Rules of Spellshaping

[DonQuixote]

Spellshaping Powers
Spellshaping powers fall into four broad categories: incantations, numena, spellshape attacks, and arcane formulae (both major and minor).  These powers all work in different ways, but all draw upon the same magical talents.

Spellshape Attacks
Spellshape attacks are the most basic form of offensive magic available to most spellshapers, ranging from howling gusts of wind to blasts of pure force.  Each circle has its own spellshape attack, some of which possess unusual qualities.
   All spellshape attacks are spell-like abilities, with neither verbal nor somatic components.  As such, a spellshaper can make spellshape attacks even in circumstances in which he could not shape formulae or incantations.  Spellshape attacks do not allow saving throws, but most are subject to spell resistance.
   A spellshape attack is the equivalent of a spell whose level is equal to one-half the spellshaper's shaper level (round down), with a minimum spell level of 1st and a maximum of 9th.

Numena
A numen is an aura of power that is associated with a circle of spellshaping.  Every circle has a different numen associated with it, each granting different benefits to a spellshaper and her allies.  The benefits of a spellshaper's numena grow along with her as she increases in strength.
   Numena are supernatural abilities, lacking both verbal and somatic components.  When projected, a numen takes effect in an area centered on its shaper.  Any ally within the numen's area, including allies that the spellshaper can't see, gain the numen's benefits.  However, a numen cannot affect allies to which its shaper does not have line of effect.

Incantations
Incantations are a set of basic powers that are associated with a circle of spellshaping.  Each circle has a set of three incantations associated with it, of three different levels: Least, Lesser, and Greater.  As a spellshaper grows in power, he learns to shape higher-level incantations and gains increasing mastery with incantations he already knows.
   All incantations are spell-like abilities with verbal components, but no somatic components.  Thus, an incantation can be shaped in armor without difficulty, but can only be shaped by a spellshaper who is able to speak in a strong voice.  A silence spell or a gag spoils the incantation.  A spellshaper who is deafened has a 20% chance to spoil any incantation that he tries to shape.
   An incantation is the equivalent of a spell whose level is equal to one-half the spellshaper's shaper level (round down), with a minimum level of 1st and a maximum of 9th.

Arcane Formulae
Arcane formulae are involved spell-like effects that are temporarily expended after use.  Many arcane formulae focus on augmenting and empowering spellshape attacks, making them the primary offensive tool in a spellshaper's arsenal.
   All arcane formulae are spell-like abilities with somatic components, but no verbal components.  As such, a mute spellshaper can shape formulae without difficulty, but a spellshaper who cannot move cannot shape any of her formulae.  Unless stated otherwise, a spellshaper must have at least one hand free to provide a somatic component.

Spellshaping
Spellshapers and spellshaping creatures have access to a wide variety of different powers.  In order to use them to their fullest potential, it is important for a spellshaper to understand how the different spellshaping powers function.

Making Spellshape Attacks
A spellshape attack is an attack form of magical origin, such as a fireblast, that is not the result of a conventional spell.  Rather, the spellshaper focuses his innate magical abilities into a simple, basic attack that can be repeated endlessly.
   A spellshaper does not need to prepare his spellshape attacks ahead of time--any and all spellshape attacks he knows are always available to him.  Making a spellshape attack requires no more effort than attacking with a conventional weapon, so a spellshaper may make multiple spellshape attacks with a full attack action if his base attack bonus is high enough.
   Metamagic feats cannot improve spellshape attacks (because they are spell-like abilities, not spells), and metashaping feats cannot be applied to a spellshape attack unless it is made as part of shaping a formula.  However, spellshape attacks are considered to be weaponlike spell-like abilities, and benefit from combat enhancing feats as described on page 72 of Complete Arcane.  In addition, the Spell Penetration feat and other effects that improve caster level checks to overcome spell resistance apply to spellshape attacks (but see Shaper Level, below).

Projecting Numena
Numena, like spellshape attacks, possess few restrictions on their use.  A particular numen can be projected any number of times per day, without needing to be recovered.  A spellshaper can project a numen she knows or change her projected numen by taking a full-round action to meditate.  Unless otherwise stated, a spellshaper can project only one numen at a time.
   When a spellshaper chooses to project a numen, its benefits take effect in a 30-foot radius around her.  For every five shaper levels she possesses, this radius increases by 5 feet.  A spellshaper's numen remains in effect until she dismisses it (a free action), she is rendered unconscious or dead, or she projects another numen in its place.


Shaping Incantations
Unlike formulae, incantations are not expended and recovered.  Instead, incantations can only be shaped a certain number of times per day.  Each incantation can be shaped a certain number of times per day, depending on its level, and the shaping of one incantation does not affect the shaping of other incantations from its circle or the shaping of other incantations of its level.

   The number of times per day that a spellshaper can shape an incantation is determined by his shaper level.  In addition, shaping an incantation of lesser or greater level requires both a minimum number of formulae known from its circle and a minimum number of ranks in the Spellcraft skill.

   Once a spellshaper gains the ability to shape the incantations associated with a circle, his progression with those incantations proceeds naturally.  So long as he meets their prerequisites, he naturally learns a circle's higher-level incantations when he reaches the appropriate levels.

   Least: At 1st level, a spellshaper can shape a least incantation once per day.  If the spellshaper's shaper level is 7th or higher, he can instead shape the least incantation three times per day.  If his shaper level is 13th or higher, he can instead shape the least incantation at will.

   Lesser: In order to shape a lesser incantation, a spellshaper must know at least two formulae from the incantation's circle and have at least 10 ranks in Spellcraft.  At 7th level, a spellshaper can shape a lesser incantation once per day.  If the spellshaper's shaper level is 13th or higher, he can instead shape the lesser incantation three times per day.

   Greater: In order to shape a greater incantation, a spellshaper must know at least four formulae from the incantation's circle and have at least 16 ranks in Spellcraft.  At 13th level, a greater incantation can be shaped once per day.


Shaping and Preparing Arcane Formulae
The process of shaping a formula is similar to that of casting a spell, although there are some key differences (see below).  A spellshaper can only ever shape a formula that is currently prepared an unexpended.  In addition, an impulse mage can only choose to shape a formula that has occurred to her--she can't choose to shape a formula that is currently repressed.

   A spellshaper can use a particular arcane formula as many times as she likes in a single day, but, each time she shapes a formula, she temporarily expends it--she loses a little of her mental focus, she exhausts some small portion of her inner reserves, or she simply progresses to the next part of her magic-using ritual and can't immediately achieve the same effect again without reaching the proper point in her spellshaping.

   In other words, a spellshaper can't shape an expended formula again until she rests for a brief time or performs a specific action in combat that allows her to recover one or more expended formulae.  The type of action necessary depends on what type of spellshaper she is; see Chapter 3 for details on each class's formula recovery mechanism.  As a result, a spellshaper can normally shape each of her prepared formulae once per encounter, but she can sometimes recover one or more formulae she shaped earlier and shape them again.

   Unlike spellshape attacks, arcane formulae require preparation in the form of meditation, quick study, or simple mental rehearsal.  Therefore, a spellshaper must choose a selection of prepared formulae from all the formulae she knows.  Only her prepared formulae are available for immediate use.

   The number of formulae that a spellshaper can prepare at one time depends on her class and level.  If she does not have any levels in a spellshaper class (for example, she learned a spellshape attack and an arcane formula by means of feats), she can prepare each formula she knows.  For example, if a character has chosen the Formula Study feat two times and knows two arcane formulae, she automatically prepares both those formulae, and she can use each of those formulae once per encounter.  However, a spellshaper with the Formula Study feat does not gain any bonus to her ability to prepare formulae--the formula she learns with the feat is just one more formula known from which she can select her prepared formulae.

   Each spellshaping class has its own progression of prepared formulae.  A character with levels in multiple spellshaping classes cannot prepare formulae known from one class using the prepared formula slots of another.  If a character advances in a prestige class that grants her additional formulae, that class details how many additional formulae she can prepare.  These extra formulae prepared add to her maximum number of formulae prepared, whether she determined that number due to her class level in a specific spellshaper class or by the number of times she has taken the Formula Study feat.

   It is possible for a character to gain the Formula Study feat before entering a class that grants a progression for formulae prepared.  In this case, use the class's number of formulae prepared.  Add any modifiers from prestige classes to this number of prepared formulae.

   To prepare formulae, a spellshaper requires a brief period of meditation, mental rehearsal, or study.  The exact nature of this preparation depends on her spellshaper class, but each class requires 5 minutes of preparation time.  Since each arcane formula requires a precise combination of techniques for manipulating magical energy and focusing the mind, most spellshapers can't keep every formula they know at the forefront of their minds.  A spellshaper does not need to be well rested to prepare her formulae, but she does need to be able to stand and move without restraint.  As long as she is not physically disturbed during her meditation and study, she can exchange her previously chosen set of prepared formulae for a new set of prepared formulae.  Unlike a wizard preparing her spells, a spellshaper cannot choose to leave a prepared formula slot unfilled, nor can she prepare the same formula multiple times.

Concentration
To shape a formula or incantation, you must concentrate, just as you would if you were casting a spell.  If something interrupts your concentration while you're shaping, you must make a Concentration check or lose the formula or incantation.  The more distracting the interruption and the higher the level of the formula or incantation you are trying to shape, the higher the DC is.  (More powerful formulae and incantations are also more complicated.)  If you fail the check, the formula or use of the incantation is expended, just as if you had shaped it to no effect.
   For the purpose of making Concentration checks, treat a least incantation as a 2nd-level ability, a lesser incantation as a 4th-level ability, and a greater incantation as an 8th-level ability.

   Injury: Getting hurt or being affected by hostile magic while trying to shape a formula or incantation can break your concentration and ruin the shaping.  If you take damage while trying to shape a formula or incantation, you must make a Concentration check (DC 10 + points of damage taken + the level of the ability you're shaping).  If you fail the check, you lose the ability without effect.  The interrupting event strikes during spellshaping if it comes between when you start and when you complete the act of shaping a formula or incantation (for an ability with a shaping time of 1 full round or greater) or if it comes in response to your shaping the formula or incantation (such as an attack of opportunity provoked by the ability or a contingent attack, such as a readied action).
   If you are taking continuous damage, such as from Melf's acid arrow, half of the damage is considered to take place while you are shaping a formula or incantation.  You must make a Concentration check (DC 10 + 1/2 the damage that the continuous source last dealt + the level of the ability you're shaping).  If the last damage dealt was the last damage that the effect could deal (such as the last round of a Melf's acid arrow), then the damage is over, and it does not distract you.  Repeated damage, such as from a spiritual weapon, does not count as continuous damage.

   Spell: If you are affected by a spell or spell-like effect while attempting to shape a formula or incantation of your own, you must make a Concentration check or lose the ability you are shaping.  If the spell affecting you deals damage, the DC is 10 + points of damage taken + the level of the ability you're shaping.  If the spell interferes with you or distracts you in some other way, the DC is the spell's saving throw DC + the level of the ability you're shaping.  For a spell with no saving throw, use the DC that the spell's saving throw would have if a save were allowed.

   Grappling or Pinned: You cannot shape formulae while grappling or pinned, as all formulae have somatic components.  You can still shape incantations while grappling or pinned, but you must make a Concentration check (DC 20 + the effective level of the incantation you're shaping) or lose the use of the incantation.

   Vigorous Motion: If you are riding on a moving mount, taking a bouncy ride in a wagon, on a small boat in rough water, belowdecks in a storm-tossed ship, or being tossed roughly about in a similar fashion, you must make a Concentration check (DC 15 + the level of the ability you're shaping) or lose the formula or use of the incantation.

   Violent Weather: You must make a Concentration check if you try to shape a formula or incantation in violent weather.  If you are in a high wind carrying blinding rain or sleet, the DC is 5 + the level of the ability you're shaping.  If you are in wind-driven hail, dust, or debris, the DC is 10 + the level of the ability you're shaping.  In either case, you lose the ability if you fail the Concentration check.  If the weather is caused by a spell or spell-like effect, use the rules in the Spell subsection above.

   Shaping Defensively: If you want to shape a formula or incantation without provoking any attacks of opportunity, you need to dodge and weave.  You must make a Concentration check (DC 15 + the level of the ability you're shaping) to succeed.  You lose the ability if you fail.

   Entangled: If you want to shape a formula or incantation while entangled in a net or by a tanglefoot bag, or while you're affected by a spell with similar effects (such as entangle), you must make a DC 15 Concentration check to shape the ability.  You lose the ability if you fail.

Shaper Level
Some spellshaping powers have variable effects (such as duration) that depend on shaper level.  Incantations, for example, can be used more often as you increase in level, and their effects become more potent.  Similarly, the benefits of numena increase with your shaper level, as does the damage dealt by your spellshape attacks.

   Formulae are not impacted as strongly by a user's level as incantations and spells are.  The difference in effect is primarily a balance and game play issue.  Since you can use formulae repeatedly, they tend to scale poorly.  As you attain higher levels, you usually use your low-level formulae less often (if you haven't already traded them out for higher-level formulae, as described in the spellshaper class descriptions in Chapter 3).  Some minor formulae, however, remain useful across all levels.

   If you are a single-class character, your shaper level equals your level in the class that provides access to arcane formulae (anchorite, elemental adept, impulse mage, savant, spellsage, spellshape champion, or spellshot marksman).  If you lack any spellshaper levels, your shaper level is equal to 1/2 your effective character level.

   As described under Making Spellshape Attacks, the Spell Penetration feat and other effects that improve caster level checks to overcome spell resistance apply to spellshaping powers.  However, effects that would improve your caster level do not increase your shaper level for any other purpose.

Multiclass Characters
Even when you gain levels in a class that does not grant spellshaping powers, your natural talent with arcane energies still increases.  If you are a multiclass spellshaper, and you learn a new formula by attaining a new level in a spellshaper class, determine your shaper level by adding together your level in that class + 1/2 your levels in all other class.  If you possess Hit Dice that are not derived from class levels, treat each Hit Die as a level in a non-spellshaping class for the purpose of determining your shaper level.

   For example, a 7th-level impulse mage/5th-level spellsage has a shaper level of 9th for the purpose of determining the highest-level formulae he can take as an impulse mage.  As a result, he can learn 5th-level formulae as an impulse mage.  As a spellsage, his shaper level is 8th, meaning that he can learn only formulae of 4th level or lower from his spellsage levels.

   In addition, most spellshaping powers increase in power with your shaper level.  A multiclass character who has different shaper levels for the purposes of each class uses spellshaping powers at his or her highest shaper level derived from a class with which he or she has access to the power's circle.  For example, a 7th-level elemental adept (fire)/5th-level savant uses all his Searing Flame powers (even those gained from savant levels) as a 9th-level shaper, as his elemental adept levels grant him access to the Searing Flame circle.  However, a 5th-level elemental adept (fire)/7th-level savant would only use his Searing Flame powers as a 9th-level shaper if he has access to that circle as a savant.  If his savant levels do not grant him access to the Searing Flame circle, he must use his Searing Flame powers as an 8th-level shaper.

   This process applies to all of a character's levels, whether they are in spellshaper classes or other classes.  However, prestige classes work a little differently.  In most cases, you add the full prestige class levels to your class level to determine your shaper level.  See the prestige class descriptions in Chapter 7 for details.

Selecting Arcane Formulae
Much like spells, arcane formulae are organized by level.  Higher-level formulae are more powerful than lower-level ones.  As you gain levels, you have the option to select higher-level formulae.  Your shaper level with a spellshaper class determines the highest-level formulae you can select.  For example, a 5th-level elemental adept can select formulae of 3rd level or lower

TABLE 5-1: HIGHEST-LEVEL FORMULAE KNOWN

Shaper Level		Formula Level
1st-2nd		1st
3rd-4th		2nd
5th-6th		3rd
7th-8th		4th
9th-10th		5th
11th-12th		6th
13th-14th		7th
15th-16th		8th
17th+		9th

   
Resolving An Arcane Formula
Once you have chosen a formula to shape, you must resolve its effects.

   Attack Rolls: Many formulae include an attack of some kind.  All offensive combat actions, even those that don’t damage opponents (such as disarm and bull rush) are considered attacks.  All formulae that opponents can resist with saving throws, that deal damage, or that otherwise harm or hamper subjects are considered attacks.

   Bonus Types: Some formulae grant bonuses to ability scores or Armor Class, on attacks or damage, on saves, or on a number of other variables.  Each bonus has a type that indicates why or how it is granted.  With the exception of dodge bonuses, two bonuses of the same kind generally don’t stack.
   If a formula does not identify the type of bonus conferred, its effects stack with all other effects modifying the same characteristic or attribute.  Untyped bonuses always stack.

   Actions During a Formula: The Shaping Action line of a formula description provides the action required to shape that formula.  For example, the shaping action of the Blistering Flames formula is 1 standard action.  Thus, as part of your standard action, you bring about the effect in the formula description.  In this case, the formula allows you to make a fireblast attack that imposes penalties on your foe.

Recovering Expended Formulae
You begin each encounter with all your prepared formulae unexpended.  When you shape a formula, it is expended—you cannot use it again until you recover it.  You can recover expended formulae in two ways: through special actions or at the end of an encounter.

   Special Action: Most spellshapers can refresh some or all of their expended formulae in the course of a battle by taking a special action to do so.  The type of special action required depends on a spellshaper’s class (or feat) selection, as summarized below.

   Anchorite: An anchorite can recover all of her expended formulae from one circle by meditating on that circle as a move action.  If she is in the meditative aspect associated with a circle, she can instead meditate on that circle as a swift action.  She cannot shape a formula in the same round that she recovers the formulae belong to its circle.

   Elemental Adept: An elemental adept can recover all his expended formulae as a swift action, following by making a spellshape attack or using a standard action to do nothing else in the round.  If he shapes a formula during a round, he can’t recover his expended formulae.

   Impulse Mage: An impulse mage recovers expended formulae whenever no more repressed formulae can occur to her.  The round in which her last repressed formula occurs to her doesn't count.

   Savant: A savant can recover some of his expended formulae by taking a standard action to make a Knowledge (arcana) check.  The check result determines how many formulae he can recover that turn.

   Spellsage: A spellsage can reselect her prepared formulae as a full-round action, recovering them as she does so.

   Spellshape Champion: A spellshape champion can recover all of his expended formulae as a move action, allowing him to keep fighting without sacrificing access to his formulae.

   Multiclass Spellshaper: A character with two or more spellshaper classes keeps track of her prepared formulae, expended formulae, and recovery of expended formulae separately for each class.

   Character with the Formula Study feat: A character who knows one or more arcane formulae through the Formula Study feat but does not otherwise have a level in a spellshaper class cannot recover formulae through any sort of special action.  He can only recover expended formulae at the end of an encounter (see below).

   End of the Encounter: When an encounter ends, a spellshaper automatically recovers all expended formulae.  Even a few moments out of combat is sufficient to refresh all formulae expended in the previous battle.  In the case of a long, drawn-out series of fights, or if a spellshaper is out of combat entirely, assume that if a character makes no attacks of any kind, shapes no new formulae, and is not targeted by any enemy attacks for 1 full minute, she can recover all expended formulae.  If a character can’t avoid attacking or being attacked for 1 minute, she can’t automatically recover her formulae and must use special actions to do so instead.

Spellshaping Powers and Magic
In general, spellshaping powers are transparent to magic or psionics.  However, as spell-like abilities, incantations, formulae, and spellshape attacks are not subject to being counterspelled.

   Spell-Like Abilities: Arcane formulae, incantations, and spellshape attacks are spell-like abilities and are therefore subject to spell resistance and dispelling, as well as being affected by antimagic fields and dead magic zones.  As spell-like abilities, formulae, incantations, and spellshape attacks provoke attacks of opportunity.
   Since spell-like abilities are not actually spells, you cannot benefit from the Spell Focus feat or use metamagic feats with your spellshaping powers.  However, Chapter 4 includes feats, such as Circle Focus, that provide similar benefits for spellshaping powers.

   Detecting Spellshaping Powers: The results of most spellshaping powers are immediately apparent to any observers.  However, identifying a specific formula or incantation requires the Spellcraft skill.

   Multiple Effects: Spellshaping powers usually work as described in Chapter 6, no matter how many other powers, spells, or magical effects happen to be operating in the same area or on the same subject.  Whenever a formula or incantation has a specific effect on other formulae, powers, or spells, its description explains the effect.

   Stacking Effects: Spellshaping powers that provide bonuses or penalties on attack rolls, damage rolls, saving throws, and other attributes do not stack with themselves unless specifically noted within their descriptions.  Two bonuses of the same type don't stack even if they come from different sources.

[DonQuixote]

Formula and Incantation Descriptions
The various formulae and incantations available to spellshapers are described in Chapter 6: Arcane Circles.  The description of each power follows a standard format, which is explained below.

Name
The first line of every formula or incantation descrip-tion gives the name by which the formula or incantation is generally known.

Spellshaping Circle
Each formula or incantation belongs to one of the arcane circles of spellshaping.  The powers of a circle are loosely linked by common effects, philosophies, or functions.  The second line of a formula or incantation description provides the name of the relevant circle, along with its type (see below).
   The primary sixteen arcane circles include the following.

Astral Essence
Separated by the cold darkness of the night, the stars burn with a piercing light.  Astral Essence powers tap into the strange, otherworldly magic of the stars, allowing spellshapers to influence the fate of those around them.  This circle is one of both destiny and distortion, and its powers seem to follow an unknown logic.
   The spellshape attack associated with Astral Essence is starsurge.  The circle’s numen allows a spellshaper and her allies to see the truth and pierce spell resistance.

Blustering Gale
Though its direction may change, the wind never ceases blowing across the world, leaving change in its wake.  Spellshapers who draw upon the powers of the Blustering Gale learn to manipulate air and wind, baffling their foes and changing the course of combat.  The Blustering Gale adept is always on the move, both on the battlefield and in the world.
   The spellshape attack associated with Blustering Gale is lashing zephyr.  The circle’s numen allows a spellshaper and his allies to move with blinding speed.

Brilliant Dawn
To many, the sun is a source of life and hope.  The Brilliant Dawn circle allows spellshapers to inspire their allies with glorious radiance and sear their foes with blazing sunfire.  Despite appearances, however, the circle is not tethered to the good alignment, and evil spellshapers have been known to exploit common assumptions about their powers to deceive others.
   The spellshape attack associated with Brilliant Dawn is sunfire.  The circle’s numen allows a spellshaper and her allies to see through darkness and causes their attacks to strike true.


Crushing Stone
Spellshapers who wield the powers of Crushing Stone are often grounded in the moment, never worrying about the past or the future.  The circle’s powers are rooted deeply in the earth, granting adepts the wisdom of ancient stones and the strength of towering monoliths.  A master of the Crushing Stone will never be alone, for the ground beneath his feet serves as a constant companion.
   The spellshape attack associated with Crushing Stone is rockslam.  The circle’s numen makes a spellshaper and his allies as tough and steady as the land itself.

Deteriorating Corrosion
No wall, no matter how strong, is without flaw.  The powers of Deteriorating Corrosion capitalize on weakness, wearing down enemy defenses in order to achieve victory.  And, where weakness cannot be found, the caustic powers of the circle will create a flaw to exploit.
   The spellshape attack associated with Deteriorating Corrosion is caustic spray.  The circle’s numen allows a spellshaper and her allies to deal extra damage to objects and makes them resistant to physical ailments.

Devouring Shadow
No matter what uncertainties mortal creatures may face, the inevitability of death remains constant.  Devouring Shadow powers draw upon this grim inevitability, making their wielders fearsome magical combatants.  However, not all who shape powers of the Devouring Shadow are as dark as its powers, for death can be a kindness as well as a curse.
   The spellshape attack associated with Devouring Shadow is withering hand.  The circle’s numen allows a spellshaper and his allies to draw life from their foes and enables them to see how close a creature is to death.

Eternal Moment
Time is the bane of all mortal races: short-lived humans age before they are ready, while long-lived elves linger in dreary ennui.  While many magic-users have tried to manipulate the flow of time, the powers of Eternal Moment succeed where others have failed.  Rather than attempting to circumvent or halt the flow of time, the Eternal Moment circle focuses on exploring the eternity that exists within each individual moment.
   The spellshape attack associated with Eternal Moment is temporal blast.  The circle’s numen allows a spellshaper and her allies to react to danger with uncanny speed.

Fleeting Image
The truth can be inconvenient, both in everyday life and in the heat of battle.  The powers of Fleeting Image free their wielders from the shackles of honesty, allowing them to spin visions of a world in which things are as they should be.  So long as the truth never rears its ugly head, the beautiful illusions need never fade.
   The spellshape attack associated with Fleeting Image is phantasmal blast.  The circle’s numen makes a spellshaper and his allies more stealthy and difficult to hit.

Glimmering Moon
In the pale, uncanny light of the moon, the madness that is normally concealed is clearly illuminated.  Glimmering Moon powers tap into this lunacy in order to manipulate both minds and fortunes.  Under the twisted light of the Glimmering Moon, shadows lengthen into horrors, while hope and courage shrink away.
   The spellshape attack associated with Glimmering Moon is moonflare.  The circle’s numen grants a spellshaper and her allies a reprieve from madness and makes their minds more difficult to assault.

Natural Balance
Every creature, from the smallest mouse to the largest bear, has its place in the natural order.  The Natural Balance circle seeks to maintain this order, drawing upon the powers of fearsome beasts and towering trees.  Those who wield the powers of this circle often bind themselves to serve the great chain of being, seeking out and destroying any violations of the natural order.
   The spellshape attack associated with Natural Balance is thornspike.  The circle’s numen grants supernatural healing to a spellshaper and his allies and allows them to commune with wild beasts.

Perfect Freeze
In the frozen heart of winter, there is a clean perfection.  Perfect Freeze embraces the world with beautiful frost, freezing it in a moment of immobile perfection.  The powers of this circle can either blanket one’s surroundings in ice or chill foes to the bone.
   The spellshape attack associated with Perfect Freeze is frostray.  The circle’s numen allows a spellshaper and her allies to walk across ice with ease and damages any who attack them.

Roaring Tide
The ocean embodies a natural process of push and pull: though the tide may go out, it is sure to come back in later.  The powers of the Roaring Tide draw their strength from this process of mutability.  A skilled Roaring Tide adept can manipulate not only physical tides, but also cleanse himself and his allies with his magic.
   The spellshape attack associated with Roaring Tide is surging jet.  The circle’s numen grants a spellshaper and his allies resistance to critical hits, as well as enhanced swimming skill and the ability to breathe water.

Screeching Roc
Wherever there is a listener, there is sound that can be heard.  The Screeching Roc circle is one of volume and silence, both overwhelming foes with sound while also preventing them from making themselves heard.  Those who explore the powers of this circle are often loud individuals who exult in showy performance.
   The spellshape attack associated with Screeching Roc is sonorous pulse.  The circle’s numen enhances the auditory senses of a spellshaper and her allies, as well as damaging foes that miss them with melee attacks.

Searing Flame
Flames burn with fierce passion, consuming themselves in their own zeal.  Those who shape the powers of Searing Flame are similarly passionate, advocating action above deliberation and emotion above thought.  The powers of the circle are fiercely destructive, yet beautiful to those who can appreciate them.
   The spellshape attack associated with Searing Flame is fireblast.  The circle’s numen adds flames to the attacks of a spellshaper and his allies, as well as filling their words with fiery passion.

Shocking Current
The fury of a storm is both beautiful and terrible to behold.  As the sky boils over in rage, bolts of surging electricity crash to the ground.  The powers of Shocking Current draw upon this primal energy, making its practitioners deadly and unpredictable in combat.
   The spellshape attack associated with Shocking Current is galvanic arc.  The circle’s numen makes a spellshaper and her allies more nimble and sharpens their reflexes.

Unseen Impetus
The relationship between action and reaction is a simple one.  The Unseen Impetus circle is built on a simple understanding of the inherent logic of force, dealing in direct manipulation of the physical world.  Spellshapers of Unseen Impetus tend to be direct, logical individuals who have no time for flashy attacks.
   The spellshape attack associated with Unseen Impetus is kinetic blast.  The circle’s numen allows a spellshaper and her allies to strike incorporeal creatures, while also deflecting attacks made against them.

(Type)
Most arcane formulae fall into one of two categories: major or minor.  Some formulae don’t fall into either of these categories, but these are exceptions to the rule.  Incantations are functionally distinct from formulae, as described earlier in this chapter.
   Minor: This category covers formulae that allow a spellshaper to focus his energies into lesser magical effects.  Minor formulae are usually shaped as swift actions, allowing you to shape them before shaping a major formula or making a full attack.
   Some minor formulae impart additional effects, such as stunning or fatigue, to your spellshape attacks.  If a minor formula affects one of your spellshape attacks, it applies to all such attacks you make in the round in which it was shaped, but its effect on you ends at the end of your turn.
   Other minor formulae grant special abilities or bonuses to you or your allies, while still others create short-lived magical effects that can alter the flow of battle.  Each minor formula’s description gives you the details of the formula’s effect.
   Major: A major formula is a formula that allows you to make a special attack or create a powerful magical effect.  Major formulae are almost always shaped as standard actions.
   Many major formulae involve making a spellshape attack as a part of shaping the formula.  These formulae always impart some advantage or bonus over a normal spellshape attack, such as extra damage, an additional effect, and so forth.  If your spellshape attack hits, your opponent takes normal damage, as well as suffering the effect of the formula.  When shaping a major formula, you use your base attack bonus, all attack and damage modifiers, spellshape attack damage, and so forth, as normal.  You can score critical hits with major formulae, and critical hits might grant additional benefits with some formulae.  You do not multiply extra damage from a major formula with a successful critical hit.  You treat it just as you would extra damage from another special ability, such as sneak attack.
   Because major formulae allow for a specific form of attack, you cannot benefit from spells or effects that grant you extra attacks when shaping a major formula (such as the haste spell) unless specifically noted.  You are not taking a full attack action when you shape a major formula, even if its shaping action is 1 full-round action.
   Not all major formulae modify spellshape attacks.  Some major formulae might create lingering magical effects, or function in a different way entirely.  Each major formula’s description gives you the details of the formula’s effect.
   Unless noted otherwise, you can have only one instance of a given major formula in effect at one time.  If you shape a formula a second time while an earlier instance of the same formula is still in effect, the older effect ends immediately when you finish shaping.  This restriction applies only to your own formulae, and multiple spellshapers can each have an instance of the same formula in effect at the same time.
   Incantation: Incantations function entirely differently from formulae.  Rather than being a magical attack, an incantation is an expression of the circle’s arcane power that is best suited for non-combat use.   Each incantation’s description gives you the details of the power’s effect.

[Descriptor]
Many formulae and incantations have descriptors that further define them.  These descriptors appear on the same line as the circle of the power.
   The descriptors that can apply to formulae and incantations are acid, air, cold, earth, electricity, fear, fire, force, language-dependent, light, mind-affecting, teleportation, sonic, and water.  Most of these descriptors have no game effect by themselves, but they govern how a formula or incantation interacts with other spells and abilites.

Level
This entry gives the formula or incantation’s level.  Formulae have nine levels, from 1st to 9th.  Incantations, by contrast, have only three levels: least, lesser, and greater.
   You can learn any formula you like by choosing the Formula Study feat, regardless of class.  However, you still must meet the prerequisite of the formula.

Prerequisite
In addition to meeting the class and level requirements before you can learn a formula, you must meet a certain set of requirements to be able to choose that formula as one you know.  You can’t learn a formula unless you gain a level in a spellshaper class, a level in a prestige class that grants formulae known, or you take the Formula Study feat.
   Spellshape Attack: You must be capable of using a circle’s spellshape attack in order to select formulae from that circle.
   Formulae Known: Some of the more powerful formulae require you to learn one or more other formulae in the same circle before they can be selected.  All your formulae known from the appropriate circle, even those from other spellshaping classes, count towards this prerequisite.
   Incantations: While incantation descriptions do not possess a prerequisite entry, due to their unusual method of acquisition, you still must meet certain prerequisites in order to use higher-level incantations.  See Shaping Incantations, above, for more information.

Shaping Time
This entry describes the amount of time or type of action you must take to shape a formula or incantation.  Most major formulae have a shaping time of 1 standard action, while minor formulae often require only a swift action.  Incantations might also have shaping times of 1 standard action or 1 swift action, but they can also take 1 round or more to shape.
   An incantation that takes 1 round to shape is a full-round action.  It comes into effect just before the beginning of your turn in the round after you begin shaping it.  You then act normally after the incantation is completed.
   An incantation that takes 1 minute to shape comes into effect just before your turn 1 minute later (and for each of those 10 rounds, you are shaping an incantation as a full-round action, just as noted above for 1-round shaping times).  These actions must be consecutive and uninterrupted, or the incantation automatically fails.
   When you begin shaping an incantation that takes 1 round or longer to shape, you must continue the concentration from the current round to just before your turn in the next round (at least).  If you lose concentration before the shaping is complete, you lose that use of the incantation.
   You make all pertinent decisions about a formula or incantation (range, target, area, effect, version, and so forth) when it comes into effect.

Range
A formula or incantation’s range indicates how far from you it can reach.  Many formulae are treated as Personal-range effects, because you shape the formula to give yourself a special bonus or capability for the round.
   Standard ranges include (but are not limited to) the following:
   Personal: The formula or incantation affects only you (but might give you an unusual power or ability that affects others for the rest of your turn).
   Touch: You must touch a creature or object to affect it.  A touch formula that deals damage can score a critical hit, just as a weapon can, although you do not multiply the extra damage from a formula on a successful critical hit.
   Adjacent: The formula or incantation affects creatures within 1 square of you.  Sometimes you only affect adjacent creatures at the beginning of your turn or at the end of your turn, but other powers might affect any creature you move adjacent to during the course of your turn.  See the specific formula or incantation descriptions for details.
   Spellshape Attack: The formula affects any creature you make a successful spellshape attack against.  In most cases, a formula will apply only to a specific spellshape attack, such as fireblast.  For such formulae, the spellshape attack in question will be listed as the range of the formula.
   Close: The formula or incantation reaches as far as 25 feet away from you.  The maximum range increases by 5 feet for every two shaper levels (30 feet and 2nd shaper level, 35 feet at 4th shaper level, and so on).
   Medium: The formula or incantation reaches as far as 100 feet + 10 feet per shaper level.
   Long: The formula or incantation reaches as far as 400 feet + 40 feet per shaper level.
   Range Expressed in Feet: Some formulae and incantations have no standard range category, just a range expressed in feet.

Targeting a Formula or Incantation
You might have to make some choices about whom your formula or incantation is to affect or where it will originate.  This entry describes the formula’s target or tarets, its effects, or its area, as appropriate.
   Target or Targets: Many formulae and incantations affect a specific creature or object (or more than one creature or object) that you designate as your target or targets.  You must be able to see or touch the target, and you must specifically choose that target.
   Some formulae and incantations can be shaped only on willing targets.  You can declare yourself a willing target at any time (even if you’re flat-footed or it isn’t your turn).  Unconscious characters are always considered willing, but a character who is conscious but immobilized or helpless is not automatically willing.
   Some formulae and incantations target you (but they might confer an unusual ability to affect other creatures for the rest of your turn).  If the target of a formula or incantation is “You,” you do not receive a saving throw—you receive the benefit of the power automatically as long as you meet any other requirements for shaping it successfully.
   Other formulae affect creatures that you successfully hit with spellshape attacks, and some might affect creatures you successfully hit with a melee or ranged touch attack.
   Area: Some formulae and incantations can affect an area.  You might be able to choose the point where the power’s effect originates, but otherwise you usually don’t control which creatures or objects an area formula or incantation affects.
   For the purposes of applying metashaping feats, a formula with a duration of instantaneous that affects an area is considered to have been modified by the Sculpt Spellshape metashaping feat.
   Burst: A burst affects whatever it catches in its area, including creatures you can’t see.  It can’t affect creatures that have total cover from its point of origin.  The default shape for a burst is a sphere.
   Emanation: An emanation functions like a burst, except that the effect continues to radiate from the point of origin (often you) for the duration of the power.
   Spread: A spread effect spreads out like a burst, but can turn corners.  You select the point of origin, and the effect spreads out a given distance in all directions.
   (S) Shapeable: If an Area or Effect entry ends with "(S)," you can shape the formula or incantation. A shaped effect or area can have no dimension smaller than 10 feet. Many effects or areas are given as cubes to make it easy to model irregular shapes. Three-dimensional volumes are most often needed to define aerial or underwater effects and areas.
   Effect: Some formulae and incantations create something new rather than affecting things already present.  You must designate the location where these things are to appear, either by seeing it or defining it.  Range determines how far away an effect can appear.
   Line of Effect: Formulae and incantations that affect a target other than you require line of effect.  A line of effect is a straight, unblocked path that indicates what an effect can affect.  A solid barrier cancels a line of effect, but line of effect is not blocked by fog, darkness, and other factors that limit normal sight.
   You must have a clear line of effect to any target that you wish to shape a formula against, or to any space in which you wish to create an effect at range (if your formula or incantation allows that).  A burst or emanation affects only an area, creature, or objects to which it has line of effect from its origin.
   An otherwise solid barrier with a hole of at least 1 square foot through it does not block a formula or incantation’s line of effect.

Duration
A formula or incantation’s duration tells you how long its effect lasts.
   End of Turn: The formula or incantation lasts until the end of your turn, then ceases to function.
   Instantaneous: The effect of the formula or incantation comes and goes the instant the power is shaped, though the consequences might be long-lasting.
   One-Round Durations: Some durations are measured as 1 round.  You gain the capability to perform whateer special effect or attack the formula or incantation permits on your turn.  Immediately before your action in the round after you shaped the power, the effect comes to an end.
   Timed Durations: Many formulae and incantations last some number of rounds, minutes, or hours.  When the time is up, the energy sustaining the effect fades, and the power’s effect ends.
   No Duration: The effect of a formula or incantation without a duration lasts only as long as it takes you to shape the formula.  Some formulae and incantations might “last” less than a full round.  Such is often the case for formulae that deal extra damage on top of your normal spellshape attack damage.  For example, a formula with a shaping action of 1 standard action and no listed duration would have a duration of 1 standard action; the effect of the formula is tied to the action of making the attack.  When this is the case, no duration entry is given.
   (D) Dismissible: If the duration line ends with "(D)," you can dismiss the formula or incantation at will.  You must be within range of the formula or incantation’s effect.  When dismissing a formula, you must make a gesture of dismissal, which is usually a truncated form of the formula’s normal somatic components; when dismissing an incantation, you must speak words of dismissal, which are usually a truncated form of the incantation's normal verbal components.  Dismissing a formula or incantation is a free action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Saving Throw
Sometimes, a formula or incantation with a special effect that targets an enemy allows the creature or object to make a saving throw to avoid some or all of the effect. The saving throw line in a formula or incantation description defines what type of saving throw the power allows.
   Negates: The formula or incantation has no additional effect on a subject that makes a successful saving throw.
   Partial: The formula or incantation causes an effect on its subject.  A successful saving throw means that some lesser effect occurs (such as being dealt damage rather than being killed).
   Half: The formula or incantation deals damage, and a successful saving throw halves the damage (round down).
   None: No saving throw is allowed.
   Disbelief: A successful save lets the subject ignore the effect.
   (object): The formula or incantation can be shaped on objects, which receive saving throws only if they are magical or if they are attended (held, worn, grasped, or the like) by a creature resisting the formula or incantation, in which case the object uses the creature’s saving throw bonus unless its own bonus is greater.  (This notation does not mean that a formula or incantation can be shaped only on objects.  Some powers of this sort can be shaped on creatures or objects.)  A magic item’s saving throw bonuses are each equal to 2 + one-half the item’s caster level.
   (harmless): The formula or incantation is usually beneficial, not harmful, but a targeted creature can attempt a saving throw if it desires.
   Saving Throw Difficult Class: A saving throw against one of your formulae or incantations has a DC of 10 + the effective level of the power + your spellshaping ability modifier.

Spell Resistance
Spell resistance is a special defensive ability.  If one of your formulae or incantations is being resisted by a creature with spell resistance, you must make a shaper level check (1d20 + shaper level) at least equal to the creature’s spell resistance for the power to affect that creature.  The defender’s spell resistance is like an Armor Class against magical attacks.  The Dungeon Master’s Guide has more details on spell resistance.  Include any adjustments to your shaper level to this shaper level check (as well as any effects that would increase normally increase your caster level, as described under Making Spellshape Attacks and Shaper Level).
   The Spell Resistance entry and the descriptive text of a formula or incantation description tell you whether spell resistance protects creatures from the power.  In many cases, spell resistance applies only when a resistant creature is directly targeted by a formula or incantation, not when a resistant creature encounters an effect that is already in place.
   Arcane formulae that require you to make spell-shape attacks are usually not themselves subject to spell resistance, as they represent manipulation of your spellshape attacks.  Spell resistance in this case applies only to the spellshape attack, and the Spell Resistance entry of the formula reads “As spellshape.”
   The terms “object” and “harmless” mean the same thing for spell resistance as they do for saving throws.  A creature with spell resistance must voluntarily lower the resistance (a standard action) in order to be affected by a formula or incantation noted as harmless.  In such a case, you do not need to make the shaper level check described above.

Descriptive Text
This portion of a formula or incantation description details what the power does and how it works.  If one of the previous entries in the escription included “see text,” this is where the explanation is found.

[DonQuixote]

Acquiring Spellshaping Powers
Spellshapers have access to a variety of powers: they make spellshape attacks, project numena, and shape formulae and incantations.  These powers are all manifestations of magical ability, either innate or accessed through supreme mental focus.  Spellshaping powers draw from the same arcane energies that empower the spells of a sorcerer or wizard, but in a more raw form.
   While spellshapers do not have spellbooks, they must still prepare a selection of their formulae ahead of time.  Unlike characters who prepare spells, spellshaper can quickly choose a new selection of prepared formulae with a brief pause to study, meditate, or pray.
   You cannot gain the same spellshaping power multiple times.  If you already know a formula or incantation, you cannot learn it again.

Adding Formulae
Most spellshapers learn at least one new formula when they attain a new level.  Not every circle is available to every character, though most spellshaper classes allow you to choose which circles you will be able to access.
   Formulae Gained at a New Level: Spellshapers study, meditate, and practice between adventures and while resting.  When a spellshaper learns a new formula because she gained a level, you can assume that this new knowledge represents the effects of practice and study of the course of days, weeks, or even months.
   Independent Study: A spellshaper can attempt to devise a new formula independently, adding to an existing circle.  A DM decides if it's possible for a character to develop a new formula.
   If a DM permits the creation of a new formula, observe the following guidelines.
   First, the spellshaper requires a safe place to meditate and study.  This effort will take a number of days equal to 3 x the formula's level, so if the spellshaper is devising a 7th-level formula, the research will require 21 days.  The spellshaper pays 50 XP per day of study, which represents an intense regimen of arcane study and practice designed to focus the mind on the task at hand.
   A spellshaper can't create a new formula of a higher level than she is capable of learning.
   At the end of the requisite time for study and practice, the spellshaper attempts a Spellcraft check (DC 25 + (2 x the formula's level)).
   If the check succeeds, the character learns the formula the next time she has an opportunity to learn a new formula through level advancement or feat selection.  If the check fails, the new formula is not yet perfected, and she must go through the study and practice time if she wants to keep trying (although she regains the XP she has spent thus far).
   A DM should work with the player before the attempt to develop a new formula begins, and giver her guidance on the parameters under which a new formula or circle might be acceptable (see Creating New Spells, page 35 of the Dungeon Master's Guide).

Other Spellshaping Powers
Formulae represent only one facet of spellshaping.  Spellshapers also have access to a wide variety of spellshape attacks, numena, and incantations, which they learn in different ways.
   Spellshape Attacks: A spellshaper begins play with the ability to make the spellshape attacks associated with the circles to which he has access, representing his innate talent with those circles.  When a spellshaper learns a new spellshape attack, either through the Spellshape Study feat or by taking levels in a new spellshaper class, the new knowledge can represent either a growth of his arcane abilities or the discovery of hitherto unknown talent.
   Numena: Numena are primarily accessed through the Project Numen feat, though some other character options can grant a spellshaper the ability to project a numen as a part of her advancement.  In either case, gaining the ability to project a numen can represent new mastery over the powers of a specific circle, an unlocked potential for spiritual projection, or simply the acquisition of a new type of power.
   Incantations: Like numena, incantations are less common than formulae or spellshape attacks.  However, gaining the ability to shape a circle's incantations always entails later access to the higher-level incantations, if one does not already have access to them.  As such, gaining the ability to shape incantations should be understood to represent the process of learning to tap into a different aspect of a circle's power.

Special Abilities
Some creatures are naturally gifted in the art of spellshaping and can make use of spellshape attacks, numena, incantations, and formulae without having any levels in a spellshaper class.  These inborn abilities function much like spell-like abilities or psi-like abilities.  Characters using magic items like spellshaping scrolls can also make use of arcane formulae, even if they do not have any levels in a spellshaper class.
   Using a spellshaping power through an innate ability or by using a magic item functions just like using the ability normally does.

[DonQuixote]

Notes on the Rules of Spellshaping:

   As spellshape attacks are not arcane formulae, they default to the regular rules for spell-like abilities.  This means that a spellshape attack has no verbal or somatic components, allowing you to make spellshape attacks even in circumstances in which you could not shape arcane formulae.

   Per the swift action rules, a spell cast as a swift action does not provoke attacks of opportunity.  Though it is not explicitly stated in the rules of spellshaping, a minor formula would therefore not provoke attacks of opportunity.  This is made clear in the introduction to The Codex of Spellshaping II, which contains a sidebar on swift and immediate actions that states: "Shaping a formula with a shaping action of 1 swift action does not provoke attacks of opportunity."

Epic Spellshapers:

   In the case of any ability, class feature, or other part of the spellshaping material that scales by shaper (or initiator) level and references a "maximum" value--for example, many spellshape attacks mention a maximum amount of damage at 17th level--these maximums are intended to be used only in non-epic play.  Epic characters continue to advance at the same rate that they did before reaching these "maximums."  For example, a 21st-level elemental adept has a fireblast attack that deals 6d6 points of fire damage, even though fireblast is said to reach its maximum damage of 5d6 points of fire damage at 17th level.  Similarly, an anchorite's spellshape aura bonuses continue to advance beyond 20th level, and a dragonheart adept's enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls continues to increase by +1 every three levels.

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   In the case of an elemental adept's elemental companion, for every two shaper levels higher than 19th (21st, 23rd, 25th, and so on), the elemental gains +2 bonus Hit Dice and a +1 increase to its Strength or Dexterity score.  At every four levels higher than 19th (23rd, 27th, 31st, and so on), the elemental gains a +2 increase to its Constitution and Charisma scores and an additional bonus, depending on its type: an earth elemental gains a +2 increase to its existing natural armor, while water elementals gain +4 Dexterity.

   In addition, for every ten shaper levels higher than 19th, the elemental's damage reduction increases by 5 (damage reduction 15/- at 29th level, 20/- at 39th level, and so on).