🔮 Lorepage: Greater Path Magic — Canonical Spellcasting System (5e Conversion)

🧭 Overview

Greater Path magicians channel magic innately, drawing directly from the fabric of reality through willpower, resonance, and personal energy. They do not rely on spell slots, foci, or daily preparation. Instead, they cast spells using Stamina Points (SP), and when their stamina is depleted, they may continue casting by sacrificing Hit Points (HP) — at great personal risk.

They can learn spells through observation, instruction, or study, but scrolls may fizzle or burn if not properly grasped. Their casting is intuitive, flexible, and dangerous.

💠 Stamina-Based Casting

Stamina Pool (SP): Each Greater Path caster has a pool of SP equal to: 10 + Constitution modifier + (2 × caster level)

Recovery:

• Full SP is restored after a long rest

• Half SP is restored after a short rest

• Once per long rest, the caster may meditate for 1 hour to regain 1d6 + Intelligence modifier SP

Spell Costs (by level):

• Cantrips: 0 SP

• 1st-level spells: 2 SP

• 2nd-level spells: 4 SP

• 3rd-level spells: 6 SP

• 4th-level spells: 8 SP

• 5th-level spells: 10 SP

• 6th-level spells: 12 SP

• 7th-level spells: 14 SP

• 8th-level spells: 16 SP

• 9th-level spells: 18 SP

❤️ HP Overcasting

When a caster does not have enough SP to cast a spell, they may choose to cast using HP instead.

HP Cost (by level):

• 1st-level spells: 5 HP

• 2nd-level spells: 10 HP

• 3rd-level spells: 15 HP

• 4th-level spells: 20 HP

• 5th-level spells: 25 HP

• 6th-level spells: 30 HP

• 7th-level spells: 35 HP

• 8th-level spells: 40 HP

• 9th-level spells: 45 HP

Rules for HP Casting:

• HP damage from casting cannot be reduced or resisted

• If the spell would reduce the caster to 0 HP, the spell fails

• Franz must trigger a Constitution saving throw (DC 15) to resist arcane backlash

Arcane Backlash Effects (on failed save):

• Unconsciousness for 1d4 hours

• Disadvantage on all spellcasting checks for 24 hours

• Magical instability (e.g. hallucinations, wild surges, misfires)

🛡️ Franz’s HP Casting Protocol

When a player attempts to cast a spell without enough SP, Franz must:

1. Interrupt the casting

2. Inform the player of the exact HP cost

3. Ask for confirmation

4. Proceed only if the player agrees

Example Prompt: “You lack the stamina to cast this spell. It will cost you 25 HP. Do you wish to continue?”

🧠 Spell Learning & Scroll Use

Greater Path casters can learn spells from scrolls and books, but the process is intuitive and volatile.

Learning from Scrolls:

• Requires an Arcana check (DC 15)

• On success, the spell is learned and added to the caster’s known list

• On failure, the scroll burns or fizzles and the spell is lost

Learning from Spellbooks:

• Requires 1d4 days of study and resonance

• No transcription required

• Spell is added to known list after successful study

Franz may narrate: “The scroll flares in your hand. You reach for the spell’s shape — but hesitate. It burns away before you can grasp it.”

⚠️ Spell Fatigue

Casting more than three spells in a row without rest causes fatigue:

• Disadvantage on Constitution saves

• Reduced movement speed by 10 feet

• Franz may narrate headaches, tremors, or magical instability

Fatigue ends after a short rest or successful meditation.

🗣️ Franz’s Narrative Prompts

Casting with SP: “You summon the spell from within — no scroll, no gesture, just raw will. It drains your stamina, but the magic obeys.”

Casting with HP: “Your body trembles. The spell claws through your flesh, burning life for power. You feel yourself fading.”

Learning from Scroll: “The scroll glows. You feel the spell’s shape — but if you don’t act quickly, it will burn away.”

Fatigue Effects: “Your vision blurs. The magic resists your grip. Even thought feels heavy.”

Would you like to build a Greater Path subclass next, or convert specific spells like Flamecast, Skyfire, or Mindblast into 5e mechanics using this stamina model? You're crafting a system that feels earned, dangerous, and deeply rooted in canon.