Spellcasting
Encyclopedia
Spellcasting is the act of casting spells and is most often found in a variety of communities. Within the Dungeons & Dragons
and other fantasy roleplaying gaming communities, spellcasting is a skill
often used by druid
s, cleric
s, and wizard
s. Spellcasting is also associated with occult
communities, such as those practicing witchcraft
. In addition, there is a long history of alleged spellcasting activities in most human societies, such as forms of curse
s, blessing
s, rain dances, or trinkets for protection
.
There are many forms of spellcaster
s, and thus an equal variety of spellcasting. Some of the main spellcasting varieties include:
Thus, descriptively, there are two major varieties of spellcasting, the manipulative and the harnessing. Harnessing varieties of magic are usually harmless as they do not change the natural order of things. However, manipulative spellcasting, in its extreme forms, such as when opening a parallel dimension
, can disturb the natural fabric, and thus should only be used with care.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
and other fantasy roleplaying gaming communities, spellcasting is a skill
Skill
A skill is the learned capacity to carry out pre-determined results often with the minimum outlay of time, energy, or both. Skills can often be divided into domain-general and domain-specific skills...
often used by druid
Druid (character class)
In role-playing games, a druid is a character class that is generally portrayed as using nature-based magical abilities and striving to protect nature from civilized intrusion...
s, cleric
Cleric (character class)
The Cleric, Priest, or Bishop is a character class in Dungeons & Dragons and other fantasy role-playing games. The cleric is a healer, usually a priest and a holy warrior, originally modeled on or inspired by the Military Orders...
s, and wizard
Wizard (character class)
The Wizard is a type of magical character class in certain role-playing games and computer role-playing games. Wizards are considered to be spellcasters who wield powerful spells, but are often physically weak as a trade-off. Wizards are commonly confused with similar offensive spellcasting...
s. Spellcasting is also associated with occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
communities, such as those practicing witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
. In addition, there is a long history of alleged spellcasting activities in most human societies, such as forms of curse
Curse
A curse is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to some other entity—one or more persons, a place, or an object...
s, blessing
Blessing
A blessing, is the infusion of something with holiness, spiritual redemption, divine will, or one's hope or approval.- Etymology and Germanic paganism :...
s, rain dances, or trinkets for protection
Safety
Safety is the state of being "safe" , the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be...
.
There are many forms of spellcaster
Spellcaster
A spellcaster in role-playing games refers to a creature capable of casting magic spells.See also:*Mage *Magician , a practitioner of magic as portrayed in works of fiction...
s, and thus an equal variety of spellcasting. Some of the main spellcasting varieties include:
- Arcane: the scientific manipulation of natural energies, often through the intermingling of oral, gesticulative, and physical components.
- PsychicPsychicA psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
: manipulation of the world through powers harnessed through the mind. The casting of a psychic "spell" usually requires intense discipline and focus. - SpiritualSpiritualitySpirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
: manipulation of energy derived from parallel spirit planes, whether in the form of communicating with, or summoning, spirits, phantoms, or poltergeists. - WitchcraftWitchcraftWitchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
: tapping into natural energies in order to release them into the physical plane, often through meditation, burning of candles, chanting or reciting incantations, performing physical rituals and making herbal preparations. - DivineDivinityDivinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
: tapping into the energy derived from a deity. Methods thus vary according to which deity is being invoked, but usually a "sacrificeSacrificeSacrifice is the offering of food, objects or the lives of animals or people to God or the gods as an act of propitiation or worship.While sacrifice often implies ritual killing, the term offering can be used for bloodless sacrifices of cereal food or artifacts...
" is preferred, whether in the form of an animal, a valuable object, or money.
Thus, descriptively, there are two major varieties of spellcasting, the manipulative and the harnessing. Harnessing varieties of magic are usually harmless as they do not change the natural order of things. However, manipulative spellcasting, in its extreme forms, such as when opening a parallel dimension
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
, can disturb the natural fabric, and thus should only be used with care.