The Dresden Files > DFRPG
Other forms of magic
chefbadger:
While I remember reading (somewhere) that the main point of having as much in the main book as possible is to cut down on the Sourcebook Syndrome that most other RPG companies indulge in, I have to say that questions like this one are definitely a reason why sourcebooks are not necessarily a bad thing. I mean, yeah... it's great to say that foci will be a system in the book, but what about players who want more than that? I'm perfectly willing to take the book and make my own rules regarding artificing or potion-making or anything else, but I may be the exception to the rule. And there will always be people who will want to have "official" rules, no matter what.
For me personally, if there isn't something written in the book, then I'll make up my own rules and try them out. If they work, great and I'd let people know about them. If not, then no big loss. I tried, right? But maybe a sourcebook on magic wouldn't be such a bad idea. Just to add some width and breadth to the topic.
iago:
The what/how thing is pretty spot on. Magic abilities will focus on how's, with specific what's being improvable as specialties (e.g., Harry knows the 'how' of Evocation, and has some tools and skills improving his ability with the 'what' of throwing fire around).
Magic largely breaks down into:
Common ritual - The magic that everyone can do, so long as they get their hands on the right (usually rare, protected) tome containing rituals that haven't been ground down to uselessness by overuse.
Evocation - Grossly simplified, this is the ability to summon up a bunch of energy of type A, and push it somewhere. It's very fast, and it resembles magic that's been done all over for thousands of years. Big supernatural creatures have had evocation and evocation-like things for a long damn time, and by and large it's the main way they get things done, magically (beyond the abilities simply contained within their bodies, like supernatural strength, yadda yadda). Wizards tend to know a wide variety of techniques within Evocation, while others may be limitd to a specific technique or two (such as the "telekinetic" kid, who's actually a budding kinetomancer).
Thaumaturgy - This is the ability to construct very potent ritual results, and is one of the few big edges that mankind has when it comes to spellcraft. This is the ability to do things that are vastly more subtle than human Evocation tends to allow, as well as things that are vastly more potent, thanks to the elements of structure and control that it can bring to a party. This has also given rise to the creation of objects that resonate with or store particular kinds of magics, so it's where you'll find your blasting rods and potions getting created ("Alchemy"). In general, Thaumaturgy lets magic do things that aren't dependent on pushing energy in a straight line from point A to point B, and it lets you combine several kinds of energy into the same thing. It is, in short, everything that Evocation isn't.
iago:
--- Quote from: chefbadger on February 07, 2007, 07:43:37 PM ---For me personally, if there isn't something written in the book, then I'll make up my own rules and try them out. If they work, great and I'd let people know about them. If not, then no big loss. I tried, right? But maybe a sourcebook on magic wouldn't be such a bad idea. Just to add some width and breadth to the topic.
--- End quote ---
If we do our job right, then once a year, every year, a new "sourcebook" will come out, in an exciting new format called a "novel". They'll be written by this little-known author by the name of Jim Butcher. :-D
Rel Fexive:
Sounds like a good way to do things.
And I like this new sourcebook plan... it's very, ah, novel.
chefbadger:
--- Quote from: iago on February 08, 2007, 05:52:01 PM ---If we do our job right, then once a year, every year, a new "sourcebook" will come out, in an exciting new format called a "novel". They'll be written by this little-known author by the name of Jim Butcher. :-D
--- End quote ---
Yeah, I think I've heard of him somewhere. Didn't he have this series or something? ;)
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