are assigned a level to determine difficulty to cost, cost in energy or spell slots, etc. Often used in conjunction with Spell Rolls or Spell Points.
Find it in: Mage: the Awakening, The Dozen Dooms, Sorcerer Alternative Class for Low Fantasy Gaming
Keywords: Epic, Fantastical, High-Magic, Weird
Genres: Epic Fantasy, High-Fantasy, Superhero
Description: In lieu of the standard spell component for a magic item, a rarified and exotic item with the right resonance can give the Spell a boost to its casting time, area of effect, duration, range, or effect. For example, coffee beans harvested from a treat prevents haste from aging the target.
Find it in: Dungeons & Dragons 3e Unearthed Arcana
Keywords: Fantastical, High-Magic, Weird
Genres: Dark Fantasy, High Fantasy
Description: When lacking any other tool for decision making as to which character is attacked, targeted, or hit by a trap, choose the character with the lowest current Luck Score.
Find it in: Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG
Keywords: Fantastical, Pulpy, Rules-light, Weird
Genres: Crime, High Fantasy, Low Fantasy, Pulp, Sword & Sorcery
Description: Used in TTRPGs that use a Luck Scores. When a party of PCs is attempting to fled a battle they make Luck Checks, if more than half the party succeeds, then the party shakes their attackers and winds up in a relatively safe location that the GM chooses. Alternatively, everyone who succeeds escapes. This removes the need for chase mechanics.
Find it in: Low Fantasy Gaming
Keywords: Cinematic, Fast-paced, Pulpy, Rules-light, Swashbuckling
Genres: Crime, Low Fantasy, Pulp, Sword & Sorcery, Western
Description: When a PC or important NPC dies, there is a chance that they can be resurrected.This entails rolls to check on which magic or technology was used to bring them back. Each method has drawbacks and a chance or rejection, which leads to permanent pentirs.
Find it in: Alpha Blue (NSFW)
Keywords: Fantastical, Light-Hearted, Pulpy, Weird
Genres: Cyberpunk, High Fantasy, Pulp, Science Fiction, Superhero
Description: Combat-oriented characters may declare special effects of a combat attack, like disarming, knock back, tripping, blinding, etc., and get variable success based on a roll of a die.
Find it in: Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG
Keywords: Weird, Fantastical, Dark, Tactical, Swashbuckling
Genres: Sword & Sorcery, High Fantasy, Low Fantasy, Post-apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Pulp, Superhero
Description: Sacrifice Armor effectiveness to reduce damage.
Find it in: Right Here
Keywords: Fantastical, Tactical, Heroic, Cinematic, Swashbuckling
Genres: Sword & Sorcery, High Fantasy, Low Fantasy, Science Fiction, Post-apocalyptic, Pulp
