Author Topic: Magus' laws of magic (Read 8562 times)

Corinthian · « **Reply #25 on:** May 27, 2004, 03:40:19 PM »

((First time here and look what caught my eye))

In some RPGs I've played I found that magic can be useful and fun.. One time I remember me and some friends were playing a RPG over at some forums.. It was fun how we discrive the use of migic, very descriptive... I can remember a line.. but let me translate it to you:

"Suddenly, his eyes starts to blur... he's starting to watch a haze, or like a mist, first from his hands, then from his body, then it's everywhere, in the buildings, in the air.. in the ocean.. everywhere.. also things seem to happen slower, almost like the time stopped there.. like everything else, he's moving slower too...

Then he realized that he can feel the misty haze inside of him.. He can feel how it moves.. how it emanates from him.. Now, he feels he can control it..

The haze is staring to flow more and more from his body, he feels how it starts to compress in his hand, how it's staring to create heat, how it combust and how that haze transforms into fire.."

That was an intro to magic... and we used that way of playing.. it can be fun if you know how to use it...

((By the way... this was from a RPG made in forums, not with board and dice or video games..oh, and sorry for the grammar.. I'm learning english))

Strolen · « **Reply #26 on:** May 27, 2004, 04:09:59 PM »

Now THAT is roleplaying.

That is much better then "I cast Fireball" and exactly what we are talking about. It is much more fulfilling and fun when you treat magic with the respect it deserves then using it like a fork.

Corinthian · « **Reply #27 on:** May 27, 2004, 04:50:20 PM »

well thanks for the compliment... but this is mere logic...

Shadoweagle · « **Reply #28 on:** May 27, 2004, 08:16:27 PM »

Mmmm, very descriptive - that's not too different as I used to roleplay at my old site. Magic needs to be mystic, and barely understood, not mundane and routine.

CaptainPenguin · « **Reply #29 on:** May 27, 2004, 09:19:41 PM »

Yes, that is descriptive, but it's not any different from "I cast Fireball", save that it is actually described.
Your grammar, Corinthian, is excellent. You have nothing to worry about.

Magus · « **Reply #30 on:** June 01, 2004, 11:19:55 AM »

Look, just because you guys fear magic, doesn't mean you have to provoke it to smite you down.

CaptainPenguin · « **Reply #31 on:** June 01, 2004, 06:37:54 PM »

Good, I'll keep that in mind.

Magus · « **Reply #32 on:** June 22, 2004, 08:07:06 PM »

YOUR ---- RIGH YOU WILL!

Alec_Shadowkin · « **Reply #33 on:** June 23, 2004, 01:41:58 PM »

I agree with the Captian and Ria. Magic is great, but only if used in small amounts and for very spectacular effects. I run a number of D&D games and I have come to the conclusion that the magic system for D&D is what turns a lot of potentially good, imaginative players into power-gamers or munchkins.
The descriptive passage written by Corinthian is how it should be, not "Ok, my turn. Um... I guess I'm going to cast a maximized fireball." ::Rolls Dice:: "Let's see that's... 826 damage. We win!" That's not what it was originally meant to be. I become very pleased when a new player opts to become a fighter or rogue or something else with little or no magic power. It allows them to develope their potential as good roleplayers much better.

Scrasamax · « **Reply #34 on:** August 14, 2004, 04:28:34 PM »

Just an observation, going back to a prime resource of fantasy gaming, The Lord of the Rings. How many spells did Gandalf cast? Not very d**n many did he, he wasnt casting fireballs and lightning bolts, and summoning monsters. That might be a good hint.

Magus · « **Reply #35 on:** August 19, 2004, 01:46:42 AM »

Thats it, WIND TUNNEL TIME!

Michael Jotne Slayer · « **Reply #36 on:** August 23, 2004, 07:41:40 AM »

Who is going to wield the magic that smites me down?
And how do you provoke it?

Pirate Penguin · « **Reply #37 on:** August 23, 2004, 06:28:31 PM »

Magus your a monk, not a mage you can't cast wind tunnel, you just don't have the power.

Magus · « **Reply #38 on:** August 25, 2004, 06:34:49 PM »

the Wind Tunnel isn't a spell

Pirate Penguin · « **Reply #39 on:** August 25, 2004, 07:28:39 PM »

Ok, then I counter with AK-47 Attack.

Ria Hawk · « **Reply #40 on:** August 25, 2004, 07:32:13 PM »

Magus, don't make me shove something large and explosive into that air void in your hand.

Magus · « **Reply #41 on:** August 27, 2004, 02:02:46 AM »

okay...

Michael Jotne Slayer · « **Reply #42 on:** August 27, 2004, 09:23:35 AM »

The Knave of all trades has spoken...

Pirate Penguin · « **Reply #43 on:** August 28, 2004, 11:29:58 PM »

no she didn't.

Ria Hawk · « **Reply #44 on:** August 29, 2004, 11:37:44 AM »

Yes, I d**n well did.

Pirate Penguin · « **Reply #45 on:** August 29, 2004, 06:22:51 PM »

Oh, he said Knave I thought he said Knife.

m0s0g · « **Reply #46 on:** September 01, 2004, 03:25:40 PM »

Removed.

Pirate Penguin · « **Reply #47 on:** September 01, 2004, 11:39:54 PM »

What! What is all this math doing in the carvern of inane natter, BLARGHRA!!!!

m0s0g · « **Reply #48 on:** September 02, 2004, 10:10:13 AM »

To confuse evil penguins.

Ancient Gamer · « **Reply #49 on:** September 02, 2004, 11:16:15 AM »

I like magic!

Of course, the D&D approach to magic is ridiculous. Always has been. The spells in a player's spellbook increase until he no longer know what spells he can cast, and then the DM introduce areas where "this and that" school of magic no longer works. (as witnessed in lots of official modules and computer games). Annoying!

I treat every spell like a magic item. My players seldom find new spells and when they do, they get excited. Magic should never be taken for granted; items and spells should have a history and a reason for being there. Spellcasting should be taxing and the mage should seldom have a "limitless source of spells or spell-points". Fighters get physically exhausted, fatigued. Mages get mentally exhausted, get headaches, shivers and may fall into a coma. My mages may cannibalize their mental health to push themselves to extremes but has, understandably, only done so once.

In addition magic can be:
-dangerous to everyone involved. (I use noise and uncontrolled rifts/leaks and possible health hazards to the caster)
-It can be ceremonial, thus take alot of time, demand special ingredients, special locations or sacrifices.
-Magic could be bolstered by special locations/rituals. (I think it is enjoyable to let the players create a special site for spellcasting with a ceremony and then let them cast spells from that place)

Magic is NOT just another way to kill the enemy. It is so much more. Every kind of magic (spells, items, creatures, etc...) is a tale in itself and should be viewed as something wondrous, not just be thrown into the game with one word or sentence .