Social implications of RPM

[blacksmith]

What do people think the social impact would be of relatively common RPM magic?

For one I think that age would be something that happens to the poor. A spell granting imaging to stop aging for its duration is not cheap but not to hard either. So the rich and powerful wouldn't age.

How hard is limb regrowth in RPM anyway?

[vicky_molokh]

I expect to see some complicated stuff/changes in the Charm / Casting Service markets.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by blacksmith

What do people think the social impact would be of relatively common RPM magic?

That's really going to depend on the setting, how widespread magic is, etc. That said, even if it's rare, but attainable it's going to become a status symbol. If you have magic, even if you're dirt poor you're suddenly going to be looked upon as if you weren't. If this just happened it's going to cause chaos or even destroy the old social strata as people scramble for magic, any magic. This assumes that magic is looked on as some sort of wunderkind breakthrough. Just another form of tech. If it's viewed as evil or bad, the reverse will happen. Magic will be openly shunned and magic users will be social pariahs are perhaps forced to work for the government or such. Secretly though, magic will be envied and desired. A whole black magic market could spring up over night with all that that entails. The possibilities are endless for what could happen.

Originally Posted by blacksmith

For one I think that age would be something that happens to the poor. A spell granting imaging to stop aging for its duration is not cheap but not to hard either. So the rich and powerful wouldn't age.

That I think would become restricted near instantly and be available only through lots of money, a grey market, or even a black market. If everyone suddenly lives forever, resources are going to become scarce.

Originally Posted by blacksmith

How hard is limb regrowth in RPM anyway?

The others have suggested that you can add Regrowth and go from there...sure, that's possible. But I'd do it differently. First, you'd need a Greater Restore Body effect to bring the limb back and then another Greater Restore Body effect with dice of Healing equal to or greater than the subject's HPx2 (the amount it takes to chop off a limb). No waiting, no fuss, no muss - you just have a limb back. Presto chango.

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

I expect to see some complicated stuff/changes in the Charm / Casting Service markets.

Yeah, this. Not complicated mind you - but this. In such a world there are going to be shops (Shoppes?) where you can get a spell done or purchase a charm or potion or whatever.

[blacksmith]

The thing is I am figuring unaging is expensive. So limited to the upper class. This cuts down social mobility but isn't a huge problem. It isn't supposed to be a terribly happy fantasy version of the Victorian age.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by blacksmith

The thing is I am figuring unaging is expensive. So limited to the upper class. This cuts down social mobility but isn't a huge problem. It isn't supposed to be a terribly happy fantasy version of the Victorian age.

Then make using unaging dangerous to use (all effects are Greater and all failures are critical failures). Or instead of granting unaging, require the use of Healing dice as months (each 1d translates to about 3.5 months). Or both. Thi way only the truly rich can afford to even get a few months taken off.

[Nosforontu]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

.
That I think would become restricted near instantly and be available only through lots of money, a grey market, or even a black market. If everyone suddenly lives forever, resources are going to become scarce.

If that was the only spell I would agree with you but with the ability of magic also able to either create or tranform resources as well I am not so sure that such a society would feel a resource crunch especially not quicly enough for a reflexive ban of your rich and powerful enjoying a very long life. Toss in some crossroad magic to create pocket realms for the wealthy to retreat to and I am not sure that it would even get all that much more crowded either.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Nosforontu

If that was the only spell I would agree with you but with the ability of magic also able to either create or tranform resources as well I am not so sure that such a society would feel a resource crunch especially not quicly enough for a reflexive ban of your rich and powerful enjoying a very long life. Toss in some crossroad magic to create pocket realms for the wealthy to retreat to and I am not sure that it would even get all that much more crowded either.

Well, that is part of the problem with adding magic in and it being known to all.

[Nosforontu]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

Well, that is part of the problem with adding magic in and it being known to all.

An even bigger problem would be potentially when states like North Korea start orgainizing City Wide + magical spells that add the Honesty Disadvantage/Fantatic [Kim Jong Il] to the residents of the city, perhaps mixed in with the advantage Doesn't Eat/Drink to sovle their food problems.

[scc]

Well that sounds wrong for RPM

[blacksmith]

Originally Posted by scc

Well that sounds wrong for RPM

Why? Yes it was originally designed for a secret magic setting but I am intending on using it in open magic fantasy settings.