Professional Magician Skillset

[Walrus]

Originally Posted by Miles

Hidden Lore is IQ/A

Hidden Lore requires prerequisites. But yeah, if you're "in the club", learning might become easier, yeah.

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by Walrus

I'd say that Hidden Lore is only applicable before TL 8. Now with a little Research one can find secrets of most of the tricks. So it isn't more a Hidden Lore but just an Expert Skill.

Good point.

But there needs to be a non-metagame way for players to be able to create characters who have that Hidden Lore skill. Maybe a 1 CP UB Perk, per skill? It's not like it's extremely difficult to acquire, if you're lucky to have the opportunity.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

Watch a crap ton of stage magic/con man movies. The Prestige, Now You See Me, The Illusionist, Ocean's Eleven (and successive films), and The Sting for starters.

Recommended book: The Sacred Art of Stealing, Christopher Brookmyre.

[quarkstomper]

This Penn and Teller bit on the Seven Principles of Magic ("Sleight of Hand Cigarette") classifies and demonstrates different components of sleight of hand and should give some ideas for the kinds of things Sleight of Hand Skill could be used for.

[oneofmanynameless]

Originally Posted by quarkstomper

This Penn and Teller bit on the Seven Principles of Magic ("Sleight of Hand Cigarette") classifies and demonstrates different components of sleight of hand and should give some ideas for the kinds of things Sleight of Hand Skill could be used for.

That may have just made my day. Thanks!

[RGTraynor]

I think there's a distinction you need to draw: do you want your character's Stage Magician abilities to impact adventuring, or not?

If the latter, a "Stage Magic" skill -- whether as a Professional Skill or a specialization of Performance -- works fine. If the former, then speaking with the GM hat on, I'd want to see that basket of Sleight of Hand, Escape, Ventriloquism, Holdout and the like.

[oneofmanynameless]

Originally Posted by RGTraynor

I think there's a distinction you need to draw: do you want your character's Stage Magician abilities to impact adventuring, or not?

If the latter, a "Stage Magic" skill -- whether as a Professional Skill or a specialization of Performance -- works fine. If the former, then speaking with the GM hat on, I'd want to see that basket of Sleight of Hand, Escape, Ventriloquism, Holdout and the like.

I'd like the skills to impact adventuring. The issue that I'm having is mostly one that not all stage magic tricks are covered in the standard set of Sleight of Hand, Escape, Ventriloquism, and Holdout. A Lot of illusions and stage tricks (like making large animals appear and disappear, or making someone appear to levitate) don't seem to be covered by these standard skills. More than anything I'm wondering what skills I should take for that stuff.

Also, while we're here. Anyone have any ideas about a Misdirection talent and what skills it would give bonuses to?

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by johndallman

Recommended book: The Sacred Art of Stealing, Christopher Brookmyre.

I'll look it up. thanks!

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by oneofmanynameless

I'd like the skills to impact adventuring. The issue that I'm having is mostly one that not all stage magic tricks are covered in the standard set of Sleight of Hand, Escape, Ventriloquism, and Holdout. A Lot of illusions and stage tricks (like making large animals appear and disappear, or making someone appear to levitate) don't seem to be covered by these standard skills. More than anything I'm wondering what skills I should take for that stuff.

For most of the big stage illusions I've seen, Mechanic (Stage Craft) to rig up the apparatus and Performance to hold the audience's attention while someone else connects it to the disappearing/levitating object.

David Blaine style levitation is just Fast-Talk and a DX roll to avoid tipping over while standing on one foot. Supplemented with Electronics Operation (Media) for the TV show.