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Vancian to Zelaznian magic
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<blockquote data-quote="Greenfield" data-source="post: 7635815" data-attributes="member: 6669384"><p>Having read the books and considered this, there was one aspect that caught my eye: Casters "Hung" spells (i.e. prepared them) and they could stay there for a few days before fading. The character involved was specifically Merlin (no, not *that* Merlin), and he tended to hang a few defensive spells, an attack or two and that was it. As he put it, "After that it just came down to throwing raw power at each other."</p><p></p><p>That last part was the big difference between Zelazny's magic system and D&D/Vancian magic. Unused ability (i.e. spell slots) could be used as direct assaults, and presumably defenses. Just raw, formless magical power.</p><p></p><p>So if you want to use Amber style magic, all you really need is to define what raw magical attacks and defenses look like, from a mechanics point of view.</p><p></p><p>I wouldn't give them an element type (that is, they aren't Fire or Cold or Electricity or Acid or Sonic). They're just magic. </p><p></p><p>Now, does that mean that they'll bypass standing defenses, such as Fire Resistance? If so it makes those element-specific defense spells obsolete.</p><p></p><p>Do general "throw raw power at them" defenses apply to element specific attacks? As in, does a Fireball bypass a general defense?</p><p></p><p>I'm not sure. I'd almost class "raw power" as yet another element type, for the purpose of game mechanics.</p><p></p><p>Now this approach actually gives raw power something of an advantage, since you can always switch to it on the fly in combat. Any non-dedicated spell slot is instantly available for that sort of offense or defense.</p><p></p><p>But raw power magic can't do any of the specific things, like heal wounds, open doors, help someone fly or go invisible, so that's a weakness. That also means that caster's will most likely prepare/hang utility spells and perhaps some element specific attacks/defenses. Raw power is whatever is left over.</p><p></p><p>Just sort of rambling there, but I think I may be rambling in a workable direction. You are, of course, free to think otherwise.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Greenfield, post: 7635815, member: 6669384"] Having read the books and considered this, there was one aspect that caught my eye: Casters "Hung" spells (i.e. prepared them) and they could stay there for a few days before fading. The character involved was specifically Merlin (no, not *that* Merlin), and he tended to hang a few defensive spells, an attack or two and that was it. As he put it, "After that it just came down to throwing raw power at each other." That last part was the big difference between Zelazny's magic system and D&D/Vancian magic. Unused ability (i.e. spell slots) could be used as direct assaults, and presumably defenses. Just raw, formless magical power. So if you want to use Amber style magic, all you really need is to define what raw magical attacks and defenses look like, from a mechanics point of view. I wouldn't give them an element type (that is, they aren't Fire or Cold or Electricity or Acid or Sonic). They're just magic. Now, does that mean that they'll bypass standing defenses, such as Fire Resistance? If so it makes those element-specific defense spells obsolete. Do general "throw raw power at them" defenses apply to element specific attacks? As in, does a Fireball bypass a general defense? I'm not sure. I'd almost class "raw power" as yet another element type, for the purpose of game mechanics. Now this approach actually gives raw power something of an advantage, since you can always switch to it on the fly in combat. Any non-dedicated spell slot is instantly available for that sort of offense or defense. But raw power magic can't do any of the specific things, like heal wounds, open doors, help someone fly or go invisible, so that's a weakness. That also means that caster's will most likely prepare/hang utility spells and perhaps some element specific attacks/defenses. Raw power is whatever is left over. Just sort of rambling there, but I think I may be rambling in a workable direction. You are, of course, free to think otherwise. [/QUOTE]
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Vancian to Zelaznian magic
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