Non-adventuring Magic?

[Larcen]

Does anyone know of a good book or source for non-combat, non-adventuring spells?
Or ideas on how to use the existing spells in general everyday situations by common NPCs and cities?

I am looking for clever ways that a magic-using relatively medieval society might come up to use magic.

Such things as:

A city with Continual Flame in every lamppost.

A new spell to clean city streets, or dispose of sewage.

Spells that do such things as plowing, gardening, painting entire houses, etc.

Spells that play music, either with or without instruments, for bar/inn patrons and diners.

Magical Post Offices.

My intention is to give the players cool little campaign details, whenever the enter a large town for instance.

“As you enter the mansion, you can’t help but notice little whirlpools of dust moving to and fro. They appear to be cleaning and straightening things out.” (Summoned small air elementals?)

Remember just like in this world if there is a demand for something someone will find a way to fill it. And if magic is available and spells can be researched, why not? At least for the rich anyway.

Also, if you know of any good novels that can be used for inspiration in this area, let me know!

Thanks!

 

[Enkhidu]

If you can get your hands on one, there's a earlier Dragon Magazine (for some reason I keep thinking its in the mid 70's) that has a list of 100 useful magic itmes the rich might have, including size altering furniture, cosmetic clothing, etc.

You could also try picking up the book The Case of the Toxic Spelldump, which is a book set in a world where magic takes the place of technology, going so far as to have the equivelent of computers (which are simply very intelligent spirits trapped in mirrors). You might pull inspriation from there, even if you don't want a more modern feel to the magic.

 

[Joshua Randall]

A city with Continual Flame in every lamppost.

A timeless classic!

A new spell to clean city streets, or dispose of sewage.
Spells that do such things as plowing, gardening, painting entire houses, etc.

Mage Hand, Greater Mage Hand, and Telekinesis could come in handy for this sort of work. You could also use Wind Wall to block off areas that need to be kept clean of dirt and dust. (D&D clean rooms?) You could use summoned creatures to pull a plow or apply their talents in other ways.

Spells that play music, either with or without instruments, for bar/inn patrons and diners.

Ghost Sound, Major Image, Permanent Image, Persistent Image, Sculpt Sound.... Could summon a Lillend or other creature to sing for you.

Magical Post Offices.

Sending. (A great spell, BTW.) Animal Messenger. Whispering Wind. In really high-magic campaigns, you could have Teleporting mailmen.

 

[Wombat]

This is the problem with most rpg magic systems -- the magic is terribly useful for combat and gaming situations, but is less applicable in day-to-day circumstances.

I got around this pretty easily in Ars Magica, but D&D doesn't lend itself well to this circumstance.

...unless we want to break down 0-level spells more thoroughly...

 

[Moleculo]

perhaps the reason that it is so hard to adapt for every day use could explain why so many cultures with advanced magic remain in the medival ages?

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

I agree. One of the funny things about D&D is that it has very powerful magic running around but it wants the setting to remain the usual comfortable mix of modern sexually "liberated" liberal egalitarianism with a few crowns and other medieval window-dressing.

If you use magic to take away the window-dressing, it's not classic D&D anymore.

perhaps the reason that it is so hard to adapt for every day use could explain why so many cultures with advanced magic remain in the medival ages?

 

[Moe Ronalds]

Also, if you know of any good novels that can be used for inspiration in this area, let me know!

Thanks!

The Harry Potter books may be good for some inspiration. They seem to use magic to help them with everything. Travel, cleaning, cooking, communication, etc...

 

[Ahrimon]

One possible reason that magick like that isn't common is because it's too complex. It doesn't take alot to manipulate raw forces without much control. But it takes a heck of a lot to do large intricate tasks.

RL example. We've been blowing things up for, what, 1000 years now? And it's only been in the last decade that automated construction has been possible.

Probabaly the best way to do anything complicated without getting into higher level spells is to focus on summoned workers. Then you take the intelegence out of the magick and rely on the intelligence of the summoned creature.

Ahrimon

 

[F5]

Unseen servant. That's pretty much what that spell was designed to do...housework and drudgery, so the mage doesn't have to. And you can do wonderful things with the cantrip Prestidigitation.

 

[Eternalknight]

I was going to say Prestidigitation too.