Polyspell an option for spontaneous casting, a middle step between classic vancian and sorcery

Art by Luigi Castellani, from the Scarlet Heroes Art Pack

Polyspell is a spell that when casted enable the wizard to use a spell of lesser level than the polyspell from his repertoire (a short list of known spells).

So there will be Polyspell I (a 2nd level spell) to Polyspell VIII (a 9th level spell), differently from a lesser wish or wish spell the Polyspell can be used only to cast spells from the mage repertoire and only using the required components (you cannot cast a Fireball w/out bat guano for example) and paying the requested penalty from the spell (if for example you use a Polyspell VII to cast a Limited Wish).

In short you sacrifice an higher level spell slot for the flexibility of being able to decide which spell to use at the moment of casting.

Repertoire

The repertoire of a spell-caster is equal to 3+number of spell slot. So a 3rd level magic user (2 1st level spell slot and 1 2nd level spell slot) will have a repertoire of 5 1st level spell and 3 2nd level spells).

A spell repertoire is permanent until changed, to put a spell in his repertoire the mage must take 1 week per spell level and spend 1000 gp in various materials, furthermore the mage needs his spell book with the spell to be put in the repertoire on it.

Once in a repertoire spells can be memorized (or locked see: Recharging Spell a Vancian optional system) without the spell book, this is a good reason to have a repertoire even without a polyspell ready. (this option can be ignored by the DM).

I have a longer article on repertoire here: Inner book a repertoire of spells for old school spell-users

Polyspell I (2nd level) Conjuration/Summoning

Duration: Istantaneous	Casting Time: 1+spell casting time
Saving Throw: none	Area of Effect: self
Range: self	Components: V, S

Description: When the spell-caster cast this spell the effect is to be able to cast another repertoire (see before) spell of 1st level.

Polyspell II (3rd level)

Duration: Istantaneous	Casting Time: 1+spell casting time
Saving Throw: none	Area of Effect: self
Range: self	Components: V, S

Description: When the spell-caster cast this spell the effect is to be able to cast another repertoire (see before) spell of 2nd level or less.

Polyspell III (4th level)

Duration: Istantaneous	Casting Time: 1+spell casting time
Saving Throw: none	Area of Effect: self
Range: self	Components: V, S

Description: When the spell-caster cast this spell the effect is to be able to cast another repertoire (see before) spell of 3rd level or less.

Polyspell IV (5th level)

Duration: Istantaneous	Casting Time: 1+spell casting time
Saving Throw: none	Area of Effect: self
Range: self	Components: V, S

Description: When the spell-caster cast this spell the effect is to be able to cast another repertoire (see before) spell of  4th level or less.

Polyspell V (6th level)

Duration: Istantaneous	Casting Time: 1+spell casting time
Saving Throw: none	Area of Effect: self
Range: self	Components: V, S

Description: When the spell-caster cast this spell the effect is to be able to cast another repertoire (see before) spell of  5th level or less.

Polyspell VI (7th level)

Duration: Istantaneous	Casting Time: 1+spell casting time
Saving Throw: none	Area of Effect: self
Range: self	Components: V, S

Description: When the spell-caster cast this spell the effect is to be able to cast another repertoire (see before) spell of  6th level or less.

Polyspell VII (8th level)

Duration: Istantaneous	Casting Time: 1+spell casting time
Saving Throw: none	Area of Effect: self
Range: self	Components: V, S

Description: When the spell-caster cast this spell the effect is to be able to cast another repertoire (see before) spell of  7th level or less.

Polyspell VIII (9th level)

Duration: Istantaneous	Casting Time: 1+spell casting time
Saving Throw: none	Area of Effect: self
Range: self	Components: V, S

Description: When the spell-caster cast this spell the effect is to be able to cast another repertoire (see before) spell of  8th level or less.

Art by Nikola Avramovic, from the Silent Legion Art Pack

Designer's Notes

It's been a few years since a lot of system have incorporated the "sorcery" spell system, a sorcery system is a spell-casting mechanic where spell-casters have a short list of ready spells, a repertoire in ACKS terms, and they have spell-slots to cast them.

First seen as the special feature of the Sorcerer class in the third edition (A)D&D (hence the name) it is now the standard system of the 5th edition of D&D and the system of choice of one of the best OSR game out there, the Adventurer Conqueror King System.

The philosophy behind my rules is to keep changes at minimum and to have them ready to be used in any old school D&D inspired games.

Here I wanted the possibility to cast spontaneous spell as a resource but not as the normal casting method, and without resorting to rituals or other system that give ulterior resources to casters.

Furthermore I wanted it to be as Vancian as possible (but as discussed in Recharging Spells a Vancian optional system with some difference).

Curiosity: this is a variation of a system I first published on rec.games.frp.dnd on 1996/09/23 here the link: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec.games.frp.dnd/7jMpLKyf77U/PsxoML8kqg8J

there I used two spell of the same level for a similar effect, and I didn't give a repertoire out of the box, following the previous link you will find also other useful spells :-) have fun!