DF & Magical Styles

[ULFGARD]

Has anyone used magical styles in a DF game? I realize that they, like martial arts, might fall below the level of detail for DF. But I'm wondering if anyone has tried to bridge that gap.

[Crakkerjakk]

Originally Posted by ULFGARD

Has anyone used magical styles in a DF game? I realize that they, like martial arts, might fall below the level of detail for DF. But I'm wondering if anyone has tried to bridge that gap.

I made a Michaelite style for a DF game set in Banestorm. It was exhausting messing around with spell lists. Especially because I was trying to figure out how to replace clerics with Banestorm's priest-mages at the same time as making the style.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by ULFGARD

Has anyone used magical styles in a DF game? I realize that they, like martial arts, might fall below the level of detail for DF. But I'm wondering if anyone has tried to bridge that gap.

Sure did. My pixie got exploded by a trap unfortunately, but she was using styles. Little wizard's school of evocation was made specifically for DF wizards.

[Peter Knutsen]

Originally Posted by ULFGARD

Has anyone used magical styles in a DF game? I realize that they, like martial arts, might fall below the level of detail for DF. But I'm wondering if anyone has tried to bridge that gap.

I wouldn't touch the GURPS Magic magic system with a ten foot pole, as you all know, but I can't see that allowing the use of Magical Styles in a GURPS DF campaign does any harm. It adds complexity proportional to the number of spellcasting-modifying Perks each spellcaster has, but GURPS DF isn't especially simple to begin with, as much as it is focused and distilled.

So I can't see it'll be a problem, especially if you stick to the rule about 1 Perk per X CP (which I think is in the RAW). Maybe not even if you soften the rule by introducing a 5 CP UB to give a flat increase to the number of Style Perks equal to IQ+Magery/Talent - that way you also open up yet another niche for Wizards: The Style Caster.

[ULFGARD]

Originally Posted by Crakkerjakk

It was exhausting messing around with spell lists.

I hear that. Still, it's rewarding. I've been making a few for my non-DF gameworld. I have used it for DF in the past, and may well want to do so again. It can be done without breaking the game world. I was just curious to see how it had worked for others, since it could be cool to keep in.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Sure did. My pixie got exploded by a trap unfortunately, but she was using styles. Little wizard's school of evocation was made specifically for DF wizards.

Nice! I like that one! Perfect for a DF wizard. The one question I'd have: did the ability to gain new spells without reference to books/teachers cause problems?

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

I wouldn't touch the GURPS Magic magic system with a ten foot pole, as you all know, but I can't see that allowing the use of Magical Styles in a GURPS DF campaign does any harm. It adds complexity proportional to the number of spellcasting-modifying Perks each spellcaster has, but GURPS DF isn't especially simple to begin with, as much as it is focused and distilled.

So I can't see it'll be a problem, especially if you stick to the rule about 1 Perk per X CP (which I think is in the RAW). Maybe not even if you soften the rule by introducing a 5 CP UB to give a flat increase to the number of Style Perks equal to IQ+Magery/Talent - that way you also open up yet another niche for Wizards: The Style Caster.

I've pretty much always tweaked GURPS Magic, even in 3e days (when I started playing). Done that way, it's fun for me. I also love the spirit magic system (rituals and paths now), and use it in secret magic games.

Yeah, some of the perks are in a later power ups book, now that I look. I suppose I could wonder at the in-game effects. But if others have tried it, DF isn't the sort of game I go into worrying about anything other than power balance, and even then it takes a back seat to ork-slaying, treasure-looting fun, and so long as everyone is having it... But I wondered what the effect of imposing it would be.

[Crakkerjakk]

Originally Posted by ULFGARD

I hear that. Still, it's rewarding. I've been making a few for my non-DF gameworld. I have used it for DF in the past, and may well want to do so again. It can be done without breaking the game world. I was just curious to see how it had worked for others, since it could be cool to keep in.

I had originally just planned on doing a style for every college. Probably the simplest and quickest way, and let players who are interested in a particular style tweak it a bit with GM approval.

[bcd]

DF Clerics and Druids are a pretty long way towards using magical styles already so I don't see how wizardly (or other) magical styles could do much harm in themselves.

The important point to keep in mind is to respect the class specializations so that you don't define magical styles that trample all over some other class's DF niche.

[Greg 1]

DF and Magical Styles are a natural team.

The crunch-focussed nature of a DF game makes it a natural venue for tinkering with crunch for the sake of variety and individuality.

For those who come up with styles, don't forget to consider adding them to the GURPS Magical Styles fan netbook, which can be found here:

http://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/GURPS_...es_Fan_Netbook

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by ULFGARD

Nice! I like that one! Perfect for a DF wizard.

I specifically designed it to incorporate the spell list from the wizard template in DF1. Well, the explody variation anyways, but this is the Little Wizards School of Evocation so that's a focus I'm comfortable with.

Originally Posted by ULFGARD

The one question I'd have: did the ability to gain new spells without reference to books/teachers cause problems?

I really can't say, as I never really used that feature before dying horribly. 2 hit points :)

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by bcd

DF Clerics and Druids are a pretty long way towards using magical styles already

Bards, clerics, demonologists, druids, elementalists, necromancers, and shamans are definitely using magical styles

Originally Posted by bcd

I don't see how wizardly (or other) magical styles could do much harm in themselves.

Neither do I. The fact that we've kept the trappings of formal magical styles hidden doesn't mean that they aren't there already. They're present and fairly workable.