Characters who choose the substance Order sacrifice speed and efficiency for added power and reliability. Instead of getting all the spells of a Discipline all at once, the Substance magician gains spells as they advance in rank. All Substance spells are divided into Degrees. Each Discipline has three Degrees of spells. Here is how Degrees work --

In general, at rank 0-2 you are selecting 1st Degree spells.

At rank 3, you can choose 2nd Degree spells when you make your spell choices, even if you don't have all the 1st Degree spells yet.

At rank 6, you can choose 3rd Degree spells.

Each rank the character advances, they get to choose two new spells. If they have a photographic memory, they will gain double the spells, and may advance to higher Degree spells before the ranks stated above (if all spells of a Degree are achieved, the character may choose spells from the next Degree).

Thus at rank 0 the character gets to choose two 1st Degree spells from their Discipline, and at rank 1, two more.

When a character gets a new spell, the spell’s effects are determined at the rank of the magician in that Discipline (all spells of a Discipline are figured at the same rank).

Substance spells always work (except under exceptional circumstances) so they don't have a casting chance like Invocative spells. However, they do have a Casting Time (CT) measured in quints (units of about 5 seconds). A spell is cast after the last quint stated.

You will also see Reagents listed under each spell. Reagents are objects or substances which focus the magic of Substance Order spells. They are necessary to cast the spell. Many can be purchased at small shoppes in larger cities, while others can be found naturally. If there are not reagent shoppes, you might have to check other specialty shoppes (such as an alchemist). Many practitioners create ‘spell packets’ – small bundles with the necessary reagents for a particular spell. That way they can quickly take out the necessary reagents without having to fumble around in a pouch for the correct ones.

When a spell is cast, any reagents used are reduced to a grey dust.

As a Substance Order magician, you will possess a Learning Grimoire with all the spells you’ll be learning over time. It is this that you are assumed to be studying and which allows you to gain spells as you advance in rank. Do not lose it. If you do, you’ll have to find a potent Substance magician of your Discipline who will make a new one for you. This will take the magician an immense amount of time (a few moons, at least) and will cost you in the realm of 2000 silver.