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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BozzNugg" data-source="post: 6715116" data-attributes="member: 6801318">What is Magic?I'm not sure there's ever been a consensus on the relationship between arcane magic and psionics - about half the players treat them as being basically the same and the other half as something different. I'm thinking of all the "types" of magic though - Arcane, Divine, Psionics... what else? Primal, Shadow... whatever. Are they all just different expressions of one thing, or are they all completely separate?The way I see it, magic is something more-or-less tangible. Kind of like gravity or an electromagnetic field. It exists in the game, and different class abilities let you tap into it in different ways. BUT, irrespective of how you "tap" into magic, the fundamental power source is identical. The manner in which you access that power has an influence over what you can do with it - sort of like how a plane and a helicopter both allow you to fly, but the experience is different. That's like arcane vs divine (or whatever) magic: Same power being channeled in a different way.Or am I wrong and there's actually lots of different types of magic that truly have nothing to do with each other?My take on the nature of magic/psionics/what have you. It is adapted to my Dark Sun campaign somewhat, but I think much of it could be applied to other settings, I have removed most of the specific references to setting/campaign materials. It loosely follows the 'Power Source' model of 4e but is actually simplified quite a bit to 4 primary sources/interfaces. Secrets of PowerMartial Power - Produced by the individual body/Material Plane. Focused by WillPractice: Martial Arts - Martial power is the most diverse power source on Athas and the most common. There are countless martial arts, weapons, and approaches to the Martial Power source. Arcane Power - Produced by ritual interface with life-force (Mana, which can be pulled from Plants, Animals, and possibly the Sun). Focused by chromatic lenses of glass.Practice: Arcane Magick - The power of Arcane Magick is the rarest source of power on Athas and arises from the vital energy (Mana) of life itself, which can be drawn from other living beings, such as Animals and Plants. Arcane Magick is tied to all planes of existence, but it is difficult to use in the Gloaming (ethereal) and Gloom (shadowfell/negative energy plane) because of the lack of Mana to draw from in those places. Normally, one can only draw Mana from Plants to cast spells since they lack individuated wills, which would otherwise resist its use. With the aid of certain magical materials though, one can eventually draw on the Mana of Animals and possibly even the Sun as well. Arcane Magick is divided into 10 Schools, each with an associated colour:Evocation (Red)Abjuration (White)Enchantment (Orange)Transmutation (Yellow)Augmentation/Metamagick (Grey) Conjuration (Green)Illusion (Blue)Necromancy (Black)Divination (Purple)Universal/Artifice/Alchemy (Brown)Patronal Power - Produced by divine/spiritual/elemental ‘grace’ or patronage given in exchange for faith/piety. Focused by Symbols of Power. Practice: Patronal Magick - The power of Patronal Magick arises from the dedication of one’s soul to a patron or ideal. Divine Magick/Ur-Magick (Extinct as such/Gloaming) Ethereal EnergyPrimal Magick - Light/Shadow Magick (Lands within the Wind/Gloom) Positive Energy/Negative Energy- Elemental Magick (Elemental Planes) Elemental EnergyPsionic Power - Produced by a confluence of the body, mind, and soul. Focused by certain Gems.Practice: Psionics - The power of psionics arises from a balance between body, mind, and soul. Psionics is guided by will like Martial power, but is shaped by the mind, like Arcane power, and is given potency by the soul, like Patronal power. Psionics interacts with the Region of Dreams (Dal Quor) and the Netheregion of Nightmares (Xoriat) because it makes the unreal, real (and in some cases, the real, unreal). It is the second most common source of power on Athas, but perhaps the least understood. It is divided into 7 Psionic Disciplines, each is associated with a focal point in the body called a chakra. Chakras begin at the base of the spine, and travel up to the front of the head:Psychokinesis (Ruby/Red/Root Chakra) = SoulPsychoportation (Garnet/Orange/Sacral Chakra)Psychometabolism (Topaz/Yellow/Center Chakra) = BodyMetacreativity (Emerald/Green/Heart Chakra)Telepathy (Sapphire/Blue/Throat Chakra) = MindMetapsionics (Amethyst/Purple/Crown Chakra)Clairsentience (Diamond/Clear/Third Eye Chakra)</blockquote>

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