What would magic do?

[Kurichan]

Trying to create a fresh world, something really different. So I thought "hey, the day magic is born, what would happen?" After a few hundred years of multiple diety worship (but no clerical magic) and enough technology to bring the standard races to the point right around the advent of gun powder (gothic plate and spunky bows and such) suddenly a real smart sage comes out of the tower and says "check this out" and he turns a horse into a cat. Lets say you've got other nasty races running about, but none with serious magical properties such as Beholders and Dragons. So there are adventuring parties, there are orcs and bugbears and even non-breathing hydras to smash, and then suddenly the first wizard appears. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?? And just so that we can't end the event with a simple assasination lets say that a few dozen sages (various races, good and bad) around the world find that final secret that allows for spellcasting right around the same time. What do you think the first big events would be?

 

[sircaren]

Now THAT could make for an interesting adventure. Just think, the local lord sends the PCs to find out about this 'miracle' if it could be said as such. What others will come, good and evil, to find out the secrets? Maybe the churches get jealous, and try to develop thier own powers?

Possibilities, possibilities

 

[Moe Ronalds]

Well, if you have your first mages, then you'll come across your first necromancers. And if you have your first necromancers, then sooner or later you're going to have your first undead.

 

[RangerWickett]

Ha, I almost fell for it. Very subtle joke, I applaud you. You should be proud of your elite April Fool skilz.

 

[Henry]

Trying to create a fresh world, something really different. So I thought "hey, the day magic is born, what would happen?" ...What do you think the first big events would be?

Seriously, it's a good question.

In my homebrew, Arcane magic has only been present for just under a thousand years. Divine magic has always been present. All the major events prior happened because gods wanted them to. Then, when the Year of Awakening happened (a bit of a steal from both Shadowrun and Marvel's New Universe comic books), magical catastrophes, unstoppable by the gods, occurred everywhere. After a few dozen initial years of chaos and the creation of magical aberrations, Mortals began to harness this new magic independently. One of the greatest was the first lich, who was destroyed about 600 years after the Year of Awakening.

 

[WayneLigon]

Lawrence Watt Evans' book Night of Madness is the story about what happens in his Ethshar world when the newest type of magic (warlock magic) manifested. The title tells it all

 

[Kurichan]

I didn't even think of the undead...I didn't think much at all actually, thats why I posted the idea! But seriously, wouldn't it be great for the dm to decide what happens with magic and to be able to watch it grow...or die. Witch hunts, demon summoning, white magic, and where do the clerics come in? Imagine if there was no divine magic! Would people still worship the gods? Or would they turn to the study of magic for salvation?

 

[Saeviomagy]

More than likely, they would proclaim it to be a divine gift (as long as it was controlled by their allies), or the power of The Enemy (if controlled by their opponents).

 

[Jeph]

To most peasants, this would be nothing new. Just a reaffirmation of their superstitions.

 

[Angcuru]

Halfling Werebear Bard walks up to a crowd of small human children in his normal form. "Wanna see what I can do?"