OBIECUS ADDON / GAME DESIGN / TEXT ADVENTURE / WRITING GAMES
Obiectus: Magic Systems
Magic is as skill deserves it’s own little addon. Unlike any other object or skill it is a “compound” skill.
A skill is knowledge, but what I mean by a compound skill is that most magic requires physical objects as well. Be they crystals, books, scrolls, herbs, or whatever. In your book the character should carry a vessel for the “Spells” a book, or a scroll case. You could have them pick up herbs, which take up space in a pouch or their person. In either case the book or pouch are the component with the weight, and then then it can hold the spell/component. If you want to get really picky, you could require both. It depends on how complex you want to make the system. Again, unless your creating a spell caster simulation, less is more.
And there are flavors.
Magic in the context I am talking about is Mental, Divine, or Arcane. You can of course put them into your writing as you will but some basic “Rules” or tropes are worth noting here.
Mental (psionics)
Typically this is a “future related” it is a skill. Native or enhanced Psychic surgery. It is suited to settings where gods and mystical things have given way to science. You can use computer chips, or a focus (A lens of some type) that can be permanent or expendable. In science fiction (especially those of the 1950s and ‘60s), psionics was a proposed discipline that applied principles of engineering (especially electronics) to the study (and employment) of paranormal or psychic phenomena, such as telepathy and psychokinesis.
Divine
A Prayer book (bible) in hand. Holy oils on the skin, a supply of holy water, Possibly different “bundles of herbs” that must be lite, the divine magic is an appeal to nature (shamanic/druidic) or a god. The character does not have to be a Priest, but have some understanding and faith. Here is an opportunity to have a “break of faith.” or if your are in the Lovecraft worlds, go crazy, looking into the eye of god. In both cases Divine magic can be lost for a period of time or permanently. I story this can be part of the transformation.
Arcane
Different schools exist in this realm. Elemental, Energy, Illusion, or summoning. Probably a few more it is mostly used in high fantasy, but could also be very subtle. Does the public know about magic, or is it fringe and muted it is muted.
The main thing that separates it is that it taps energies int he universe and so it’s not a matter of belief, it just is. But it should cost something. Generally energy that powerful will burn out your body, it can be subtle and just story device, or you can say (and I strongly suggest) that it saps strength and lowers that trait. If you make it unlimited then you run the risk of making the other options in your story obsolete. Of course if all the options ARE the use of magic to get through it, then you might want that? Food for thought.
Objects
Your books may not have “spells” or talents permanently attached to the character at all. They are simply ALL objects. Wands, gloves, eye glasses, hats, crystals of various sorts. And they may “burn out” in some number of “charges.”
They can be simple, or they can also have cost. Mainly adiction, which could sap intelligence for a time, or various curses, loss of dexterity or streght for a time. Possibly until the “residue” has been cleansed.
Be Consistent
Whatever the system of magic, be consistent. Remember Magic opens the gates of possibilities for a reader. The goal is not to make them gods. As a complex skill it can add a lot of detail and complexity to the game. It’s a way to think about objects and skills at a different level.
So there you have it… I have some ideas for a compound skill for use in Cyberpunk, so I will cover that in a second article. Have fun. In the mean tim look for my post on how to implement Obiectus next…
follow me, and sign up for my email, so you don’t miss any posts and feel free to let me know what you think.
Fiction Odd and Wonderful is brand new, follow my publication as well as we develop.
