Level 1 B/X Magic User Spells

Culled from the massive spell lists of 3e, here are some utilitarian spells that I thought maintained the old school vibe to expand spell selection in your B/X or B/X clone game.

Alarm (1st level Magic User)

Duration: 48 turns

Range: 20’ radius

Wards a 20’ radius area that alerts the caster whenever it is entered with an audible alarm. The caster may designate any number of creatures they can see at the time of casting who will not trip the alarm. The alarm will awaken sleeping creatures within 60’ but not creatures under the effects of the sleep spell. The alarm has a 1-in-6 chance of drawing a wandering monster.

 

Animate Rope (1^st level Magic User) 

Duration: 2 turns

Range: 10’

The caster may command a rope to coil, knot, loop, or even slither across horizontal or vertical surfaces at a rate of 50’ per turn. The rope may be directed to entangle a single creature within 5’. Entangled creatures cannot move but can break free depending on their strength

• Normal human range: Creature can break free in 2d4 turns
• Magically augmented STR above 18: The creature can break free in 4 rounds
• Giant Strength: The creature can break free in 2 rounds

Chill Touch (1^st level Magic User)

Duration: Instant 

Range: Object or creature touched

The spell freezes whatever the caster touches.

• Casting on a liquid surface: Freezes a 15’ radius about 4’’ deep that can support human weight.
•  Hit: The caster can hit a creature in melee without an attack roll or saving throw.
• Damage: The touch deals 1d8.
• Higher level casters: At 6-10^th level deal 3d8 damage; 11^th-15^th level deal 5d8 damage. Casting on liquid surfaces at higher levels doubles the radius and depth at levels 6-10, and triples at levels 11-15.

Disguise Self (1^st level Magic User)

Duration: 1 day 

Range: 10’

The caster can their appearance and the appearance of their equipment to that of a similarly sized and shaped humanoid. Detect Invisible will reveal the deception.

 

Feather Fall (1^st level Magic User)

Duration: 12 turns 

Range: 10’

The creature or object cast upon will fall at a constant rate of 12’ per minute (120’ per turn).

• Casting on a flying creature: Feather Fall may be cast on a flying creature which renders it unable to fly for the duration. It will slowly descend to the ground at a rate of 2’ per round.

Grease (1^st level Magic User) 

Duration: 6 turns 

Range: 50’

Covers a 15’ radius of a solid surface in a slick layer of nonflammable grease.

• Within the area: All actions except crawling 5’ per round is impossible.
• Casting on a creature: Grease may be cast upon a creature, which must save versus spells. If the save fails, the creature is coated in grease and cannot move or hold onto objects. If the save succeeds, the spell’s effect coats the area around the target in a 15’ radius that the creature may attempt to escape (at the reduced movement rate).

Jump (1^st level Magic User) 

Duration: 1 turn 

Range: 60’

The creature cast upon can make a single leap with their next move that allows them to travel 360’ (120’) in any direction.