Magic without Magery

Mgellis · 07-14-2009, 09:45 AM

I was playing around with some ideas and realized something...

In Lovecraft, magic doesn't appear to require Magery. Anyone can learn spells. Usually, this is very hard, and a really bad idea, but it can be done.

So it got me thinking about how magic is generally handled in GURPS.

Standard spellcasting uses Magery, which is described in a way that suggests it is an innate talent (sensing magic objects, etc. implies someone has a "gift" rather than a learned skill). One is somehow in tune with the magical energy of the universe (mana) and can tap into it and shape it. The learned part is the ability to focus this energy for specific effects, not the basic ability.

So I started thinking about two questions...

1) What kinds of magic do not normally require Magery

...and...

2) If you're not born with Magery, but it's not something you can simply learn through study, are there any ways to gain it later in life?

Some initial thoughts...

* Symbol Drawing does not require Magery. It is implied that the symbols themselves are a kind of lens or gate that focuses magical energy for certain purposes

(I can imagine some really interesting, elaborate forms of Symbol Drawing. Consider Symbol Drawing (Goetia), where each symbol skill lets you summon a different demon who will complete one task for you...but if you fail your skill roll, you may find yourself at the mercy of an angry prince of the infernal realms!)

* Alchemy does not require Magery; it is simply magical chemistry

(Alchemy could also be greatly expanded...along with the various elixirs in Magic, there are lots of interesting things one could do with Alchemy. For example, perhaps certain elixirs will compel a spirit to show up and talk to you...sort of like going "Treat! Treat!" except you're calling something a bit more dangerous than a housecat.)

* Magical powers do not require Magery (but may use a Magic Talent to boost skill, etc.)

* Clerical magic uses Power Investiture, which comes from an external source. Again, this is not learned, but presumably it could be granted either at birth or later in life as a reward for devotion, etc.

* Certain kinds of Path/Book magic do not require Magery...if it is part of a religion, one can replace Ritual Magic with Religious Ritual. (Since most such users of magic probably have Theology, too, it's actually the same cost, except you don't need Magery (Path/Book)).

* If a setting is high mana (either everywhere and all the time or "when the stars are right" or "amid the sacred stones" etc.) one would not need Magery for basic spellcasting.

* For clerical magic, one might not even need Power Investiture, if Religious Ritual skill lets one sanctify a location...if a location is high sanctity, I think one can cast clerical spells without Power Investiture. (Am I getting this one right?)

* As for gaining Magery later if life, perhaps an elaborate ritual (Ritual Magic) or elixir (Alchemy) could do it?

Any other thoughts on all this?

07-14-2009, 09:45 AM	#1
Mgellis Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Flushing, Michigan	Magic without Magery I was playing around with some ideas and realized something... In Lovecraft, magic doesn't appear to require Magery. Anyone can learn spells. Usually, this is very hard, and a really bad idea, but it can be done. So it got me thinking about how magic is generally handled in GURPS. Standard spellcasting uses Magery, which is described in a way that suggests it is an innate talent (sensing magic objects, etc. implies someone has a "gift" rather than a learned skill). One is somehow in tune with the magical energy of the universe (mana) and can tap into it and shape it. The learned part is the ability to focus this energy for specific effects, not the basic ability. So I started thinking about two questions... 1) What kinds of magic do not normally require Magery ...and... 2) If you're not born with Magery, but it's not something you can simply learn through study, are there any ways to gain it later in life? Some initial thoughts... * Symbol Drawing does not require Magery. It is implied that the symbols themselves are a kind of lens or gate that focuses magical energy for certain purposes (I can imagine some really interesting, elaborate forms of Symbol Drawing. Consider Symbol Drawing (Goetia), where each symbol skill lets you summon a different demon who will complete one task for you...but if you fail your skill roll, you may find yourself at the mercy of an angry prince of the infernal realms!) * Alchemy does not require Magery; it is simply magical chemistry (Alchemy could also be greatly expanded...along with the various elixirs in Magic, there are lots of interesting things one could do with Alchemy. For example, perhaps certain elixirs will compel a spirit to show up and talk to you...sort of like going "Treat! Treat!" except you're calling something a bit more dangerous than a housecat.) * Magical powers do not require Magery (but may use a Magic Talent to boost skill, etc.) * Clerical magic uses Power Investiture, which comes from an external source. Again, this is not learned, but presumably it could be granted either at birth or later in life as a reward for devotion, etc. * Certain kinds of Path/Book magic do not require Magery...if it is part of a religion, one can replace Ritual Magic with Religious Ritual. (Since most such users of magic probably have Theology, too, it's actually the same cost, except you don't need Magery (Path/Book)). * If a setting is high mana (either everywhere and all the time or "when the stars are right" or "amid the sacred stones" etc.) one would not need Magery for basic spellcasting. * For clerical magic, one might not even need Power Investiture, if Religious Ritual skill lets one sanctify a location...if a location is high sanctity, I think one can cast clerical spells without Power Investiture. (Am I getting this one right?) * As for gaining Magery later if life, perhaps an elaborate ritual (Ritual Magic) or elixir (Alchemy) could do it? Any other thoughts on all this?