[4e] Custom Magic for a Custom Setting

Rabek · 03-24-2014, 03:05 PM

Many years ago, I wanted to create my own RPG for lack of funds and friends to play an already established one. Now, about a decade later, I've decided that I'm terrible at rules and GURPS might be able to handle the crunch while I write out the fluff.

I'm a bit stuck with the magic system, which is my favorite part of any setting. I love metaphysics.

I understand Magic and Thaumatology provide a lot of options, but honestly I'm a bit lost with how many they are, and some just seem impractical. A prime example is how incredible expensive Realms magic is in either FP or skill penalties.

As per the above, I don't trust myself (or other people, generally) with house rules, so I figured I'd post what I've worked out so far and hope people have suggestions to improve it.

Now, there are two basic divisions of magic in this system that lead to many more permutations:

Natural (for lack of a better word) magic, and Spirit magic.

Natural magic has always existed and involves manipulating various dualistic energies (life/death, heaven/earth, heat/cold) via willpower to produce effects. Energies cannot be changed outside their dualisms (life can become death, but it cannot become heat, etc). Most things contain a mix, and most magic comes from moving the energies from one thing to another. I've modeled this by using aspected Mana ratings, where a bonfire will have High Heat mana that allows for easy fire magic and the like.

Interacting with the environment is a big goal of this system. If you want to cast a lot of a certain type of magic, it's worth finding a place or creating a place that causes the type of 'mana' you need.

I like GURPS's FP expenditure system for this, since it is physically tiring to move the energies around. I've also been tentatively using the Realms magic from Thaumatology for this, since freeform magic is ideal and Realms seems to fit the dualistic energies best.

Anything that aids in focus/belief allows for a variant on Natural Magic. The main ones being Symbol Magic (which I'm using from Thaumatology presently) and ritual/ceremonial magic (which I'm having trouble finding rules I like for; it should just provide bonuses even with a single mage, rather than being required). Symbol magic is also the only way to enchant with Natural Magic, and it's pretty ubiquitous in the setting. Farmers might know a few symbols to help grow crops. Hunters might know a few divination symbols to find animals.

The biggest problem I'm having with Realm Magic is the ridiculous FP costs and skill penalties. Also, I'd like Life/Death magic to cost HP without making it entirely undesirable. I'm not sure if there is an advantage/power that might model this better.

The second I'm really lost on, and I've posted threads related to it in the past:

Spirit Magic.

It's more recent in-setting, and spirits are the creation of the belief of people in local areas (though most people don't realize it's belief-based).

Sanctity kind of works for this, since I want geographic regions to have their own gods/spirits based on the people living there. However, I want anyone to be able to pray to spirits/gods for help. So far, I'm liking spirit-assisted magic, but it's not perfect. You should get a bonus for being built for it, but you should not need to be. There should be a bonus for knowing the spirits of an area, but I don't want to require it since you should be able to find a minor spirit out in the middle of a forest (since your character likely believes there are spirits everywhere, so worst-case scenario you are creating a minor spirit to petition).

A variant of this would be a personal guardian spirit that one prays to exclusively, which I figure might be best represented as an ally or even patron.

Some form of fetish-making without having to use the spell would also be nice, as I'm trying to avoid discrete 'spells', as per the freeform magic above.

Does anyone have any suggestions or comments on what I have so far? Is this just too ambitious for GURPS? I'd like to be able to model as much of this as possible using as few systems as possible. There's already more than enough rules without adding a dozen more just for magic, but I do want to be true to the fictional setting I've created.

03-24-2014, 03:05 PM	#1
Rabek Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Colorado, USA	[4e] Custom Magic for a Custom Setting Many years ago, I wanted to create my own RPG for lack of funds and friends to play an already established one. Now, about a decade later, I've decided that I'm terrible at rules and GURPS might be able to handle the crunch while I write out the fluff. I'm a bit stuck with the magic system, which is my favorite part of any setting. I love metaphysics. I understand Magic and Thaumatology provide a lot of options, but honestly I'm a bit lost with how many they are, and some just seem impractical. A prime example is how incredible expensive Realms magic is in either FP or skill penalties. As per the above, I don't trust myself (or other people, generally) with house rules, so I figured I'd post what I've worked out so far and hope people have suggestions to improve it. Now, there are two basic divisions of magic in this system that lead to many more permutations: Natural (for lack of a better word) magic, and Spirit magic. Natural magic has always existed and involves manipulating various dualistic energies (life/death, heaven/earth, heat/cold) via willpower to produce effects. Energies cannot be changed outside their dualisms (life can become death, but it cannot become heat, etc). Most things contain a mix, and most magic comes from moving the energies from one thing to another. I've modeled this by using aspected Mana ratings, where a bonfire will have High Heat mana that allows for easy fire magic and the like. Interacting with the environment is a big goal of this system. If you want to cast a lot of a certain type of magic, it's worth finding a place or creating a place that causes the type of 'mana' you need. I like GURPS's FP expenditure system for this, since it is physically tiring to move the energies around. I've also been tentatively using the Realms magic from Thaumatology for this, since freeform magic is ideal and Realms seems to fit the dualistic energies best. Anything that aids in focus/belief allows for a variant on Natural Magic. The main ones being Symbol Magic (which I'm using from Thaumatology presently) and ritual/ceremonial magic (which I'm having trouble finding rules I like for; it should just provide bonuses even with a single mage, rather than being required). Symbol magic is also the only way to enchant with Natural Magic, and it's pretty ubiquitous in the setting. Farmers might know a few symbols to help grow crops. Hunters might know a few divination symbols to find animals. The biggest problem I'm having with Realm Magic is the ridiculous FP costs and skill penalties. Also, I'd like Life/Death magic to cost HP without making it entirely undesirable. I'm not sure if there is an advantage/power that might model this better. The second I'm really lost on, and I've posted threads related to it in the past: Spirit Magic. It's more recent in-setting, and spirits are the creation of the belief of people in local areas (though most people don't realize it's belief-based). Sanctity kind of works for this, since I want geographic regions to have their own gods/spirits based on the people living there. However, I want anyone to be able to pray to spirits/gods for help. So far, I'm liking spirit-assisted magic, but it's not perfect. You should get a bonus for being built for it, but you should not need to be. There should be a bonus for knowing the spirits of an area, but I don't want to require it since you should be able to find a minor spirit out in the middle of a forest (since your character likely believes there are spirits everywhere, so worst-case scenario you are creating a minor spirit to petition). A variant of this would be a personal guardian spirit that one prays to exclusively, which I figure might be best represented as an ally or even patron. Some form of fetish-making without having to use the spell would also be nice, as I'm trying to avoid discrete 'spells', as per the freeform magic above. Does anyone have any suggestions or comments on what I have so far? Is this just too ambitious for GURPS? I'd like to be able to model as much of this as possible using as few systems as possible. There's already more than enough rules without adding a dozen more just for magic, but I do want to be true to the fictional setting I've created.