Hi all, for those that don't know I'm writing up a Fantasy RPG for people who ...
1. Thought Korgath of Barbaria had a lot of potential.
2. Thinks sex and poo jokes sell
3. And see nothing wrong with leather bikinis getting +4 AC
in other words a wild fun game. Trouble is that I need to implement a magic system that works, is fun and is in a "fluffy" sense cool ...
All the usual stuff is so used, memorizing spells, magic points etc...
Really need some help thinking of cool ways to cast spells. Really would like to fit it in as 'elemental magic' of some kind...
Help?
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Struggling creating a fun and wacky magic system
-
Sir Osis of Liver
- Unkbartig
- Posts: 822
- Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:00 am
It sounds like you need a system that does two things well:
1. Rewards zaniness
2. Exceedingly simplicity
I think any kind of crunchy implementation of spell casting would disrupt your game. Let the players do whatever they want within reason. Maybe just let them check against a general spell casting skill to channel magical energy. If you want a little more structure, let them draw from the four primordial forces: Mammalis, Inflatio, Urina and Asselor (Boobs, farting, pee and "going to stool," respectively). Maybe they can even specialize.
Ad hoc difficulty adjustments would be the only problem in adjudication. Simple guidelines for the GM on how to modify the check by weighing the mechanical effect of the spell versus the ingenuity and humor of the attempt may be enough.
1. Rewards zaniness
2. Exceedingly simplicity
I think any kind of crunchy implementation of spell casting would disrupt your game. Let the players do whatever they want within reason. Maybe just let them check against a general spell casting skill to channel magical energy. If you want a little more structure, let them draw from the four primordial forces: Mammalis, Inflatio, Urina and Asselor (Boobs, farting, pee and "going to stool," respectively). Maybe they can even specialize.
Ad hoc difficulty adjustments would be the only problem in adjudication. Simple guidelines for the GM on how to modify the check by weighing the mechanical effect of the spell versus the ingenuity and humor of the attempt may be enough.
Probably the easiest way to do this is to have a anachronistic setting, a moderized Discworld or something like that.
Then use spell checks based on bonuses for ... hip-hop spell casting! Or limericks or something like that. The funnier the improvised poem/perfomance, the better the spell goes off.
As a game balance thing, I'd suggest using a spell point system, but wizards can only be entered as a "half class" (pay for half the class level in addition to the regular class."
That way, wizards have more flexibility, but their spells will always be on the lower end.
No worries, I'm sure that cantrips alone will be ... entertaining with your crowd.
Then use spell checks based on bonuses for ... hip-hop spell casting! Or limericks or something like that. The funnier the improvised poem/perfomance, the better the spell goes off.
As a game balance thing, I'd suggest using a spell point system, but wizards can only be entered as a "half class" (pay for half the class level in addition to the regular class."
That way, wizards have more flexibility, but their spells will always be on the lower end.
No worries, I'm sure that cantrips alone will be ... entertaining with your crowd.
anglefish wrote:
Probably the easiest way to do this is to have a anachronistic setting, a moderized Discworld or something like that.
Then use spell checks based on bonuses for ... hip-hop spell casting!
As God as my witness, I am begging you not to do this.
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kim@trolllord.com
Click here: http://tiny.cc/4rvo5
-
Go0gleplex
- Greater Lore Drake
- Posts: 3723
- Joined: Fri May 30, 2008 7:00 am
- Location: Keizer, OR
Sort of a twist on the elemental, use the oriental elements like L5R...
Earth, Wood, Fire, Metal, Water
To cast a spell, they have to create a rhyme / poem using the element or analogy thereof desired in it as well as the desired effect. Each couplet raises the spells effective casting level.
So something like;
As striking stone sunders bone
I strike you now to sunder your own
Would be a first level type spell and maybe do 1d4 or 1d6 damage based on whatever scale you're using...or the GM sees as appropriate.
But something like;
As striking stone sunders bone
I strike you now to sunder your own
from arm to thigh the bones shall break
despite any sort of save you make
Would come off as a second level type spell...doing 2d4 or 2d6.
You could get some really silly stuff and doing high level spells could prove a real challenge for some folks. sort of self limiting on how much damage a mage could really do depending on their rhyming ability.
Food for thought anyhow.
_________________
The obvious will always trip you up FAR more than the obscure.
Baron Grignak Hammerhand of the Pacifica Provinces-
High Warden of the Castles & Crusades Society
Earth, Wood, Fire, Metal, Water
To cast a spell, they have to create a rhyme / poem using the element or analogy thereof desired in it as well as the desired effect. Each couplet raises the spells effective casting level.
So something like;
As striking stone sunders bone
I strike you now to sunder your own
Would be a first level type spell and maybe do 1d4 or 1d6 damage based on whatever scale you're using...or the GM sees as appropriate.
But something like;
As striking stone sunders bone
I strike you now to sunder your own
from arm to thigh the bones shall break
despite any sort of save you make
Would come off as a second level type spell...doing 2d4 or 2d6.
You could get some really silly stuff and doing high level spells could prove a real challenge for some folks. sort of self limiting on how much damage a mage could really do depending on their rhyming ability.
Food for thought anyhow.
_________________
The obvious will always trip you up FAR more than the obscure.
Baron Grignak Hammerhand of the Pacifica Provinces-
High Warden of the Castles & Crusades Society
"Rolling dice and killing characters since September 1976."
"Author of Wardogs! and Contributor to Iron Stars and Starmada-Admiralty ed."
"Certified crazy since 2009."
"Author of Wardogs! and Contributor to Iron Stars and Starmada-Admiralty ed."
"Certified crazy since 2009."
I make the clouds
Shudder and shake
And make your femur and
Tibia break
I call down thunder
And lightning too
I crack your skull
Split your spine in two
I make the ground rumble
Make the lakes ripple
I stare and your rib cage
And break it in triple
I make your lungs flat
Make your brain tumorous
I crack your ulna and radius
As well as your humerus
And when I am thoroughly
Complete with you
I'll stand what is
A pile of goo
10d8 dmg
_________________
kim@trolllord.com
Click here: http://tiny.cc/4rvo5
Shudder and shake
And make your femur and
Tibia break
I call down thunder
And lightning too
I crack your skull
Split your spine in two
I make the ground rumble
Make the lakes ripple
I stare and your rib cage
And break it in triple
I make your lungs flat
Make your brain tumorous
I crack your ulna and radius
As well as your humerus
And when I am thoroughly
Complete with you
I'll stand what is
A pile of goo
10d8 dmg
_________________
kim@trolllord.com
Click here: http://tiny.cc/4rvo5
I love it... hey AGN ... can I use your little rhyme in the book? I can see it being used in the Sorcerer class section.
PM me, your real name and I will give you credit in the book for it.
ie.
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
- First Name "AGNKim (or whatever you want)" Last Name
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Big Iron Vault Your friendly neighbourhood gaming magazine. Check out our new webcomic, The Heindrich Project!
PM me, your real name and I will give you credit in the book for it.
ie.
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
- First Name "AGNKim (or whatever you want)" Last Name
_________________
Big Iron Vault Your friendly neighbourhood gaming magazine. Check out our new webcomic, The Heindrich Project!
Thanks g00gle for the advice... I like that actually it gives the magic system more of a "dark ages" feel rather than campy boring magic.... I'm thinking
Fire - standard fireballs, single target etc
Water - defensive spells - would also incorporate "air" since thats essentially water - movement spells
Wood - regenerative spells, protection
Metal - alchemical spells - transformation etc.
Life - anti-undead, healing, purifying
Death - area of effect offensive etc.
Void - really wacky stuff, no opposing school, chaotic, ie. confusion, madness etc.
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Big Iron Vault Your friendly neighbourhood gaming magazine. Check out our new webcomic, The Heindrich Project!
Fire - standard fireballs, single target etc
Water - defensive spells - would also incorporate "air" since thats essentially water - movement spells
Wood - regenerative spells, protection
Metal - alchemical spells - transformation etc.
Life - anti-undead, healing, purifying
Death - area of effect offensive etc.
Void - really wacky stuff, no opposing school, chaotic, ie. confusion, madness etc.
_________________
Big Iron Vault Your friendly neighbourhood gaming magazine. Check out our new webcomic, The Heindrich Project!
anglefish wrote:
...
And how is this different than hip-hop casting, other than by meter and ryhme?
It's not really, need to think of a balanced way to do it if that's the path the game needs to take.
Love the concept of hip-hip casting in order to enhance a spell, but not sure if it needs to be that way 100%. I think that the spell still needs to be mechanically grounded.
is this "hip hop" casting an idea of your own? Or are you aware of other games that have done this?
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angelius wrote:
It's not really, need to think of a balanced way to do it if that's the path the game needs to take.
Love the concept of hip-hip casting in order to enhance a spell, but not sure if it needs to be that way 100%. I think that the spell still needs to be mechanically grounded.
is this "hip hop" casting an idea of your own? Or are you aware of other games that have done this?
Actually we used poems and limericks for a Heroes Fantasy game. The better the poem and other player's responses, the more powerful the effect. It worked out great for us, but then I always went with the GMs call.