From: desanto@uvahep.phys.Virginia.EDU
Newsgroups: alt.games.torg
Subject: Re: Nile Magic
Date: 11 Nov 92 01:34:09 GMT
Organization: University of North Texas
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To:	DESANTO
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Subj:	Re: Nile Magic

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From: "Steven S. DeSanto" <ssd2q@uva.pcmail.Virginia.EDU>
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 20:25:25 EST
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To: desanto@uvahep.phys.Virginia.EDU
Subject: Re: Nile Magic



Burton wrote:

>> a ritual most high, call upon your knowledge of Egyptian Religion (RELIG)
>> to bring together the numbers in perfect sync to form the FOURTH TERM."

and Ks. Jim commented:

> I don't think the Egyptian Religion skill is the appropriate one to
> use here; the Mathematics magic is not based on the power of the gods
> (which would be miracles) but is based on natural powers generated by
> the "music of the spheres" or by "planetary motion through the ether"
> or any number of such concepts.

  I kind of disagree with KJ here.  (now I'll have all his disciples throwing
miracles at me :-)
  I personally pictured the Nile magic system as being very mystical, using
mathematics, yes, but also having other influences.  This is not mathematics
as we know it.  I don't think Nile mathematicians just write equations on a
paper and *poof*.  There's even a picture in the SB of a man, presumably a
mathematician since it's on that page, sitting in a mystical symbol drawn on
the floor with lots of drawn numbers and runes, candles, etc...
  I think that using the planets as an influence must take into account the
Egyptian interpretation of the planets themselves.  The planets had mystical
properties based on the gods which they represented.  Knowing and using these
properties is not the same thing as actually invoking the aid of a god.  Just
as Egyptain Religion skill is not the same as Faith or Focus (Egyptian
Religion).  Egyp. Relig. is the knowledge of the lore and mythology of the
gods.  You don't have to be a priest to know this.
  In this case, knowledge of the gods likes and dislikes, friends and
enemies, should be worked into the "mystical" aspect of the spell.
Especially if you want to include Frictions as a component in spell design.
You may want to keep certain god's planet in Opposition to other god's planet
at all times.  You may want the planet of the Death god in Opposition when
making a Heal spell.  Doing this is not invoking a gods aid, which would be a
miracle.  This is using the legends and lore of the planets and their
namesakes.
  Besides, one of the pleasing things about the Aysle magic system is that a
magician must be skilled an several areas before he can be a competent spell
creator.  By using Egyp. Relig, and perhaps some form of Nile Astronomy
(which doesn't actually exist as a skill, but we can make one) you keep this
property intact when translating the system to the Nile.


  One other note:  the Great Conjunction (or whatever they call it)
supposedly happens every 3,000,000 years.  By adding the planet Thoth, will
this conjunction happen only every 129,000,000 years?  That may require some
changes in Nile religious dogma somewhere.

Steve DeSanto
ssd2q@uva.pcmail.virginia.edu
Newsgroups: alt.games.torg