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10-04-2017, 01:52 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Dungeon Fantasy with only one Spellcaster "Class"
So, something I've been considering as an alternative way of running a Dungeon Fantasy game is to drop the restricted spellcaster templates (Cleric, Druid and Wizard) and replacing them with a single, broad "Mage" Template that can be customized to serve different roles, including that of Healer or "Druid". Maybe using the Magical Styles approach.
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10-04-2017, 02:23 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Poland
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Re: Dungeon Fantasy with only one Spellcaster "Class"
I would strongly advise against it. It would remove guidance in character creation. You've got 350 spells to choose from, it's hard enough already to understand: what being a spellcaster means. I'd rather go the other way and even build two or three professions for wizards, with more info on what spells to take. I think that the world of Harry Potter, as distinct from DFRPG as it is, is a good analogy here: saying "this is a wizard" says nothing of the character's skills and, uhm, character. You could be a wizard warrior, wizard scholar or a wizard housewife. "Wizard" only says how you do stuff, but says nothing of what you do. Creating one "spellcaster" profession would be like making one "mundane" profession encompassing knights, barbarians, thieves and scouts. It would be messy.
Why did you consider uniting the templates?
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10-04-2017, 02:56 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Re: Dungeon Fantasy with only one Spellcaster "Class"
Eh, honestly, I just hate D&D's arbitrary "Wizards can't learn Healing spells, that's what Clerics are for" restriction. One of the reasons I like GURPS is that it's spell-based magic system allows for a Spellcaster to have the freedom to learn whatever spells they want. So one thing I don't like in Dungeon Fantasy is shoe-horning in the arbitrary restriction, even if it's "In Genre."
Especially if I want to use Dungeon Fantasy with Banestorm and don't want to deal with adding Clerics and Druids to a setting that I suppose the easiest approach would be tinkering the Cleric and Druid so they come off more as "White Mage" and "Nature Mage", though. |
10-04-2017, 03:13 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
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Re: Dungeon Fantasy with only one Spellcaster "Class"
There's a reason for niche protection. It doesn't have to be the specific niches that D&D uses, but I recommend against any options that lets a spellcaster pick and choose from all of the options in GURPS Magic.
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10-04-2017, 03:22 PM | #5 | |
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Seattle, Washington
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Re: Dungeon Fantasy with only one Spellcaster "Class"
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In fact, I would argue that one of the most important reasons for DFRPG to exist at all is to establish those character type differences as central to the game. GURPS doesn't do this at all. DFRPG is based around the concept. Removing it just gets you GURPS Lite Plus, at which point I'd wonder why you're playing DFRPG.
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10-04-2017, 06:04 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Re: Dungeon Fantasy with only one Spellcaster "Class"
Just realized, after going through my various Pyramid magazines, that I have other, simpler options.
-Clerical Magic: can be replaced or supplemented with Divine Favor rules. And honestly, I love the Divine Favor system a lot, since it fits the idea of Adventuring Priests calling upon the power of the Gods with piety. -Wizards with "healing" magic: Issue Vol3#13, Thaumatology, has rules for "salving magic", has options for limited medicinal magics that doesn't heal injuries, but merely patches them up to allow the body to heal naturally at a faster rate. Turning Arcane Healing Magic into more of an advanced medical procedure then a miracle cure, which actually fits the tone of the Wizard as a magical "scientist". |
10-04-2017, 06:42 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Northern Virginia, USA
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Re: Dungeon Fantasy with only one Spellcaster "Class"
Depends on how many PCs you have. With 4+ PCs, I like niche protection, to make sure that everyone gets to shine. With 3- PCs, it's hard to cover all the niches, and it's easier for everyone to get a word in, so I'd err on the side of letting people be generalists if the GM wants. (If you'd rather keep things simple that's fine too, but you might need to bring some NPCs along.)
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10-04-2017, 06:29 PM | #8 |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 100 hurricane swamp
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Re: Dungeon Fantasy with only one Spellcaster "Class"
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10-04-2017, 08:19 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: Dec 2012
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Re: Dungeon Fantasy with only one Spellcaster "Class"
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I leave the templates though. I feel like the other skills give them a good enough flavor to be different from each other class |
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10-05-2017, 07:42 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Canada
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Re: Dungeon Fantasy with only one Spellcaster "Class"
I'd consider this not on a rules and world-design basis, but as a result of player dynamics.
EG, if only one player is willing to play a caster, but the group is beginning to argue about how they need more than one caster type and try to pressure another player into doing something they don't want to. Or EG if I only have two or three players, the players are anxious about the lack of variety, and we've decided not to go the multiple-PC or NPC sidekick/hireling route. I'm perfectly happy to run a game with no spell casters, or all clerics, or any other party composition my players come up with. It's based on what's sucking the fun out for my players that I'd patch this on.
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