I woke up this morning and thought...

[Ferret]

I'm going to create a new world, my Ideas are arcan magic is an NPC job, too powerful for PCs and too risky. Magic items are rare but powerful, clerics DO NOT wear four tones of fortifies admantite full plate! They are preists. Monks *cast* combat moves, in chains. Thus if you have a high enough dex and level you can use the Useful-momentum betrayl etc. So how are you guys liking this idea? the main problem apart from the time i have to do this is how I should set it out.

 

[Scion]

I'd love to help if possible, but I dont really know what you are going for

Ideas why arcane magic would be too dangerous? or things you would have to modify to make it that way?

Ways to change clerics? or make them have different options?

a whole new monk class?

a lot of this stuff is already done and floating around the houserules forum, looking for links to helpful pages? I could link to a few things I've made that might fit your world, but not sure if that is what you are going for.

 

[Anabstercorian]

One campaign setting I saw had these features - They might be appropriate for your purposes. Both of them assume you keep a Vancian magic system.

1) Memorizing spells (i.e., the process of preparing them) is an inherently dangerous process that involves literally casting your consciousness from your body in to the Unknowable Other beyond reality and capturing the spells from that space. This might alert Beings from that Other to your presence, and that could be very bad - Both for yourself and for others, and, in this setting, for all space and time in the surrounding area.

2) Spells are never minor - Functionally, they're all at least 7th level in power. You don't USE magic to do things like light houses or sweep dust under rugs because it's like trying to use a nuclear bomb to heat your home. You're using the wrong tool for the job.

Of course, your PC's will eventually want to try this. Let them - Set up a fair system for doing so that rewards caution. Because PC's are not cautious, they will almost definately die, but if they ARE cautious, be fair and let them use the Power.

 

[ciaran00]

What? Like Tolkein?

ciaran

 

[Ferret]

I was think that the reason magic was so dangerous is becasue, when you memorise the energy for those spells enters you, System shock one. When you cast you loose all of that new energy, System shock two. Think of what happens when you unlock a dam (correct words?) open too much and the whole thing cracks. Perhaps to preserve the magic I could have a class based on the skill Use Magic Item, funneling magic through books items rings or whatever.

Kindov I spose like Tolkien, but the magic you see there is more divine AFAIK (edit in process)

Oh And I've never heard of the word Vancian.

 

[Ferret]

I'd love to help if possible, but I dont really know what you are going for

Ideas why arcane magic would be too dangerous? or things you would have to modify to make it that way? Because itcreates a new idea on the magic, I'd make it a lot more uncontrolled

Ways to change clerics? or make them have different options?Clerics get shperes of influence from the gods the worship (like in 2nd edition DND)

a whole new monk class? perhaps an adaption, it won't change completely. The "spells" will allow the monk to use different attacks, different ways of moves. Think of it as though the sorcerer was combat orientated. if you want some examples I'll give

a lot of this stuff is already done and floating around the houserules forum, looking for links to helpful pages? I could link to a few things I've made that might fit your world, but not sure if that is what you are going for.

I don't know either, anything you can post; anything could be helpful. Especially if you know how to change a block of writing into a block of black?

 

[Nifft]

Why not just play Exalted?

-- N

 

[Scion]

It really sounds like you want something similar to 2nd edition psionics. If you have books for 2nd ed I would suggest checking it out. (perhaps the wizards site has free downloads for what you want) It wouldnt take a whole lot of modification to get to where you want.

After that, you can use 3rd edition psionics modified slightly in order to have an option for people who want to use magic still but dont want to use clerics and arent allowed to use arcane. Just get rid of the few really flashy spells.

Or are you killing pc magic nearly entirely?

At this point I would say go grab the 2nd ed psionic stuff, set up a system that works similarly but with bigger drawbacks, have it as something like a mage/sorcerer. I think it'd work out really well, and probably only take a couple hours of work total if you are familiar with the system already.

After that check out my priest class that I put up here forever ago.

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?t=65058

not sure how to put that on here better, check it out though and see if it is close to what you want for your priests Hit the 5th post down, it is the rewrite, I left the original up for my own reference.

 

[Scion]

Might want to check this.

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?t=69897

could be a good one to get for various things, plus it seems to have a monk like what you want.. tatoo monk or something

 

[Ferret]

Kindov, the tattoo monk cast spells from his tattos right? What I meant by Spell was an action you must start, selectively chosen at a level up, useable only a few times a day.

The priest looks good, but the idea thats taking shape in my head is that they are more like devine wizards(priests?)/sorcerers(Chosen?).

Not quite, Magic is killing PCs nearly entirely.

I have no clue how 2ed psionics works, could you say.