Magic In A Vaguely Realistic "Real World"

[Dannyalcatraz]

I understood all of that the first time through.

My point is that- besides conditions and ailments that limit advancement in skills- some people have advantages (talents) that make learning certain skills easier for them, and may even let them attain proficiency beyond the reach of others, regardless of the amount of practice they put in. IOW, a lack of talent CAN set a limit on your proficiency in a skill.

And while I realize you’re not presenting the skill system as a completed thing, it doesn’t model either end of that spectrum. Nor does it seem to account for your stated design principle that learning skills is equally easy for all. (Not that it has to- Lord knows most RPG skill systems don’t- but I see no evidence of either.)

So the unanswered question is, what mechanisms in the system will represent the differences between characters ability to learn magic- both in speed in learning and in upper and lower limits?

(Personally, I think the possibility of “amagi” who can’t cast ANY spells is a feature that could drive plots. Think of Marvel Comics’ long-established issues betweeen mutants who have powers and the mundane humans who don’t.)

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I understood all of that the first time through.

My point is that- besides conditions and ailments that limit advancement in skills- some people have advantages (talents) that make learning certain skills easier for them, and may even let them attain proficiency beyond the reach of others, regardless of the amount of practice they put in. IOW, a lack of talent CAN set a limit on your proficiency in a skill.

And while I realize you’re not presenting the skill system as a completed thing, it doesn’t model either end of that spectrum. Nor does it seem to account for your stated design principle that learning skills is equally easy for all. (Not that it has to- Lord knows most RPG skill systems don’t- but I see no evidence of either.)

So the unanswered question is, what mechanisms in the system will represent the differences between characters ability to learn magic- both in speed in learning and in upper and lower limits?

(Personally, I think the possibility of “amagi” who can’t cast ANY spells is a feature that could drive plots. Think of Marvel Comics’ long-established issues betweeen mutants who have powers and the mundane humans who don’t.)

Again.

Again.

I never said, and would never say, that it’s equally easy to learn for everyone.

I said that anyone can learn magic. That’s it. In my last post I even explicitly said that it isn’t equally easy for everyone. It’s just possible for everyone. There is no “gift” or “spark” beyond possessing conscious Will, and having the ability to learn complex abstract tasks at all.

As for what mechanism models difference in aptitude, I’m not sure there needs to be any beyond players choosing to have more or less magic. But if I do decide to differentiate that outside of player choice wrt skills, I’d go with a trait that makes using magic harder, but provides some benefit in return.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I said that anyone can learn magic. That’s it. In my last post I even explicitly said that it isn’t equally easy for everyone. It’s just possible for everyone. There is no “gift” or “spark” beyond possessing conscious Will, and having the ability to learn complex abstract tasks at all.

As for what mechanism models difference in aptitude, I’m not sure there needs to be any beyond players choosing to have more or less magic.

Without a mechanism to model differences in aptitude beyond player character design choices, then there is no mechanical difference. All characters are functionally equal In magical aptitude.

To be clear, that’s not a flaw. Plenty of games do just fine with that- D&D has been that way since 3Ed.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Without a mechanism to model differences in aptitude beyond player character design choices, then there is no mechanical difference. All characters are functionally equal In magical aptitude.

To be clear, that’s not a flaw. Plenty of games do just fine with that- D&D has been that way since 3Ed.

Right. Mechanically there isn’t currently a model for the fact that people have different aptitudes for any given skill.