Earlier this year, I outlined some possibilities for how to handle massive spellburn in a campaign. I’m back again with another possible method, inspired by a discussion of Spellburn from a few months ago (timestamped link below). Though not perfect, I think the combination of these two posts gets us close to what the oft forgotten Deity Requests (DCC RPG, p. 357) accomplishes for clerics. Perfection will come in time! For now, enjoy the Latent Corruption table that I've created and let me know if you might use it in your own game.

Some of us judges, especially in con games and other one-shots, end up with the wizard/elf that spellburns themself down to a little nub. They one-hit-kill the BBEG, max level magic shield the PCs, and otherwise use magic to overshadow other PCs. We use the DCC Lankhmar style Carousing table as a basis for this. Hopefully it helps provide consequences to the montage at the end of your one-shot adventures or more episodic campaigns. Essentially, for every point of spellburn that is burned, the wizard must roll a corresponding die/dice. As their body recovers from the sacrifices of blood magic, it regrows in a new and unnatural form. When an adventure concludes, or when the magic user otherwise does massive spellburn (judge's discretion), have them roll on the below table.

Spellburn Amount | Die Roll | Result

1. (1d3) Roll corruption on the spell that used the most spellburn in your most recent adventure.

2. (1d4) Suffer -1d to actions related to or modified by a random spellburned ability score until the next game session is over.

3. (1d5) Roll corruption on the spell that used the most spellburn in your most recent adventure.

4. (1d6) Muscles grow back misshapen. Suffer -1 loss to the most spellburned ability score.

5. (2d3) Roll corruption on the spell that used the most spellburn in your most recent adventure.

6. (1d7) While recovering, the locals decided that they hate you. Whether the rumors be true or false, you’ll be killed on sight if you stay here or ever return.

7. (1d8) Roll corruption on the spell that used the most spellburn in your most recent adventure.

8. (2d4) The phlogiston’s chaos lengthens your recovery. Only half the spellburn is recovered by the time your next adventure begins.

9. (1d10) Roll corruption on the spell that used the most spellburn in your most recent adventure.

10. (2d5) You’ve attacked an enemy, be that magehunters, vindictive former foes, or their relatives. attracted night creature. At the judge’s discretion, these foes are added to the next game session and specifically target the magic user.

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11. (1d12) Roll corruption on the spell that used the most spellburn in your most recent adventure.

12. (3d4) You’ve absorbed the power of one of your magic items (player’s choice). It is rendered mundane.

13. (2d6) Roll corruption on the spell that used the most spellburn in your most recent adventure.

14. (1d14) The phlogiston is cruel. Each point of spellburn costs double for one game session.

15. (2d7) Roll corruption on the spell that used the most spellburn in your most recent adventure.

16. (3d5) You become the obsession of a deathless night creature. At the beginning of each session, the judge makes a secret Luck check on the magic user’s behalf. On a failure, the night creature attempts to take their soul that session.

17. (1d16) Roll corruption on the spell that used the most spellburn in your most recent adventure.

18. (2d8) When only halfway healed, some upstart wizard or rival challenges the magic user to a spell duel.

19. (3d6) Roll corruption on the spell that used the most spellburn in your most recent adventure.

20. (1d20) There’s no time to recover at all! Your patron (judge’s discretion, if patronless) demands you undertake your next quest now!

(The above video is timestamped to begin at 1:23:07 when the discussion of this idea begins)

What would you add to the Latent Spellburn table? Will you use it at your table?

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