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Old 07-25-2018, 10:59 PM   #1
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Default What to package with Magery?

A recent post regarding packaging Social Regard with magery got me thinking about what flavour can be added to a game when you make more complicated packages for mages.
Personally I have used Innate attack (weak but improvable, flavoured to match the culture) and a very small handful of common skills.

Have other people played with more complex magical packages? If so what have you used?
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Old 07-26-2018, 03:06 AM   #2
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Default Re: What to package with Magery?

The Innate Attack advantage sounds to me like you're using Magic As Powers? Nothing wrong with that, but it'd be useful to know.

Personally, I like to give mages some Accessory perks, so they can, frex, create light and small flames without spending skill points / FP and/or rolling dice for tiny effects that should be standard fare for every mage. One to three levels of Telekinesis might also be appropriate.

Rank, if there is a Maging Guild.

ETA: Could you link to that other thread, please? I seem to have missed it. Thanks!
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Old 07-26-2018, 05:46 AM   #3
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Default Re: What to package with Magery?

Charisma for D&D-style sorcerers.

Extended Lifespan in a setting where the role of wizards are meant to be ancient (and wise).

Serendipity and/or esoteric builds of Obscure in a setting where magic is meant to favour subtle nudges anyway, such as an MtA-like setting.

Escalating levels of Regeneration (FP Only) if more powerful mages are meant to recover much faster from expending their power.
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Old 07-26-2018, 06:48 AM   #4
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Default Re: What to package with Magery?

As magic is at it's basis altering reality, I always added varying levels of Luck and Serendipity. And of course a Power Reserve.
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Old 07-26-2018, 08:38 AM   #5
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Default Re: What to package with Magery?

Actually, I find innate attacks are a good match for any magic system, including standard. But I especially like them in conjunction with RPM. If the base magic system is slow, but you have innate attacks, you get Harry-Dresden like wizards, which can be nice. I would not require it for wizards though.



Generally, I require Status and Wealth. The exact level depends on the setting and the power of the wizard, but as a rule of thumb battle wizards should at least have the social standing of knights: skilled warriors with special equipment. A wizard either has useless magic, or they have an in demand ability that puts them above peasants in terms of earning potential, often far above. I generally start with status 1 and Wealthy (x5) (which is enough to give the status for free).
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Old 07-26-2018, 02:41 PM   #6
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Default Re: What to package with Magery?

Quote:
Originally Posted by CeeDub View Post
The Innate Attack advantage sounds to me like you're using Magic As Powers? Nothing wrong with that, but it'd be useful to know.

Personally, I like to give mages some Accessory perks, so they can, frex, create light and small flames without spending skill points / FP and/or rolling dice for tiny effects that should be standard fare for every mage. One to three levels of Telekinesis might also be appropriate.

Rank, if there is a Maging Guild.

ETA: Could you link to that other thread, please? I seem to have missed it. Thanks!
I'm using the Innate attack as part of a package with skill based magic. In this case it a very low powered (and cheap) attack that represents throwing raw magic. Players can of course buy it up to make it more effective.

Link to the post I was referring to is here
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Old 07-26-2018, 03:10 PM   #7
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Default Re: What to package with Magery?

Depending on the style of magic, Affliction may be more appropriate than Innate Attack. Also, some concepts for Magery that I've been thinking about package it with Weirdness Magnet.

Depending on the culture, Social Stigma or Secret may be more appropriate than Social Regard.
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Old 07-26-2018, 10:17 PM   #8
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Default Re: What to package with Magery?

A lot of folks seem to recommend Innate Attack. If an Innate attack is part of the package, wouldn't there also be a form of inborn defense? A defense bonus or just straight DR vs Magic?
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Old 07-27-2018, 05:51 AM   #9
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Default Re: What to package with Magery?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mysterious Dark Lord v3.2 View Post
A lot of folks seem to recommend Innate Attack. If an Innate attack is part of the package, wouldn't there also be a form of inborn defense? A defense bonus or just straight DR vs Magic?
Magic Resistance with 'Improved, +150%,' maybe (allows you to have MR that doesn't block your own Magery)? Then again, one concept of magic I think I've seen has the more powerful mages also being more sensitive to magic, so for every level of Magery, they might have a level of Magic Susceptibility.
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Old 07-27-2018, 09:26 AM   #10
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Default Re: What to package with Magery?

One idea I've been chewing on lately was to replace Magery Zero with Intuitive Mathematician, and spells cannot exceed Mathematics (Pure).
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