I am working on compiling information in regards to the many and varied uses of magic within our system. I noticed the chat about 'buffs' and understand that they are commonplace in most role playing games.
Whilst I will not be compiling, nor am an advocate for a structured spell system; I am very interested in your feedback. There have been uses for our magic that could be considered buffs and other uses outside simply turning and element into a missile and throwing it at the enemy, or making a shield out of it.
Outside of what you may have played in game, or recall someone else doing; I would like your concepts as well. If you have a concept, perhaps we can get feedback on it in this thread.
Neko has used her dark magic to write, to increase her stealth, and to appear more intimidating.
Silent as a shadow on padded feet...
Aegil [M:53:440:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?board=cs&action=display&thread=853]Everything Casts A Shadow...[0:In a rare occurance I am unavailable][1:As usual I am available]
Aegil has used her dark magic in various ways such as a giant fist, tendrils (which seem a common one for dark magic) spikes (another common one for various magic) and in combination with her staff to create the pieces for a scyth and spear.... Serafyna has used her blood magic most commonly as 'claw' weapons, though they have also been formed into needle thin spikes she threw... and a whip was a possible one... And for some creativity (possibly due to medical knowledge) to thicken the blood in her body and increase the white blood cell count rather then how others seem to simply wrap something around the wound they make to use their blood as a weapon... Blood magic also makes a good skin tight armour...
Revenge is a knife you point to your own heart It's a poisoned dish you wind up eating yourself...
I don't know about buffs. But, Kiga and Ely have combined their wind and fire magic before. They have not done it in battle, but I've considered the ramifications and fatigue costs of doing so if used in an extended manner.
Catgirl Extraordinaire
“Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.”
Oh and Alex has been using a combo of Blood and Healing magic to keep from bleeding out from his missing arm. Trying to cycle the blood back into his system or something like that...
Silent as a shadow on padded feet...
Hex [M:40:1020:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=cs&thread=483&page=1#17914][b]"As the iron leaves fall, our attack will spring..."[/b]
"When a mage enters combat (regardless of how cool or unemotional they are) they enter a slightly altered state. Due to the very real life and death seriousness and duress of the situation, they are able to tap into their magic suffering only normal degrees of fatigue from using it. This is a trained skill, even if your enemy is obviously weaker, the change in mind set from 'it's a pleasant day' to 'I have to set a living thing on fire and destroy it to survive' makes magic wielding possible.
Outside of a combat or extremely life threatening scenario of imminent danger though, magic use is nearly impossible. Without that altered state, the mage has to focus a great deal more and wielding magic even for mundane tasks becomes incredibly taxing. It is not impossible, but is considered abuse of magic - both in terms of game rules and ethically by society in game. We won't stop you doing it, but you will have to deal with the consequences.
It is important to note that magic is not a 'fix all' solution to the many problems that adventuring brings about and it's use is almost entirely exclusive to combat."
It doesn't make sense to me for the following reasons :
1) How does a mage even figure out they're a mage? From the sound of it every mage on the planet is going to have to go through some sort of awful traumatic event to even figure out they can draw on magic, because they certainly won't figure it out under normal circumstances.
2) How is a mage supposed to draw on a trained skill that requires being under extreme duress? Do magic teachers constantly threaten their students with savage beatings or throw them into highly dangerous situations?
3) If it's unethical to use magic outside of combat, then again, how does a mage train?
4) If society sees magic use outside of combat as unethical/abusive, why? Why would it be okay to burn someone to a cinder in self defense, but abusive to put out a house fire? The ethics of magic and how society sees it's use and _why_ it sees it that way needs to be addressed if it's going to be mentioned. That's a helluva thing that needs to be properly role played. Tell the players why so we can properly handle that aspect of it, because it isn't important to just mages. If I see a mage using magic should I be repulsed just because they're blatantly using it, or should I only be upset when they use it in a certain way or to do certain things? Is my character's view of magic going to be the same as society at large or will my character be seen badly because they have an unpopular opinion of magic? I really think this needs to be nailed down.
Now, on the other hand, I've seen threads where there's magic use outside of combat and no GM has said squat about it, and no character has bat an eyelash that it's happening. So is this some archaic rule that just hasn't been expunged? I'm a newb I wouldn't know.
I have more thoughts on magic use and creative applications of it, but I'm going to hold onto those and see if I've made anyone angry first. Don't want to step on all the toes all at once. And yes, I have ideas on how to address what I've mentioned, but maybe everything I mentioned just doesn't apply, so again I'm a keep my yap shut.
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
Aegil [M:53:440:][D3v:http://rpgmenagerie.com/index.cgi?board=cs&action=display&thread=853]Everything Casts A Shadow...[0:In a rare occurance I am unavailable][1:As usual I am available]
I believe that its merely meant to explain that when a person is in combat they can wield magic with easier ability due to situation, such as when one is being chased by a tiger they will run better then normal because of adrenalin.
Revenge is a knife you point to your own heart It's a poisoned dish you wind up eating yourself...
I believe that its merely meant to explain that when a person is in combat they can wield magic with easier ability due to situation, such as when one is being chased by a tiger they will run better then normal because of adrenalin.
I would agree with you if it weren't for : "Outside of a combat or extremely life threatening scenario of imminent danger though, magic use is nearly impossible."
_nearly impossible_
If it was "very difficult" or "pretty damn hard" or "requires full focus" or anything along those lines; yeah, okay, I can see it. But the words "nearly impossible" were chosen; and I give the GM's enough credit that I assume those words were used for a reason. My confusion is I don't see the reason and the consequences don't make sense to me.
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
Its original intent, if I'm thinking correctly, was to be a way to avoid magic becoming the "fix all" for every situation. Need a ladder? Summon one out of a bucket of water. Etc...
That being said, I agree with Enuyu that it needs to be nailed down more. If this is how society sees it, then why is it seen this way and is it impossible for mages to do magic outside of combat or is it just frowned upon?
Alex is not above scaring the daylights out of his students if need be. But is this because it has to be done, or just personal preference?
Personally I think magic outside of combat should be ok to do. maybe keep the social faux pax. Maybe up the fatigue (I think the more detailed or controled the thing you make with your magic should up the fatigue anyway. Ex: A generic blade of darkness would be easier to make than a longsword of darkness, which in turn is easier to make than a shadow copy of a specific unique looking longsword. The extra effort going into the mental energy needed for the precise control and detail.)
I dont think magic outside of combat would be that big of a balance issue that it shouldnt be allowed at all. I know Alex likes his magic to do things for him as RP flare (Fetching books and other small items from a shelf and such), and Neko has used Magic outside of combat to communicate and also for RP flare.
That being said, I like the idea of a social stigma being placed on casual magic for RP purposes...
Neko making a ball for Tauer's shadow kitten to play with (tauer likes to shape his shaodws into animals)
She's also used it to make figures of her Father as she misses him. And to make a simple set of lockpicks (just upped the fatigue incurred due to the size, focus and detail needed...)
Its original intent, if I'm thinking correctly, was to be a way to avoid magic becoming the "fix all" for every situation. Need a ladder? Summon one out of a bucket of water. Etc...
I can appreciate that; and I think it's a good idea.
Maybe the language just needs a slight tweak. Something that says it's harder to make the fix with magic than it is to do it the normal way. It's going to be harder on you to light a fire with magic than it is to just bust out the flint and tinder or a match. It's way more difficult to levitate the book across the room than it is to get up on a chair and pull it off the top of the book case. It's more difficult to light the darkness with magic than it is to just light the darkness with a lantern.
That way mages get to practice outside of combat and it doesn't seem ludicrous. Sure, mage training is HARD, but that's just another step in the road of being a mage.
My opinion it also gives an even better reason for the RP flair; sure it's fatiguing and difficult, but it's also necessary practice to keep your mage's edge.
On the other hand, when it comes to combat and the adrenaline is pumping, it's easier to burn them to a cinder than enter an extended sword duel. It's easier to call up a stone wall to break an enemy charge than it is to throw infantry at them. That sort of thing.
Also, would this sort of restriction really apply to healing magic as well? Healing almost always happens outside of combat... on the other hand it can be a stressful situation given that someone's life might depend on your skill. What about stigma? I can't see healing being subject to a bad social stigma. Unless the plebeians are all "WITCHCRAFT!"
So, there's that.
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
You're both correct in that yes, that happened because we had a certain player decide their magic was the answer for EVERYTHING in their first adventure. It was a weapon and shield, it was a lock pick and countless other items and it even ended up forming 'platforms' which were akin to stairs that they stood on for a prolonged time.
That was JUST adventuring and very quickly, we realized people were going to abuse the magic system unless we either passed a rule to say 'hell no' or we had a more complex system. I understand your concerns with the wording Enuyu and will change it when I have a moment to do so.
Enuyu, I have asked the GMs to weigh in on a couple of things, but am very interested on your feedback.
I am considering just using the degree of focus required to be the deciding factor, and mentioning that it can be quite hard for a mage to use magic an be active at the same time. It will require some very smart wording, as I don't want to render mage types immobile, but I do think that maintaining say, water as a solid enough form to walk on; should definitely prevent the mage doing a great deal else. The mages other talents related to the act should reduce the conflict, eg: using wind with agility, but a mage with no talent associated should find the task very complex.
That would mean that magic, outside common battle use; is really quite a mundane thing. And now I am babbling.