How many people here do actual magic? How do you do it?

[tensen]

Noteworthy magic.. hmmm... hard to say on that. Many of the RL magics are only "visible" as magic to those that can detect it.

In game terms... first I'd have to be making a spellcraft check to determine if I noticed that someone was playing with energy. Perhaps I'd notice it as a blue spark around the person. Or in a really energetic musician or other artist, I might see a orange tinge to them. Failure would mean I either didn't see the activity, or that I saw it but didn't realize what I was seeing.

 

[Pielorinho]

The best book on the subject IMO is Isaac Bonewits' http://www.collegewicca.com/books/reviews/bonewits1.html]Real Magick[/i], by the only person to receive a degree in thaumaturgy from an accredited US college . (You could pretty much get a degree in anything you asked for in California colleges back then; they put a stop to it after Bonewits). He talks extensively about different real-world theories of magic, differentiates between thaumaturgy and theurgy, between prayer and magic, and describes what he sees as universal tropes in magical practices. Great reading!

Daniel

 

[Pielorinho]

On the other side, I'll remind folks that anyone who can demonstrate paranormal powers reliably and on command has a million dollars waiting for them in the bank.

Daniel

 

[Mystery Man]

If you want to cast the most basic of spells write something down you want to happen 10 times a day until it comes true.

I've been trying for the damned FRPG book for weeks now, it's getting closer I can feel it!!

 

[Shemeska]

On the other side, I'll remind folks that anyone who can demonstrate paranormal powers reliably and on command has a million dollars waiting for them in the bank.

Daniel

The Amazing Randi is one of my heroes

And how is magic in RL different from in D&D? I've yet to be able to kill people with a thought.

But seriously, the skeptic in me rebels at people chanting and performing curses and bending spoons with their minds. Unless you're Uri Geller than you've got too many spoons and some nice knowledge of stage tricks, but not enough to not get caught.

Regardless of if you're praying to X higher power, or using some inner power, or performing magic or magik (w/ the crowlian k, oooooh spooooooky) I find that you've got a seriously high threshhold of proof to hold up to or else its just wishful thinking, self delusion or very odd coincidence.

However if you do actually have replicable evidence to the contrary you'll have my attention and that cool $1 mill prize that nobody has yet collected on. It'd be cool if you can, really cool because we'd need to find rules and a physical process to explain it, but I'm not getting my hopes up yet.

 

[diaglo]

Urban legends and some cases of corpses who burned at home without burning anything else due to a fat candle effect.

but isn't that how people try and explain away everything....

calling it a myth, urban legend, miracle, unproven scientific fact,....

 

[bubbalin]

but isn't that how people try and explain away everything....

calling it a myth, urban legend, miracle, unproven scientific fact,....

So what do you want to do diaglo? Find a really fat person and light em up? Maybe you could get a volunteer.

 

[Arnwyn]

Okay... this is a weird thread...

 

[Hand of Evil]

I do not claim to perform magic but too many people have told me I am psychic. Cats seem to like me, little kids flock to me, I know where things are by thinking about them and a few other things.

Some of it is skill, knowledge, knowing what someone else is looking for, the right questions, being born in March , liking cats. The biggest secret, perception and sensitivity.

 

[Mystery Man]

Regardless of if you're praying to X higher power, or using some inner power, or performing magic or magik (w/ the crowlian k, oooooh spooooooky) I find that you've got a seriously high threshhold of proof to hold up to or else its just wishful thinking, self delusion or very odd coincidence.

The word "magic" has 5 letters in it. There's no "k" at the end, "j" in the middle or any other letter that some feel compelled to throw into the word.