I’m busy editing the manuscript for Deep Magic: 13th Age Compatible Edition by ASH LAW, now available to pre-order. There’s so much cool stuff in here that I can’t wait to share with you. So I wont!

Here’s a sneak preview from the book: a conversion of the duel cantrip.

Duel

You create an illusory combat terrain for magical duels, lasting 1 hour or until you end the effect. Duelists go through all the motions of casting spells, and experience the effects of those spells, as if they were real. The dueling casters can cast any spells they know, and normal casting requirements apply. However, no spells are actually cast and no true damage is done.

The caster of duel decides whether the terrain and spell effects are visible to non-duelists. Any duelist who drops to 0 hit points or less falls prone and is helpless until an opponent helps them to their feet, or the spell ends. All illusory damage to the fallen duelist is healed and all conditions are removed. When the duel is finished the combat terrain vanishes, and all illusory damage and conditions end for all duelists.

The winner is the duelist (or team of duelists) who meets the victory conditions set when the spell was cast. Common victory conditions include scoring the first hit, scoring three hits, “killing” all enemy duelists, capturing an object or reaching a goal marker. If any duelist draws a real weapon, uses a magic item that does not benefit spell casting, or uses any ability or attack that causes real damage; or if any non-participant interferes with the duel; the duel spell immediately ends.

At the champion tier you can add special effects to make the duel more exciting for onlookers. For example, duelists could “die” in spectacular ways, a disembodied voice could provide a play-by-play commentary on the action, and music could play at appropriate moments. You can also create illusory jesters, jugglers, clowns, announcers and heralds. Whether this causes trouble with the local entertainers’ guild is up to the GM.

At the epic tier you can conjure a lavish pavilion or tent from which an audience can watch the duel, with refreshments served by magical sprites. Whether this causes trouble with the guilds for culinary workers, seamstresses and laborers, as well as any organized crime syndicates who have an investment in the financial success of such guilds, is up to the GM.