This question involves non-system-specific magic.
43
votes
10answers
888 views
Medieval problems in a magical world
This is a bit of a broad question, but I will try to narrow it down to this:
When GMing a medieval fantasy, and conflicts arise between the medieval times and the magical world (mostly D&D and ...
21
votes
6answers
1k views
How does D&D Vancian magic make sense in-game?
One thing that bugs me about Vancian Magic in D&D as I understand it is the following: How is "fire and forget" remotely believable when I can slot and ready more than one "copy" of a spell?
Say ...
18
votes
10answers
545 views
What RPGs treat magic as being common?
Some fantasy RPGs treat magic as arcane and thus rare, possibly subject to suspicion by the masses. Other games treat magic as somewhat more prevelant but not ubiquitous.
At some point in this trend, ...
18
votes
2answers
611 views
How do I handle astral security?
When a shadowrunning team tries to break into a facility protected by magic, it seems to me as a GM like the team's biggest liability is getting past magical security. If a mundane B&E character ...
17
votes
8answers
422 views
How do I create a sense of mystery about magic?
Magic in so many games is something mechanical and fully understood. Assuming I control the setting (and have a group of players willing to try new rules), how do I make magic something mysterious?
...
17
votes
6answers
556 views
Making magic “magical”
When I work with settings that contain magic, whether traditional fantasy or others, I always perceive something of a tension when trying to portray the magic between the following factors:
Magic ...
17
votes
7answers
365 views
Fantasy and magic in a primarily realistic setting
I'm running a game that's best described as "medieval fantasy," in the sense that we're actually trying to have the lives of people in the setting strongly resemble the historical Middle Ages. There ...
16
votes
10answers
542 views
What would you pick as the “four elements” of mind? [closed]
Good evening! I hope this isn't too vague, this is my first post on RPG Exchange (I see some cool conversations here, I'm happy to be a part).
While doodling about with a magic system I'm ...
14
votes
2answers
397 views
Does GURPS Thaumatology require GURPS Magic?
If I picked up the sourcebook GURPS Thaumatology, would I need GURPS Magic? There seem to be a lot of negative reviews of 4th-edition GURPS Magic and nothing but rave reviews of Thaumatology.
13
votes
11answers
478 views
How can non-magical healers be useful when magic healing is available?
In many roleplaying games the prerequisite to perform magic healing is knowledge, and during action it is mostly limited by magic capacity and sometimes time. Meanwhile the prerequisite to perform ...
13
votes
14answers
520 views
Magocracies and theocracies in Dnd?
Anyone has (links to) well thought-out, logical explanations for why magocracies and theocracies are not the dominant governmental forms of DnD worlds? I'd also be really interested in similarly deep ...
13
votes
5answers
523 views
Replicating Modern Technology using Magic-Punk
This is generally a system-agnostic question, as I'm trying to build a feel for my world, and I can add to it whatever rules I need to later.
The world is a 1930s setting, very ...
13
votes
3answers
195 views
Do magical beasts have a magical aura with regard to Detect Magic spell?
The description for Detect Magic doesn't explicitly cover this. Some monsters, like the Ankheg, are categorized as magical beast, but don't have any magical or spell-like abilities. If they are ...
13
votes
3answers
418 views
How should one-word “commands” work in languages other than English?
In various versions of D&D, there's a cleric spell called "Command" where the cleric compels an enemy to obey a one-word command. Typical commands might be "sleep", "flee", "surrender", ...
12
votes
1answer
135 views
TDE / DSA - Koschbasalt / Blaubasalt vs Magic Traps
I hope there are even Das Schwarze Auge/The Dark Eye Players around here...
Is it possible to neutralize magic traps (Traps created by applicatus or similar spells, not arcanovi) using Koschbasalt ...
11
votes
4answers
354 views
How the heck does magical darkness work in Pathfinder?
I'm having a lot of trouble trying to divine the intent of the darkness spell in PF. It starts off easily enough:
This spell causes an object to radiate darkness out to a 20-foot radius. This ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
How do I increase resistance to drain?
My Aztec shaman character, Chimalli, is primarily a spirit summoner, using Willpower (5)+Charisma (7) to resist drain. He has one level of the Focused Concentration quality (+1).
Is there any easy ...
10
votes
3answers
412 views
I want to build a castle, with magic!
Rather, one of my players, a Terram Magus, wants to be able to construct a castle or equivalent fortification without using creo magic in an Ars Magica 5th edition game.
The rules for crafting with ...
10
votes
2answers
128 views
Can you use a Power to do Suppressive Fire?
Can Powers be used for Suppressive Fire? For example, can you cast a Bolt Power to do Suppressive Fire on an area?
9
votes
2answers
611 views
Creatively targeting summoning spells
Me and my party have a plan in our upcoming session, that will need some clarifications on how summoning spells can be used.
Its all about creative targeting with the Summon Monster I spell, let me ...
9
votes
3answers
524 views
What is thaumaturgy?
I keep getting conflicting reports on what exactly thaumaturgy is. Some sources say it's a form of divine spellcasting. Others say it's a form of summoning. Others still say it's a method of ...
9
votes
6answers
362 views
Is there any system which lets me play an astrologer mage?
Is there any system which has a mage class/magic system dedicated to astrology so I could play a court astrologer using the planets and constellations to divine the future?
I would like to mention ...
9
votes
2answers
841 views
Do metamagic feats increase a spell's casting time in Pathfinder?
In D&D 3.5, there was a rule that a spontaneous spellcaster had to spend extra time casting a spell if they chose to apply a metamagic feat. Is this also true in Pathfinder, or was this limitation ...
9
votes
1answer
865 views
What are the exact rolls and totals for a direct combat spell?
As a Shadowrun 4E GM, I have had a couple of arguments with players about exactly how the magic system works. Suppose a player goes to cast a spell like a Force 6 Powerbolt at an enemy. Exactly which ...
9
votes
3answers
239 views
What does it mean to “master” a path of magic?
In Anima: Beyond Fantasy, magic is divided up into paths, some of which are opposed to each other. The rules quite clearly state that it costs twice as much to advance along a path opposed to one ...
8
votes
3answers
962 views
Does casting a spell require a check to succeed?
If my character is a spell caster, and he is not wearing any armor, is there any chance to fail casting the spell? I'm wondering specifically about normal circumstances: There is nobody who can attack ...
8
votes
4answers
262 views
Magical Effects of Herbs
For various reasons I want to go back to primary sources to develop a list of herb and their magic effects for various fantasy RPGs that I use to run my campaign, the Majestic Wilderlands.
Does ...
8
votes
2answers
309 views
Resources containing practical, yet non-combat, non-adventuring D&D spells
Continuing the train of thoughts emerging from the discussion of this previous question (about magocracies and theocracies in DnD), I'd like to know if there are any good official or unofficial ...
8
votes
2answers
132 views
Does temporal stasis freeze spell effects?
My question boils down to what qualifies as a condition in the spell temporal stasis, as emphasized below.
You place the subject into a state of suspended animation. For the creature, time ceases ...
8
votes
3answers
522 views
How quickly can fortifications be built in D&D 4e, magically and otherwise
My bad guys have holed themselves up for a couple months. Given little preexisting fortification, what resources are there for for building mechanical and magical defenses? Is there something ...
8
votes
2answers
275 views
Does ranged magic that requires line-of-sight also require line-of-effect?
This came up during a combat last week. The party had barricaded themselves behind double doors and the wizard was peering through the keyholes, dropping Scorching Bursts on anything foolish enough ...
8
votes
2answers
148 views
Magic college default skill in GURPS
Is there a way in GURPS to create a mage with a default level of skill in a specific magical college? I'm imagining something like an earth wizard who can attempt any earth college spell at a -3 ...
7
votes
3answers
416 views
Comprehend Languages vs. Linguistics
Given the nature of the spell Comprehend Languages in Pathfinder, is there any particular advantage to taking Linguistics for a character who can cast it? Especially given the chance of severe (or ...
7
votes
4answers
198 views
Systems that have rules for covert magic (Occult type magic)
What games system out there have a good ruleset for a covert magic system. For the lack of a better word I use covert in meaning that magic isn't obvious. Not that the magicians would have to hide, ...
7
votes
1answer
117 views
Thaumaturgy power gathering
So if I have this right, when one of my characters is using a thaumaturgical ritual, lets say creating wards, then the ward strength and length are determined by how many shifts of power, in total, ...
7
votes
1answer
502 views
Why do magical traditions specify a spirit type for each spell category?
In the SR4 rulebooks, magical traditions have listings of which spirits a character of that tradition can summon.
For example:
The Aztec Tradition
Concept: ...
Combat: Guardian
Detection: Fire
...
6
votes
4answers
443 views
Looking for a nice magic system to convert to FATE
I'm playing around a lot with the FATE system at the moment (particularly with Diaspora) and I'm now looking at how I might apply it to a fantasy setting. What I'm looking for is a nice magic system ...
6
votes
5answers
463 views
Rulesets to make magic more unpredictable and dangerous?
I am considering starting a Pathfinder game, however before I do this I would like to brew-up some house-rules on the use of magic for a "low-magic" setting (think Conan or A Song of Ice and Fire) ...
6
votes
5answers
192 views
What are some mage-related abilities in a Sci-Fi setting?
One of my PC's wants to be a mage type character. I would be all for this, except that we are playing the Fallout Pen and Paper game, which doesn't really have any magic related techniques or attacks. ...
6
votes
3answers
174 views
What alternatives are there for replacing the D&D memorize and forget magic rules
I'm starting a campaign and will be the DM. We are basing our system off the D&D 3rd ed. Most of us (players and myself) don't really like the rules surrounding Wizards / Sorcerers when they have ...
6
votes
1answer
214 views
How can I make a magical photocopier?
One of my players wants a way to reproduce books quickly in an Ars Magica (5th edition) setting.
What spells exist (preferably without using vis) to accomplish this goal?
6
votes
3answers
297 views
A system for tactical magic duels with low handling time?
I'm trying to cobble together a solely magic-based campaign that will have a really flexible system of magic. I've always been a fan of the D20 system, but it does have its limitations: for this ...
5
votes
5answers
842 views
What's a good defense against silence?
Well, a dungeon master keeps throwing characters who can silence spells at me. It's a pain in the butt when trying to fight as a group, as most of my friends and I are casters. We're dealing with ...
5
votes
4answers
307 views
What can be done to maintain balance in a magic system in which mages must construct their own spells?
I'd like to build a magic system in which every spell is a one-off. A spell is created to serve a particular purpose and is cast once. I'm thinking that the time and place of the casting would be ...
5
votes
4answers
79 views
What systems contain Multiple Caster or Combined Casting rules? [closed]
In the process of creating a homebrew system, I have run into the problem of my players wanting to be able to combine their spellcasting prowess in a show of superiority and might ( and perhaps a bit ...
5
votes
3answers
213 views
How useful would a house ruled immediate Counterspell ability in Pathfinder be?
I have been GMing for 10 years, and we are currently are using Pathfinder with little to no house rules. The only character that has ever used counterspell is when we made a prestige class up that ...
5
votes
1answer
126 views
Having a hard time understanding the cost of magic enhancements as listed
Can anyone help clear up the costs of magic items? I am looking at some magic items and the costs only say "+1 enhancement cost." For an example I will use the "Flaming" enhancement. Before an item ...
5
votes
2answers
162 views
How does a character become magical in the Dresden Files?
I'm trying to create a character. I've already worked out some of my character. My character is, at the moment, superstitious with that being pretty much the only personality trait. It has glamours ...
5
votes
2answers
155 views
Alignment restrictions and Trap the Soul
Saw it mentioned in a thread (How do you make a vampire cleric stay dead?) and now I'm curious... Does binding a creature's soul into a gem in itself constitute an evil act?
Trap the soul says ...
5
votes
2answers
351 views
Can you use Shrink Item on a living creature?
Are you allowed to use the spell Shrink Item on a living creature?
