There was once a powerful wizard. He made mountains, drowned countries and created monsters.
The wizard is long dead, but his great tower remains, piercing the heavens. Even as the golden ichor of the heavens flows over the tower, many foolhardy mages attempt to enter it. For the tower if filled with treasure, both material and of knowledge, and it is said that if one can reach the top and sit on the Wizard Throne, they will become a true archwizard as has not been seen since the original, and gain control of the tower.
The tower if filled with danger, from runaway self-replicating golems, traps, escaped experiments, created races of monsters, summoned demon guardians, your fellow fortune-seekers to undead and ghosts. So many have died that some refuse to stay dead.
Magic is divided into four categories, named Words. These are Power, Effect, Target and Metamagic. General rule of thumb that the more specific something is this more powerful. You Power the Effect, select a Target, and enhance the spell with Metamagic.
Power:
What powers the magic. The power-source is consumed during the process of spellcasting. Examples include:
Ambient mana (most reliable but the weakest), Blood, Sanity, Memories, Gold, Souls, Air
Effect:
What does the spell do. Examples:
Fire, Resurrection, Teleport, Heal, Kill
Target:
What the magic effects. Examples:
Target Creature, Target Object, Target Self, Target Area
Metamagic:
The ability to improve your magic. Examples:
Add two effects to a spell, Make a spell long duration, Cast the spell twice
Name: What are you called
Race: Nothing too exotic please
Magic (Words):
-Power: Choose one Word
-Effect: Choose one Word
-Target: Choose one Word
-Metamagic: None
Inventory: 1 Weapon, 3 other mundane stuff
Backstory: Optional
Bonus: Gain one Word or add a unique trait to your character (could be a racial trait if you like). Trait Examples: Stony Skin, Regeneration, Undead
When you overcome challenges you level up. When you level up you may add one magic. Reach the top of the tower to win, or leave the tower after gaining great spoils to not lose. There can be only one winner. Unlimited players, all start on the first floor. You don't know how many floors the tower has.
In the event of your death you may create a new character.