"Reductio...absurdum!"

[Hairfoot]

"Shazam!"

"Abracadabra!"

"By the power of Grayskull!"



V, S, M. What does that signify? What does a wizard actually do when a spell is cast?

I once played a dancing illusionist who cast spells by crumbling material components onto the ground, then performing a jig on top of them while singing Irish Rovers songs.

Care to share wizarding styles of note?

 

[jdrakeh]

Well, somewhere (exactly where, I can't rightly remember), I've seen a house-ruled wizard who traces patterns in the air in front of him (vaguely reminiscient of John De Chancie's magic in Castle Perilous) while intoning sacred mantras.

 

[Kelleris]

I generally play wizards as having some kind of stock incantation for their spells, plus complicated hand gestures. Sorcerers just have to say something, to help them concentrate you know, and it doesn't have to be the same thing every time or even especially magic-y.

 

[roguerouge]

I've always preferred to give out Eschew Materials as a free feat and then let the player stylize their effects as they wish. As for my own choices, I've typically stolen from the Psionics approach of manifestations (smells, memories, visuals, ectoplasm).

 

[Dioltach]

My groups generally ignore the technical aspects of spellcasting, unless some circumstance would interfere (being tied up, for example). The only time it actually ever came up was with Power Word Kill: 'Ni!'

 

[evildmguy]

I think the Dresden Files has the best explanation of magic.

In it, Harry speaks faux Latin. As he explains it, the words aren't important. All they do is help focus the will of the wizard. So, he says something that's Latin-esque and talks about air or wind and that type of effect happens.

Further, he says that wands and staves aren't needed but they also help focus a wizard's energy, especially if they aren't good with a certain type of magic. Or if they are too powerful and might not be able to control the magic. The staff or wand helps them channel the magic in a safe way. Again, it's the wizard's willpower that matters, not the focuses, but he uses them to help himself focus on what effect he wants to do.

I have really liked this explanation. It touches on what others have said here. The idea is that it's the willpower of the caster, nothing else. The extra parts are what help him focus his will on the magic to make it do what he wants. Very cool stuff!

edg

 

[Clavis]

In my campaign, a Wizard spell with Verbal, Somatic and Material components will typically require casters to trace a sign in the air with the material component and then cast it away, then assume a particular stance as their hands make mudra-like signs, and they intone an incantation in a specific pitch and tone. All the while they must clearly visualize certain images and complex geometric figures in their mind. Most of spell preparation is mediating on the necessary figures that will later need to be perfectly recalled in the mind.

Sorcerer spells simply require the user to recall powerful emotional states, and then focus to control the resulting effect. The verbal component of a Wizard spell might be something like "Abberantazentarant, lovakarati!", while a Sorcerer simply says "Burn, you bastard!" The somatic and verbal components of a sorcerer spell are part of releasing the proper power, but don't actually create it. If the sorcerer cannot make his gestures and say his words, however, he will be unable to work himself into the proper emotional state. I always assumed Sorcerers didn't need material components.

 

[rgard]

"Shazam!"

"Abracadabra!"

"By the power of Grayskull!"



V, S, M. What does that signify? What does a wizard actually do when a spell is cast?

I once played a dancing illusionist who cast spells by crumbling material components onto the ground, then performing a jig on top of them while singing Irish Rovers songs.

Care to share wizarding styles of note?

I like the jig and Irish Rovers songs!!! I think my bard will do something similar but sing Dropkick Murphys songs.

Thanks for sharing that.

Rich

 

[noretoc]

I've done something a bit different IMC. The first cantrip tought is Detect MAgic. All other spell start with detect magic, where the character can see lines of magic everywhere. The rest of the somatic component is him manipulating the line. To him it looks like tying of weaving, to everyone else its strange handwaving. As he is manipulating, words of power change the state of these line, and material component have other lines stored in them.

Sorcerers work more like psionics. They also need some type of powersource IMC though.

 

[Blue]

In the game I run, each caster has done it a bit different. One player has done up prayers in Dwarven for a Dwarven Cleric, and evocations in a spirit tongue for a spirit shaman. (He's a linguistic buff). Also usually they may have gestures and stuff. A sorcerer chanted in draconic and did appropriate things, we all remember him punching through a flask to create lightning.

In games I play, it isn't often detailed unless the player wants to deal with it. For instance, I have a halfling sorcerer with the draconic heritage feat, and describe her spells with a bit of draconic flair, but also make it obvious that she's not fully in control of them, or at least only in control of them through a big dose of her will and conviction. But even there, I don't detail out the actual castings.

Cheers,
=Blue(23)