Wild Surge occurs when a Wild Mage casts Nahal's Reckless Dweomer, a d100 dice is rolled and the number is made compared to another factor number, which is the sum of Wild Mage’s level (31 max), Chaos Shield Improved Chaos Shield modifier and Equipment modifier. If the former number is equal or less than the latter, the desired spell is cast normally, if greater, a wild surge effect will take place according to the number you rolled, refer to the table below.
Wild Surge may also occur at 5% chance when casting other memorized spells, the process is the same as above, with the exception of Wild Mage’s level not taking into account, so it’s just d100 vs. Chaos Shield Improved Chaos Shield modifier + Equipment modifier.
Gameplay notes
Chaos Shield spells in classic BG stack with themselves so Wild Mages are able to maneuver across the effects table fairly free or simply become "surge-free" by stocking Chaos Shield spells in Contingency. Enhanced Editions have this trait removed however, you'll have to be more lucky to get the desired effects.
| Rolled | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | Repulsion Field centered on caster |
| 2 | Wild color changes on caster |
| 3 | 8 Squirrels summoned around the caster for 2 turns |
| 4 | Caster becomes itchy (+2 penalty to speed factor and spellcasting speed for 1 turn) |
| 5 | The caster glows |
| 6 | Fireball centered on caster |
| 7 | Caster's sex is reversed for 10 minutes |
| 8 | Caster's color changes for 1 turn |
| 9 | Everyone in the area faces a different direction |
| 10 | Explosion centered on caster |
| 11 | Target is Entangled for 1 turn |
| 12 | Slow spell centered on target, victims get no save; lasts for 1 turn |
| 13 |
Target polymorphed into Spirit Wolf for 70 seconds (count as +1 weapons, Hasted, 4 attacks per round counting the Haste effect) |
| 14 | Caster held for 70 seconds, no save |
| 15 | Caster Hasted for 1 turn |
| 16 | Caster polymorphed into a squirrel permanently until affected by Dispel Magic |
| 17 | 80% of party gold is destroyed |
| 18 | Target weakened for 1 turn (-6 Strength) |
| 19 | Sunfire spell centered on caster, cast at their level |
| 20 | Target's movement rate lowered by 4 for 1 turn |
| 21 | Fireball centered on caster |
| 22 | Caster affected by Hold Person for 1 turn, save vs. spell negates |
| 23 | Symbol, Fear spell centered on target (save vs. spell at -4 or be panicked for 84 seconds) |
| 24 | Roll twice more; both effects apply |
| 25 | Entire area is explored |
| 26 | Minor Globe of Invulnerability spell cast on target (Immunity to spells of levels 1, 2, and 3 for 42 seconds) |
| 27 | Silence, 15' Radius spell centered on caster, cast at their level (save vs. spells at -5 or be Silenced for 2 rounds/level) |
| 28 | Caster is dizzy (+4 THAC0 penalty and 100% spellcasting failure for 1 turn) |
| 29 | Target becomes Invisible for 24 hours or until broken |
| 30 | Pretty sparkles! No other effect |
| 31 | Caster becomes the spell's target |
| 32 | Caster becomes Invisible for 24 hours or until broken |
| 33 | Color Spray spell shoots away from the caster |
| 34 | Some non-selectable birds are summoned which fly away from the caster |
| 35 | Fireball centered on caster that does no damage |
| 36 | Caster receives 5 gems (Aquamarine, Garnet, Horn Coral, Pearl, Sphene) |
| 37 | Combat music starts |
| 38 | Goodberries created on caster as per the spell |
| 39 | Spell's projectile is changed to a Fireball; spell goes off normally otherwise |
| 40 | Items in a Fireball-sized area of effect have their charges drained, including weapons |
| 41 | Random treasure created on the caster |
| 42 | Caster is combat ready for 1 turn (-2 THAC0 bonus and +2 damage) |
| 43 | Teleport Field centered on caster |
| 44 | Teleport Field centered on target |
| 45 |
Everyone in a Fireball-sized area of effect of the target gets hiccups for 1 turn (+1 THAC0 penalty, +1 speed factor penalty) |
| 46 | All doors opened in the area of effect, if there are no doors, roll twice more and use both effects. |
| 47 |
Caster polymorphed into Spirit Wolf for 70 seconds (attacks count as +1 weapons, Hasted, 4 attacks per round counting the Haste effect) |
| 48 | Spell's target is randomly changed |
| 49 | Spell fizzles but caster recuperates as if they rested |
| 50 | Monster Summoning II cast at the target |
| 51 | If outdoors, it starts snowing. If indoors, roll twice more and use both effects |
| 52 | Target must save or be stunned |
| 53 | Target's maximum HP is doubled |
| 54 | Gates in a Nabassu to kill those not Protected from Evil |
| 55 | Spell goes off normally but with a noise |
| 56 | Spell goes off normally but the duration is halved (if not instant) |
| 57 | Spell fizzles |
| 58 | Spell's projectile speed is halved |
| 59 | All weapons in the area glow |
| 60 | No saving throw allowed against the spell's effect |
| 61 | Target is held for 70 seconds, no save |
| 62 | Detect Magic cast at the target in a Fireball-sized area of effect |
| 63 | Roll 4 more times and use all the effects |
| 64 | Slow spell cast at targets at caster's level |
| 65 | Instead of the chosen spell, a different random spell of the same level is cast instead |
| 66 | Lightning Bolt spell cast at the target at caster's level (capped at 20) |
| 67 | Target strengthened for 70 seconds (+6 Strength) |
| 68 | Heal spell cast on the target |
| 69 | Target is Entangled for 1 turn, no save |
| 70 | Caster weakened for 1 turn (-6 Strength) |
| 71 | Fireball spell centered on the target, cast at the caster's level |
| 72 | Flesh to Stone spell cast on the target, save vs. spell negates |
| 73 | Spell cast normally and caster recuperates as if they rested |
| 74 | Caster affected by a Heal spell |
| 75 | Target becomes dizzy for 1 turn (+4 THAC0 penalty and 100% spellcasting failure for 1 turn) |
| 76 | Sunfire spell centered on target, caster is unaffected |
| 77 |
Target affected by Hold Person for 1 turn (save vs. spell negates; does not affect non-humanoids) |
| 78 | Target Blinded for 10 minutes, save vs. spell negates |
| 79 | Target is Charmed for 5 minutes, save vs. spell negates |
| 80 | 5 gems created on target (Aquamarine, Garnet, Horn Coral, Pearl, Sphene) |
| 81 | Target's movement rate is doubled |
| 82 | Random treasure created on the target |
| 83 | Target polymorphed into a squirrel |
| 84 |
Silence, 15' Radius spell centered on target (save vs. spells at -5 or be Silenced for 2 rounds/level) |
| 85 | Target's gender is reversed |
| 86 | Fake fireball centered on target (harmless) |
| 87 | Cow falls from the sky onto the target for 3d10+3 crushing damage |
| 88 | Target becomes dizzy (+4 THAC0 penalty and 100% spellcasting failure for 1 turn) |
| 89 |
Spell's area of effect becomes 60 foot radius. Single-target spells give their effects to all within a 60 foot radius. |
| 90 | Stinking Cloud spell centered on target |
| 91 | Target becomes itchy (+2 penalty to speed factor and spellcasting speed for 1 turn) |
| 92 | Caster's maximum HP is doubled |
| 93 | Target affected by Hold Person for 1 turn (save vs. spell negates; does not affect non-humanoids) |
| 94 | Target Hasted for 1 turn |
| 95 | 80% of gold on the target is destroyed |
| 96 | Spell cast twice |
| 97 | Spell cast normally; victims make saving throws against it at a -4 penalty |
| 98 | Target's color changes permanently |
| 99 | Spell cast at double level of the caster (capped at 40, with exceptions of Dispel Magic, Skull Trap) |
| 100 | Spell cast normally |