Originally Posted by maximara (Post 2424537)

"Low Magic" in GURPS doesn't fit what any D&D setting that I remember.

The wiki sums up Low Magic as "The magical equivalent of home remedies. It is magic that anybody might pick up, without systematic formal study, and used in everyday life or emergencies."

Originally Posted by awesomenessofme1 (Post 2424832)

So? It's a wiki. It's not an official source. That definition is based on the opinion of whatever individual wrote the article.

Originally Posted by awesomenessofme1 (Post 2424832)

"Low Magic" could just as easily refer to a setting with universal low mana, or with strict Magery caps, even if the spells and mechanics were identical to the normal rules.

Originally Posted by maximara (Post 2424840)

"Low magic is the magical equivalent of home remedies." and contains Craft Magic, Mysteries of the Trade, Oaths, Single Spells, and True Faith as sub listings.

That section is followed by Formulaic magic.

Also the wiki has the following references
* GURPS Fantasy 160
* GURPS Magic Items 3 pg 24
* GURPS Fantasy pg 162-3
* GURPS Fantasy pg 147

So it did shuffle things around a bit but it was likely to make them flow a little better.



Assuming mana based magic that would likely fall under High Fantasy (Fantasy pg 6)

I say mana based magic because "Unified Metaphysical Theories / Magical Psi" (GURPS Powers pg 181) states "In some settings, “magic” and “psi” both tap the same energies, in one case by study and formal disciplines, in the other by raw talent and willpower."

The Fanmade Five Earths, All in a Row setting mixes this idea with Roma Arcana's idea that spirits rather than some energy power magic. This is how Fantasy Earth has magic and spells even though it is No Mana.

GURPS is not just a toolbox but a lego set.

Originally Posted by Opellulo (Post 2424841)

All the aspects are easily emulable, BUT I would suggest to trim down the many allignment-based rules: Dragonlance magic was a headache because appartently in the '80 it was perfectly sound to constantly track a complex three Moon phase calendar on top of the nonsensical 2Ed rules... Only to have Black robes incapable of throwing a fireball.

Same goes for Knight of Solamnia: 3 different classes for the same character archetype.. And for what I remember the Knight of the Rose was basically OP.

...also somebody said kender?

Originally Posted by Polydamas (Post 2424519)

I was a Dragonlance fan too long ago to have thoughts about what kinds of magic seem to belong in the setting, but its not the kind of setting where mages are like any other kind of artisan billing by the day.

Originally Posted by Opellulo (Post 2424841)

All the aspects are easily emulable, BUT I would suggest to trim down the many allignment-based rules: Dragonlance magic was a headache because appartently in the '80 it was perfectly sound to constantly track a complex three Moon phase calendar on top of the nonsensical 2Ed rules... Only to have Black robes incapable of throwing a fireball.

Originally Posted by khorboth (Post 2424850)

The thing I really wanted to emulate for alignment-based rules in wizards, though, was that black-robes rise to power faster while white gained more power in the long run.

Originally Posted by awesomenessofme1 (Post 2424842)

You're reading far too much into the phrase "low magic". It's not being used a term of art. When people say "low-magic", they just mean a setting without much magic. They almost certainly have absolutely no idea it was ever used in a GURPS book with a specific definition.

Originally Posted by maximara (Post 2424863)

I'm just using the definition for "Low Magic" GURPS Fantasy gives us. "Low magic" on wikipedia has a totally different meaning (relating to Satanic magic).

GURPS uses "High Fantasy" to describe rare magic settings. What magic exists is focused in a handful of items or people or limited to deities.

For example, Greek Mythology would be "High Fantasy" as spell casting by even demigods is next to nil. What magic does exist is the product of the gods or potions. Actual spell casting is effectively absent.

Low fantasy by contrast is the setting where magic is common and a part of everyday life. Merlin-1 is a Low fantasy setting.