Re: Inexhaustible Magic

[redwalker]

Greetings.

I'm looking for an RPG that has inexhaustible magic. By this I mean a system where you can cast spells all day long without limitations or anything becoming depleted. So many systems place restrictions on magic users (probably as an issue of balance) like; ageing of the mage, mana depletion, one spell per day etc...

I haven't read a lot of fantasy but this is not usually how magic is presented in the stuff I have read. I don't wish to start a discussion on how various magic works as there are plenty of good web sites for that. All I want to know is: Is there an RPG where the magic users can use inexhaustible magic with it not having any depleting effects?

Thankyou.

I don't recommend using the system, but take a look at D&D 3.0 and its treatment of psionics with Trigger Powers.

Ordinarily psionics have to spend power points, but with Trigger Power they get a chance to use a specific power without spending any points.

If I recall the rules correctly (I don't have the books any more, which indicates how playable I think the system is) one could have a psion with a Trigger Power and a very high chance to never deplete his energy.  


This is closely related to a separate topic in a setting for my game under development, but that belongs in a separate thread.

[Ron Edwards]

Hello,

The above was posted to Inexhaustible magic and split off by me, as the thread is a few months old.

Continue the discussion by all means. Redwalker, take a look at the Forge Etiquette sticky at the top of the Site Discussion forum for guidelines about posting to old threads, and private-message me if you have any questions about it.

Best,
Ron

[Sixteen Coal Black Horses]

The Battleaxe RPG does not place limitations on how many spells a mage can cast in one day, or ever for that matter.  Plus, you make up your spells on the fly as you game. If you like the spell you've made you can record it on your character sheet. Then, as you practice the spell, you get better at casting it and its effects become more robust.

Battleaxe is free. Give it a whirl and let us know what you think!

[Vaxalon]

GURPS also allows characters to cast fairly weak spells that he knows well without expending any resources.

[Marco]

The standard JAGS Magic system has spell points--but it has two typs: long term and short term.

Long term come back slowly--like 1pt each 10min.

Short term come back each second--so that no matter how depleted a mage is, they can cast spells that are "weak" for their level (an Archon can throw powerful spells around every second).

There is an endurance cost for some spells, however. But as a practical limitation that isn't so severe.

The basic effect is that you get one or two capital spells per scene (depending on length of scene) and then have to rely on less powerful magics until you can take some time to regenerate.

JAGS is available here: http://jagsgame.dyndns.org

-Marco

[TonyLB]

Surprised nobody has mentioned Nobilis.

It lets people do minor effects all day long, if they want.  Of course for Nobles a minor effect is something like "Raise the Dead" or "See anything that is lit by the sun" or "Create a castle, complete with occupants".

[MajorKiz]

And there's GURPS "Unlimited Mana", a variant on the net where you can draw as much mana as you need for any spell out of the environment. If you draw too much, too rapidly, you can end up overcharging yourself and cause a major magical disaster, but low-end spells can be tossed around pretty handily.

[Mike Holmes]

Check out the previous thread from which this one was split. People are starting to suggest the same methods that were suggested in that thread.

Battle Axe's magic sounds quite similar to Ars Magica in some ways.

Mike

[epweissengruber]

You might be fed up with mana and/or spell slot counting.  Yet you might want to consider mechanics that facilitate simulation of source material.

To capture the feeling of fictional magicians you might want to consider the following.



Demons
- no spell point counting but being with a demon is like being in relationship hell.  Yes, heads will explode but can you deal with the passive aggressive -- or aggressive aggressive -- situations created by a bitchy demon?
= the one, the only, Sorcerer.

Swords and Sorcery a la Fritz Leiber's Nehwon stories.
- Very few "fireball" type spells, but personal relationships mean a great deal.  The Grey Mouser is a weak hedge magician who can enough power to zap his enemy while being tortured because he a) has been betrayed by the woman he loves and is burning with rage b) taps into the girl's long-surpressed hatred of her father.
= the relationship mechanics in Hero Wars allow you to pull this off

Ursula K. Leguin's "Lathe of Heaven" &/or the more speak freaky Philip K. Dick
- In "Lathe," a mental patient's dreams are powerful enough to change reality.  A shared narration mechanic like OctaNe might allow players to warp the fundamental reality of other characters' players.