From: johnson@ssvax1.ssd.loral.com (Christopher Johnson)
Subject: Re: net.rpg: magic.ideas
Followup-To: rec.games.design
Organization: Space Systems/LORAL - Palo Alto, CA
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 20:07:11 GMT

In article <1992Dec16.034443.2140@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca>, apace@mta.ca
wrote:
> 
> 	Well, I'll start off by relating how magic and psionics work in my
> game-world, and then I'll go on to a discussion of the inplementation of magic
[...]
> 	Obviously, this is a very world-specific view of magic.  But I think
> that any implementation of magic in a RPG as "generic" as net.rpg aims to be, 
> should be able to include this view of magic in the world, as well as all of
> the other ideas that have been posted to this newsgroup...
> 	I think that we're going to need to have to some serious modularity 
> here, guys....
> 
> 
> 
> 	"Sublett said it was the Devil's work.
> 	 Rydell said it was a Tokyo franchise operation."
> 	          _Virtual Light_   -    William Gibson.
> 
> 	 Tony Pace           -            <apace@mta.ca>   

Well, I guess I'll jump in with both feet here. Several years ago I was
going to run a SciFi (Other Suns) rpg with 'Magic/Psionics'. To help myself
I came up with the following world view:

There are at least 7 dimensions (many theorists think 11) to the universe.
Most people are familiar with the standard 4 (x,y,z,t). Science has proven
at least 3 more dimensions (x',y',z'). All matter as we know it has
components in all of these dimensions. FTL travel has been accomplished by
shifting the (x,y,z) dimensions into the upper (x',y',z') dimensions where
the physical constants are different (Note that the time (t) component is
not shifted, so time passes while in FTL mode). The instantaneous
communications are handled by shifting the time component into one of the
upper dimensions.

Magic/Psionics are the manipulations of the upper dimension components of
ordinary material.

Psionics is the manipulation via mental energy (or upper dimensional
extensions of the body).

Magic is usually the term used to describe the result of upper dimensional
interactions that 'fall' into or change the lower dimensions. Within this
structure several 'types' of mages can be defined.

Alchemist: The Alchemist is versed in the knowledge of the upper components
of material and uses this knowledge to do extended chemistry (chemistry of
the upper dimensions).

Function Mage: The Function Mage knows various upper level 'functions' that
will transform mental/physical energy into a desired result. This would be
'Battle or Spirit' magic in RQ terms.

Component Mage: The Component Mage is the 'design a spell on the fly' type
of mage. They will create upper dimensional structures that modify energy
(both upper and lower energy) into the result they want. In my system they
knew various component 'magics' and would combine them into a spell.

Power Word Mage: The Power Word Mage will create a 'static' upper
dimensional structure that has the potential to 'fall' into the lower
dimensions once triggered. This is your basic 'DnD' type mage where once
they cast a spell they must 'memorize' it again and can have multiple
copies of the same spell. In this system the term 'memorizes' simply means
that they sit quietly and 'build' the upper dimensional structure. This is
a complicated and delicate procedure and usually requires the use of a
written procedure (Spell Book) to get everything right. The triggering
mechanism can be as simple as a mental thought/push or as complicated as
using the upper components of material to initiate the process.

Clerical or Devine magic can be thought of as a modified 'Power Word'
approach. Where instead of 'building' the structure they beseech (pray) to
an Upper Dimensional Being (God?) to give them a pre-built structure.

Now I grant you this is mainly a Magic as a Science approach, but that is
the way I like my systems to be. For those who wish a more chaotic system,
remember that not all upper dimensional components are the same. Those two
lumps of gold may both be the same mass and shape in the lower dimensions,
but in the upper dimensions they are different. This allows you to bring in
the 'mystery' of magic, in that a spell is different every time because of
inherent differences in the upper dimensional qualities of everything. The
'best' you could do is have a statistical average of what you thing the
spell will do.


More thoughts and Ideas...
Chris

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