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Old 12-01-2016, 03:22 PM   #1
pestigor
 
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Default Magic with no discrete spells

As PDFs are at 40% off I was thinking now would be a good time for me to look into working up my Gurps fantasy ideas. What I was hoping for with this post is that I could get a list of Gurps books that can help me develop a magic system that doesn't have discrete spells. I mean now IS the time to buy!

Thanks.
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Old 12-01-2016, 03:33 PM   #2
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Default Re: Magic with no discrete spells

There are hints about this in one of the later chapters of GURPS Fantasy, possibly chapter 7. There is a fuller treatment in GURPS Thaumatology; take a look at the chapter on flexible magic. I would suggest Thaumatology as your best pick if you are only going to add one book.
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Old 12-01-2016, 03:51 PM   #3
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Default Re: Magic with no discrete spells

Thaumatology is a great recommendation.
VariousPyramid issues also have material and a magic index is here.

RPM, Realm Magic, Verb/Noun, and Syntactic are the main onesI can think of that have no specific spells.
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My GURPS publications GURPS Powers: Totem and Nature Spirits; GURPS Template Toolkit 4: Spirits; Pyramid articles. Buying them lets us know you want more!
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My List of GURPS You Tube videos (plus a few other useful items)
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Old 12-01-2016, 05:01 PM   #4
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Default Re: Magic with no discrete spells

Thaumatology (as mentioned) is the book of many variant magic systems. Realm Magic might be of particular interest, as well as the Syntactic Magic (Noun/Verb) variants.

Ritual Path Magic is a pretty extensive system that mashes up a couple of things in Thaumatology and adds its own stuff.

Spells-as-powers is another way to do magic. Modular Ability as the base lets you make up effects (though you're likely to still want a pre-built list, unless your players are really good with the rules). So, Powers if you don't have it. Sorcery is a worked example of doing exactly this (with some other features). Psi Powers is also useful even if you don't want to call your mental magic "psi", but it's also useful as a worked example of ability-building that shows its work, so you can learn a lot about how such things are done to build a different system that suits your goals.
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Old 12-01-2016, 07:57 PM   #5
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Default Re: Magic with no discrete spells

Quote:
Originally Posted by Refplace View Post
Thaumatology is a great recommendation.
VariousPyramid issues also have material and a magic index is here.

RPM, Realm Magic, Verb/Noun, and Syntactic are the main onesI can think of that have no specific spells.
This in a nutshell.
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Old 12-01-2016, 10:50 PM   #6
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Default Re: Magic with no discrete spells

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll look into the mentioned books. I also didn't know there was a magic index out there...big thanks!
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Old 12-01-2016, 11:50 PM   #7
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Default Re: Magic with no discrete spells

Quote:
Originally Posted by pestigor View Post
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll look into the mentioned books. I also didn't know there was a magic index out there...big thanks!
Your welcome :)
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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
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