Saphyx Spectacular Spell Compendiums

Introduction 

From Awfully Queer Heroes, Saphyx Spectacular Spell Compendiums provide two spell books with 100 spells in each. Volume One covers Cantrips to 2nd level spells, while Volume 2 covers 3rd to 5th level spells. As someone who plays casters almost exclusively, I’m always looking for new ways to spice things up and so getting access to two-hundred brand new spells is incredible to me!

I received a complimentary copy of Saphyx Spectacular Spell Compendiums for review purposes and will always be transparent about times where this happens! 

Overview

Saphyx’s spells were born from necessity and circumstance. Growing up, she didn’t have access to libraries or centers of learning others with an interest or ability in magic might. So, through dedication, willpower, and several magical mishaps, Saphyx taught herself. Her incredible natural aptitude for magic combined with her ingenuity resulted in a repository of spells entirely unique to her. Now a highly respected Mage, Saphyx wants to share her knowledge with as many as she can so that no other aspiring spellcasters are left to feel abandoned.

I loved getting Saphyx’s lore. It was such an unexpected treat to have this rich text describing her background and her motivation for sharing her spell books. I liked that we were given an in-universe reason for characters to have learned or found these spells. Imagine having Saphyx as a mentor? I think that would be so interesting!

Cantrips to 2nd Level Spells

As the name ‘Awfully Queer Heroes’ might suggest, this book is unapologetically queer and draws from that experience for some of these spells. ‘Cape of Courage’ sees a majestic, flowing rainbow cape acting as both balm and inspiration to your allies – it made me smile to read. ‘Body Modification,’ a Cantrip, allows the gain or loss of a gender specific body part -I loved seeing magic -acessible magic, again, this is a Cantrrip – used to find comfort in one’s body. ‘The Closet,’ meanwhile, deals psychic damage to the target as they relive memories of family prying into their personal life. Sounds familiar!

Aside from clever names and relatable descriptions, the spells themselves are mechanically interesting. ‘Rainbow Spray’ deals acid, cold and fire damage – particularly useful when playing around with vulnerabilities. ‘All Eyes On Me’ also caught my attention – while its save DC is low (it is a cantrip after all) – the possibility of distracting every creature within a 20ft area immediately had me thinking of masquerade balls, heists, performances, and more. I think there’s a lot of possibility in that Cantrip and know some of the groups I’ve played with would have a field day with it.

 The range of the spells is also worth mentioning. Some, like ‘Rainbow Spray’ and ‘The Closet’ are straight damage dealing spells. But others, like ‘Cape of Courage’ offer interesting support possibilities that could really turn the tide of battle. Others, like ‘Bouquet for the Beloved’ (which conjures a small bouquet of gorgeous flowers wrapped in a neat ribbon) read more for cosmetic effect – and that’s great! That’s good. In addition to enjoying having all these options to choose from because they fit different types of characters, it’s also just interesting to read over them all with Safyx’s background in mind. 

3rd to 5th Level Spells

The second volume comes right back to it with fantastic spell names – seriously, what isn’t to love about ‘Lesbians Love Brunch’? A beautiful brunch served on the preferred LGBTQIA+ flag of the caster, serving up to 8 people and offering them several benefits? Incredible, yeah, I want this in my life. Stopping for brunch midway through your adventuring day never felt so good. 

Two spells in particular, ‘Amelia’s Memories of Magic’s Past’ and ‘Amelia’s Embrace’ of course made my story-loving heart go “okay, but who is Amelia? Who is Amelia, Saphyx, tell us about her. Please tell us about her?” Which has nothing to do with the spells themselves (both of which are quite neat, Amelia’s Embrace is a great control spell to lock down movement while also dealing psychic damage) but is where my mind immediately went. 

 I think my favourite is ‘Love Knows Love,’ a fifth level spell with an 8-hour (and up to 1 week) duration. This Evocation buff allows the caster to sense the whereabouts of up to five creatures for the duration, as well as if they’re healthy, injured, or dead. While it can be cast on hostile or unwilling targets (in which case it requires a CHA save), I was thinking about it in terms of splitting up a party and still being able to stay in touch. There’s comfort to be had in knowing your party members are okay! 

Final Thoughts

I’m a particular fan of lower-level spells, as most of the games I play in have been starting at 1st-2nd level. I find it exciting to have new options right out of the gate! I can think of fun situations to use all these spells in, whether they be social, exploration or combat scenarios. I also found myself thinking about past instances where my characters might have used some of these spells! I had a great time reading them over, and even if you aren’t looking to spice up your caster’s options, the spells themselves make for a light and fun read. 

One thing I found myself going back to was Saphyx herself. The description given of her is so vivid, and with the lore we have (split across both volumes) I couldn’t help but let my imagination wander. I wondered about what it might be like for a character to have her as a mentor or teacher, yes, but what about as a contemporary? A Wild Magic Sorcerer contemporary of Saphyx would, in my opinion, be so much fun to play and lean into the “we are self-taught and figuring it out as we go” idea so well. I think she’s a strong character and look forward to how she might appear in games! 

Overall, if I had to choose one volume, I would go with Cantrips to 2nd level spells. The only reason for this is due to the number of lower-level characters I wind up playing who, in some cases, won’t even get to see spells from 3rd level or above. As someone who loves casters, though, I would suggest picking up both. With 100 spells in each book, I don’t think it’s possible for there not to be something you’ll enjoy here – I’ve spoken about some of my highlights above! 

Saphyx Spectacular Spell Compendiums launches on Kickstarter on January 10, 2023 at 12:00pm ET [here]. Each volume will be available for $8USD, or $15USD for both. The Kickstarter is also a great way to catch up on other releases from AQH you might have missed! You’ll be able to get a bundle of their releases for $60USD. I also have Adventures in ADHD and think it is a delightful addition to any shelf, and offers a particularly relatable and amusing adventure for those of us whose attention span might as well have been stolen by the Fey. To keep up with everything Awfully Queer Heroes, find them across the internet [here].

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