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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Afrodyte" data-source="post: 1918832" data-attributes="member: 8713">I already own Mage, and I'm already borrowing a few ideas from it.  Paradox, while it works for Mage, adds a layer of complexity a bit beyond the scope of the setting since it doesn't focus on magic.  The magic that is there simply takes a different form.  I do think there should be some sort of cost for doing overt magic, but precisely what cost that should be is beyond me at the moment.  Ideally, it should take its toll on a caster's body and mind.  For instance: losing control of powers, temporary or permanent insanity related to the powers (paranoid schizophrenia for seers, pyromania for fire mages, etc), gaining the attention of powerful extradimensional entities (for good or ill, usually for ill), changing into another type of creature (black magicians become undead, demons, or devils; fey mages become fey; air/earth/fire/water mages become elementals, etc.), and physical changes related to the gift (air mages become insubstantial while retaining will and consciousness; earth mages become statues; green mages change completely into an animal or plant of some type; etc.).  Of course, the nature of the cost depends upon what types of overt magic is used and whether you affected primarily yourself or other people.  Magic used on yourself generally changes you into something else.  Magic used on others tends to make you lose control of your powers in some way.  However, these are not hard-and-fast rules.As I'm thinking of the system now, it seems like I'm going to have to retool the magic system such that spells can be designed pretty much on the fly while remaining within the parameters of each gift.  I'll probably also have to go the Midnight route and make magic something just about anybody can have while still leaving room for those who want to focus on magic.  In addition, it seems general guidelines would work better than detailed rules, though I'll need help on how to best execute the specifics.  For a while now, I've been thinking of having spellcasting be essentially a level check, though I'm sure other systems could work.  I took a look at Elements of Magic, and it seems to offer something of what I'm looking for, although a hard copy would be preferable to PDF format.</blockquote>

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