Kevin CasarezSep 17, 2025

Passing potential #ttrpg thought I had this morning:

Magic traditions always seem to be ancient knowledge. But what did it look like when those traditions were first forming? What prompted the first person to think "If I do {X}, then {Y} will happen" when {Y} is some fantastical, unnatural occurrence? What was it like figuring out what works and what doesn't?

What would a ttrpg game set at that time be like?

Show threadCharnockNov 24

Arcana Mundi is a great book about that, it's very much about the ancient world, but the traditions of magic in it are described as they are being formed/practiced and there's a frisson to it all. Cults forming, splitting and vanishing. Obviously it's about the real world, but it's worth looking into.

There are some great books about evolution of syncretic magic traditions that deal with it as well.

@kevincasarez

Show threadKevin Casarez
@Printdevil Interesting. I'll have to see if I can find it to take a look.
Nov 24 at 3:46pmWeb
Show threadCharnockNov 24

@kevincasarez

https://archive.org/details/arcanamundimagic0000unse

Older edition

Arcana mundi : magic and the occult in the Greek and Roman worlds : a collection of ancient texts : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

xv, 395 p. ; 24 cm

Internet Archive
Show threadKevin CasarezNov 24
@Printdevil Ooh, thanks!