# Options for B/X Compatible Magic Systems?
**URL:** https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/t/options-for-b-x-compatible-magic-systems/1580
**Category:** Theory
**Tags:** magic, design
**Created:** [January 4, 2025, 10:16pm UTC](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/t/options-for-b-x-compatible-magic-systems/1580 "2025-01-04T22:16:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@originalgoat](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/u/originalgoat)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2025, 10:16pm UTC](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/t/options-for-b-x-compatible-magic-systems/1580/1 "2025-01-04T22:16:11Z")
By B/X compatible I just mean not so dependent on a particular system’s ruleset that it would be a significant undertaking to drop it into a typical OSR game.
I found this old post regarding [Alternative Magic Systems](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/t/alternative-magic-systems/435), which has lots great options listed. There’s also glog’s dice pool which is one of my favorites (at least theoretically as I haven’t actually put it to use).
Anyone know of anything that has been put out in the the last several years that is either new or a novel take on an existing system (or just really obscure and to often discussed)?
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### Author:  [@Stepnix](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/u/Stepnix)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2025, 2:37am UTC](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/t/options-for-b-x-compatible-magic-systems/1580/2 "2025-01-05T02:37:51Z")
[Sorcery is a Sword Without a Hilt](https://riseupcomus.itch.io/sorcery-is-a-sword) is a free sample from His Majesty the Worm
it requires adding a tarot deck to your table though
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### Author:  [@originalgoat](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/u/originalgoat)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2025, 8:51am UTC](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/t/options-for-b-x-compatible-magic-systems/1580/3 "2025-01-05T08:51:31Z")
just learned about Swyvers which also uses a deck of cards and from my understanding incorporates some form of Blackjack into the mechanic. Going to delve into it and your Wormy suggestion tomorrow. Thanks!
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### Author:  [@paradisebunny](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/u/paradisebunny)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2025, 11:29am UTC](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/t/options-for-b-x-compatible-magic-systems/1580/4 "2025-01-05T11:29:54Z")
for a simple alternative you could consider Shadowdark’s roll to cast system or even DCC’s if you are feeling it!
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### Author:  [@ktrey](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/u/ktrey)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2025, 5:58pm UTC](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/t/options-for-b-x-compatible-magic-systems/1580/5 "2025-01-05T17:58:53Z")
We experimented with one I wrote up here awhile back [Alternative Spell Casting](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rCEfYS914QXbpCkii5CPOBsLiUKB9SsN6QOFsHTAR8k/) that utilizes one of my favorite things: The **Turning Undead** Table. It was pretty fun for the Players to have to contend with those _gambles_ for more castings and being able to _overcast_ a little bit right out of the gate 🙂
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### Author:  [@pladohsghost](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/u/pladohsghost)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/t/options-for-b-x-compatible-magic-systems/1580/6 "2025-03-05T00:01:47Z")
I’m looking at pressing the Turn Undead Table for illusions. I’m thinking that the table would affect creatures by HD, instead of looking at spell level. Thus, an Enchanter (Illusionist) would roll to find out how many HD worth of creatures the illusion affects. I haven’t done any more testing that simply some idle rolling on the table to see how it feels, so it may change drastically before I’m done.
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### Author:  [@Hilander](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/u/Hilander)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2025, 4:33am UTC](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/t/options-for-b-x-compatible-magic-systems/1580/7 "2025-03-05T04:33:55Z")
GLoG’s Magic Dice are awesome, and very easy to write up or adjust spells to on the fly.
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### Author:  [@Personable](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/u/Personable)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://discourse.rpgcauldron.com/t/options-for-b-x-compatible-magic-systems/1580/8 "2025-03-07T21:14:21Z")
I really like The Book of Gaub, which means that the other spellbooks from Lost Pages are probably also good.
I wrote a [blogpost](https://personabler.blogspot.com/2024/10/power-word-magic.html) last year about using a freeform Power Word-based magic system, which I think would be very easy to adapt.
I will also second the suggestion of Swyvers, which has one of my favourite magic systems I have read in a game, ever.