Magic and Fantasy World Building - by Brad on 20:15 27 Aug 2002
Have you ever thought that the practice of magic in your fantasy world will effect how that world is built?
For instance will they build castles if the world is rife with people that can do earthquake spells?
Will armies fight with men shoulder to shoulder if magic users are common and can throw tons of fireballs into the ranks?
Is magic like D&D spells with direct effects or more indirect like curses?
How do people view magic users?
Are spell casters very rare or churned out in a academy?
If magic can be turned to practical purposes how will that effect the development of technology over centuries? Will it stunt it?
Is magic practiced alone or in groups?
Seems like how magic is built into your world will effect how that world has developed. Fortifications, warfare, communications might all be different depending on how magic works in your world.
Does this make sense?
Have you ever thought that the practice of magic in your fantasy world will effect how that world is built?
For instance will they build castles if the world is rife with people that can do earthquake spells?
Will armies fight with men shoulder to shoulder if magic users are common and can throw tons of fireballs into the ranks?
Is magic like D&D spells with direct effects or more indirect like curses?
How do people view magic users?
Are spell casters very rare or churned out in a academy?
If magic can be turned to practical purposes how will that effect the development of technology over centuries? Will it stunt it?
Is magic practiced alone or in groups?
Seems like how magic is built into your world will effect how that world has developed. Fortifications, warfare, communications might all be different depending on how magic works in your world.
Does this make sense?
Magic and Fantasy World Building - by Haruchai on 13:34 28 Aug 2002
It makes perfect sense.
Could you imagine how long the Roman soldiers, fighting in phalanx fashion, would have lasted against a caster of magic in fantasy? Not long, that's for sure.
Spells that, in D&D are commonplace (comprehend languages, purify food and water...), would make living a whole lot easier for some people. Language barriers down, plenty of food and water for everyone....
But the magic is also offset by the monsters and diseases as well. *shrugs* I suppose one could make a world where nearly everything magical is taken into consideration for everyday life, but....
Eh, I'm too tired to write. I'll continue this some other time.
Haru
It makes perfect sense.
Could you imagine how long the Roman soldiers, fighting in phalanx fashion, would have lasted against a caster of magic in fantasy? Not long, that's for sure.
Spells that, in D&D are commonplace (comprehend languages, purify food and water...), would make living a whole lot easier for some people. Language barriers down, plenty of food and water for everyone....
But the magic is also offset by the monsters and diseases as well. *shrugs* I suppose one could make a world where nearly everything magical is taken into consideration for everyday life, but....
Eh, I'm too tired to write. I'll continue this some other time.
Haru
Magic and Fantasy World Building - by Brad on 15:13 28 Aug 2002
Yeah it matters. Ranged weapons would be used more if fireball spells were common. It would effect how the residents of the world think and their world view.
Yeah it matters. Ranged weapons would be used more if fireball spells were common. It would effect how the residents of the world think and their world view.
Magic and Fantasy World Building - by Kainja on 00:37 29 Aug 2002
You have to rember also, though, that the regular use of magic would create a pressure to find counters to that magic. It's sort of the nature of humankind that there would be a type of "arms" race under such circumstances.
Tactics of fighting might be different, of course, as Brad suggested. But there might also be advancements in armor or weaponry that could counter, or partially counter sorcery. I would suspect that the non-magical folks would try to coopt some of the magical ones into creating nullifying shields or spells so that magic wouldn't work. Barring that, they might just kill any and all infants immediately who showed the first signs of having magical talent.
You have to rember also, though, that the regular use of magic would create a pressure to find counters to that magic. It's sort of the nature of humankind that there would be a type of "arms" race under such circumstances.
Tactics of fighting might be different, of course, as Brad suggested. But there might also be advancements in armor or weaponry that could counter, or partially counter sorcery. I would suspect that the non-magical folks would try to coopt some of the magical ones into creating nullifying shields or spells so that magic wouldn't work. Barring that, they might just kill any and all infants immediately who showed the first signs of having magical talent.
Magic and Fantasy World Building - by Brad on 09:35 29 Aug 2002
Sure, if spell casters are rare is it because they are killed if found out? That could be the plot of the story. Do the religious authorities feel threatened by secular spellcasters?
I agree on the counter measures non-magical folks would try to come up with them.
Sure, if spell casters are rare is it because they are killed if found out? That could be the plot of the story. Do the religious authorities feel threatened by secular spellcasters?
I agree on the counter measures non-magical folks would try to come up with them.
Magic and Fantasy World Building - by Arislyn on 09:55 29 Aug 2002
I do agree with everything that has been said.
Personally, I think the secular spellcasters would be a little less threatening than your magely types (though only slightly). Mages would be wild cards, developing their powers goodness knows how and learning from other people with widly varied philosophies. Each and every mage is a new experience.
Secular spellcasters, however, would be a bit more predictable in their behavior since it could be assumed that they were taught within the confines of a certain dogma and philosophy. So, a secular caster who was taught within a religion that stresses compassion and love would probably not go about hurling fiery doom at innocent passerby. However, those who are from more violent orders would be watched carefully or even hunted openly.
I do agree with everything that has been said.
Personally, I think the secular spellcasters would be a little less threatening than your magely types (though only slightly). Mages would be wild cards, developing their powers goodness knows how and learning from other people with widly varied philosophies. Each and every mage is a new experience.
Secular spellcasters, however, would be a bit more predictable in their behavior since it could be assumed that they were taught within the confines of a certain dogma and philosophy. So, a secular caster who was taught within a religion that stresses compassion and love would probably not go about hurling fiery doom at innocent passerby. However, those who are from more violent orders would be watched carefully or even hunted openly.
Magic and Fantasy World Building - by MoonHunter on 02:48 30 Aug 2002
It also all depends on how many spell casters there are. If they are as common as tradesmen, the world is a very different place, than if there are 24 in the whole darn world (with 2 or 3 apprentices in the wings).
Magik, is just another technology, another thing you have to consider when designing a game or story environment. How common is it, how much effect can it generate, and how do people view it.
People viewing it is important. Look at the impact gunpowder had on China. Yawn. Then look at the impact it had on Europe (and eventually the whole world as the Europeans took their technology on the road).
Magik could also be a "resource". Magik could require magik crystals or a drug or ley line energy or demonic compacts. Is there enough "power" to meet all the magik using needs of a people?
It also all depends on how many spell casters there are. If they are as common as tradesmen, the world is a very different place, than if there are 24 in the whole darn world (with 2 or 3 apprentices in the wings).
Magik, is just another technology, another thing you have to consider when designing a game or story environment. How common is it, how much effect can it generate, and how do people view it.
People viewing it is important. Look at the impact gunpowder had on China. Yawn. Then look at the impact it had on Europe (and eventually the whole world as the Europeans took their technology on the road).
Magik could also be a "resource". Magik could require magik crystals or a drug or ley line energy or demonic compacts. Is there enough "power" to meet all the magik using needs of a people?
Magic and Fantasy World Building - by Brad on 07:39 30 Aug 2002
Good points Moonhunter.
Also how portable is magic? As MU's get more powerful do they become less mobile because they have to store more of their powers in artifacts? (ie. Do they have to create a magic throne that they must sit in to do certain spells?)
Are there areas where all spells get twisted and don't act "normally" because in ancient times the gods did something weird there?
Good points Moonhunter.
Also how portable is magic? As MU's get more powerful do they become less mobile because they have to store more of their powers in artifacts? (ie. Do they have to create a magic throne that they must sit in to do certain spells?)
Are there areas where all spells get twisted and don't act "normally" because in ancient times the gods did something weird there?
Magic and Fantasy World Building - by din on 07:49 30 Aug 2002
i had a brief thought this very second. that you could equate the use of wizards in daily fantasy life, particularly war, the ultimate representation of failed interpersonal/professional relationships, to the use of lawyers ... the more does not mean the merrier. and everybody seems to need one if everybody else has one.
you can also look at the prestigious colleges and law firms of today as a model for the magic schools / magic 'companies' (if that fits the flavour , maybe magic guilds or something like that)
i many of my magic systems i use several layers .. where there are charms and signs against evil which would be used by the peasant class to increase crop yield (and sticking to my analogy -- small claims court) and ward off minor curses etc. and this is from a sort of ambient power .. the law of magic .. then there are the heavy hitters, people born with their own power who can exert will more on the law of magic . they can still do charms / but can bring far more force to bear ..
the two systems depend on the level of saving throw detail the minor peasant charms would give a bit of a bonus but it would be less than a +1 in D20 .. else everybody would be running around covered in lucky chicken feet and warding the evil eye al over .
i had a brief thought this very second. that you could equate the use of wizards in daily fantasy life, particularly war, the ultimate representation of failed interpersonal/professional relationships, to the use of lawyers ... the more does not mean the merrier. and everybody seems to need one if everybody else has one.
you can also look at the prestigious colleges and law firms of today as a model for the magic schools / magic 'companies' (if that fits the flavour , maybe magic guilds or something like that)
i many of my magic systems i use several layers .. where there are charms and signs against evil which would be used by the peasant class to increase crop yield (and sticking to my analogy -- small claims court) and ward off minor curses etc. and this is from a sort of ambient power .. the law of magic .. then there are the heavy hitters, people born with their own power who can exert will more on the law of magic . they can still do charms / but can bring far more force to bear ..
the two systems depend on the level of saving throw detail the minor peasant charms would give a bit of a bonus but it would be less than a +1 in D20 .. else everybody would be running around covered in lucky chicken feet and warding the evil eye al over .