Variant Magic Systems

[Mighty Darci]

Feb 17, 2018 22:30:10 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

such as you the Arms & Spell Laws of Rolemaster with them & it works just fine.

Any chance we might get this post moved by a mod to start a new thread where you could expand on that.

[mormonyoyoman]

Please give Piper & me until Monday (and then remind me) since our benevolent host is incapacitated for a few days. If anything, his and our hostess's health emergencies are much harder than he lets their life appear.

And I need to figure out if (a) this is something that won't break anything and (be) how to do it. (Oh, Piperrrrrrr!)

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Feb 17, 2018 23:52:17 GMT -5 Mighty Darci said:

Feb 17, 2018 22:30:10 GMT -5 Hexenritter Verlag said:

such as you the Arms & Spell Laws of Rolemaster with them & it works just fine.

Any chance we might get this post moved by a mod to start a new thread where you could expand on that.

I am more than willing to expand on that if a separate thread is created, if needed.

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Feb 18, 2018 0:02:44 GMT -5 mormonyoyoman said:

Please give Piper & me until Monday (and then remind me) since our benevolent host is incapacitated for a few days. If anything, his and our hostess's health emergencies are much harder than he lets their life appear.

And I need to figure out if (a) this is something that won't break anything and (be) how to do it. (Oh, Piperrrrrrr!)

Fully understand Mormonyoyoman, take your time, get it done when it can be done. The Perilous Dreamer & his wife's health comes first.

[Deleted]

Welcome to the forked discussion from TSR Followed the Comic Book Code?

It is generally considered gauche to bring another board's discussion to a forum ... but since this is a positive quote and the person I'm quoting is a member here, I thought nobody would mind. In the spirit of the variant magic system discussion, and keeping with my ideal of "simple, fast, easy"? Here is a nice OD&D magic system variant I've been itching to try ...

Thanks to finarvyn for this (unedited) quote and please forgive my taking the liberty of quoting you from ODD74.

I've been playtesting a spell point system that I really like. One problem with spell points is that characters tend to get too many spells. (I don't mind them not memorizing a special list, so getting to adjust "on the fly" is okay for me. It may be another disadvantage to my system for some folks.)

Basically, spell casters have to track three numbers:
1. Total spells they can cast
2. Maximum spell level they can cast
3. Total spell points they can cast

HOW DO I CALCULATE TOTAL SPELLS?
Just add 'em up.

HOW DO I DETERMINE MAXIMUM SPELL LEVEL I CAN CAST?
Just look at the chart.

HOW DO I CALCULATE SPELL POINTS?
Basically 1 SP per spell level, so a 5th level spell costs 5 SP to cast. When I tried this with C&C I had to account for 0th level Cantrips so I made the cost spell level +1 (0th level = 1, 5th level = 6, etc). This means that you may have to recalculate based on the rules set, but I just look at the spell chart and do the math.

EXAMPLE, PLEASE!
Suppose a character has a spell line that reads 4/2/1. (4 1st, 2 2nd, 1 3rd level spell.) Toal number of spells is 4+2+1=7. Maximum spell level is 3. Spell points is (4*1)+(2*2)+(1*3)=11.

Cast until you run out of any of the three.

This means the spell caster could start with 3rd level spells (3 SP each) but after the 3rd would no longer have enought points for a 4th unless he dropped to a 2nd level spell. If he wanted to cast a bunch of 1st level spells (1 SP each) he could cast 7 then he would be out of spells even if he had SP remaining.

Anyway, try it and tell me what you think. It's simpler than it sounds and I've had great luck with it!

[Hexenritter Verlag]

Okay a little background - "Rolemaster" was born initially as a optional supplement for various Fantasy RPGs with AD&D or others of the in 1980 called Arms Law. It was a combat system including one roll attack tables, as well as Critical & Fumble tables. It was later followed by Spell Law that included optional magic system to also be used in AD&D or other RPGs of the period. It included rules for magic, Power Points, a number of spell lists as well as their related, attack, critical & fumble tables.

Even when Rolemaster was officially launched the Arms Law & Spell Law was made to be used with any Fantasy RPG though much of the content uses Rolemaster mechanics as the default, with boxes giving info on using them with other systems.I never used Arms Law or Spell Law with non-Role-master RPGs. That said if I wanted a bit more crunch & a different flavor to my magic or combat I could; but I'd have to convert stats that give bonuses/penalties to saves.

You roll percentile dice - modify with needed modifiers, check attack the appropriate attack chart if required, apply results which could include a critical from A-J or fumble depending on roll.

Roll on necessary chart. For non-direct attack (ig. Bolt or Ball) spells you roll to see if the spell goes off & apply result of spell, often requiring a Resistance Roll (a Save) based on level of castor & target. A failed save you apply result of the spell, while a successful save either the spell fails to effect the target or partial effect depending on spell.

If you roll to cast but fail, you roll to determine severity of spell failure which is applied to castor or anyone else indicated:

For non-attack spells it ranges from "momentary lapse in concentration delays casting of spell one round" to "caster suffers a severe stroke, and falls into a three month coma".

For Attack Spells it ranges from "The strain causes the caster to lose concentration. The spell is lost (but not the power points)" to "Massive internalization of power. Brain death. Cater dies instantly."

[The Master]

I find finarvyn, ideas intriguing and I am also interested in looking at Rolemaster for the crunch. I enjoy reading alternate ways of doing things whether I ever have a chance to try them or not.