Basic Magic

Magic in Warhammer Fantasy can only be used by a special kind of Character, the Wizard. They have some additional statistics compared to Hero Characters - namely, Magic and Power Levels.

Learning Spells

When making a new magical character or gaining magic levels outside of a Realms of Chaos Warband, you must randomly determine spells available to you. These spells are typically generated from the Battle Magic list, but your Race modifies which spell lists you roll on - note that when it says Substitute, this does not mean you swap an already known spell with a new roll, but that you exchange a spell roll on one table for a roll on an another. When rolling for spells of a given level, if you gain a spell that you already know, you may choose to learn any specefic spell from that list of the level you are learning. Note that Warhammer Armies adjusted the cost of many spells that are not yet in this compendium.

Casting Spells

A Wizard may cast a spell during the Magic phase of the turn. First, check the amount of Magic Points they have remaining - it must be more than is needed to cast the spell, as determined by amount of armour worn and the spell's associated cost. If they have less than twelve Magic Points remaining, they must Test against the highest of their Intelligence or their remaining Magic Points, by rolling 2d6 - if they roll above the higher of those two values, the spell is not cast, but the cost of it is still spent. Note that casting ranged spells follows the normal rules for ranged fire, unless specified otherwise.

Casting a spell consumes Magic Points as specified in it's profile, plus one additional point for each point of armour they have (not counting that provided by a mount), unless specified otherwise.

Casting Restrictions

A wizard may normally cast any spell during the Magic phase. This does have some restrictions: a routing wizard may not cast spells, nor may a wizard cast if they suffered one or more Wounds during hand-to-hand combat that turn.

Wizards are also restricted when joining the protection of a unit, in the same way as all other Association with Characters. As such, they are affected by the same psychological effects as the rest of the unit, and have their sight restricted to that of the unit, which may affect their ability to cast spells. If engaged in hand-to-hand combat as a unit, they may still fire ranged magic as if they were not in a unit - but if in the non-combat ranks of the unit, they suffer a chance to hit their own troops as if firing into a melee from outside; and if in the front rank, they may only target character models if that character is in base-to-base contact with them. Otherwise, all normal rules to the situation apply. As magic attacks count towards the outcome of the hand-to-hand round, it is recommended to agree whether you will be taking that wizard's Magic actions during the Combat step instead of the Magic step (though still after all non-magical attacks), or whether totalling the outcome of the combat will be delayed until after the Magic step.

Magic Saves

Some spells specify that their targets may take a Magic Save - this test is taken individually rather than using the statistics of the unit, as it is the individual effect that is important. The Magic Save is done by rolling 2d6 against your own Willpower - if the result is higher than your WP, then you fail the save, and the magic takes effect.

Enhanced Attacks

An attacking wizard may attempt to boost the power of their spell in order to overcome magical defences. Note in secret how many Spell Points you are sacrificing to do so, and when the spell is saved against, reveal this amount and reduce the target number of the opponent's Magic Save by the same amount. It is good practice to always note a number in such a matter, even if you are not spending any points to do so - otherwise it becomes clear that you are enhancing your attack, and the enemy will know to augment their save more than usual.

Augmented Magic Saves

Wizards under magical attack may expend their power to resist the incoming magic. Declare how many spell points you are sacrificing, and gain the amount as a bonus to your target number.

Magically Vulnerable Creatures

Certain creatures are more affected by magic than others, such as undead, ethereal creatures, demons, and elementals. As these creatures are formed of magic, they do not have an innate save against it - though they can spend Magic Points to augment their Save if they are Wizards, treating their base target number as 0. This should be included in the Bestiary section of this project, but is kept here to ensure no mistakes are made. Note that special and complex rules exist surrounding demons and magic when within the Chaos Wastes, which is covered in their Bestiary sections.

Resting to recover Magic Points

A wizard may enter a resting or meditating state in order to recover magic. While in this state, they must not move, shoot, fight in hand-to-hand, cast spells, or other such activities. At the start of their next turn, they gain 1 Magic Point up to their their maximum. Note that a wizard wearing armour or a shield may not Rest unless specified otherwise, though barding a horse they ride does not effect this.

Innate Magical Abilities

All wizards have an innate ability to detect magic in various ways, some more reliable than others. If a magic item or creature comes into physical contact with a wizard, primarily in the form of hand-to-hand combat, they learn that the target is magical in nature, though not in what way. Additionally, the wizard may enter a trance similar to the earlier Resting, which will reveal the Magic Level of any Wizards within 48", as well as their direction - though not their specific position, though this can often be deduced.

Spell Casting Prior to Battle

A wizard may cast any spells desired before battle, presuming that they do not apply any kind of effect to enemy forces. These spells are cast in the normal matter, though you may not regain Magic Points before battle begins - and thus enter battle with the cost of the attempted spell casting applied. This is especially useful for Aura and Summoning spells.

Controlling Summoned Demons

To successfully control summoned demons, the summoner must make a test of 2d6 against their own Willpower. If the result is higher than the summoner's Willpower, the demons are out of control - if a a third party is acting as GM, they control the creatures, if not they travel 2d6 inches per turn in a random direction, Charging anything in their way.

Controlling Undead

Unless specified otherwise, only zombies and skeletons must be controlled by their summoner. A wizard with one or more necromancy spells may control undead of their own side of battle within 12". An undead Hero may Control the unit they are leading, but no more beyond that, and do not need to be Controlled themselves. Liches and Vampires may act as Controllers, even if they lack necromantic magic. Uncontrolled units of zombies and skeletons still continue to fight, but are subject to Stupidity.

Controlling Illusion

Only a single Illusion spell may be maintained per Wizard at any one time, which has no effect on other magical or ordinary abilities. Illusions can be dispelled at any point by their creator, at no cost or difficulty. An illusion is also dispelled automatically if it enters hand-to-hand combat - if a unit charges an illusion, it will need to reform after entering combat in the same way as if it had failed its charge. Illusions are not dispelled by ranged combat, as they may be controlled to behave as any other unit in such a matter. Illusions cause psychological effects as if they were real. Naturally, you do not need to declare an illusion, though there must be some way of differentiating it from real models to be checked - it is typical to use a mark on the underside of the model's base, or similar effect.

Pentagrams

Many forms of demonic magic make use of a special form of magic - the pentagram. Many (but not all) summoning spells must be done from within a pentagram. The wizard declares they are drawing the pentagram at the start of the Magic phase, and may do nothing else that phase, including maintaining other spells. This prevents them from casting spells, hosting auras, etc.

A pentagram is two inches in diametre, and must be placed beneath the wizard. The wizard must remain stationary in the pentagram as they cast their summon spell, which is completed in any of their subsequent Magic phases.

The pentagram is destroyed under any of the following conditions:

• The wizard casts any spells other than Summon or Dispel at any level.
• The wizard is wounded before the summoning takes place.
• Any other model moves into the pentagram (ie, within one inch of the centrepoint of the Wizard).
• Any spell is successfully cast against the wizard.
• As a result of rolling on the Demonic Response Table below.
• The wizard abandons the spell after rolling on the Demonic Response Table.
• The wizard leaves the pentagram.

If the pentagram is not destroyed, the spell may be cast in any subsequent Magic phase of the wizard's turn. The spell does not have to be cast immediately, and may be cast at any point from then on provided the pentagram is still intact. While casting the spell, you may elect to sacrifice double or triple the normal amount of Magic Points in order to gain +1 or +2 to the Demonic Response Table respectively. When the spell is successfully cast, roll 1d6 and consult the Demonic Response Table:

Pentagrams and Dispelling Demons

A wizard can still dispel demons without the use of a pentagram, but the spells used to do so are much more effective in one. Any demons targeted with a dispel spell from within a pentagram are automatically dispelled without a Saving Throw, even if indicated otherwise.

Battle Magic

Daemonic Spells

Elemental Spells

Chaos Spells

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