Theoretical Discussions on Magic

[BelDragos]

This Thread is started because of a discussion between two member on another Thread. It was suggested by one of the Moderators that it should be moved off the Thread into one more apropriate because it was causing some distractions.

I took Lee's suggestion and decided to start the new Thread myself, seeing as I am the Elder God or Magic. :D

In this discussion, please include any links to websites if you need to.

I will start.

In my opinion, you would need to have a part of the creature in subject to affect them with the Homeopathic Magic. Voodoo is based off this concept. That is why a few hairs or something from them are needed to affect the victim.

[Defunc13]

what makes u an elder god? I mean doesn't that make u feel old:p


but as for the magic, if we just went around trying to control things directly it'd be like trying to lift heavy things without levers & pulleys.

sympathetic magic is for the most part minor magics unless u actual have bits of ur target to play with.

but seeing as I include stuff that doesn't need bits & pieces I like to include cave-painings in symp-magic. doesn't do much but gives a mild advantage towards having a successful hunt...
draw a picture of a warrior smacking some orcs a maybe next time u meet some orcs u get to smack them with a little less difficulty. seeing as most monsters are impersonal in the first place ( how many people ask the name & if they have an family back at the nest nefore they kill whatever big nasty they're poking)

[Mephista]

To assume you could control a dragon with a lizard because "they look the same" is absurd. They don't even have the same number of limbs. That would be like me using any mammal I find to control you. You look the same. Fur/hair, eyes, 4 limbs, warm-blooded, ect... That is a closer match than your lizard/dragon example. To control a dragon you would need part of it and some really nasty spells. If I had one of your hairs, what would I have to do to make you kill your friends/family, give me all your belongings, or serve me like a slave? Dragons are way too powerful to control. They are the muscle of the Devs.

[Defunc13]

u just dont like the idea of controlling dragons:p

as I've said before.... it's association that gives the power, u can't denie that lizards have at least some similarities to dragons

dragons look like lizards with wings (not all dragons have wings anyway, some chinese dragons dont, some european ones appear as just very large snakes or wyrms)

who looks like a small child's dolly either?

magic is partially powered by belief that ur power'll work, so belief that ur item has an association with your target gives power to it.

dragon are not the muscle of the devs....they're just big monsters usually with some spell casting. any dev should be flexible enough to utilise all things available.

if we all just followed the D&D version of dragons we might as well scrap the actual variation in myths/legends and imagination:eek:

of course u could control others if u had the power(though game wise it might suck)

side note: I don't like big dragons with wings (or those that fly without wings) the weight compared to the uplift would mean really really big wings larger than the body/muscles could support. Teradactyl looking things are okay or small winged dragons, they should be able to learn magic just like anybody else (assuming their intelligent) but shouldn't always be assumed to, some should just act as forces of nature (like whales). my personal fav being the type that is like a large multi-limbed snake.

magic based on sleeping whilst having no apparent relation to fatigue seems off, relearning spells b4 sleeping seems even worse as it forces u to sleep for no other reason, of course I'd like something which wasn't attached to any specific things other than ritualisms (onsite rites or prepped magic as it doesn't require sleep) and perhaps fatigue as I'm sure it's tiring, casting times corresponding to power, with more powerful mages taking less time.

blah:p

[Mephista]

Do a search on Dragons to see what was discussed before. I found this tidbit.

Originally posted by BelDragos
Sounds like you had lots of fun with that character.

The Dragon should be the most feared nemisis we face. Even most demons should fear the possibility of tangling with one. Especially if it is an Great Wurm!!!

It was from a while back and there is lots more. They basicly decided nobody but a CM would control a Dragon

[Defunc13]

well the item idea suggestion was only to give a flavour of sympathetic magic otherwise we could all go riding round on dragons (which of course never occurs in fantasy stories ever ever:P)

u could have an embalmed lizard with glued on bats wings (like at ur local fun-fair) to generate some dragon-related effect....
flame-breath anyone

[Defunc13]

are prayers(priest/paladin spells) going to exist as magic or are they going to be prayers....

ie do priest specialise in healing magic that is called magic... or is it requested from heaven (or elsewhere).

I just put forward the point that prayers are very rarely answer in the real world, whilst most fantasy gods seem more like attention-seeking dogs that just power whatever effect is "asked" for so they don't loose their followers.

"here's ur ressurection, please don't go worship someone else"

when was the last time ur god told u to stop bothering him/her with your constant begging

are those holy icons the equivalent of embarrasing photos of ur local goverment official?

I'm off to get my parking fines "fixed":D

[Kornflakee]

I think that sympathetic magic would be annoying. Who in the hell would like suddenly being taken control of!? That would RUIN, and I mean RUIN the game for people. Sorry, but my opinion on that is PPPHHHHTTTT.

I say classes also are annoying, you should be independent to get any magic you wish. Except that you get bonuses from deities, but a self made mage can exist, and he won't be dependent on the power of a fickle deity.

[Defunc13]

sympathetic magic isn't just about take control of people, thats just an available aspect. u can control people via other direct magic types anyway.

in terms of control it's should be more of a mental-nudging like a charisma boost when dealing with that character.

other direct damage or shielding magics can utilise sympathtic magic.

I said nothing actually about classes, just the sort of spells associated with them. by priest I meant someone who'd focus in the direction of divine help.

If u had gods( see "ideal game" post ) they could teach spells to their followers or something for them to use, without having to direct their requests via the god(or goddess)...

and :p pfffffffft back at ya :p

[Defunc13]

I'm sure we've all seen real-world "magicians", they use sleight of hand, smoke & mirrors, cogs & gears to make it appear that they are using real magic...

I would consider this stuff to have more of an association with dexterity and thief-type skills than real magic.

[Mephista]

I agree with you. We could call the skill Sleight of Hand.