Game rules - DDM Guild

For example, the Lion of Talisid can cast a flame strike spell once per battle. The spell entry on
its stat card looks like this:
flame strike (sight; radius 2; 30 fire damage; DC 16)
Number of Uses
Most spells can be cast only a limited number of times. For many creatures, this is indicated
by a number of check boxes () after the spell’s name, one for each time the spell can
be cast.
Some creatures instead have a selection of spells they can cast again and again, called Sorcerer
Spells. (This is true even if the creature isn’t really a sorcerer.) In these cases, the stat card
instead lists the spells available and a separate series of check boxes for each level of spell the
creature can cast. It’s okay to use a higher-level spell’s box, if there is one available, to cast a
lower-level spell.
Range
A spell’s range indicates how far from the caster the effect can occur. There are eight standard
ranges: self, touch, range 6, cone, line 12, sight, your warband, and any warband. See the
glossary for complete descriptions.
Line of Sight and Area Effects: Terrain that blocks line of effect blocks area effects,
including circles, cones, and lines. Only squares inside an area effect that have line of effect to
the origin point of the effect are affected by the spell or ability. Though centered on a corner,
the origin point of an area effect that touches a wall is considered to be on the same side of the
wall as the target of the spell or ability (for effects with a radius), or the same side as the acting
creature (for line and cone effects). Thus, the wall blocks line of effect to creatures on the
opposite side of the wall. An area effect that originates at the end of a thin wall is not blocked
by that wall.
Radius
Some spells affect a roughly circular area of the battle map. These spells’ entries list the radius
of their effect. See the glossary for descriptions of these keywords.
Effects and Conditions
A few of the most common spell effects and keywords are discussed here. Others are
explained in more detail in the glossary.
Spell Duration: Spell effects last until the end of the battle (skirmish) unless the text of the
spell or effect says otherwise.
Spells That Don’t Affect Certain Creatures: Some spells don’t work against certain types or
kinds of creatures. If the nearest target happens to be a creature the spell can’t affect, choose
another spell or move the caster to a location where it can target the right creature type.
Spells That Grant Bonuses or Penalties: Bonuses that are simple additions to a creature’s
statistics use a “+” sign. For example, bear’s endurance (touch; target living creature gets +10
hp) increases the target’s hit points by 10.
Spell Stacking: Different spells that grant bonuses to the same statistic are usually cumulative.
For example, casting magic weapon (touch; attack +1, ignore DR) and bless (your warband;
attack +1) on the same creature gives that creature a +2 bonus on attacks. The same applies to
spells that impose penalties or other harmful effects.
Duplicate Spells: No creature can benefit from two castings of the same spell if it grants
an ongoing effect; a second magic weapon spell cast on a creature does not provide any
additional bonus. Likewise, duplicate harmful spells’ effects don’t stack.
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