Magic systems also differ from game system to game system. Again, we prefer Pathfinder. We like the time it takes to cast the spells, the possible concentration checks, and the power levels. If you use my world, there will be some mixing and matching of spells, (such as for the Clan Warriors who have both mage and clerical spells), but that can be done with any system. Don't get wild and crazy, making the class more powerful by giving out all the powerful spells for both classes to one class, but adjust as you see fit. It's your campaign and you should have a say in how it runs. Book rules are great starting grounds for everyone, but after some time behind the GM screen, (or years in my husband and I's case), you get a feel of what will work and what won't!
Happy Gaming.
Showing posts with label Magic of Martapa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Magic of Martapa. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
A Note on Magical Arms and Armor
So a side note on magical arms and armor. On Martapa, and on many fantasy worlds, there are lots of magical arms and armor. Different kinds and shapes, materials and magic, but one ability stays constant. On Martapa the weapon, shield or armor shapes to the wielder or wearer. An example of this is the magical elven chainmail Richard Goldenstein uses and is mentioned in the High King's Sword. Richard was a large man, but later on Sebastion Blackthorn, though not that small, gains the mail and is smaller then Richard. Yet, the mail fits him perfectly. Richard's shield, which Elly acquires, also shrinks to fit her small stature, but is no less magical. There are limits to the magic of size change, such as a dragon size item will not shrink to a fairy sized item or visa versa. This size changing does not damage the magic of the item and is hardly noticed by the new owner of the weapon or armor.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Healing Magic
Healing magic in my world is a little different then most mainstream roleplaying worlds. Priests, mages, druids, and magic users of all kinds can heal, though priest and druids can do so better then arcane magic users.
Priests draw their healing power from the Gods' powers, then ultimately from the magical weave which Targon controls, (which is why Dasa's priests' power wanes or waxes depending on how Targon is feeling toward her at the moment). The ability to heal for priests is tiring, but they can continue to do so for an extended period of time. Druids find their power from nature, from Iktomi, and though not as proficient as priests can use nature to heal very well.
Mages and casters of the arcane work differently. Instead of working through the Gods or nature, the arcane users draw directly from Targon's weave. This is not only more tiring but consumes a bit of the magic user in the process. Arcane users can heal most wounds, but the more severe the wound the more likely the arcane user will succumb from fatigue. They will recover after some rest, but they aren't meant for long times healing.
As a generalization Arcane users are field medics while priests and druids would be neurosurgeons in comparison of ability of healing.
Not all arcane users (or priests for that matter) can heal. Black Wizards can not heal nor can priests of Lokar, the God of Death. Some people are more natural at healing then others. these people Tinaka's priests try to bring into the fold, though some are simple arcane users. Amber Blackwolf, a Wolf Warrior, and Duncan the farmer turned mage were/are some of the strongest healers and are arcane users.
For Game mechanics give classes that can't normally heal one less level of healing at one level later. Also if your system allows Resurrection, arcane users can't do this except with Tinaka's Healing Bag, an artifact coveted by the priests of Tinaka and usually only in mortal hands for a small time.
Monday: Guthlaf, son of Fried
Priests draw their healing power from the Gods' powers, then ultimately from the magical weave which Targon controls, (which is why Dasa's priests' power wanes or waxes depending on how Targon is feeling toward her at the moment). The ability to heal for priests is tiring, but they can continue to do so for an extended period of time. Druids find their power from nature, from Iktomi, and though not as proficient as priests can use nature to heal very well.
Mages and casters of the arcane work differently. Instead of working through the Gods or nature, the arcane users draw directly from Targon's weave. This is not only more tiring but consumes a bit of the magic user in the process. Arcane users can heal most wounds, but the more severe the wound the more likely the arcane user will succumb from fatigue. They will recover after some rest, but they aren't meant for long times healing.
As a generalization Arcane users are field medics while priests and druids would be neurosurgeons in comparison of ability of healing.
Not all arcane users (or priests for that matter) can heal. Black Wizards can not heal nor can priests of Lokar, the God of Death. Some people are more natural at healing then others. these people Tinaka's priests try to bring into the fold, though some are simple arcane users. Amber Blackwolf, a Wolf Warrior, and Duncan the farmer turned mage were/are some of the strongest healers and are arcane users.
For Game mechanics give classes that can't normally heal one less level of healing at one level later. Also if your system allows Resurrection, arcane users can't do this except with Tinaka's Healing Bag, an artifact coveted by the priests of Tinaka and usually only in mortal hands for a small time.
Monday: Guthlaf, son of Fried
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Magic Item: Mage Quill
Writing quills probably were one of the first magical items created by mages for their ease of writing. Mages write large amounts of research down for spells and magical incantations, and even the most patient mage gets a cramped hand now and again.
Gregory thimble was one of those mages who loved to research just for the shear fun of it, but his notes were always spread out between vast amounts of parchment. It would take weeks to sort out one day's research. He figured there had to be a magical way to speed things up so he set about researching the idea.
Though he did not find something to help him sort his research, he did find a magical way for a mage to have the quill write for him. Using a combination of levitation and magicks to read minds and words he developed a quill which will write what ever the mage says or pointed thinks at the quill. He used special feathers from intelligent flying creatures (Winged Elves, Pegasi, and griffins mostly), powdered silver and various dyes.
Most libraries, mage colleges, temples and counting houses have the magical quills, which can be held or released, and most magic shops carry them. Depending on how fancy the quill they can range in price from 10 gold ducats to 100 gold ducats, but unless they are broken they last forever.
To use, each quill has a command word, (usually please begin/please end in the language of magic). Made mostly by mage guilds, apprentices supply the bulk to help pay on the upkeep of the guild themselves.
Tomorrow: Prologue excerpt
Gregory thimble was one of those mages who loved to research just for the shear fun of it, but his notes were always spread out between vast amounts of parchment. It would take weeks to sort out one day's research. He figured there had to be a magical way to speed things up so he set about researching the idea.
Though he did not find something to help him sort his research, he did find a magical way for a mage to have the quill write for him. Using a combination of levitation and magicks to read minds and words he developed a quill which will write what ever the mage says or pointed thinks at the quill. He used special feathers from intelligent flying creatures (Winged Elves, Pegasi, and griffins mostly), powdered silver and various dyes.
Most libraries, mage colleges, temples and counting houses have the magical quills, which can be held or released, and most magic shops carry them. Depending on how fancy the quill they can range in price from 10 gold ducats to 100 gold ducats, but unless they are broken they last forever.
To use, each quill has a command word, (usually please begin/please end in the language of magic). Made mostly by mage guilds, apprentices supply the bulk to help pay on the upkeep of the guild themselves.
Tomorrow: Prologue excerpt
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Magic Item: Magic Potions
Potions are always a mainstay of most roleplaying games and fantasy books and my world is no exception, though they are hardly used. Most potions are a cooperative effort between alchemists and mages or priests. The alchemists put together mixtures of herbs (and sometime more exotic items) then the mage or priest imbues the mixture with magical properties. Depending on the potion it can take up to a week to create a batch or even a single potion.
The herbs (or exotic items) that are used depend on the potion. Healing potions take such items as willow leaves or bark or yarrow. Poison antidotes might include snake or spider venom.
The magic spell which would give the desired affect is cast upon the vial (made of refined and polished glass of the highest quality sand) several times, usually by journeymen level mages or priests. Many mages who do not take on the title "Master" make a living working for alchemists for just this purpose.
Originally these items were created by the healers of the elves for their patrols who were gone for some time and may not have a healer with them. They traded them with the humans and the humans slowly began to understand how to make them on their own. Now most races can make them, but maybe not as many different types as the elves.
Prices for potions vary on location and type, but should be fairly expensive for a beginning adventuring party. (Normal prices from your game system would work just fine.) Because many classes in my world can heal (mages, priests, bards, spellblades, and Clan Warriors) healing potions aren't as important but are still expensive to make.
Tomorrow: Equipment for Characters
The herbs (or exotic items) that are used depend on the potion. Healing potions take such items as willow leaves or bark or yarrow. Poison antidotes might include snake or spider venom.
The magic spell which would give the desired affect is cast upon the vial (made of refined and polished glass of the highest quality sand) several times, usually by journeymen level mages or priests. Many mages who do not take on the title "Master" make a living working for alchemists for just this purpose.
Originally these items were created by the healers of the elves for their patrols who were gone for some time and may not have a healer with them. They traded them with the humans and the humans slowly began to understand how to make them on their own. Now most races can make them, but maybe not as many different types as the elves.
Prices for potions vary on location and type, but should be fairly expensive for a beginning adventuring party. (Normal prices from your game system would work just fine.) Because many classes in my world can heal (mages, priests, bards, spellblades, and Clan Warriors) healing potions aren't as important but are still expensive to make.
Tomorrow: Equipment for Characters
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Magic Items: Light Stones
Light Stones were originally designed by the mages of Jenish. Though the ability to create light by means of magic has been around since the end of chaos, no one knew how to create something which would retain illumination.
Mariko worked hard on designing something which would continue to glow long after a mage stopped concentrating upon the light for he loved to read at night once his wife went to bed. It was mostly by accident. He was carving the rune for light next to the rune for eternal when his pet pixie dragon bumped him. The two runes connected, but he was loathe to give up all the work he'd done. He cast a spell of illumination and the magic remained for some time.
The name is a bit of a misnomer since lamps, candles, anything, can be a "light stone". A light stone has to be renewed once a month and can be turned off or on by a magic word or phrase. Originally there was no way to do this, but this was refined over time.
In game terms the light given off by a "light stone" is simply a mage's light spell on an object. Anyone can use this item and they are so common even most poor people in the city have one. The phrase is usually light or some sort of variation in the language of magic. Mage apprentices usually create the cheapest versions as part of their apprenticeships.
Tomorrow: a taste of my novel
Mariko worked hard on designing something which would continue to glow long after a mage stopped concentrating upon the light for he loved to read at night once his wife went to bed. It was mostly by accident. He was carving the rune for light next to the rune for eternal when his pet pixie dragon bumped him. The two runes connected, but he was loathe to give up all the work he'd done. He cast a spell of illumination and the magic remained for some time.
The name is a bit of a misnomer since lamps, candles, anything, can be a "light stone". A light stone has to be renewed once a month and can be turned off or on by a magic word or phrase. Originally there was no way to do this, but this was refined over time.
In game terms the light given off by a "light stone" is simply a mage's light spell on an object. Anyone can use this item and they are so common even most poor people in the city have one. The phrase is usually light or some sort of variation in the language of magic. Mage apprentices usually create the cheapest versions as part of their apprenticeships.
Tomorrow: a taste of my novel
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