08-29-2018, 11:31 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Could Magic be kept secret?
I am going to run a modern game, alla a minor supers game with traces of adventure, mystery, pulp, martial arts, and mystical arts. Innate super powers have only been around for about 10 years, and only about 3 years publically.
In the world, there is a secret world, behind the secret world, of those that possess arcane knowledge and live the life. If real magic [Path/Book, more subtle then flashy, more pulp action/mystery cults then D&D] has been around for the last 120 years or so, could it have been kept secret by its users from the public at large? Could magic of a small population group world wide, maybe 150 people, be kept secret in the modern world? Side Note: If you like comics and have not read The Magic Order, please do its fantastic and an inspiration that I am using for a hidden magical backdrop behind the world of pulp action supers in a changing world where powers are starting to show up. And to a smaller extent, from DC the new comic of The Justice League Dark. |
08-29-2018, 11:37 AM | #2 |
Night Watchman
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cambridge, UK
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Re: Could Magic be kept secret?
If people with the talent for magic need training before they can use it, and there is an organisation with a monopoly which is really careful about who it selects for training, then it might well be kept secret. If people manifest magic unpredictably and without training, no chance.
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The Path of Cunning. Indexes: DFRPG Characters, Advantage of the Week, Disadvantage of the Week, Skill of the Week, Techniques. |
08-29-2018, 11:40 AM | #3 |
Hero of Democracy
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: far from the ocean
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Re: Could Magic be kept secret?
The key to this is to have every member of the group dedicated to keeping magic secret, and giving magic enough tools to stay secret with minimal loss of profit.
Magicians should have strong ties to each other and minimal ties to the outside world. Pay close attention to family, coworkers, and neighbors. An explicit desire to keep it secret and firm (if perhaps implict) penalties for people who break cover.
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08-29-2018, 11:44 AM | #4 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Re: Could Magic be kept secret?
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08-29-2018, 11:50 AM | #5 | |
Night Watchman
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cambridge, UK
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Re: Could Magic be kept secret?
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It is possible for magic to stay secret. You'll want to look very carefully at the Path/Book rituals list, and consider modifying or deleting some of them. You might well make it purely Book magic, with devising a new ritual being a work of years.
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The Path of Cunning. Indexes: DFRPG Characters, Advantage of the Week, Disadvantage of the Week, Skill of the Week, Techniques. |
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08-29-2018, 12:02 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Re: Could Magic be kept secret?
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There is a minor form of folk or minor magic out there for the minor conjures, I was thinking default from Occultism or other esoteric skill, and make it a few minor paths instead of books. Magic of minor illusions, faster self healing, slight of hand magic, mesmerism, etc. Mystery men magic of the 1920's and 40's. Magery or some form or special advantage is needed for these as well, maybe Trained By Master, or a Chi Advantage, etc. |
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08-29-2018, 12:08 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Re: Could Magic be kept secret?
If magic is sufficiently subtle, it might not be truly secret, yet still not a factor in most people's minds. If those untrained mages only manifest magic like premonitions, luck (whether with dice like TK, or bad things happening to their rivals), inexplicable sales skill or even celebrity, then no one's going to think of it magical talent manifesting. We call that kind of thing ESP, luck good and bad, various ineffable talents like charisma, and of course just plain hoaxes and BS along with statistics. Few people in the modern world really believe in magic, and there's not a secret Illuminati organization hiding all those traces and actively making sure we disbelieve. (Or so I think :)) Subtlety and unreliability, at least until you do get that training from the Ancient One, are the keys to plausibility on this path.
Though feel free to put in a Cabal if that suits. It'll fit right into that sort of game. |
08-29-2018, 12:08 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Mojave
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Re: Could Magic be kept secret?
There are occult clubs and groups that do study "magick." I would imagine that most of the clubs are fronts for true magick users were they can scout potential recruits. Since most clubs tend to keep their "studies" secret, you can test if they are trust worthy.
Also one setting book you might want to look into is the Cabal. Does the urban fantasy thing pretty well. |
08-29-2018, 12:12 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Re: Could Magic be kept secret?
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08-29-2018, 12:17 PM | #10 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Re: Could Magic be kept secret?
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Last edited by Lameth; 08-29-2018 at 12:21 PM. |
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