Post by Enuyu Suhishi on Feb 18, 2013 0:04:29 GMT -5
I think when it comes to mages slinging magic you have to consider several things, not just focus. Focus is enormously important, and it can instantly make or break what a mage is trying to do, but I don't think it should be the only thing to keep in mind. I think Full Focus should be considered a state where the mage's attention is so fully on the task they're attempting that the only other thing they can do is walk, no running, no rummaging in a bag, no holding a conversation with anyone. Anything less than Full Focus and the mage isn't going to be able to bring their full force to bear; on the other hand they can then do other things, like dodge. I think this will almost certainly have to be played by ear, as accumulating fatigue will complicate things. When you're fresh, multitasking isn't going to be so tough. But when you've been slinging magic for the last five minutes or so and your head is throbbing, you're seeing stars, you're nauseous, and the next big thing you do is going to knock you flat on your butt; well then doing more than one thing isn't really in your repetior.
I think as a GM you need to consider :
- the mage's ability to focus (which I believe would obviously be a reflection of their acclaim)
AND
- the mage's ability to tap into their element (what level their talent is)
VERSUS
- the difficulty of the effect the mage is going after; which I think can be universally broken down into three parts : 1)area of effect, 2)complexity of effect, 3)longevity of effect.
I have ideas for simple guidelines on the three factors of difficulty (which may or may not fall in line with your ideas of magic for the game)
Area of Effect
- tiny : no larger than a mouse
- small : a couple cubic feet/medium sized dog
- medium : not much larger than a man
- large : about the size of a horse and cart together
- enormous : the size of a three story building
Complexity
- very simple : basic geometric shapes (think DnD dice)
- simple : less basic geometric shapes (donuts, curvy things, a mobius strip)
- not so simple : cartoonish organic shapes (things that look like things, but are obviously not actually those things, a vaguely dog shaped flame creature)
- complex : lifelike organic shapes (things that look like things made of the element being used, a dog made of fire complete with silly grin and lolling tongue)
- very complex : clockwork, doing two simple or very simple things at once
Longevity
- very easy : an instant
- easy : a handful of seconds
- not so easy : half a minute or so
- hard : several minutes
- very hard : ten minutes
I imagine that a very powerful (level 5 talent) and experienced mage who was fully focused could completely peg any 2 of the 3 difficulty factors with enough left over to get a little into the third. My opinion, being able to peg all three difficulty factors should be the realm of very dangerous NPC's wielding artifacts of power and/or demigods. Obviously, less powerful characters will be able to do less.
I think that's as simply as I can express my ideas on it. Magic seems to refuse to be kept very simple.
Also, no stigma on mundane magic use in high fantasy setting = good thing I think. Can we assume necromantic things (animating undead and such) would always be frowned upon?
Also also, Might there be a stigma against raising the dead with healing magic?
Most folks have an idea of an afterlife that they're supposed to go to. Wouldn't raising them sort of go against that idea? Would it make Death mad? What if you did like Buffy's friends and brought your pal back to Earth from Heaven?
I'm not sure resurrection is a good idea. Or maybe folks have Do Not Resurrect orders? No, seriously. I could see that.
Now I might be babbling. It's late. I'm posting this.
I think as a GM you need to consider :
- the mage's ability to focus (which I believe would obviously be a reflection of their acclaim)
AND
- the mage's ability to tap into their element (what level their talent is)
VERSUS
- the difficulty of the effect the mage is going after; which I think can be universally broken down into three parts : 1)area of effect, 2)complexity of effect, 3)longevity of effect.
I have ideas for simple guidelines on the three factors of difficulty (which may or may not fall in line with your ideas of magic for the game)
Area of Effect
- tiny : no larger than a mouse
- small : a couple cubic feet/medium sized dog
- medium : not much larger than a man
- large : about the size of a horse and cart together
- enormous : the size of a three story building
Complexity
- very simple : basic geometric shapes (think DnD dice)
- simple : less basic geometric shapes (donuts, curvy things, a mobius strip)
- not so simple : cartoonish organic shapes (things that look like things, but are obviously not actually those things, a vaguely dog shaped flame creature)
- complex : lifelike organic shapes (things that look like things made of the element being used, a dog made of fire complete with silly grin and lolling tongue)
- very complex : clockwork, doing two simple or very simple things at once
Longevity
- very easy : an instant
- easy : a handful of seconds
- not so easy : half a minute or so
- hard : several minutes
- very hard : ten minutes
I imagine that a very powerful (level 5 talent) and experienced mage who was fully focused could completely peg any 2 of the 3 difficulty factors with enough left over to get a little into the third. My opinion, being able to peg all three difficulty factors should be the realm of very dangerous NPC's wielding artifacts of power and/or demigods. Obviously, less powerful characters will be able to do less.
I think that's as simply as I can express my ideas on it. Magic seems to refuse to be kept very simple.
Also, no stigma on mundane magic use in high fantasy setting = good thing I think. Can we assume necromantic things (animating undead and such) would always be frowned upon?
Also also, Might there be a stigma against raising the dead with healing magic?
Most folks have an idea of an afterlife that they're supposed to go to. Wouldn't raising them sort of go against that idea? Would it make Death mad? What if you did like Buffy's friends and brought your pal back to Earth from Heaven?
I'm not sure resurrection is a good idea. Or maybe folks have Do Not Resurrect orders? No, seriously. I could see that.
Now I might be babbling. It's late. I'm posting this.