Imagine a naked savage who pulls a knife and slashes his own arm to give himself super-human speed for the few moments he needs to outrun a rampaging dinosaur.

Blood Rites is my reaction to safe, reliable magic. It's set in a savage, primitive world in which spells are cast only after blood is spilled.

The system is Fudge-based. Each magical effect has different power levels, and you roll to discover which power level you are able to cast when you prepare or cast the spell. You may get a relatively weak version…or an insanely powerful one.

Download the draft rules

The system needs a lot of playtesting, but the mechanics work and it gets across the right feel: you are a naked, savage, blood-spilling shaman who must work with others of your kind to stop something big.