A Guide to Spellcasting
The casting of spells often requires the caster to do, say, or use something in order for the spell to work. Spells may require verbal, somatic, or material components or a magical focus. These actions are performed through role play and you may embellish with sound effects or gestures to enhance the drama of the role play.
Concentration - Complete attention; intense mental effort.
To cast a spell, you must concentrate. If something interrupts your concentration while you’re casting, the spell may fail. The more distracting the interruption and the higher the level of the spell you are trying to cast, the higher the higher the fail chance is.
Verbal - Using the voice to affect the casting of a spell.
Many spells require the caster to speak certain words to cast a spell. Being prevented from speaking, by such means as a gag or magical effects that remove sounds, makes it impossible for a caster to cast such a spell. A deafened caster may also fail when casting a spell, by misspeaking, which causes the spell to be expended with no effect. Levels 5 and up no longer are required to verbalize a spell.
Somatic - Using gestures and movements to affect the casting of a spell.
Not required but you may choose to make it so.
Many spells require the caster to make a motion to cast the spell. If the caster is unable to make the correct motion, the spell cannot be cast. Wearing armor or using a shield interferes with the somatic components of arcane spells, preventing spell casting and creating a risk of arcane spell failure spell failure.
Material - The tangible substance that goes into the casting of a spell.
Check your spells, a few will require a specific item in order to cast.
Focus - The concentration of attention or energy on an object to aid casting
Casting a spell may at times require that the caster have access to a thematic prop - such as a staff or a wand. This prop aids the casting of a spell for any level caster and may be required for beginners or for complex rituals. It might be a wand, book or staff, or something more specific to the RP or theme of the spell. Loosing your focus object(s) will take away your bonus to the spell and may entirely disrupt the spell you were working.