Can cast spells of any tier at any time, but magic cost at higher tier than manageable comes with consequences on d% chart.
Sorcerers
Sorcerers are born with the ability to cast magic. They are extremely rare (1/10,000,000 with a world population of around 500,000,000) but easy to identify. They have colored scars across their body from birth that identify the element they are attuned to. About 1/100 sorcerers have scars of more than one color, though never more than 3. Sorcerers are highly revered around the world, some places treat them as holy people and place them in positions of power (think Dalai Lama) while others train and use them as weapons of war. Sorcerers are the only magic users that can have Magic as their highest skill. Sorcerers are tied to one or more elements, and can only use spells of that element. When leveling up, a sorcerer learns all the spells of their element(s), but can’t learn any more.
Sorcerers have high mana, but a limited selection of spells. They can draw mana, but only from environments linked to their type and at a slower rate than wizards.
Wizards
Wizards learn to cast spells through rigorous study of the fundamentals of magic. Anyone can learn to be a wizard, just like anyone can learn to be a doctor or engineer. That is to say, it’s not easy, and most people never study magic. Wizards often take on political roles as they advance, especially if they are adept at spells useful in political environments. Wizards also frequently become teachers of magic, which allows them more time to research spells.
They are masters of manipulating spells and can learn practically any spell given enough time. Arcane casters gain all basic spells every time they level up. All other spells must be learned at a cost of 1 day of study per spell level and 1 XP. Arcane casters can also cast using scrolls. Scrolls contain a single spell, usually low level, but the spell requires an additional turn of preparation and can’t be modified with basic spells. Arcane casters cannot have a Magic skill higher than their _Education_ skill.
Wizards have medium mana, as well as access to any spell. They can draw mana from the environment to recover mana and cast more spells.
Artificer
Artificers don’t learn to cast magic, instead they learn to make magical items. Their craft skill must be higher than their magic skill
Divine
Divine casters do not cast spells themselves, but have access to magic though their devotion to a deity. Divine casters have access to all spells of their deity’s element as long as they follow the three virtues of their deity.
Birthright
Birthright casters were born with a natural ability to cast magic. They are potent in their elemental affinity, and capable of casting some spells of a similar element. Birthright casters learn 1 spell of their primary element every time they level up, and can learn any spell of their primary or secondary element through 1 day of practice per spell level. Birthright casters must have the _Spark_ trait.
Pact
Pact casters were granted magic through a pact with another being. These beings are usually mortals, ones who themselves entered into a pact for power. Pact casters have a specific set of spells available to them based on their pact, and cannot learn any spells outside this set. Pact casters have the ability at 10th level to create pacts of their own. Pact casters must have a significant _NPC_ to whom they are indebted for their pact.
Bards don’t expend mana when using spells, but they have a very low max mana, meaning they can only use low-tier spells until higher levels. Rogues have low mana, limited spells, and only recover mana with successful uses of magic, or can use luck to recover mana. Psions have medium mana, access to most spells, and can use sanity in place of mana.
Strength and weakness
Spells can be used to attack, defend, or for utility. Pick one of these as a strength and one as a weakness. When you cast a spell of your strength, you gain a +1 bonus. Likewise, you get a -1 penalty when casting a spell of your weakness.