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What is "grim and gritty" and "low magic" anyway?
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<blockquote data-quote="Brother MacLaren" data-source="post: 1422365" data-attributes="member: 15999"><p>This is one big reason why I like rare-NPC-magic (which can be accomplished a number of ways without nerfing PC casters). As a DM, I would consider it my duty to develop a plausible world, which requires evaluating the logical in-game impact of having every one of the spells in the PHB exist and giving every village access to multiple spellcasters (as per the DMG demographics).</p><p></p><p>And that drives me nuts. I know I can't do a really great job of this, I must end up under-stating the effect of magic somewhat (missing the impact of some spells on the world economy and society), but then I think most game worlds have the same "flaw." The world isn't as alien and unrecognizable as the stipulated prevalence of magic should cause it to be.</p><p></p><p>3E helped out here by adding a spell component cost to continual light. Con Light no longer has quite as big and obvious a world-altering effect. But there are probably still dozens of other spells that do, where I just haven't though of the effect.</p><p></p><p>One other shortcut is to say "There just aren't a whole lot of NPC spellcasters. Only those with The Gift can learn magic - fortunately, being a PC means you have The Gift." Presto. No spell-nerfing required, but you've helped solve the question of "Why doesn't Spell Y change the world like it should?"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Brother MacLaren, post: 1422365, member: 15999"] This is one big reason why I like rare-NPC-magic (which can be accomplished a number of ways without nerfing PC casters). As a DM, I would consider it my duty to develop a plausible world, which requires evaluating the logical in-game impact of having every one of the spells in the PHB exist and giving every village access to multiple spellcasters (as per the DMG demographics). And that drives me nuts. I know I can't do a really great job of this, I must end up under-stating the effect of magic somewhat (missing the impact of some spells on the world economy and society), but then I think most game worlds have the same "flaw." The world isn't as alien and unrecognizable as the stipulated prevalence of magic should cause it to be. 3E helped out here by adding a spell component cost to continual light. Con Light no longer has quite as big and obvious a world-altering effect. But there are probably still dozens of other spells that do, where I just haven't though of the effect. One other shortcut is to say "There just aren't a whole lot of NPC spellcasters. Only those with The Gift can learn magic - fortunately, being a PC means you have The Gift." Presto. No spell-nerfing required, but you've helped solve the question of "Why doesn't Spell Y change the world like it should?" [/QUOTE]
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