[RPM] with Threshold Magic Ideas

templar · 11-08-2013, 02:10 PM

Hello again everyone!

I am using both the standard magic rules (with Threshold Magic), along with Ritual Path Magic, which I included after buying the PDF. In my world, there are lesser and greater practitioners of magic, so the system works nicely.

One thing I'd like work into RPM is the Threshold Rules. I've read a couple of threads here making suggestions about it in the past, but I've come up with a few of my own ideas I wanted to share with you.

Ritual Path Magic with Threshold
Every time a RPM mage casts a spell it goes against his Threshold. Energy is applied towards the Threshold based upon two factors; The base effects and (possibly) the energy gathered.

The first is the total number of lesser and greater effects used to create the spell. Each lesser effect adds 1 and each greater effect adds 3. For example, a mage casting Hunger would have a base cost of 1, while Sylph Form would have a base cost of 6.

The second is the number of failed energy gathering rolls the caster made while attempting to pull the right amount of power together to cast the spell. When an energy gathering roll is failed, the spell acquires 1 Quirk, and the caster's Threshold increases by 1. Basically the caster draws the magic incorrectly, and the energy pollutes him. The GM may even allow the caster to take a larger amount of Threshold (say 3) to avoid the Quirk, but that is only an option.

I think this works pretty well. Higher costs spells will require the caster to draw additional power, which will result in additional gathering rolls, and additional opportunities to pick more tax against their threshold. This also promotes the concept that energy corrupts the user, and if not drawn incorrectly can lead to nasty side effects.

Thoughts?

11-08-2013, 02:10 PM	#1
templar Join Date: Jan 2009	[RPM] with Threshold Magic Ideas Hello again everyone! I am using both the standard magic rules (with Threshold Magic), along with Ritual Path Magic, which I included after buying the PDF. In my world, there are lesser and greater practitioners of magic, so the system works nicely. One thing I'd like work into RPM is the Threshold Rules. I've read a couple of threads here making suggestions about it in the past, but I've come up with a few of my own ideas I wanted to share with you. Ritual Path Magic with Threshold Every time a RPM mage casts a spell it goes against his Threshold. Energy is applied towards the Threshold based upon two factors; The base effects and (possibly) the energy gathered. The first is the total number of lesser and greater effects used to create the spell. Each lesser effect adds 1 and each greater effect adds 3. For example, a mage casting Hunger would have a base cost of 1, while Sylph Form would have a base cost of 6. The second is the number of failed energy gathering rolls the caster made while attempting to pull the right amount of power together to cast the spell. When an energy gathering roll is failed, the spell acquires 1 Quirk, and the caster's Threshold increases by 1. Basically the caster draws the magic incorrectly, and the energy pollutes him. The GM may even allow the caster to take a larger amount of Threshold (say 3) to avoid the Quirk, but that is only an option. I think this works pretty well. Higher costs spells will require the caster to draw additional power, which will result in additional gathering rolls, and additional opportunities to pick more tax against their threshold. This also promotes the concept that energy corrupts the user, and if not drawn incorrectly can lead to nasty side effects. Thoughts?