Denihilist
2012-02-08, 01:01 PM
I am creating a world where all have at least a small measure of magical ability (maybe a house wife might have prestigidation, or create water, etc), but I began to question my preconceived( 3.0/3.5/3.8/Pathfinder) notions of magic.
Does all magic create the actual thing that is desired, or does it create a simulacrum? Such as when creatures are summoned? Creatures from this world may actually be creatures summoned from one place to the side of the summoner to aid them, and when they die, it is their final death. Yet, beings from other worlds/planes of existence are summoned, and upon receiving enough damage are sent back to their world and can be summoned again at a later time. Why do fireballs act like they do, rather than act like real fire? Why is there no rushing of wind as the fire burns the oxygen in the air? Why is there no heated explosive concussion as the fireball comes into being?
I am looking at one of two ways to go with my design for magic:
I know there are rules considerations to be made, but could having varying types of magic in use (besides complicating things) add a measure of flavor? Maybe younger, less powerful magic users have the more uncontrollable effects, but as one becomes more practiced, the magic also gets more precise.’
The other option is that the non-mage/witches (i.e. non-professional spellslingers who only have limited access to spells) are the ones with the more “real” magical effects. I am still working on balancing the power levels available, but let’s say a Warrior/fighter wants to launch a fire orb at a target, well, his fire orb would hit, burn, have a small explosion, and then continue to burn consuming other things in the area and possibly causing more problems, whereas the Mage of the party might cast the same spell, but because the energy of the spell is magical in nature, rather than related to heat and “mundane energy” the Mage’s fire orb hits, does more HP damage to the target, and disappears leaving a scorched mark.
I would be very interested in hearing options and thoughts on this.
Does all magic create the actual thing that is desired, or does it create a simulacrum? Such as when creatures are summoned? Creatures from this world may actually be creatures summoned from one place to the side of the summoner to aid them, and when they die, it is their final death. Yet, beings from other worlds/planes of existence are summoned, and upon receiving enough damage are sent back to their world and can be summoned again at a later time. Why do fireballs act like they do, rather than act like real fire? Why is there no rushing of wind as the fire burns the oxygen in the air? Why is there no heated explosive concussion as the fireball comes into being?
I am looking at one of two ways to go with my design for magic:
I know there are rules considerations to be made, but could having varying types of magic in use (besides complicating things) add a measure of flavor? Maybe younger, less powerful magic users have the more uncontrollable effects, but as one becomes more practiced, the magic also gets more precise.’
The other option is that the non-mage/witches (i.e. non-professional spellslingers who only have limited access to spells) are the ones with the more “real” magical effects. I am still working on balancing the power levels available, but let’s say a Warrior/fighter wants to launch a fire orb at a target, well, his fire orb would hit, burn, have a small explosion, and then continue to burn consuming other things in the area and possibly causing more problems, whereas the Mage of the party might cast the same spell, but because the energy of the spell is magical in nature, rather than related to heat and “mundane energy” the Mage’s fire orb hits, does more HP damage to the target, and disappears leaving a scorched mark.
I would be very interested in hearing options and thoughts on this.