Magiphobia

[Felix]

Ok, let's say you have a world where everyone is bloody scared of magic. To the point that any magic use would equate you with a demon, and the commoners would start grabbing for torches and pitchforks. Think you're being nice by casting cure light wounds on the injured sheepherd? Think again. He'll be back with reinforcements. The law would provide for magic user's heads to be cut off the way thieves' hands are cut off in Saudi; prevents you from using magic again effectively, eh?

This is not to say that there is no magic in the world - there is if you know what to look for. But all who use magic must be very secretive about it, i.e., you will get more enchanters and illusionists than evokers. You can get away with using magic as long as people don't know it's magic.

So the question is twofold: what are some things that spellcasters could do to conceal their magical nature? (or how would a party conceal all their magical goodies?) How would the Law be able to prove that someone used magic without using magic themselves? (This is level-headed thought-out law, not Salem, Mass law where a rumor can hang someone.)

Some ideas:
...Silent, Still M-Magic feats for casters
...Make Bluff a class skillf for all casters
...The Law employs "Inquisitors" who have maxed Knowledge(forensics) and Sense Motive
...The party doesn't use any items while in town, or in view of commoners.
...Spellcasters have a guild set up for group protection.
...All the powerful positions in the government are actually spellcasters who can detect magic - but nobody knows this.

 

[Sagan Darkside]

Salutations,

First- just a pet peeve of mind, but this does not sound like a phobia, but a hatred.

Second- are we talking all magic? Just arcane?

what are some things that spellcasters could do to conceal their magical nature?

Alter Self would be a popular spell- if one absolutely needs to cast a spell in public, then they might as well duck behind a tree and disguise themselves first.

How would the Law be able to prove that someone used magic without using magic themselves?

Lots of skill in spellcraft and knowledge(arcana/regligion) would help as well as the ones you mentioned.

But it would mostly be like the prove murder in the real world- witnesses and evidence. Spellcasters tend to have spellcasting paraphernalia on them (books, holy symbols, components, etc).

Perhaps they could train animals to be sensitive to magic casters- similar to how dogs are trained to smell out drugs/explosives.

You could also introduce psionics- and have it be able to detect magic.

Or the only magic items allowed are items that detect magic that are left over from the "olden days". You could even have lamp post-like items that glow brightly whenever magic is nearby- causing a rush of the guards and dogs.

SD

 

[Felix]

Howdy SD,

It is hatred as well, but Magiphobia sounded better Better put: hate and fear combined. I'm working on the event that made civilizations anathemetic of magic. But that's another thread...

Second, yeah, all magic. From a paladin's Lay on hands to a Druid's Wildshape. Even the Monk's 90 ft movement would be feared - if the commoners knew it was magic. For all they know, the guy is just really fast. The more visible the magic, the more likely to draw a lynch mob.

Good ideas, especially the magic sensitive animals. Maybe not dogs, but good analogy.

I might do psionics, but I'm not familiar with that system whatsoever. Would have to read Psionics Handbook several times to work it in.

Thanks SD, keep 'em comin! That goes for the rest of the peanut gallery!

 

[WayneLigon]

Probably the Inquisitors would be a class apart: minor spellcasters that are allowed to live by the Powers That Be as long as they are good little dogs and sniff out the others.

Expert/Wizard or Rogue/Wizard would be a good combination. Have them branded in some way; maybe an actual brand, a permanent dye to their face or eyes, or a collar. Something that stands out. People revile and hate them as well, accusing them of having the Evil Eye or something, but the Inquisitors DO ferret out those other hideous spell-using freaks so they get to live.

Probably first or second-level Sorcerers are best for this: they have multiple castings per day and can't learn very many spells. Fill the slots (assuming average stats) with Detect Magic, Arcane Mark (for marking places or people with the Sign of Evil), Read Magic, Daze and Light for cantrips and choose 2 from Identify, Erase, Detect Secret Doors, Color Spray or Cause Fear.

 

[Sagan Darkside]

...All the powerful positions in the government are actually spellcasters who can detect magic - but nobody knows this.

I was thinking further about this- if this situation was to develop recently in a standard mid/high level fantasy world, then the casters would quickly charm the people in charge and have them change the law.

Another consideration is that magic is the great balancing force between man and monster. Without magic, then some powerful monsters will have their way with the mortal races.

I had a campeign world that ran along the following lines-
wizards had attempt to overthrow the gods- so the gods brought about a near-apocolypse and societies became very hostile to arcane magic.

The largest human government decided to regulate magic- the only way to legally learn and use arcane magic was through an organization called The Guild. Their role was a bit like a military Peace Corps for whatever town they were stationed in.

The government made sure which spells were accessable and which were not.

A secret society of monks (a PrC) developed that hunted arcane casters that worked outside the Guild.

Perhaps some of those ideas could help in your planning.

SD

 

[Felix]

I was thinking that this has been the status quo for a while; all of the powerful casters are already ensconced in power positions, and can use their manipulation of the Law to ferret out potential threats to their power base.

Another consideration is that magic is the great balancing force between man and monster. Without magic, then some powerful monsters will have their way with the mortal races.

I would think that there is some barrier to outside influence from extraplanar creatures. Perhaps this barrier (which helped save the population from rampant interference from Gods and Monsters) was the cause of the cataclism that made people hate and fear magic; Common people's ignorance makes them hate the very power that saved them from domination by outsiders.

This would explain the absence of tough creatures while the PC's are low level. When they are high enough, send them on a mission to destroy the barrier (having them think they're working for the greater good) and then they have to deal with powerful, extraplanar creature that have been trying to get at the Prime Material for a while. Essentally, the PC's have to clean up their own mess.

The largest human government decided to regulate magic-
*snip*

Maybe the regulation of magic in this world is accomplished by the magic "guild" first approaching the known magic user and asking them to play by the guild rules. If the magic user refuses, he is exposed and subjected to the Law.

AAAnyway. I appreciate the input Sagan; I'll be posting to Plots and Places if you want a hand in creating the campaign world - you'll get credit when it replaces Greyhawk .

Anyone else have some ideas for avoidance of mundane scrutiny?

 

[Felix]

Wayne Ligon - not bad using sorc levels to get lots of castings per day with restricted spell use. I also dig the reviled/respected paradox when it comes to the general populace. That's going in.

Watch Detective PrC levels for the Head Inquisitor maybe? Forsakers as the thumb-breakers enforcing threats from the magic guild?

 

[krunchyfrogg]

*** SHANARRA SPOILER BELOW ***






Sounds kind of like the series "Scions of Shanarra," where magic is outlawed across the four lands, and the guy who is trqacking down all the magic users is in fact one of the most powerful wizards/demons around! Neat little series you might want to check out for ideas.




[/END SPOILER]