Converting PF1 Spells to Starfinder 1e: Glyph of Legends, Capstone Spells (Patreon)

This blog continues the series where I convert PF1 spells into SF1 spells. (You can find an index of all the PF1 spells I have already converted here. If you are a member, you can find an updated compilation of all the spells I've converted in a single place here.)

Today I am tackling a 9th level spell that has protected IP in the name. I'll call it the Rune of Jan, and if you want to see the original you can follow that hyperlink to an SRD.

There are a lot of challenges in converting this spell. First, Starfinder spellcasters don't receive 9th level spells. However, they DO often get access to a 9th-level in the form of a special ability a character level 20 (miracle, rewrite time, and warp realty as spell-like abilities, and wish as a spell). Those are included in most spell lists, but as a spell without a level. That suggests it should be fairly easy to make a category like "Capstone Spells" as a resource for alternatives to the spell of spell-like ability spellcasters currently receive at 20th level.

Second, the original rune of Jan not only uses protected IP in its name, the concepts are tied into the spell description. I'm trying to preserve as much flavor and intent in the original Pathfinder spells, so I don't want to just ignore that material, but I also can't use it. I could easily just create a new specific thing to link to the spell (for illustration let's say the Legendary Hippo of Jandonkadonk, though I'd never actually use that). But that actually reduces utility for any GM who doesn't want that specific lore in their home game. Ultimately I think the smart move here is to go a similar route as what I took with the various emoji spells -- note that the glyph created by the spell generally calls on mythological, legendary, or truly enormous creatures, and let the GM and any player with access to it decide what thing in their campaign to link it to. This also leads me to the new spell name -- glyph of legends -- indicating it calls on the power of legendary lawful things without calling out one specific legend.

The original spell also has an expensive material component, something Starfinder doesn't really do. However, all the capstone spells already have pretty significant limitations to casting them, so I honestly think I can largely ignore the material components and just balance the spell's effects against wish et al.

Glyph of Legends Class: Capstone SpellSchool: transmutationCasting Time3 roundsRange: 0 ft.; see textArea: see textDuration: 10 minutes/levelSaving Throw: see below; Spell Resistance: no

You scribe a potent glyph of power upon a surface, similar to the way in which an emoji spell is cast. When inscribed, the glyph of legends manifests as a shape that evokes a powerful legendary lawful or orderly force known to the caster, such as the face of a protector kaiju or demigod, the heraldry of a mythological hero, or the personal sigil of a hero of ancient renown. The rune is 5 feet square when created, and the surface on which it is to be inscribed must be large enough to bear it.The glyph of legends is a potent ward against primal chaos. It is primarily intended to combat the forces of chaotic Outer Planes. When cast, the rune stabilizes and reinforces an area in a 120-foot-radius sphere centered on it. Spell effects that magically damage or manipulate terrain or structures deal no damage and do not alter any building, structure, or terrain in the area. Damaging spells that specifically target these structures or regions and spells that include such structures do not deal damage to them. Area-affecting spells may damage creatures in the area as normal. The area and everything in it gains SR 30 against any spell with the chaos descriptor, and such spells of level 3 and below do not function within the area.Creatures with the chaotic subtype in the area of a glyph of legends must save against the spell or gain 2 negative levels for as long as they remain in the area. A creature that saves and leaves the area must save again upon reentering the area. These negative levels can never result in permanent level loss but cannot be restored by any spell of 5th level or less, or equipment of 11th item level or less.

For the purpose of effects that depend on spell level, glyph of legends counts as a 9th-level spell.

Capstone Spells

Capstone spells are alternative to the normal spell or spell-like ability mystics (miracle), precogs (rewrite time), technomancers (wish), and witchwarpers (warp reality) receive the ability to cast at 20th level. A GM may allow a spellcaster to gain a single capstone spell in place of the spell listed above for their class when they gain 20th level. The new capstone spell has exactly the same casting requirements as the spell or spell-like ability it replaces, and is a spell if cast by a technomancer, and a spell-like ability for the other classes.

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