Brom
2009-06-16, 03:43 AM
So, recently I've been thinking about magic in D&D. I like the magic of D&D, but often, it's flashy and overly effective. I'm thinking of making an alternate, if slightly simplified, D&D, and was considering ways to make the spread of magic more equitable.
One of the things I thought of: Special, skill related magic. It's actually relatively common in fiction and video games.
In Order of the Stick, there is Paladin Magic: "The Honor of a Paladin is unbreakable." Soon established this magic, but he was no arcanist or even a Divine caster of any real power. (Who can call 4th level Paladin casting powerful?) But he had a point - the honor of a paladin transcends physical boundaries. Or at least, it did in that case.
In a TV show called ''Legend of the Seeker'' that I saw recently, there was a cartographer who was approached by bounty hunters. He was no real magician, but when the bounty hunters supplied him with a belonging of the person they wanted to track, he was able to make a map that showed where their quarry was.
In Harry Potter, there is a spell called Ligamens that could be it's own school of magic in it's own right. it pits the wills and concentration of two casters against one another, the mentally stronger of the two gaining access to the private thoughts of the other.
In fact, similar magic exists in Eragon - Sorcerer's summon spirits by dominating their will. They usually lack magic beyond the strength of will needed to dominate spirits, and the understanding of different types of spirits and how to contact them.
A similar trend pervades in the Belgariad by David Eddings, where Magicians take demons and use willpower to force them into an illusion. Demon summoning is dangerous, for the caster must remain undistracted and continuously attempt to hold the demon inside of his illusory form.
In Oblivion, the video game, a Warlock possesses the special ability to enter a dream reality. Despite the fact that the player could be a Mage with 100's in all magic related skills, the Warlock is using a magic that the player will never be able to replicate.
So, I am trying to figure out a way to implement this idea. It could possibly be used to balance out Wizards, and would be great for a more RP oriented game.
I suppose I would just throw all of this out here and see what other people said when they heard it get mentioned.
One of the things I thought of: Special, skill related magic. It's actually relatively common in fiction and video games.
In Order of the Stick, there is Paladin Magic: "The Honor of a Paladin is unbreakable." Soon established this magic, but he was no arcanist or even a Divine caster of any real power. (Who can call 4th level Paladin casting powerful?) But he had a point - the honor of a paladin transcends physical boundaries. Or at least, it did in that case.
In a TV show called ''Legend of the Seeker'' that I saw recently, there was a cartographer who was approached by bounty hunters. He was no real magician, but when the bounty hunters supplied him with a belonging of the person they wanted to track, he was able to make a map that showed where their quarry was.
In Harry Potter, there is a spell called Ligamens that could be it's own school of magic in it's own right. it pits the wills and concentration of two casters against one another, the mentally stronger of the two gaining access to the private thoughts of the other.
In fact, similar magic exists in Eragon - Sorcerer's summon spirits by dominating their will. They usually lack magic beyond the strength of will needed to dominate spirits, and the understanding of different types of spirits and how to contact them.
A similar trend pervades in the Belgariad by David Eddings, where Magicians take demons and use willpower to force them into an illusion. Demon summoning is dangerous, for the caster must remain undistracted and continuously attempt to hold the demon inside of his illusory form.
In Oblivion, the video game, a Warlock possesses the special ability to enter a dream reality. Despite the fact that the player could be a Mage with 100's in all magic related skills, the Warlock is using a magic that the player will never be able to replicate.
So, I am trying to figure out a way to implement this idea. It could possibly be used to balance out Wizards, and would be great for a more RP oriented game.
I suppose I would just throw all of this out here and see what other people said when they heard it get mentioned.