Core Gameplay Changes

Misc changes

• Monstrocity creature type is renamed to Youkai, and all Fiend creatures are considered Youkai for effects that require it.

Spell Card Combat

In Gensokyo, Spell Card duels are a normal way of resolving conflicts. In-universe, they were enacted by Hakurei Reimu (though it’s implied that they were drafted by a youkai, and they are enforced by Gensokyo Sages) as a way to make battles between Youkai and Humans more fair.

General Rules

Spell Card Battle rules are an in-universe explanation of game mechanics, so they usually follow the normal rules of combat, with some changes, like Spell Cards, Armor Class and Dropping to 0 Hit Points.

In-universe, they regulate how battles (duels) happen, though it’s described vaguely, and only original draft was fully shown in Perfect Memento of Strict Sense official encyclopedia (see english translation on Touhou Wiki). Full version is only summarised in an article about Hakurei Reimu (also english translation).

Breaking Spell Card rules usually means consequences, including many youkai potentially getting permission to hunt you down and a promise of reward for doing so. GM can use it as a potential consequence to players who insist on doing something outlandish not accounted (or even not permitted) by the rules of the game.

Spell Cards

Originally, Spell Cards were described on a piece of paper, acting as a contract for duels, but now they are usually just named and predefined special attacks, difficult but not impossible to dodge.

Spell Cards are a special named attacks.

Player Character Spell Cards. Every Spell or Feature with limited uses is considered a Spell Card (Cantrips are excluded as they are not limited), Spell Card can also be a predefined named sequence of actions spanning over one or several turns of the battle.

Player can give it a custom name (usually [Noun] Sign - [Adjective Noun]), but cannot change names during the battle.

Declaring a custom Spell Card name can be a verbal component of the Spell. Otherwise, they don’t provide any benefits.

Once per battle (Optional Rule)

If you this optional rule is applied, damage-dealing Spell Cards can only be used by Player Characters once per battle. To use 1+ Level Spells or limited-use Features more than once, they need to be a part of a named sequence or sequences. This encourages Players to create their own special attacks by combining their existing abilities.

Enemy Spell Cards. Enemy spell cards are described in the statblock, and one spell card may be only used once per battle. Unlike Player’s Spell Card, they might have any effect, acting as a custom spell, spanning through several turns, etc.

When enemy uses up all of their spell cards, they lose the duel, regardless of remaining HP. (this doesn’t apply to Player’s Spell Cards)

Adventuring

Short Rest

When you fight a powerful foe, usually a named character, you automatically start Short Rest after the battle ends. This is done to mimic stage-based gameplay of Touhou Project. This effect is handled by GM, but usually it’s used after any battle with a named character, unless there is next battle planned in the same location.

This short rest may inclide movement to another location and/or be shorter than normal Short Rest, but players still get the effects of a full Short Rest.

Armor Class

When flying, creature may use the following base calculation for Armor Class.

Base AC = 12 + Dexterity Modifier

Only one base calculation can be in effect for a creature so this replaces SRD’s default or another base calculation.

Dropping to 0 Hit Points

When a creature drops to 0 Hit Points, it either dies outright or falls unconscious, as explained below.

Defeating a Creature

Battling in normal Spell Card Battles, when you would reduce a creature to 0 Hit Points with a melee attack, you instead reduce the creature to 1 Hit Point. You can give it the Unconscious condition, but it can resist, either by making a Constitution Saving Throw againt the DC of remaining damage, or via GM’s decision.

If it did not sucessfully resist, it then starts a Short Rest, at the end of which that condition ends on it. The condition ends early if the creature regains any Hit Points or if someone takes an action to administer first aid to it, making a successful DC 10 Wisdom (Medicine) check.

Death

Usually, it’s highly unlikely for a creature to die from Spell Card Battles, but the rules don’t completely protect against that.

Hit Point Maximum of 0. A creature dies if its Hit Point maximum reaches 0. Certain effects drain life energy, reducing a creature’s Hit Point maximum.

Massive Damage. When damage reduces a character to 0 Hit Points and damage remains, the character dies if the remainder equals or exceeds their Hit Point maximum. For example, if your character has a Hit Point maximum of 12, currently has 6 Hit Points, and takes 18 damage, the character drops to 0 Hit Points, but 12 damage remains. The character then dies, since 12 equals their Hit Point maximum.

Hazard Death. A creature may die it’s killed by hazards not related to attacks, such as fall damage, old age, etc.

Simple Humans. Humans without training, magic or technology, are not commonly included in Spell Card battles, and they are likely to die from attacks if those were to be directed at them. Instead, normal humans are usually protected politically, ensuring you will have consequences if you try to touch them unprovoked.

Animals and Beast-like Youkai. Creatures that are not considered capable of following spellcard rules, such as most Beasts and Youkai not capable of reasoning, are excluded from Spell Card Battles. If you happen to fight them, they will try to actually kill you, and your attacks may kill them.

Non-Spell Card Battle. When Spell Card Battle rules don’t apply, creatures may die in battle normally.

Depending on story needs, GM may use default rules for Death Saving Throws and Stabilization, or have creature die instantly.