Er, you need to also write the corresponding ability name but from the actual novels, Conan's non physical stats were all in the high teens. Conan was able to do ritualistic magic, was able to learn multiple languages, was remarked as one of the greatst inspirers of men and in multiple stories was remarked as having somewhat unearthly willpower...
Where Has All the Magic Gone?
- Thread starter Jack7
- Start date
Er, you need to also write the corresponding ability name but from the actual novels, Conan's non physical stats were all in the high teens. Conan was able to do ritualistic magic, was able to learn multiple languages, was remarked as one of the greatst inspirers of men and in multiple stories was remarked as having somewhat unearthly willpower...
Obryn
Hero
Raven Crowking
First Post
jgbrowning
Hero
*Chuckle*
Yes, Conan did ritualistic Magic in a real Howard story...check out the REH forums for the exact story but yes, Conan can and does use magic...
Raven Crowking
First Post
I have read, and own, a copy of every REH Conan story. And, again, I ask which story you are referring to. Is the answer "I don't know?" because I certainly know of no story in which Conan qualifies as a character who "can and does use magic".
EDIT: And a quick check seems to confirm my memory. If you know of a REH story where Conan uses ritualistic magic, I'd be interested to hear it. If not, I am going to call shennanigans on this one.
RC
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Hussar
Legend
That's splitting hairs a bit no? While it's technically NOT straight 18's, it's bloody well close enough.
And, I gotta go with Raven Crowking on this one. While I might disagree with him on a number of things Conan related, Conan using magic is something I've never come across.
Jack7
First Post
Interesting. So for the sake of discussion let's ask some more questions...
If magic is the "tech" of a FRPG world then in what sense is it technological?
For instance, in the real world technology is technology specifically because it is repeatable (that is, when I use my TV remote control it always operates my televise, not my blender, and when I tune it to certain channels it always aligns with that particular television frequency), controllable, and recognizable (it has recognizable effects, causes, methods of operation, etc.). Assuming technology is operating correctly, there is no obvious source of interference or breakdown in equipment then technology is technology precisely because it is always depend, with predictable aspects at every stage of operation, from generation to conclusion.
Would magic necessarily operate in the same way? At all? For instance if magic really does break the laws of physics then does it do so only as to effects and outcomes, or would it not also break the rules of physics in the way in which it operated?
If it breaks the laws of physics in every-way, how it is evoked or generated, how controlled or not controlled, how it operates, and in the effects it causes, then would it really be a tech of any kind (other than as a not very good analogical metaphor)?
If, one the other hand, it breaks the rule of physics only in the effects it causes then how come it wouldn't break the laws of physics in how it operates? Why would it have controllable and predictable effects when it is breaking the laws of physics, and how come it would have predictable effects, or methods of operation if it is indeed breaking the laws of physics? In other words why would it be so easy to control if the effects it produces are directly opposite to the laws of science, physics, and technology?
It is if you're regularly fighting monsters who outnumber you by 5 to 1.
But I thought you didn't like danger and the odds that went along with it?
And yes, I'm just kinda teasing you a bit.
I'll answer some of the other questions later, but I've caught some kinda crud from my wife and children.
Kinda slow in my thought processes and very tired, generally speaking.
Trying to take most things in short orders.
Magic is FRPG tech because it is:
1) generally repeatable, and has teachable & learnable rules of use and operation- at least the Arcane stuff is. Divine Magic is a slightly different beast.
2) is used to amplify the impact of the actions of a person or persons;
3) or is used to save the energy of the user by making difficult tasks easier;
4) like technology, it is not 100% reliable.
Let me clarify- magic breaks the laws of physics of our world as we know it. Almost any use of magic in an RPG involves cheating the laws of thermodynamics.
A world in which real magic (as opposed to Clarkian ultra-tech) operates is a world with different laws of physics.
To put it another way: "There is no magic."
A magic user in an RPG world simply uses the natural laws of his own RPG world to produce his effects. It seems magical and mysterious to us because the laws of our world do not allow such effects. To the inhabitants of the RPG world (and certainly to the magic user), their magic would be no more magical to them than relativity or quantum mechanics would be magical to us.
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