I'm really interested in a system of magic that is "low fantasy". No more fireballs and lightning bolts, but a system where magic isn't fanatically apparent. Also, it takes time to invoke it through rituals done alone or in a group. Think traditional witchcraft; you put a curse on someone in your own home, and then days, weeks or months later they die from a horse accident. All that would happen provided your spell worked in the first place, so it's not 100 percent reliable.
@anotherelvis I think that it would have to be ubiquitous to really change the size of a nation. The common man would have to be able to have access to it. Otherwise it is just a toy for the wealthy. Like private jets.
I totally agree dude, if I had to explain it to someone otherwise, I'd get them to imagine the world without electricity having been discovered, it'd be completely different! Caucasian and north american blood wouldn't mix in large numbers, less intercontinental travel, Wars would never include vehicles, results would change the world dramatically, communication never surpasses birds and riders, at best flag signals and the like.
Oh, just hand wave it away with a theory about Multiverses, lol. I use a historical fantasy setting, but use the Mage (World of Darkness) magic system. They already have a renaissance setting (Sorcerer's Crusade) where they meld everything together pretty well. The system even punishes you for using overt, obvious magic. And hell, it gives me the chance to be a bit anachronistic too. But just a bit. :)
Isn't a common trope that: our world is the way it is _because_ of the secret machinations of the magical powers that really control the world? That takes a certain suspension of disbelief, but, y'know, it's not much more than what a scary percentage of Americans actually profess.
Alternately, there's the Philip K. Dick (or, yeah, Matrix) approach: the "real world" is fake.
Interesting points, but I can see why they choose to do it. Well for some of them. Eg: Ars Magica. Which in my opinion is one of the very best rpgs. Its "historical" but still different as far as I know we didnt have real magic in our world, no demons, no faries no angels doing battle in Jerusalem, and so forth. Its no historical correct but still very entertaining and interesting setting.
Harry Potter, for me, is one of the worst examples of a shoehorned magical setting. As enjoyable as the novels are, you wouldn't have had wizards of that amazing power, along with all of the fantastical creatures prowling around the place, without it profoundly changing history as we know it.
I do find that Cthulhu and WoD could work in the present setting, due to their secretive nature. D20 Modern with magic though? No.
For me these: all is the same but one thing- universes are pretty much fun because normally you start out like that and then the world just evolves the further away from our. Skall and I have a world in which we assume that the darker fantasy elements exist (Zombies, Vampires, Demons etc) plus some historical events were different (e.g. Amazons took Athens, Meteor hits Vatican). Then we started building on that, making assumptions what the world would look like with these changes.
@tetsubo57 I actually have to admit that the only system I can use as reference for how bad it is would be Vampire were they always stress that Vampires are a secluded society and therefore it doesn't change history. But maybe it is worse in other settings... come to think of it, I always disliked the Potterverse, maybe that has something to do with it.
I love thinking through hypothetical scenarios. Not too long ago Skall and I debated for hours the consequences of Hannibal conquering Rome.
@CaraDanaellea Alternative history is a hobby of mine. There are message boards and a newsgroup dedicated to it. And there are 2 GURPS supplements that deal with it. Not to mention countless RPG products. Many of which I own. :)
@tetsubo57 Could you send me the addresses of the message boards and newsgroup? I would be really interested, both out of its own fascination and due to the fact that it always is good inspiration for RPG-adventures. ;D
Ah... GURPS, I love GURPS, even though I only own the basic character creation book. Since I never use rules I only need the ideas not the complete settings. I prefer to put more of my own thoughts into chars and worlds.
@tetsubo57 I also like how it says the reason our world is how it is, is because of the secret happenings within the mythos. One of my favorite gaming supplements I own is Delta Green. :)
@tetsubo57 You can verify it on DragonsfootDOTcom. BTRCdotnet also did a couple of postapocalyptic fantasy games titled Warpworld and Apocalypse...those are worth checking out.
I'm really interested in a system of magic that is "low fantasy". No more fireballs and lightning bolts, but a system where magic isn't fanatically apparent. Also, it takes time to invoke it through rituals done alone or in a group. Think traditional witchcraft; you put a curse on someone in your own home, and then days, weeks or months later they die from a horse accident. All that would happen provided your spell worked in the first place, so it's not 100 percent reliable.
Antiks72 1 month ago
Comment removed
anotherelvis 7 months ago
@anotherelvis I think that it would have to be ubiquitous to really change the size of a nation. The common man would have to be able to have access to it. Otherwise it is just a toy for the wealthy. Like private jets.
tetsubo57 7 months ago
I totally agree dude, if I had to explain it to someone otherwise, I'd get them to imagine the world without electricity having been discovered, it'd be completely different! Caucasian and north american blood wouldn't mix in large numbers, less intercontinental travel, Wars would never include vehicles, results would change the world dramatically, communication never surpasses birds and riders, at best flag signals and the like.
Very good points.
TheVoraciousSnapmare 11 months ago
Oh, just hand wave it away with a theory about Multiverses, lol. I use a historical fantasy setting, but use the Mage (World of Darkness) magic system. They already have a renaissance setting (Sorcerer's Crusade) where they meld everything together pretty well. The system even punishes you for using overt, obvious magic. And hell, it gives me the chance to be a bit anachronistic too. But just a bit. :)
MattABryant 11 months ago
I'm more of a World of Darkness fan, where a modern world works for an RPG. Although, it's more modern horror than fantasy.
PaulieRomanov 1 year ago
Isn't a common trope that: our world is the way it is _because_ of the secret machinations of the magical powers that really control the world? That takes a certain suspension of disbelief, but, y'know, it's not much more than what a scary percentage of Americans actually profess.
Alternately, there's the Philip K. Dick (or, yeah, Matrix) approach: the "real world" is fake.
mattdmdotorg 1 year ago
@mattdmdotorg Or Plato's Cave. :)
The 'secret cabal' trope is easier for me to buy than the bald faced 'magic is everywhere but history is unchanged' one.
tetsubo57 1 year ago
Interesting points, but I can see why they choose to do it. Well for some of them. Eg: Ars Magica. Which in my opinion is one of the very best rpgs. Its "historical" but still different as far as I know we didnt have real magic in our world, no demons, no faries no angels doing battle in Jerusalem, and so forth. Its no historical correct but still very entertaining and interesting setting.
Nejira 1 year ago
You are a pedantic geek! But you have a point.
Harry Potter, for me, is one of the worst examples of a shoehorned magical setting. As enjoyable as the novels are, you wouldn't have had wizards of that amazing power, along with all of the fantastical creatures prowling around the place, without it profoundly changing history as we know it.
I do find that Cthulhu and WoD could work in the present setting, due to their secretive nature. D20 Modern with magic though? No.
clackclickbang 1 year ago
For me these: all is the same but one thing- universes are pretty much fun because normally you start out like that and then the world just evolves the further away from our. Skall and I have a world in which we assume that the darker fantasy elements exist (Zombies, Vampires, Demons etc) plus some historical events were different (e.g. Amazons took Athens, Meteor hits Vatican). Then we started building on that, making assumptions what the world would look like with these changes.
CaraDanaellea 1 year ago
@CaraDanaellea Which means you have put around ten million times more effort into your world than your average author or setting writer has.
tetsubo57 1 year ago
@tetsubo57 I actually have to admit that the only system I can use as reference for how bad it is would be Vampire were they always stress that Vampires are a secluded society and therefore it doesn't change history. But maybe it is worse in other settings... come to think of it, I always disliked the Potterverse, maybe that has something to do with it.
I love thinking through hypothetical scenarios. Not too long ago Skall and I debated for hours the consequences of Hannibal conquering Rome.
CaraDanaellea 1 year ago
@CaraDanaellea Alternative history is a hobby of mine. There are message boards and a newsgroup dedicated to it. And there are 2 GURPS supplements that deal with it. Not to mention countless RPG products. Many of which I own. :)
tetsubo57 1 year ago
@tetsubo57 Could you send me the addresses of the message boards and newsgroup? I would be really interested, both out of its own fascination and due to the fact that it always is good inspiration for RPG-adventures. ;D
Ah... GURPS, I love GURPS, even though I only own the basic character creation book. Since I never use rules I only need the ideas not the complete settings. I prefer to put more of my own thoughts into chars and worlds.
CaraDanaellea 1 year ago
@CaraDanaellea I PM'd you.
tetsubo57 1 year ago
I like the Cthulhu mythos. It's our world but is covered up by conspiracies and secret organizations.
scullkrusher 1 year ago
@scullkrusher That setting isn't all flashy & showy though.
tetsubo57 1 year ago
@tetsubo57 I also like how it says the reason our world is how it is, is because of the secret happenings within the mythos. One of my favorite gaming supplements I own is Delta Green. :)
scullkrusher 1 year ago
@scullkrusher I haven't read Delta Green yet.
tetsubo57 1 year ago
@tetsubo57 It's pretty good if you can still find copies.
scullkrusher 1 year ago
I believe in supernatural things, and I really do. I think supernatural things do exist in this world, it's just not easy to find.
BlazikenMaster 1 year ago
@BlazikenMaster So do I. But D&D type spells? Nope.
tetsubo57 1 year ago
Awesome rant and is a very valid argument. Sounds like you would have an issue with World of Darkness.
PagrZero 1 year ago
@PagrZero I do plan on reading it. I would have to just consider it a parallel universe. :) I like the *idea* of the nWoD mind you...
tetsubo57 1 year ago
@PagrZero
DirtyBriefcase 1 year ago
ha yeah, i was wishing someone would bring this up, i noticed the exact same thing and feel the same way
devaloki 1 year ago
I had a late antiquity with magic setting in mind a long time ago, this video made me finally shelve the never touched idea.
leostomicek 1 year ago
Actually GyGax Based The Flaness of Greyhawk on the United States.
dumoktheartist 1 year ago
@dumoktheartist I didn't know that. I never really got into that setting. We always ran homebrew games.
tetsubo57 1 year ago
@tetsubo57 You can verify it on DragonsfootDOTcom. BTRCdotnet also did a couple of postapocalyptic fantasy games titled Warpworld and Apocalypse...those are worth checking out.
dumoktheartist 1 year ago