Thaumaturges are masters of structured arcane knowledge. Rather than drawing from innate power or chaotic inspiration, they rely on study, discipline, and careful preparation. Their spells are encoded in detailed writings, rituals, and arcane formulas, which they transcribe into their personal spellbooks. A Thaumaturge’s greatest strength lies not in raw power, but in versatility, foresight, and the ability to shape magic with precision. As their knowledge grows, so too does their capacity to manipulate magical energy beyond the limits of ordinary casters.

Thaumaturges thrive in environments where time and planning are on their side. While they may falter in spontaneous situations, they excel when given a chance to prepare, adapt, and control the flow of battle through clever use of their spell repertoire.

You possess a personal spellbook, a magical tome that contains the secrets of your arcane studies.

• Spellbook Capacity: You may inscribe up to (3 + 2 x your Tier + your Ingenuity score) spells into your spellbook.
• Inscribing New Spells: To add a spell, you must:
  • Encounter a written version of the spell (scroll, book, etc.)
  • Spend time studying it (GM sets time and conditions)
  • Pass an Ingenuity + Willpower check (DC based on spell complexity)
  • Spend rare inks and arcane materials (10–50 coins, tier dependent)
• Preparing Spells: After a full rest, choose up to (3 + half your Willpower score) spells from your spellbook to prepare. “These are the spells you may cast without penalty.
• Casting Unprepared Spells: You may attempt to cast an unprepared spell from your book, but:
  • Increase the action's cost by +1 Action Load
  • Mark 1 Stress
  • Make an Ingenuity check (DC based on spell complexity)
  • On failure, the spell fizzles and the action is wasted. On success, you cast the spell normally, but with Disadvantage.

Choose two of the following features. These define your early arcane techniques and how you interact with your spellbook.

You’ve trained to identify and unravel enemy spellwork mid-casting.

• When a creature casts a spell within 30 ft, you may attempt to counter it as a Reaction.
• Spend 1 Action Point and mark 1 Stress.
• Roll Ingenuity vs the caster’s Willpower (Resistance check).
• On success, the spell is disrupted and fails.

You’ve internalized core principles of your spell repertoire.

• You may cast unprepared spells from your spellbook without rolling an Ingenuity check.
• All other penalties still apply:
  • +1 Action Load
  • Mark 1 Stress
  • Roll with Disadvantage

Your spellbook is meticulously organized for fast reference.

• Increase your spellbook capacity by +2 × your Tier.
• During any Quick Rest, you may swap one prepared spell with another from your spellbook.

You use clever triggers and memory tricks to steady your casting.

• Ignore Disadvantage from stress or environmental distractions when casting prepared spells.
• Once per round, you may reroll one die that rolled a 1 on a spellcasting action.

You’re attuned to subtle magical traces.

• As a Free Action, you may sense whether an object, creature, or space within 10 ft is magical.
• Gain Advantage on checks to decipher magical text, sigils, or glyphs.
• When you successfully identify a magical effect, you identify one of its tags (e.g., Fire, Illusion, Charm).

To reach Tier 2 in the Thaumaturge Domain, you must:

• Spend significant time studying or expanding your spellbook.
• Demonstrate mastery by successfully casting at least one unprepared spell in a moment of danger or uncertainty.
• Gain the approval of a mentor, complete a research project, or uncover a rare arcane text.