What is the best magic system?
- Thread starter Yair
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1st Place: The spellcasting system presented in the Thieves' World Player's Manual. Perfect blend of skill check, variable power level, etc. I also like the mage, priest, witch distinction.
2nd Place: Sovereign Stone spellcasting system. Very close 2nd. Nice spell creation system and arranged around the four classical elements.
3rd Place: Grim Tales spellcasting system. Similar to TWPM in that a skill check and spell burn is involved. For true low-magic style campaigns, probably my system of choice.
4th Place: Conan's sorcery system. For when magic is dark and corrupting, it's hard to beat.
While I think a lot of the D&D spells are broken or at the wrong level, it's a pretty malleable system. The default system sucks, but the d20 & OGL license have made it very adaptable.
Azgulor
2nd Place: Sovereign Stone spellcasting system. Very close 2nd. Nice spell creation system and arranged around the four classical elements.
3rd Place: Grim Tales spellcasting system. Similar to TWPM in that a skill check and spell burn is involved. For true low-magic style campaigns, probably my system of choice.
4th Place: Conan's sorcery system. For when magic is dark and corrupting, it's hard to beat.
While I think a lot of the D&D spells are broken or at the wrong level, it's a pretty malleable system. The default system sucks, but the d20 & OGL license have made it very adaptable.
Azgulor
Yair said:
I'm sorry, I cannot answer that question.
At best, I can answer - what systems best fulfill the purpose for which they were designed?
For me, that's Mage: the Ascension's system. Though D&D's system also does the job it is intended to do rather nicely, I think.
Herobizkit
Adventurer
I really like Arcana Unearthed/Evolved system, but the only thing that would make it better is...
d20 Expanded Psionics.
I know that seems strange in this thread, BUT... if a magic system worked exactly like Psionics, PLUS the ability to use diminshed spells ala AU/E, you would have my ultimate magic system of choice.
d20 Expanded Psionics.
I know that seems strange in this thread, BUT... if a magic system worked exactly like Psionics, PLUS the ability to use diminshed spells ala AU/E, you would have my ultimate magic system of choice.
HeapThaumaturgist
First Post
For me it changes as time goes on.
I think the D&D system has charm because it is extremely entrenched, with loads of playtesting and lots of variations.
I'm quite fond of the d20 CoC spellcasting system, and I've tweaked it into a very very simple, yet very very effective casting system.
GT ranks up there, as does the psionic system from The Psychic's Handbook and Black Company.
These are all d20, of course. I liked the magic from the last Mage game, didn't like the one from Shadowrun, but I haven't played a non-d20 game with a magic system in it in quite a while, I realize.
--fje
I think the D&D system has charm because it is extremely entrenched, with loads of playtesting and lots of variations.
I'm quite fond of the d20 CoC spellcasting system, and I've tweaked it into a very very simple, yet very very effective casting system.
GT ranks up there, as does the psionic system from The Psychic's Handbook and Black Company.
These are all d20, of course. I liked the magic from the last Mage game, didn't like the one from Shadowrun, but I haven't played a non-d20 game with a magic system in it in quite a while, I realize.
--fje
As some have said, the "best" depends on what you want that system to do. D&D has a pretty decent magic system for dungeon crawling adventures (esp. 3.x ed).
However, my favourite magic system is probably Ars Magica. The entire game is about mages and they really designed a sweet magic system for it.
Runequest was nice for flavour (lots of low key yet nifty magic in the edition I have) and I'm kind of fond of Rolemaster's magic system (especially using the variant power point system found in one of the Rolemaster Companion books) for the really nice gradiation of power and grouping of spells into thematic spell lists. When you learn fire magic, you learn a series of fire spells rather than just one. The repetitious nature of the spell lists (often including a half dozen or more "upgraded" variations of a spell) is a bit tedious but it does make sense for that system.
Old school CoC magic is great for that genre but doesn't port over well to high fantasy.
I'm still undecided as to whether I hate Talislanta 4th ed's magic system or think it is brilliant. I really need to run a new Tal campaign to figure that out.
However, my favourite magic system is probably Ars Magica. The entire game is about mages and they really designed a sweet magic system for it.
Runequest was nice for flavour (lots of low key yet nifty magic in the edition I have) and I'm kind of fond of Rolemaster's magic system (especially using the variant power point system found in one of the Rolemaster Companion books) for the really nice gradiation of power and grouping of spells into thematic spell lists. When you learn fire magic, you learn a series of fire spells rather than just one. The repetitious nature of the spell lists (often including a half dozen or more "upgraded" variations of a spell) is a bit tedious but it does make sense for that system.
Old school CoC magic is great for that genre but doesn't port over well to high fantasy.
I'm still undecided as to whether I hate Talislanta 4th ed's magic system or think it is brilliant. I really need to run a new Tal campaign to figure that out.
Angel Tarragon
Dawn Dragon
This answer is pretty simple, at least for me. Elements of Magic: Mythic Earth.
This is just one of many reasons why I would consider Runequest to have produced the best magic system that does not require a really on the ball GM to constantly make major decisions of interpretation around the system. It is believable and is integrated into sacramental worship, which is cool.WayneLigon said:
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