Peter Kisner ≈Dec 10, 2022
@shannonmcmaster Oh, man, see I kinda *love* designing magic systems!
I mean it might take a while, and it's tough to get them simple enough I feel like players eyes won't glaze over. But I really enjoy trying to codify all the factors I think represent a certain set of phenomena well.
Show threadAidanBDec 18, 2022
@PTR_K @shannonmcmaster
I haven't had much time to post, but I'm curious what sort of magic systems you've designed. I've found it really hard to find magic that I like - the closest so far has been in Blue Rose.
Show threadPeter Kisner ≈

@AidanB @shannonmcmaster I keep meaning to work on a flexible universal magic system, like Mage: the Ascension, but attached to an overall simpler game system.

But along the way I get distracted by the D&D and OSR systems my friends seem into, and end up working on that instead.

Recurring themes for me are:
* Make high level spells available at low levels.
* Magic is either risky, costly, or weak.

1/x

#RPG #MagicSystem #DnD #OSR #WorldOfDarness #MageTheAsecension #ChangelingTheDreaming

Dec 20, 2022 at 1:56amWeb
Show threadPeter Kisner ≈Dec 20, 2022

@AidanB @shannonmcmaster So a few systems I've come up with:

Wyrms & Warrens

* Psionics burns hit points.
* Other magic requires a proficiency check. Anything less than a natural 20 creates some form of Consequences (more the worse you roll).

https://fantasyheartbreak.blogspot.com/2015/07/wyrms-warrens-0e-players-handbook.html

2/x

Wyrms & Warrens (0E) - Player's Handbook

Wyrms & Warrens is the primary fantasy heartbreaker I've been working on for awhile now, based largely on the Swords & Wizardry SRD with sig...

Show threadPeter Kisner ≈Dec 20, 2022

@AidanB @shannonmcmaster

Infravision

The system overall is a hack of The Black Hack. But magic works differently:

Magicians get a certain number of magic "charges" (i.e. spell points). There are two types:

* Evocation charges - Can only be used to cast spells of destruction or temporary effects, usually not lasting longer than an hour. A 15 minute rest replenishes them.

* Wreaking charges - Can be used to cast any spell. Replenish once/day after a long rest.

https://fantasyheartbreak.blogspot.com/2017/04/infravision-black-hack-hack.html

3/x

Infravision - A Black Hack Hack

Infravision is the most recent thing I've been working on, a little Black Hack offshoot that diverges heavily in some regards and crib...

Show threadPeter Kisner ≈Dec 20, 2022

@AidanB @shannonmcmaster

KROP: Kobold Rules of Play

The overall system was based on Arnold Kemp's GLOG rules, but increasingly modified. In the latest version only tiny traces of the original remain, but I never got around to uploading that. Only an earlier version made it online.

The magic system draws a bunch from the system I used in Wyrms&Warrens: you can cast all sorts of spells, but more difficult ones run the risk of more consequences.

https://fantasyheartbreak.blogspot.com/2020/04/skrop-standard-kobold-rules-of-play.html

4/x

SKROP: Standard Kobold Rules of Play

Anne's been running us through some pretty great sessions using Arnold K.'s GLOG rules and Skerples Many Rats on Sticks vari...

Show threadPeter Kisner ≈Dec 20, 2022

@AidanB @shannonmcmaster

Rough Magic

This is a hack for 5th Edition games. The idea is to get rid of effortless fire-and-forget casting, make magic more arduous, but st the same time make it more available to everyone.

There are a lot of options and variations. The main deal is that you spend unused hit dice. Instead of giving you hit points, the hit dice give you a brief burst of magic points you can use to cast and enhance spells.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G7UfotWnd-D-5XoAgXH2hRJuzgJv2wKv/view?usp=drivesdk

5/x

Show threadPeter Kisner ≈Dec 20, 2022

@AidanB @shannonmcmaster
Of these systems, I have only so far run games using:

* Wyrms&Warrens - One session. PC magic usage inconclusive.

* Infravision - A few sessions. Seemed to go okay. Players didn't use magic extensively though.

* KROP - Several months play. Magic seemed to work about as intended. But the entire game overall is pretty quirky due to the way death works, so might be tough to compare directly

6/6