Phenderix Augmented Magic is a popular mod for the game Skyrim that adds a variety of new spells, enchantments, and magical items to the game. The mod was created by a modder named Phenderix and has gained a large following since its release. One of the main features of Phenderix Augmented Magic is the addition of over 300 new spells to the game. These spells cover a wide range of effects, from destructive fire spells to protective wards and healing spells. There are even new spell categories, such as "blood magic" and "time manipulation", that add unique and powerful spells to the game. In addition to the new spells, Phenderix Augmented Magic also adds a number of new enchantments and magical items to the game.
The Witch's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are, Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, nature, religon, local) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (None), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis) and Swim (Str).
The target must then make a Will save DC 10 half the Witches HD plus the Witches Charisma modifier or be Shaken for as long as they can see the Witch. Alternatively, their hands turn into Small Monstrous Spiders with HD equal to the Caster Level which immediately try to bite them until hacked off dealing the damage of the injury to the target and then slain.
In addition to the new spells, Phenderix Augmented Magic also adds a number of new enchantments and magical items to the game. These include new weapons and armor sets that have unique and powerful enchantments, as well as new staves and amulets that grant special abilities or powers to the player. The mod also includes a new skill tree system called the "Phenderix Magic Evolved Skill Tree", which allows players to level up their magic skills and unlock new abilities and perks.
Magical Tomes and Witch Hunting Manuals at the Ashmolean Museum
Last week I looked at the new exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Spellbound: Magic, Ritual & Witchcraft. It’s such a compelling collection of folk magic through the ages that I wanted to look a bit more in detail at a few of the magic books that were included in the exhibition, along with some of the art that belief in witchcraft inspired in pre-modern times.
The “microcosmic man” in a German manuscript, c. 1420. © Wellcome Library,
London. The idea that man is a smaller reflection of the greater universe
goes back to Plato and Aristotle, and in the Middle Ages was developed by
astrologers into a system in which certain parts of the body correspond
to signs of the Zodiac. Medical texts used these charts to know whether
or not to bleed a patient. If the moon was in the sign corresponding to
the body part, it was unhealthy to bleed them.
The Apprehension and Confession of three notorious Witches, published in
London, 1589. © Lambeth Palace Library. Accounts of witch trials sold well.
This pamphlet recounts the crimes of three women who were all found guilty
of witchcraft and hanged. Joan Cunny, aged about 80, said that she made a
circle on the ground, knelt within it, and prayed unto Satan. Two sprites
appeared as two black frogs named Jack and Jill and demanded her soul in
exchange for power. Cunny agreed to this. From then on the sprites acted
as her servants, stealing milk from neighbors’ cows, tossing over their
woodpiles, and causing people to get injured. The chief witnesses against
her were her two grandsons, the eldest no more than 12. You can read the
entire text here.
The Discovery of Witches, by Matthew Hopkins, 1647. © The Provost and
Fellows of The Queen’s College, University of Oxford. Hopkins (c.1620-1647)
was a notorious witch finder during the English Civil War, traveling with
safety across a war-ravaged land to root out witches. He charged a fee for
his work and extracted confessions from witches through various methods such
as “swimming”. Since a witch had rejected their own baptism, the water would
reject them and they would float. Another method was “pricking”, using pins
or dull knives to find “witches’ marks”, spots on the body that had no feeling
of pain and did not bleed. Hopkins, of course, was the final judge of what was
or wasn’t a witch mark. He would also use other methods of torture such as
sleep deprivation to gain a confession. He led some 300 people, mostly women,
to the gallows between 1644 and 1646. He charged a hefty fee for his work.
Hopkins’ methods were outlined in this book, which was used as an investigatory
manual in later cases, including the Salem witch trials. You can read the
entire text here.
Just as books about witches were popular, so were paintings. Witches at their
Incantations was painted by Salvator Rosa (1615–73) around the year 1646. Rosa
was a successful Italian painter and considered one of the predecessors to the
Romantic movement. © National Gallery, London.
Interest in witchcraft continued even after people in educated circles no longer
believed in them. Henry Fuseli (1741–1825) drew The Witch and the Mandrake
around the year 1812. The Anglo-Swiss artist was fond of depicting the supernatural,
such as this image of a witch collecting a mandrake root, believed to have magical
properties because it vaguely resembled a person. A mandrake root was said to
scream when pulled out of the ground. © Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.
Sean McLachlan is the author of the historical fantasy novel A Fine Likeness, set in Civil War Missouri, and several other titles. Find out more about him on his blog and Amazon author’s page. His latest book, The Case of the Purloined Pyramid, is a neo-pulp detective novel set in Cairo in 1919.
Trickery: at every 4th level, one ability may be chosen from the following list to allow the Witch to cheat death.
-Energy Resistance 10 + Hit Dice to any one energy type. This may be taken multiple times, either granting resistance to another energy or adding +10 to all energy resistances (which will apply to future energy resistances gained).
-Damage Reduction 3 + Half Hit Dice, overcome by Iron. This may be taken multiple times, adding +6 to the DR each time.
-Spell Resistance 5 + Hit Dice. This may be taken twice more, each adding +3 to the SR.
-Immune to Detect _____ spells and True Seeing
-A +4 bonus on saving throws against [Mind Affecting] Effects. This may be taken twice more, increasing the bonus by +4 each time.
-Immune to Poison
-Immune to Disease
-A +4 bonus on saving throws against the spell-like and supernatural effects of Outsiders, Elementals and Fey. This may be taken twice more, increasing the bonus by +4 each time.
This adds a new level of progression and depth to the game's magic system, allowing players to customize their playstyle and specialize in certain types of magic. Overall, Phenderix Augmented Magic is a comprehensive and expansive mod that greatly enhances the magic system in Skyrim. With its wide variety of new spells, enchantments, and magical items, it offers players a wealth of new options and possibilities for their characters. Whether you're a master wizard or just starting out on your magical journey, this mod is sure to add a whole new dimension to your Skyrim experience..
Reviews for "Taking your Magic to the Next Level: Phenderix Augmented Magic"
1. John - 2 out of 5 stars
I was really excited to try out Phenderix augmented magic, but it was a complete disappointment. The mod claims to add a variety of new spells and abilities, but in reality, they are just retextures of existing ones. The spells don't feel unique or powerful, and they don't add anything new to the game. Additionally, the mod caused a lot of stability issues and conflicts with other mods, which made my game crash constantly. Overall, I was very unsatisfied with my experience with Phenderix augmented magic and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars
Phenderix augmented magic sounded promising, but it fell short of my expectations. While the mod does add a decent amount of new spells to the game, the quality and balance of these spells are questionable. Some spells are way too overpowered, while others are completely useless. There is no consistency or balance, which made the gameplay experience very frustrating. Furthermore, the mod caused my game to lag severely, even on a high-end gaming PC. The performance issues, combined with the lackluster spell variety, made me regret installing Phenderix augmented magic.
3. Mike - 1 out of 5 stars
Phenderix augmented magic is a poorly executed mod with numerous flaws. The new spells it adds are unoriginal and lack creativity, often feeling like a rehash of spells already available in the base game or other mods. Moreover, the mod is poorly balanced, leading to some spells being too weak and others being overpowered. This imbalance disrupts the gameplay and ruins the immersion. Additionally, the mod caused multiple crashes and conflicts, resulting in frequent game freezes and save file corruptions. I would not recommend wasting your time with Phenderix augmented magic when there are much better magic mods available for Skyrim.