Magic System Ruminations

[Nathan Frund]

After running Agon this past weekend, I thought that it would be great to run a D&D type game with it.  Already I think it's a better D&D than D&D for sheer ease of putting the smackdown on the bad guys and taking their stuff.

So, I've been thinking about a really simple magic system that could be overlaid onto the current system without bogging it down our being out of flavor.

My initial thoughts are to break spells down into 4 broad categories and to use them in place of the Battle Abilities for casting magic spells.

I've got 3 categories already but am having a tough time coming up with the 4th:

Beast
Element
Man

I'm also thinking that spells can be used to win victories or to imbue others with the ability to win victories.  That simple.

Thoughts?  Suggestions?

[John Harper]

Interesting, Nathan.

I think the easiest way to do it is to overlay some color. Change the Battle abilities to (for instance) Fire, Earth, Water, Air. Then give the sorcerer spell-like "weapons" that fit those categories. So, instead of a Javelin, the hero has "Jet of Flame" with the Javelin's stats.

The sorcerer could call for an Orate contest to speak to the shades of the dead. Or use Lore to divine a vision of the future. And so on. Same contests, different color.

This is a simple solution that is sure to keep the mechanical balance in place across the heroes. However, it may be less enticing, since playing a sorcerer won't be much different, system wise. Still, this is probably the way I would handle it.

[Nathan Frund]

Interesting, Nathan.

I think the easiest way to do it is to overlay some color. Change the Battle abilities to (for instance) Fire, Earth, Water, Air. Then give the sorcerer spell-like "weapons" that fit those categories. So, instead of a Javelin, the hero has "Jet of Flame" with the Javelin's stats.

The sorcerer could call for an Orate contest to speak to the shades of the dead. Or use Lore to divine a vision of the future. And so on. Same contests, different color.

This is a simple solution that is sure to keep the mechanical balance in place across the heroes. However, it may be less enticing, since playing a sorcerer won't be much different, system wise. Still, this is probably the way I would handle it.

I think I see the direction of your train of thought.  Perhaps instead of putting the "spheres" of magic in as battle abilities, make them different Heroic Traits packages.

I'm not sure if that's enough for the types who typically want to play magic users.  Now, I know this isn't in the typical realm of Agon so...  I'm going to explore both avenues and see what I come up with.

Thanks!

[John Harper]

I hear ya, Nathan. I'm very interested to see what you come up with.

Some friends of mine are also working on a D&D-to-Agon conversion. Maybe I can get them to come over and post their thoughts here.

[Nathan Frund]

I've only lightly thought about my post over the last couple of days.  My plan for spells is pretty straight forward.  PC "wizards" can select Monster Abilities as spells.  The cost of the spells is what they cost in the book already.

[Doyce]