Magic ritual thoughts

Whitewings · 08-09-2019, 11:03 AM

I’m developing a setting based around a TL12 colony that’s recently, as in less than a century ago, learned that their star sits within a heliopause-filling bubble of what the locals call ki, meaning it’s a normal mana zone. They’ve kept many now-obsolete combat arts alive as cultural touchstones, including kyujutsu, and I’m wondering about the idea of allowing a ki adept (mage) to set appropriate spells on an arrow using the act of nocking and drawing the arrow as the gesture portion of a gesture and word ritual. It does seem setting appropriate, but I have no real idea of the possible knock-on effects. The colony is extremely new, about a hundred years old; the discovery of magic about 70. Their world is nothing close to tamed.

Stormcrow · 08-09-2019, 12:18 PM

Sounds like imbuements.

Whitewings · 08-09-2019, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormcrow

Sounds like imbuements.

Not really. Imagine a mage with 10-14 in Freezing Missile, using the act of drawing and aiming as the “gesture” portion of the ritual (presumably this would be distinct from taking the Aim maneuver) while whispering the incantation.

Refplace · 08-09-2019, 01:23 PM

There is a spell for the default system called Spell Arrow. Also Delay/Trigger could do that.

AlexanderHowl · 08-09-2019, 01:42 PM

Combat spells will likely be worse than useless (except Deflect/Reflect Missile).

Anaraxes · 08-09-2019, 01:50 PM

Do you mean that the mage isn't the archer? That is, part of his ritual mimics the drawing of a bow while holding the subject arrow? If that's the case, then great -- Rule of Cool, fits the setting, so mote it be. The details of the gesture aren't generally important (which is why they're specified only in rare cases). This would also apply if the mage is throwing Missile Spells by miming archery -- that is, no second party involved, just a nice ritual for a spell that makes him look like an archer (without a bow, unless maybe he's using his Staff in its place).

If the mage is also the archer, so that he's casting a spell on his own arrow as he uses it in combat, then Spell Arrow or Imbuements are existing mechanics for doing exactly that.

Or is there some third case you had in mind?

08-09-2019, 11:03 AM	#1
Whitewings Join Date: Jul 2005	Magic ritual thoughts I’m developing a setting based around a TL12 colony that’s recently, as in less than a century ago, learned that their star sits within a heliopause-filling bubble of what the locals call ki, meaning it’s a normal mana zone. They’ve kept many now-obsolete combat arts alive as cultural touchstones, including kyujutsu, and I’m wondering about the idea of allowing a ki adept (mage) to set appropriate spells on an arrow using the act of nocking and drawing the arrow as the gesture portion of a gesture and word ritual. It does seem setting appropriate, but I have no real idea of the possible knock-on effects. The colony is extremely new, about a hundred years old; the discovery of magic about 70. Their world is nothing close to tamed. Last edited by Whitewings; 08-09-2019 at 12:40 PM.

08-09-2019, 12:18 PM	#2
Stormcrow Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ronkonkoma, NY	Re: Magic ritual thoughts Sounds like imbuements.

08-09-2019, 01:23 PM	#4
Refplace Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Yukon, OK	Re: Magic ritual thoughts There is a spell for the default system called Spell Arrow. Also Delay/Trigger could do that. __________________ My GURPS publications GURPS Powers: Totem and Nature Spirits; GURPS Template Toolkit 4: Spirits; Pyramid articles. Buying them lets us know you want more! My GURPS fan contribution and blog: REFPLace GURPS Landing Page My List of GURPS You Tube videos (plus a few other useful items) My GURPS Wiki entries

08-09-2019, 01:42 PM	#5
AlexanderHowl Join Date: Feb 2016	Re: Magic ritual thoughts Combat spells will likely be worse than useless (except Deflect/Reflect Missile).

08-09-2019, 01:50 PM	#6
Anaraxes Join Date: Sep 2007	Re: Magic ritual thoughts Do you mean that the mage isn't the archer? That is, part of his ritual mimics the drawing of a bow while holding the subject arrow? If that's the case, then great -- Rule of Cool, fits the setting, so mote it be. The details of the gesture aren't generally important (which is why they're specified only in rare cases). This would also apply if the mage is throwing Missile Spells by miming archery -- that is, no second party involved, just a nice ritual for a spell that makes him look like an archer (without a bow, unless maybe he's using his Staff in its place). If the mage is also the archer, so that he's casting a spell on his own arrow as he uses it in combat, then Spell Arrow or Imbuements are existing mechanics for doing exactly that. Or is there some third case you had in mind?