Yora
2016-12-03, 08:42 AM
I am toying around with an idea for a magic system that is more like what you see in many fantasy books instead of game mechanics. What I am thinking of are magic rules that are not tied to any spellcaster class, have no limit on how many spells you can know, and how many spells you can cast before recharging your magic energies. Something anyone could do if the instructions for the spell are at hand, with the character's specific skill at magic determining only the success of the spell.
The main limitations would be that the casting takes considerable time and rare components, and that any spell could fail, making it inconvenient and needlessly risky to try magic when not really necessary. The main applications I want to cover are summoning, divination, and curses. Are there any RPGs with magic systems that go somewhat in this direction that I could use as references?
In addition, I am thinking to also have some "minor summonings" of simple elementals and spirits that possess the summoner and give him one of their powers for a short duration, like climbing walls or breathing fire. Tome of Magic for D&D has an interesting option for this that I want to take another look at. But if anyone can think of something similar I should give a shot I'd like to hear of that as well.
The main limitations would be that the casting takes considerable time and rare components, and that any spell could fail, making it inconvenient and needlessly risky to try magic when not really necessary. The main applications I want to cover are summoning, divination, and curses. Are there any RPGs with magic systems that go somewhat in this direction that I could use as references?
In addition, I am thinking to also have some "minor summonings" of simple elementals and spirits that possess the summoner and give him one of their powers for a short duration, like climbing walls or breathing fire. Tome of Magic for D&D has an interesting option for this that I want to take another look at. But if anyone can think of something similar I should give a shot I'd like to hear of that as well.