SPELL SURGES AND BACKFIRES

Description

Spell surges and backfires are the bane of spellcasters of all types. They occur when the spellcaster loses control of the magic being summoned. Depending on the severity of the control loss, it can result in the effect of the spell being turned upon the caster, or it can result in the magic turning 'wild' and virtually any number of (usually) minor affects can happen.

Spell surges and backfires are more common the more difficult the spell is, relative to the caster's spell complexity

• comprehension (SCC) — percentage.
  Some examples of 'wild surges' include:

• The room is shaken by a minor earthquake or sonic boom

• A 'circle of fire' effect occurs in the area
• Harmless bubbles/smoke stream out of the caster's ears
• Minor embarassing bodily functions (hiccups, burps, etc.)
• Everyone in the room affected by minor 'heal' effect
• Caster turns invisible
• Caster becomes 'silenced'
• Some minor object appears in the room
• Caster surrounded by a pillar of deadly flames (rare)
• Certain spells such as 'counterspell' can cause spells to
• backfire or surge at a high rate due to their intentional
• disruptive effect on the magic involved. So, too, can some
• attacks, such as 'bash', cause a spell surge or backfire,
• as the caster can be significantly interrupted during a casting.
• There are known to be special items that can absorb these
• surges and wild energies and harmlessly ground them. These
• items are known as surge protectors and usually work for a
• limited number of times before failing.