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Worlds of Design: The Rules of Magic
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<blockquote data-quote="GMMichael" data-source="post: 8469406" data-attributes="member: 6685730"><p>Um, perhaps it's because they're dry and boring?</p><p></p><p>Threatening death seems like a pretty good way to make magic feel...forbidden. It's not like the threat of death doesn't get great mileage elsewhere in RPGs (see bulky combat chapters and manuals full of angry monsters).</p><p></p><p>Infinite cantrips is something else, though. I'm pretty sure not even Harry Potter can cast a cantrip every minute for eight hours straight. His mouth would go dry from all the cheesy latin-esque magic words. Why can't wizards just use swords? I mean: Gandalf.</p><p></p><p>This still seems like a character problem. My barbarian would walk off the battlefield pretty quick - headed for the nearest mead source - if the party wizard revealed that he could obliterate the monstrous horde . . . but anyway. The mana points system that you equate to Vancian slots is actually good way to make a "soft" magic system respectful of player-spotlight. If you have 10 mana points, and your spells each have a fixed cost, sure, you can cast two fireballs, a bless, and a Well At Least I Have One Mana Point useless spell. If you have 10 mana points, and your spells use a variable amount of points, you can definitely cast your fireball and WALIHOMP, but the rest is a mystery - soft.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="GMMichael, post: 8469406, member: 6685730"] Um, perhaps it's because they're dry and boring? Threatening death seems like a pretty good way to make magic feel...forbidden. It's not like the threat of death doesn't get great mileage elsewhere in RPGs (see bulky combat chapters and manuals full of angry monsters). Infinite cantrips is something else, though. I'm pretty sure not even Harry Potter can cast a cantrip every minute for eight hours straight. His mouth would go dry from all the cheesy latin-esque magic words. Why can't wizards just use swords? I mean: Gandalf. This still seems like a character problem. My barbarian would walk off the battlefield pretty quick - headed for the nearest mead source - if the party wizard revealed that he could obliterate the monstrous horde . . . but anyway. The mana points system that you equate to Vancian slots is actually good way to make a "soft" magic system respectful of player-spotlight. If you have 10 mana points, and your spells each have a fixed cost, sure, you can cast two fireballs, a bless, and a Well At Least I Have One Mana Point useless spell. If you have 10 mana points, and your spells use a variable amount of points, you can definitely cast your fireball and WALIHOMP, but the rest is a mystery - soft. [/QUOTE]
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