D&D is best when the magic is high, fast and furious!

[Bendris Noulg]

Re: Re: Re: D&D is best when the magic is high, fast and furious!

There is no difference in terms of story although some people keep insisting that high magic is somehow inversely related to story. Like to have one precludes the other.

Actually, no, this isn't what's being said.

What is being said is that the amount of magic present in a world effects the flavor of the setting and the stories that occur within it, and that is inversely related to the enjoyment of the game dependant on matching flavor/story to taste. Thus, if you don't like a lot of magic items, so many that your equipment list becomes a revolving door of ever-increasing enhancements, than high magic is inversely related to story.

"My character is more important than my items", is a subjective statement. My characters are more important than their items as well. My character just happens to have a lot more items!

You seem to not understand what's being said in this statement. What this means is that the PC's actual ability is more relevant to the resolution of actions and occurances, rather than having that ability over-shadowed by a long list of bonuses gained from spells, items and other factors, the abundance of which increase as magic becomes more common. Thereby, your character having "a lot more items" is more proof to the statement than anything else.

 

[Tsyr]

Actually that kind of awe does exist in my world. Even though there are lots of wizards and they sometimes cast lots of fireballs, the awe factor remains as strong as ever.

No offense, but I don't see how you can honestly say that. The two all but cancel each other out. And don't give me story malarky. If a fireball is really common, it doesn't inspire awe and wonder. It's no more awe-inspiring or wonderful than a television... Sure, maybe a lot of people don't have the faintest clue how they work, but they dont inspire awe or wonder.

 

[blackshirt5]

No offense, but I don't see how you can honestly say that. The two all but cancel each other out. And don't give me story malarky. If a fireball is really common, it doesn't inspire awe and wonder. It's no more awe-inspiring or wonderful than a television... Sure, maybe a lot of people don't have the faintest clue how they work, but they dont inspire awe or wonder.

Why is it automatically malarky? My game is high-magic, but the magic isn't commonplace, and fireballs still inspire awe among the common folk(although not necessarily among adventurers and others who are accustomed to having to deal with mages).

 

[Desdichado]

Why is it automatically malarky? My game is high-magic, but the magic isn't commonplace, and fireballs still inspire awe among the common folk(although not necessarily among adventurers and others who are accustomed to having to deal with mages).

Because the point is that magic isn't magical to the players. I don't see how what the commonfolk in the campaign setting think has any bearing on the issue.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Re: Re: Re: D&D is best when the magic is high, fast and furious!

There is no difference in terms of story although some people keep insisting that high magic is somehow inversely related to story. Like to have one precludes the other.

"My character is more important than my items", is a subjective statement. My characters are more important than their items as well. My character just happens to have a lot more items!

Wrong.

My 8th level paladin is still 90% of his former self even if you take away every magic item he owns and force him to equip himself with completely normal gear.

Yuor 40th level Paladin MAY be 50% of his former self if you took every piece of magic he had and replaced it with mundane gear.

THAT is the difference.

 

[S'mon]

You want to know why I hate high magic games?

They aren't magical.

Chew on that one for a while. If no one is able to explain what I mean by the time I get enough free time to post a lengthly explanation, I'll do it.

I know what you mean, and I agree with you. Magic in a low-magic setting seems magical - it can evoke awe and wonder. In a high-magic one it's part of the background - it's mundane. The most magical settings seem to me to be those were magic is present, but only 'on the edge of vision', and never understood. The magic in the film Excalibur, for instance, can be quite eerie at times. Magic in Wuxia films, for instance, while flashy, rarely seems 'magical'.

 

[hong]

Because the point is that magic isn't magical to the players.

Whether or not magic is magical to the _player_ is the player's business, I would think.

As a player, I couldn't give two hoots about magic being magical. I want that fireball to drop where I want it, and when I want it, without having to go through some precious rigmarole every time I cast the thing. I want my flaming sword to cause fire damage when I hit things, without having to worry whether my immortal soul is at stake.

As a DM, I'm well able to imagine a world in which 99% of the population views magic as something strange and mysterious, but exceptional individuals are able to understand and control its ways. PCs and (high-level) NPCs, in other words. The players may or may not share that view, but as long as they don't disrupt the game, I don't really care what their view is.

To 99% of the real-world population, pure mathematics and high-energy physics is something strange and mysterious. To a mathematician or physicist, it's just what they do. Same with magic and PCs.

 

[hong]

Re: Re: Re: Re: D&D is best when the magic is high, fast and furious!

My 8th level paladin is still 90% of his former self even if you take away every magic item he owns and force him to equip himself with completely normal gear.

Yuor 40th level Paladin MAY be 50% of his former self if you took every piece of magic he had and replaced it with mundane gear.

The answer, then, is not to take away people's gear. It's remarkable how easily this issue fades into the background if you let it.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: D&D is best when the magic is high, fast and furious!

The answer, then, is not to take away people's gear. It's remarkable how easily this issue fades into the background if you let it.

Great "answer"


Sounds like a copout to me.

 

[hong]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: D&D is best when the magic is high, fast and furious!

Great "answer"

Of course it is. I said it, didn't I?

Sounds like a copout to me.

You say this like it's a negative thing.