03-03-2016, 03:46 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
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[Magical Styles] Using Styles to Replace "Fantasy Classes"
Okay, I've had this idea of using Magical Styles (of Thaumaturgy: Magical Styles) to fill in the role of "Spellcaster Classes" like Clerics and Druids in a Fantasy setting, without having to use Power Investiture. This would help flesh out settings like Banestorm, where the "Clerics" are really just Wizards with Clerical Investment.
Temple Styles would effectively replace the need for a Cleric or Druid, for example. Bardic magic could involve a Guild style, and a "Paladin" would involve a blend of Martial and Temple Style perks and skills. I'm asking for advice though, as I have little experience actually building magical styles. |
03-03-2016, 08:26 PM | #2 |
formerly known as 'Kenneth Latrans'
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Wyoming, Michigan
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Re: [Magical Styles] Using Styles to Replace "Fantasy Classes"
You could also have an Elven Fighter-Mage style and a Thief Style with spells like Invisibility, Lockmaster, and Mage Stealth.
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03-03-2016, 09:40 PM | #3 | |
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Re: [Magical Styles] Using Styles to Replace "Fantasy Classes"
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03-05-2016, 12:40 AM | #4 |
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Estonia
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Re: [Magical Styles] Using Styles to Replace "Fantasy Classes"
Seems so much more hassle than to look at the spells that a druid or cleric might need and just say - well you can have this as long as you have high enough investment level.
(I hate the prereq chains with passion myself though) |
03-05-2016, 08:29 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Re: [Magical Styles] Using Styles to Replace "Fantasy Classes"
Many worked examples here and you can add your own when you've written them:
https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/GURPS...es_Fan_Netbook I think magical styles work very well as a replacement to fantasy classes. Fantasy classes have the advantage of niche protection, but the disadvantage of artificiality. Magical styles don't feel artificial because they can't clash with magical reality. Magical styles can also potentially individualize a setting more easily than fantasy classes, just because the rules of magic can be whatever the GM likes. One easy trap to fall into is putting too many spells in a style, so that your styles lose their distinctness. Possibly, the best way around this is to allow wizards to learn more than one style. That way, an uber-mage can have a wide variety of tricks to draw on without mastering a style that is crazily broad.
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GURPS Settings Beneath Castle Everglory: A Dungeon, Lineage (Modern Fantasy) Paradise City (Cyberpunk), The World of Kung Fu (Modern Martial Arts Setting) Last edited by Greg 1; 03-05-2016 at 08:36 AM. |
03-05-2016, 10:08 AM | #6 |
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Poland
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Re: [Magical Styles] Using Styles to Replace "Fantasy Classes"
When I needed a clerical school, I've taken the Cleric's spell list from DF 1: Adventurers, left the circles as is and given them a prerequisite count, like in Restructuring Prerequisites on p. 17 of Magical Styles.
If I may suggest one style perk for paladins: a friend of mine hates the penalties for healing own wounds, so I thought this might be good: Heal Self† – it's a Rules Exemption perk that allows the character to heal himself without the general penalty for missing HP. You must specialize by Healing spell.
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03-05-2016, 08:37 PM | #7 | |
Join Date: Dec 2012
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Re: [Magical Styles] Using Styles to Replace "Fantasy Classes"
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03-05-2016, 09:20 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portsmouth, VA, USA
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Re: [Magical Styles] Using Styles to Replace "Fantasy Classes"
I have a half-written book/Pyramid article that essentially does this. The idea isn't original - as has been noted, but I rather like the way I executed it. It'll be out there eventually. One article I just submitted has [FNORD] for using [FNORD] styles in Dungeon Fantasy, so perhaps that might offer up some inspiration.
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03-06-2016, 06:54 AM | #9 | |
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Re: [Magical Styles] Using Styles to Replace "Fantasy Classes"
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Also, Souldlbade is a warrior style and Way of the Wolf a ranger style.
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GURPS Settings Beneath Castle Everglory: A Dungeon, Lineage (Modern Fantasy) Paradise City (Cyberpunk), The World of Kung Fu (Modern Martial Arts Setting) Last edited by Greg 1; 03-06-2016 at 06:57 AM. |
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