Mage Fair Ideas???

[Wiseblood]

I would like to have my PCs participate in a Mage Fair. I found the idea in an old book, but it didn't have much info. All it had was that only mages could enter, but they could bring one guest and that they had to perform a magical feat to gain admittance (the flashier the better). I have been playing for a long time (12+ years), but have only DM'd a few times (my husband usually does that).

Daoes anyone have any ideas on the types of games and activities that could be found at a Mage Fair? I would appreciate any input you are willing to give me.

Wiseblood's Wife

 

[fba827]

I'm a little unsure if you want to go the "magicians version of a joust" or "magician circus parlor trick display" type ? So, some random thoughts on either end of that spectrum ...
* mage duel - using magic only (or mage and helper vs mage and helper) in a tournement style competetion
* who can cast the best illusion like scarey monsters or glowing orbs of magic light, etc; make each mage use an illusion spell and have some sort of skill check(s)
* magical version of archery -- such as aiming a force bolt (aka magic missle) or ray of frost through a target
* some sort of obstacle course where the obstacles can be averted by common magic... such as minor fire that can be put out by a cold spell, or an ice slick climbing wall but some sort of fire spell would melt the ice making it more climable, etc.
* "race" where they have to telekenically move an egg from start line to finish line (aka mage hand) - but would require some sort of concentration-type skill checks (or if looking to incorporate an assistant in this, maybe the assistant has to run while the mage keeps the egg above the assistant. both have to keep up. and if the mage fails some sort of concentration check the egg of course falls on to the assistant and they are out).

 

[ghearus]

One of the classic games of the Faire Arcana has been a Wisps and Wraiths, simple game of arcane skill. Developed by the master wizard Telechus to train his students, this game is relatively simple to learn, but difficult to master.


Typically a group of arcane initiates will make a wager, and the winner will take the pot. Note: this hasn't been play tested yet!


Wisps and Wraiths


Game Overview

Wisps and Wraiths is a game of arcane skill between 2-4 players. The game takes place on a 9x9 illusory "arena" that the competitors collaborate to create. The objective is to start your turn with your Wisp in control of the square at the center of the arena, called the Nexus.
Setup

Each player selects a side of the arena, and the center square of that side becomes their “origin” square. Determine initiative normally, and the game proceeds. An origin square and its adjacent squares are controlled; only that origin squares owner can enter or move into those squares. Wisps and wraiths may not enter each other’s squares. Only wisps may enter the square at the center of the board.
Determine the highest level contestant. This level sets the difficulty level of skill checks for the contest. For example, if the highest level is 12, use the values Easy: 10, Medium: 16, Hard: 21; these numbers are taken from the Skill Check Difficulty Class (page 61 in the DMG, updated in Errata).
When a Wisp or a Wraith enters play, it has hit points equal to its owners Arcana score. If these hit points are depleted, the Wisp or Wraith is destroyed and must be respawned on the players next turn.
Game Play

At the beginning of each round the player can spawn a wisp or a wraith if theirs is absent from the arena. A player may then move either their Wisp, or their Wraith.
In order to move a wisp or a wraith, the player can make an Arcana check; if the check is greater than the Hard DC, then you may move 6 squares, medium, 4 squares, and Easy 2 squares. Failing the roll allows a Wisp or Wraith to move 1 square.
If you are moving a Wisp, and it ends its movement in the Nexus, then each other players may move their Wraith one square, if their Wraith is on the board.
If you are moving your Wraith, and it ends its movement adjacent to an opponent’s Wraith or Wisp, you may make an implement attack, Int or Char vs. Will, dealing 1d8 + Int damage to the Wraith or Wisp. If the target is a Wisp in the Nexus, the Wisp grants combat advantage, and the attack deals an additional 1d6 damage.
After the movement and any resulting attack resolves, the players turn ends.
Winning the Game

When a player begins his turn with his Wisp in the Nexus, he may choose to make an opposed Arcana check against another opponent’s. If the check is successful, the other opponent’s Wisp is permanently removed from the game, although the player may continue to move and attack with their Wraith until it is destroyed. If the check fails, the players Wisp takes 1d4 damage, and the other player may attempt to move his Wraith as an immediate reaction.
If a player’s wisp is the only one left on the Board, that player is the winner. Each of the losing players loses one healing surge.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

* "robot warz" Animated objects do battle in an elimination tourney. Also, similar thing with summoned creatures.

* "blue ribbon panels": a panel will give a task (or series of tasks) and judge the entrant on the quality of the result. For example, given a hunk of wood, fabricate a boat, with a Craft check; best boat wins. Maybe the boats are then raced (a buddy with Profession-sailor?), and that's how the winner is selected? For illusionists, they might be judged on a series of minor images, maybe using the wiz's perform, knowledge or craft to determine "quality" of the image; or quality could be judged by interaction & disbelief. For example, for an illusion of a dog, which scares a cat most effectively. Etc.

* Quidditch, or rather a sport that either the mages participate in directly (calling for various often physical skill checks!), or that other creatures play with the wiz serving as "coach".


Activities and games for the youngsters (and these could certainly be made more "serious" for grown-up mages, too )

* given piles of broken toys, teams race each other to mend them.

* kids attempt to cast under pressure: try to cast message with a mouth full of popcorn; or dancing lights with index fingers tied together; etc

* arcane "hide'n'seek"

* whack-a-mole, or rather trueStrike-a-mole. (true strike also nice for pie fights)

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Just to be fair (no pun intended), several of the contests might revolve around the best/most creative use of a particular spell, kind of like the recipe contests you have in some RW fair contests.

So, something like..."Most Creative Use of Prestidigitation" might be one for the younger mages, and fun for the audience.

"Fun with Minor Image" might be judged like a Sand Castle building contest.

"FireSkeet" might involve target shooting with Scorching Ray. If done at night, the "pheonixes" (a competition-specific term for the clay pigeons) might have special coatings or ingredients that make them into fireworks if/when hit. Perhaps that would be the nature of the final round.

A flipside version of this could be "Survivor", in which a mage casts Dancing Lights and has to make them move to avoid being hit by target shooters. The winner keeps the most number of his lights alive the longest.

 

[Wiseblood]

Thank You

Thanks for all of your help! I am really looking forward to running this next Saturday. It'll be awesome!

If anyone else has other ideas...keep 'em coming!

Wiseblood's Wife

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Personally, I'd make sure the fair is open to everyone who can pay the admission- all the better to pay off the winners!

Oh, and here's an idea for you- rip some ideas from rodeos, the Outdoor games, the X-games, etc.


Have someone summon...Celestial Bisons for example...and have people try to ride them.

There's a game called Rodeo Poker, in which people sit at a table in the middle of the arena...and a bull is released into it. The winner is the last person seated at the table, and takes the sole prize. Again, sub a Celestial Bison in there...

Summoning fiendish creatures could let young squires, etc. try their martial might.

Given that some crazy people actually play soccer/football with a flaming ball, why not some kind of game played with an Extended Flaming Sphere?

Or youngsters doing stunts in a half pipe coated with Grease...

Or 2 mages doing greco-roman or mud wrestling with Mirror image in place on each mage...

Or using Mage Hand to use an axe to cut through a log...