Magical Styles

Xenophile · 03-04-2008, 01:20 PM

Recently I stumbled across a very workable little concept: what if you combined the rules for martial arts styles with those for ritual magic? It's a good way to create different "schools of magic," and it's incredilby easy. I've hastly whipped up a few generic examples:

Paraphysics

4 Points

There exists a secret order of scientists (mostly from Europe and North America) whose members have discovered a dangerous secret: by completely understanding the laws of time and space, you can manipulate them. Currently their main priorities are keeping this knowledge secret and ensuring the stability of reality, but some within the group have become hungry for even more power…

Skills: Mathematics (Applied); Physics/TL8^; Path of Gate.
Spells: Teleport; Teleport Other; Blink; Blink Other; Timeport; Timeport Other; Timeslip; Timeslip Other; Beacon; Trace Teleport; Divert Teleport; Teleport Shield; Slow Time; Accelerate Time; Suspend Time.

Witchcraft

7 Points

Witches execute their evil deeds by calling upon spirits from another, darker world to do their bidding. However, these contracts work both ways, and many witches find themselves becoming mere puppets of their shadowy masters before long. Most witchcraft spells take the form of curses.

Skills: Ritual Magic (Witchcraft); Path of Animal; Path of Body Control; Path of Meta-Magic; Path of Movement; Path of Necromancy.
Spells: Beast-Rouser; Shapeshifting (Cat); Shapeshift Others (Frog); Clumsiness; Debility; Frailty; Agonize; Weaken Blood; Strike Barren; Curse; Flying Carpet; Swim; Age; Pestilence; Summon Demon; Steal Youth; Steal Beauty.

Way of the Dragon

8 Points

Dragons are terrifyingly powerful creatures, so it’s only natural that some people would want that power. Those who follow the Way of the Dragon seek to emulate this creature through magic and behavior. Some truly skilled adherents may even be able to finally transform into the objects of their worship.

Skills: Hidden Lore (Dragons); Philosophy (Dragon Mentality); Thaumatology; Path of Animal; Path of Body Control; Path of Fire; Path of Protection and Warning.
Spells: Partial Shapeshifting (Crocodile Jaws); Partial Shapeshifting (Feathered Arms); Might; Enlarge; Transform Body (Dragon); Resist Fire; Breathe Fire; Armor.

The Benj · 03-05-2008, 01:45 AM

I dig it. I think it's a good way to express a magical tradition's precepts, just like a martial art's.

Nice.

Der Wanderer · 03-05-2008, 03:30 AM

Don't forget that with Ritual Magic you also have the Mysteries of the Trade option from Fantasy. So you could make:
Skills
Bow
Mysteries of the Bow
Spells
Spell Archery
Dehydrate, Deathtouch, Paralyze etc...

tylrlsaa · 03-11-2008, 12:41 PM

Very Interesting...

JAW · 03-11-2008, 01:07 PM

Hmm what exactly do you get for buying these styles with CPs? I assume yo dont get the spells - the costs would be too lov. Do you get a point in each of the skills or are the styles here just UBs that allow learning the skills/spells?

Do they allow getting around normal spell prerequisites?

Xenophile · 03-11-2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAW

Hmm what exactly do you get for buying these styles with CPs? I assume yo dont get the spells - the costs would be too lov. Do you get a point in each of the skills or are the styles here just UBs that allow learning the skills/spells?

Do they allow getting around normal spell prerequisites?

You have to buy the skills and spells seperately; buying the style reflects familiarity. It's all in Martial Arts. Also, ritual magery treats spells as techniques, with penalties equal to their total prerequisites.

Greg 1 · 03-11-2008, 01:07 PM

Indeed! And I like your examples. I take it that mages are only allowed to buy spells if they are part of a known style?

Here is a GURPS setting I worked up some time ago using 31 different magical styles. My styles assume that any skill or spell can be learned by the mage, but some are required to complete apprenticeship, so everything in the style is required.

http://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/The_Gift:Main_Page

I'm working on another one right now (as in, I was doing it when I read your post). The new setting will only have 27 styles. :)

whswhs · 03-23-2008, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenophile

Recently I stumbled across a very workable little concept: what if you combined the rules for martial arts styles with those for ritual magic? It's a good way to create different "schools of magic," and it's incredilby easy.

It's a clever idea and I've decided to borrow it for my upcoming GURPS Cabal "privateers of the Pearl Bright Ocean" campaign.

Bill Stoddard

03-04-2008, 01:20 PM	#1
Xenophile Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New Hampshire: Home of the Pretty Leaves!	Magical Styles Recently I stumbled across a very workable little concept: what if you combined the rules for martial arts styles with those for ritual magic? It's a good way to create different "schools of magic," and it's incredilby easy. I've hastly whipped up a few generic examples: Paraphysics 4 Points There exists a secret order of scientists (mostly from Europe and North America) whose members have discovered a dangerous secret: by completely understanding the laws of time and space, you can manipulate them. Currently their main priorities are keeping this knowledge secret and ensuring the stability of reality, but some within the group have become hungry for even more power… Skills: Mathematics (Applied); Physics/TL8^; Path of Gate. Spells: Teleport; Teleport Other; Blink; Blink Other; Timeport; Timeport Other; Timeslip; Timeslip Other; Beacon; Trace Teleport; Divert Teleport; Teleport Shield; Slow Time; Accelerate Time; Suspend Time. Witchcraft 7 Points Witches execute their evil deeds by calling upon spirits from another, darker world to do their bidding. However, these contracts work both ways, and many witches find themselves becoming mere puppets of their shadowy masters before long. Most witchcraft spells take the form of curses. Skills: Ritual Magic (Witchcraft); Path of Animal; Path of Body Control; Path of Meta-Magic; Path of Movement; Path of Necromancy. Spells: Beast-Rouser; Shapeshifting (Cat); Shapeshift Others (Frog); Clumsiness; Debility; Frailty; Agonize; Weaken Blood; Strike Barren; Curse; Flying Carpet; Swim; Age; Pestilence; Summon Demon; Steal Youth; Steal Beauty. Way of the Dragon 8 Points Dragons are terrifyingly powerful creatures, so it’s only natural that some people would want that power. Those who follow the Way of the Dragon seek to emulate this creature through magic and behavior. Some truly skilled adherents may even be able to finally transform into the objects of their worship. Skills: Hidden Lore (Dragons); Philosophy (Dragon Mentality); Thaumatology; Path of Animal; Path of Body Control; Path of Fire; Path of Protection and Warning. Spells: Partial Shapeshifting (Crocodile Jaws); Partial Shapeshifting (Feathered Arms); Might; Enlarge; Transform Body (Dragon); Resist Fire; Breathe Fire; Armor. __________________ "If we weren't all crazy, we'd all go insane." -Jimmy Buffet, Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes

03-05-2008, 01:45 AM	#2
The Benj MIB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Platform Zero, Sydney, Australia	Re: Magical Styles I dig it. I think it's a good way to express a magical tradition's precepts, just like a martial art's. Nice.

03-05-2008, 03:30 AM	#3
Der Wanderer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Switzerland	Re: Magical Styles Don't forget that with Ritual Magic you also have the Mysteries of the Trade option from Fantasy. So you could make: Skills Bow Mysteries of the Bow Spells Spell Archery Dehydrate, Deathtouch, Paralyze etc... __________________ I'm not a Munchkin, I'm the Munchkin's Advocate

03-11-2008, 12:41 PM	#4
tylrlsaa Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Birmingham, Alabama	Re: Magical Styles Very Interesting...

03-11-2008, 01:07 PM	#5
JAW Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Finland	Re: Magical Styles Hmm what exactly do you get for buying these styles with CPs? I assume yo dont get the spells - the costs would be too lov. Do you get a point in each of the skills or are the styles here just UBs that allow learning the skills/spells? Do they allow getting around normal spell prerequisites?

03-11-2008, 01:07 PM	#7
Greg 1 Join Date: Feb 2007	Re: Magical Styles Indeed! And I like your examples. I take it that mages are only allowed to buy spells if they are part of a known style? Here is a GURPS setting I worked up some time ago using 31 different magical styles. My styles assume that any skill or spell can be learned by the mage, but some are required to complete apprenticeship, so everything in the style is required. http://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/The_Gift:Main_Page I'm working on another one right now (as in, I was doing it when I read your post). The new setting will only have 27 styles. :) Last edited by Greg 1; 03-11-2008 at 01:51 PM.