Review – The Genius Guide to: Crystal Magic

The Genius Guide to: Crystal Magic is a 12-page PDF (11 pages if you remove the credits/OGL page) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Owen K. C. Stephens and published by Super Genius Game.  This is part of Super Genius Games’ Genius Guide line.

The layout is a screen-friendly landscape design, with cover art and 1-column on the first page and three columns on the rest.  The chart of spells is arranged as is traditional for the OGL and easy to read.  The art is full color throughout and vaguely supports the crystal magic and spell-casting theme of this product.

Crystal Magic begins with a brief discussion about the role of crystals in magic and how such have often been overlooked in certain roleplaying games (apart from the classic crystal ball).  It adds the crystal descriptor to spells, a natural evolution given the theme of the product.  Some of the spells require crystal foci and the rules for them are clearly explained.

Ten spells across all levels (but all 6th level or below) and something for most types of casters (bard, cleric, druid and sorcerer/wizard) but bard and sorcerer/wizard get the widest selection.  The spells are almost all communication, healing or information related with nary a combat spell to be found.

Additional class options are provided: for clerics, an Attunement Domain.  A Crystal Bloodline for sorcerers and a Crystal Specialist school for wizards.  The carbuncle (crystal embedded) template is provided for creatures. The product ends with suggestions for how to incorporate crystal magic with the other genius guide classes.

If a new type of magic has a place in your campaign give the guide to crystal magic a look.

Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.