Ablative Parma Magica

The Thorendon Saga will be using an Ablative Parma, as opposed to the "all or nothing" magic resistance in the current rules. Instead of facing two possibilities (total success or total failure), the Ablative Parma rules will allow for partial protection against spells. It will also permit a parma to be slowly burned away by minor spells, which means that powerful Arch-Magi are no longer immune to attacks from lesser wizards.

Mechanics

• Parma Resistance is equal to Parma Magica X 5. This total is modified as the Parma Magica takes damage.

• A magus's Magic Resistance is equal to (Current Parma Resistance) + Form of Attacking Spell. (The Stress Die has been removed to make book-keeping easier)

• The Magic Resistance of non-Magi remains Might + Stress Die

Resisting Hostile Magic

The Penetration Totals of incoming spells are compared to the Magic Resistance of the wizard.

• If the Penetration Total is less than half the wizard's Magic Resistance, the spell is countered and there is no effect.

• If the Penetration Total is less than the wizard's Magic Resistance, the spell is countered, but the wizard's Parma Magica is damaged. The wizard's Parma Resistance (see above) is reduced by the Magnitude of the Penetration Total of the spell (ie, Penetration Total / 5, rounded up).

• If the Penetration Total is greater than the wizard's Magic Resistance, then the spell is not countered. At least part of the magic penetrates the wizard's defenses. The amount by which the Penetration Total is greater than the Magic Resistance is the equivalent level of the spell effect (Level of Effect = Penetration Total - Magic Resistance). The Magnitude of the Penetration Total is subtracted from the Parma Resistance, as above.

• If the Penetration Total is greater than twice the wizard's Magic Resistance, then the Parma is completely burned away, and the spell affects the wizard at its full strength.

Damage to the Parma Magica

Damage to a wizard's Parma is subtracted from the Parma Resistance total (Parma Skill X 5), not from the Parma skill itself. When the Parma Resistance has been reduced to 0, his Parma is effectively gone, and the wizard is affected by magic as if his Parma was not in place (ie, Resistance is Form Bonus only).

To counteract Parma damage, a mage can spend a round strengthening his Parma. A wizard can add points to his Parma Resistance equal to his Parma Magica skill each round until his Parma Resistance is at full strength. Strengthening a Parma requires concentration and will be unsuccessful if the wizard is interrupted (use Concentration Table for spellcasting).

Impact of New Rules

These new rules will result in the following changes:

• A single spell is not as likely to result in the immediate death of a magus. Unless the spell is twice the level of his Magic Resistance it will only have a partial effect, meaning that the magus will probably survive long enough to react to the attack.

• Even powerful magi are not invulnerable. By casting numerous spells at an opponent, it is possible to wear their magic resistance down to the point where the spells could have an effect.

• Teams of mages become more useful. Although no one spell may penetrate, a team of mages could strip the parma from a foe.