Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen
All that is possible only because the magic systems of Ärth are known and well defined. In advance. You cannot have that with an ad hoc anything-goes approach.
Rules aren't only for player characters. Rules are for worlds. The world is the rules.
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While those are good points and I prefer a magic system that synergies with the world I was not advocating a totally random thing when I said improvise.
When I was suggesting an improvised result I meant specifically tailoring the crit fail to the circumstance and the type of spell being cast.
Cosmetic effects might be a chill in the air or feeling of gloom for Necromancy, the smell of flowers fr a plant spell, etc.
As to your other question: I ran and played in Magic for several years under 2e and 3e; crit failures did happen and we did actually get a demon result a few times however the skill 15 and 20 were definitely a priority over the benefit of a 16.