The LOLAD shorts have been taken down because posting to blog can be considered publishing and I plan to submit one in to a local short story contest next month so...
If anyone wants to read 'em as and when they're written, I can dcc or email them.
N.B. The most recent one was the story of the angel.
Sunday, February 29, 2004
Monday, February 23, 2004
Cthulhu And Me ..... a story.
Cthulhu And Me (Feb 2004)
This is all Kuvinera's fault. I got the idea from some Game1 stuff:
<Chaos`^> <Aiko> "You think it's dumb enough to let you attack it when it's not ready? It's already snuck up on us twice!"
<Jerome> "Excuse me? You flushed tentacles down a toilet. I hardly call that sneaking up. Now, sticking itself yup you wne you're going for a crap, *that* would be sneaking up."
<Jerome> (( and please, don't take that as a suggestion Chaos :p ))
<Roy`> ((Indeed.))
<Chaos`^> (( SHouldn't have said it!! ))
* Chaos`^ notes that the next time jerome takes a crap...
<Jerome> (( Tho it would be a nicely twisted reason to become a cultist. "Well, I was minding my own business whe Greater cthulhu came into my *giggles* life and it felt sooo good..." ))
And then said I wanted to write a CoC story, but shouldn't and she MADE ME!
<Kuvinera> WRIIIIIIITE
<aslhk> alcar: it's too late now =P
<Kuvinera> or god will kill the leaping kitten!
<Kuvinera> it's a GREAT idea
<Kuvinera> and you'll catch ALL the pretty girls' attention ;)
<aslhk> lol
<aslhk> yes, alcar!
<aslhk> the pretty girls will all flock to you! =P
<alcar> lol!
<alcar> Good reason not to :)
* alcar gives in and begins to write.
So this is ALLL HER FAULT! :)
From the private journals of Eugene Stafro, confiscated by the police after his suicide in cells.
I was always scared of monsters as a child. And the dark. All kids are, to some extent. They see what's really there, a shrink told me once, when dad took me to one years ago. He was lying. No one sees the world as it really is. We can't. We just can't. But kids know the world is wrong, they know the song we've begun seeing, dancing to the unseen piper - O Nyarlathotep, Azathoth! We still remember, you who dwell, in this far land above the seas, the stars will come right over the seas. A Dagon Hydra ...
It began, it began at home. In the bathroom. I was going to the pool, like some call it. Dropping off the Browns. You know? That. And ... it hit me. From below, from far below. The touch of the Master. The tentacle. It wormed it's way up. And up. Great Cthulhu - and me. It was forbidden, that sort of thing. There are laws. But, oh, what was laws to HIM? People say God enters them, but He does not do it directly, not physically, not so wonderfully, so much, so filling, so blissful. Cthulhu came to me and I let him in and it was
words can't convey it. I went to the washroom every hour for days after, hoping he'd enter me again, that we'd know each other. That we'd be together. Then a week later, when I was looking into buying robber hoses, or electric mixers, to stick in and remember him, he came to me. In a dream. I serve him, now. I serve my Master. The Lord of this world. Cthulhu. Great, great cthulhu.
If any read this, I have failed. My true mother commanded me, through Cthulhu my lord. To do things. Dark things, some will say. To bring about His reign, a new age, take down the walls and show people that none of us matter. Nothing matters. Nothing except his
tentacles
so
good
warm
painful
bright
help
me?
This is all Kuvinera's fault. I got the idea from some Game1 stuff:
<Chaos`^> <Aiko> "You think it's dumb enough to let you attack it when it's not ready? It's already snuck up on us twice!"
<Jerome> "Excuse me? You flushed tentacles down a toilet. I hardly call that sneaking up. Now, sticking itself yup you wne you're going for a crap, *that* would be sneaking up."
<Jerome> (( and please, don't take that as a suggestion Chaos :p ))
<Roy`> ((Indeed.))
<Chaos`^> (( SHouldn't have said it!! ))
* Chaos`^ notes that the next time jerome takes a crap...
<Jerome> (( Tho it would be a nicely twisted reason to become a cultist. "Well, I was minding my own business whe Greater cthulhu came into my *giggles* life and it felt sooo good..." ))
And then said I wanted to write a CoC story, but shouldn't and she MADE ME!
<Kuvinera> WRIIIIIIITE
<aslhk> alcar: it's too late now =P
<Kuvinera> or god will kill the leaping kitten!
<Kuvinera> it's a GREAT idea
<Kuvinera> and you'll catch ALL the pretty girls' attention ;)
<aslhk> lol
<aslhk> yes, alcar!
<aslhk> the pretty girls will all flock to you! =P
<alcar> lol!
<alcar> Good reason not to :)
* alcar gives in and begins to write.
So this is ALLL HER FAULT! :)
From the private journals of Eugene Stafro, confiscated by the police after his suicide in cells.
I was always scared of monsters as a child. And the dark. All kids are, to some extent. They see what's really there, a shrink told me once, when dad took me to one years ago. He was lying. No one sees the world as it really is. We can't. We just can't. But kids know the world is wrong, they know the song we've begun seeing, dancing to the unseen piper - O Nyarlathotep, Azathoth! We still remember, you who dwell, in this far land above the seas, the stars will come right over the seas. A Dagon Hydra ...
O Cthulhu Starbound in terra firmanent trapped, to thee I cryBut no matter, no matter. Nothing matters. The sunless seas. The dreams. What does it matter, dreams of Carsoca? Of the name that should not be mentioned? Of the brood of the real mother of us all, Nigguarth? There is so much. So much. But some may read this, some day, before the end times, before the real empire comes, the dominion of the Great Old Ones. And there are no heroes left, no hobbits, no Jedi, to protect us. We are alone. We are nothing.
here all our death-horrors! O look towards me, everdark!
It began, it began at home. In the bathroom. I was going to the pool, like some call it. Dropping off the Browns. You know? That. And ... it hit me. From below, from far below. The touch of the Master. The tentacle. It wormed it's way up. And up. Great Cthulhu - and me. It was forbidden, that sort of thing. There are laws. But, oh, what was laws to HIM? People say God enters them, but He does not do it directly, not physically, not so wonderfully, so much, so filling, so blissful. Cthulhu came to me and I let him in and it was
words can't convey it. I went to the washroom every hour for days after, hoping he'd enter me again, that we'd know each other. That we'd be together. Then a week later, when I was looking into buying robber hoses, or electric mixers, to stick in and remember him, he came to me. In a dream. I serve him, now. I serve my Master. The Lord of this world. Cthulhu. Great, great cthulhu.
If any read this, I have failed. My true mother commanded me, through Cthulhu my lord. To do things. Dark things, some will say. To bring about His reign, a new age, take down the walls and show people that none of us matter. Nothing matters. Nothing except his
tentacles
so
good
warm
painful
bright
help
me?
LOLAD: The movie!
Yep. It's planned!
Game Time: Whenever people are on. (Amber and UA/Paranoia alternating have claims to time slots as and when they become available.) It's meant to be a light-hearted take on the LoLaD universe and offer some fun with supernaturals and Hollywood.
PCs from previous campaigns are NOT eligible. Relatives of, maybe. It's set in 2004.
For any other info, talk to Alcar.
The game will be considered full when it reaches 6 players with sheets sent in and approved by the GM. A waiting list will be kept if one or two players are unable to make whatever times the games ends up running at a lot and have to drop out.
Really short session summaries may be kept on the site.
Currently it consists of an introduction to the setting and stills from the movie being produced.
N.B.: If you know nothing about LoLaD OR the UA system, talk to #Game1 regulars.
Game Time: Whenever people are on. (Amber and UA/Paranoia alternating have claims to time slots as and when they become available.) It's meant to be a light-hearted take on the LoLaD universe and offer some fun with supernaturals and Hollywood.
PCs from previous campaigns are NOT eligible. Relatives of, maybe. It's set in 2004.
For any other info, talk to Alcar.
The game will be considered full when it reaches 6 players with sheets sent in and approved by the GM. A waiting list will be kept if one or two players are unable to make whatever times the games ends up running at a lot and have to drop out.
Really short session summaries may be kept on the site.
Currently it consists of an introduction to the setting and stills from the movie being produced.
N.B.: If you know nothing about LoLaD OR the UA system, talk to #Game1 regulars.
Sunday, February 22, 2004
Gaming as Interactive Storytelling
Got to thinking a few minutes ago about the Player/GM relationship in games. Here's some quick thoughts...
- Gaming is interactive. There must be give and take on both sides of the table (GM & Players) for a game to work. In other words: Seeing Hackneyed Plot Quest For Game means following it, by and large, but having a REASON to do so.
- The story the GM has planneed out and wants to tells is never the story that gets told.
- The PCs are the main focus of the story. They are the stars.
(Oh, and they can die. They're not THAT important: the world will survive.)
- Each PC should be useful and get their moment in the spotlight, as it were.
- USE character backgrounds. Demand they have friends, make use of the wider world around them through said friends as allies etc..
- If players ask "is there an XXX?" around they likely have a reason for asking: let there be one. They likely have a really cool in-game idea with it. (Obviously veto things that wouldn't be around at all etc.)
- Make sure the players KNOW about the world and the type of game you plan to one, so they can make characters that suit the setting. The GM should find out what they expect from the game and ensure they know what the GM expects and has planned for as well.
- Find a way toiincorporate player ideas into the game world (unless they're too much trouble or contradictict stuff in it) .... allow them to add to the world as a result.
- And remember that BOTH sides are telling a story .. if the players don't want to go rescue the Golden Acorn and save Squirrelville for Princess Pirahna and decide that they're rather save Molly the Maid from the unwanted attentions of the kings son, Dud, then go for it. The story is about THEM, after all. (And if the game goes too far out of what the GM sets out to tell, scrap it and begin again, if you really want to.)
Any other suggestions?
- Gaming is interactive. There must be give and take on both sides of the table (GM & Players) for a game to work. In other words: Seeing Hackneyed Plot Quest For Game means following it, by and large, but having a REASON to do so.
- The story the GM has planneed out and wants to tells is never the story that gets told.
- The PCs are the main focus of the story. They are the stars.
(Oh, and they can die. They're not THAT important: the world will survive.)
- Each PC should be useful and get their moment in the spotlight, as it were.
- USE character backgrounds. Demand they have friends, make use of the wider world around them through said friends as allies etc..
- If players ask "is there an XXX?" around they likely have a reason for asking: let there be one. They likely have a really cool in-game idea with it. (Obviously veto things that wouldn't be around at all etc.)
- Make sure the players KNOW about the world and the type of game you plan to one, so they can make characters that suit the setting. The GM should find out what they expect from the game and ensure they know what the GM expects and has planned for as well.
- Find a way toiincorporate player ideas into the game world (unless they're too much trouble or contradictict stuff in it) .... allow them to add to the world as a result.
- And remember that BOTH sides are telling a story .. if the players don't want to go rescue the Golden Acorn and save Squirrelville for Princess Pirahna and decide that they're rather save Molly the Maid from the unwanted attentions of the kings son, Dud, then go for it. The story is about THEM, after all. (And if the game goes too far out of what the GM sets out to tell, scrap it and begin again, if you really want to.)
Any other suggestions?
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
The Blood Sucking Blues (for LOLAD)
Wrote it today based on some scratched notes from a day or so ago. Somehow, it shall end up in the novel.
The Blood Sucking Blues (Feb 2004)
Sometimes when I'm drinking their blood
I wonder that I was such a dud.
The lady was cute, and polite and nice
But took my life and didn't ask twice.
You'll live forever, she said to me,
But didn't mention holy places ... or UV.
And then there's stakes or being left to burn
Oh, medium rare or well done, who would mourn?
Oh, I got the blood sucking blues, yeah,
I drink their blood and the diiiee, it's true.
Oh, I can't subsist on other animals
Or even vegetarians or small mammals
Have to drink their blood, down my throat like a flood
I'm a vampire baby, can't call anyone bud.
Oh, I'm stuck with the blood sucking blues
And it can only end if I ... lose.
I'd love to drown it all in booze
Got no excuse for my blues
Feel like I was dragged through the mud
But all I want is some more red blood.
Oh, I got the blood sucking blues
I got the blood sucking blues...
The Blood Sucking Blues (Feb 2004)
Sometimes when I'm drinking their blood
I wonder that I was such a dud.
The lady was cute, and polite and nice
But took my life and didn't ask twice.
You'll live forever, she said to me,
But didn't mention holy places ... or UV.
And then there's stakes or being left to burn
Oh, medium rare or well done, who would mourn?
Oh, I got the blood sucking blues, yeah,
I drink their blood and the diiiee, it's true.
Oh, I can't subsist on other animals
Or even vegetarians or small mammals
Have to drink their blood, down my throat like a flood
I'm a vampire baby, can't call anyone bud.
Oh, I'm stuck with the blood sucking blues
And it can only end if I ... lose.
I'd love to drown it all in booze
Got no excuse for my blues
Feel like I was dragged through the mud
But all I want is some more red blood.
Oh, I got the blood sucking blues
I got the blood sucking blues...
A magic system off the top of my head.
A setting where magic is looked upon warily and often the line between fear and reverence is very slim. There are two types of magic, Inborn and Learned (though they'd need better names eventually). Very low magic for the most part, in terms of actual USE of magic.
My other questions shall be answered within aslhk's ones, hopefully. To begin:
What is Magic?
No one knows what magic is, nor where it comes from. It's a kind of energy from some other dimension/plane/universe in the case of those Inborn. [This is because I'm the sort who prefers mysteries to answers.] Learned magic is different, and is (to an extent) a non-renewable resource.
How does it work?
Inborn: Magic is drawn down/into you once a day (dawn or dusk). Once it's all used up, you're stuck. Actual use and effects are user-dependant but follow basic elemental patterns (earth, air, fire, water, void) with the mage having access to one (or more?) of those. Casting requires
a) time to focus ones will; b) Mood. A caster who is sick, hurting, in pain, or shock can't work healing magic or nice spells to help people. While in pain, most of them can't use magic; c) Desire. Need drives their magic, and imagination to cause results; d) enough energy to cast the spell.
Learned: Spells are taught by a college of some description to worthy students (Almost all lower nobility). It takes time to learn and master magic, so mages known magic, not magic + thieving/tacticts/sword fighting. Once they head down the road to magic, they can't step off .. too much time and effort investing in teaching them. This magic works by drawing upon the magical energies of places and people, the stars and sun, the moon, astronomy, and the like. Basically cross alchemy/astrology/tarot/divination and the like with some real spells in ritual form. Most uses of real magic actually draw upon spill-over magic from the use of inborn mages, so it a non-renewable resources that, nonetheless, gets renewed in different areas at sporadic intervals. It requires a lot of work, memorization, items and things to focus the magic.
Is it systematic or chaotic?
Inborn: Very chaotic. The amout of magic each mage gets varies sometimes for unknown reasons and spelling items or people is always a dangerous undertaking. Using magic to change people or oneself (healing or shape shifting) is generally very risky.
Learned: So systematic the systems have systems. Lots has been written about said systems, which leads to competing schools and theories and sometimes outright assassination. New spells are rare unless the area has been saturated in magic again and even then actual useful/powerful spells are only taught to really promising/skilled/suck up students.
Is it dependable?
Inborn: Er, well, yes. Unless it runs out. But, as far as is known, if one has the energy and skill and the spell is possible they can do it. Reliability in getting the same effect isn't as likely.
Learned: Oh, yes. Even the magic is, since it's very ritualized and grounded in traditions. (This is necessary since magic is unpredictable unless grounded/channelled in various ways to make sure it does what one wishes it to.)
Who can use it?
Inborn: Only people who have it inborn. The nature of this is debated. It can be inherited, but tends to skip generations. Generally pregnant females in a high-magic saturated area have a strong change to have a child born with magic, but there are no guarantees. The onset of magic use also varies, and is NOT tied in with puberty in any way, shape, or form. (That being said, many first exhibit magic the first time they have sex perhaps because they let down their guard/barriers and waken it.)
Learned: Anyone taught by a college. Only college teachers teach it, and they never leave the college. No one leaves them to teach outsiders. It costs money, so only nobility or those sponsored by nobles learn magic. The colleges can deny anyone for any reason. Learning magic from a college mage not in a college is possible, but you don't learn much (and no real magic) and generally knowledge of how magic works and not being college-taught is punishable by blinding/removal of hands and the like. (This isn't to say that it's not common: divination is common in lots of places, ditto with astrology. But accurate/accepted results are only possible for those trained by a college.)
What is the cost of using it?
Inborn: Ostracized by people generally as a matter of self-preservation when magic firsts manifests. Sometimes the first real flowering of the magic can change the person entirely (species, sex, loss of memory etc.) and until they get a rein on their emotions and needs their magic is too volatile to trust. Even after they achieve a modicum of control they're grudgingly tolerated and often pitied.
Learned: No life. Also, adherence to the specific beliefs/studies of their college over all others. Loyalty to family and crown and school are a must. Going out and travelling the world is very rare and almost unheard of, since it takes time away from teaching and learning. Taking on apprentices is possible, but only to teach them basic precepts and send them to the college for instruction.
Is it learned or is it something people are born into?
Inborn: Inborn.
Learned: Learned.
How often can it be used?
Inborn: Any time, as long as one is in the right mood, has the right need, and enough energy.
Learned: Any time, with proper rituals, chants, items, planning and the like. Different spells or divinations or whatnot are subject to times of day, seasonal issues and the like as well. Generally, any use takes at least 10 minutes of preparation.
What does magic do?
What is an entire day like in the life of a budding mage? What about the life of a successful mage? The life of an uber-powerful mage? ?
Inborn: Budding mages spend their time alternately starving and trying to conjure up food or a place or sleep and often suffering from severe angst :) Successful mages have survived the flowering of their magic and, to some extent, understand it. With luck, they've found another mage to compare experiences to and understand how their magic works and how to control and use it better. Uber-powerful mages seldom exist and most seem to vanish one day literally into the magic and never return.
Average day (budding mage): Why me? Oh, crap, I feel sick. Eew. I'm oozing magic. Stop that. Oh, my god. What did I do to that tree? Why am I purple? Must eat.... no! It's trying to eat me. Wow. Did I do that? Oh, noooo. Not another mob ... I'm starving. Wow. I did it! Real food! I feel happy! Okay, time to try stuff..... wow, I feel drained. Sleep. Why me? I feel all tingly .. what did I do now? Okay, I need breakfast. Breakfast ...... I hate this.
Average day (successful mage): Convince villagers you did not curse anyone. Help them for a pittance because you have nowhere else to go. Wonder what happened to some mages you knew who have vanished. Continue trying to figure out the why and how of magic.
Average day (uber mage): Transcend your fleshly body and break the bonds of matter.
Learned: Budding mages spent their entire time in lessons. And more lessons. And memorizing spells, and other stuff. Successful mages sell their services to others outside the college and travel to an extent, though it means they get behind on learning. Uber learned mages have spent a lot of time in magic saturated areas and are almost all teachers at colleges.
Average day (budding mage): Go to class. Learn. Eat lunch. Go to class. Go home. Cram like mad with some books borrowed/stolen from the school. Sleep. Sneak into library very early in morning and cram some more.
Average day (successful mage): Be a pompous prick. Sell magic to the ungrateful scum around you. Serve your family or be taken down a peg or two or killed. Engage in politics to become an uber mage. Regret the loss of your youth.
Average day (uber mage): Check on the Inborn mage you have chained up somewhere, bleed some more magic out of them. Teach classes from memory and keep an eye out for those who might be able to channel real magic. Groom them accordingly. Engage in subtle propaganda, political, magical wars with other uber mages. Work on capturing another mage to replace your current pet.
Do spells have to be prepared before hand, or is magic spontaneous? ?
Inborn: All spontaneous, even prepared stuff.
Learned: Spontaneous? What's that? I think I can do that. Give me a few hours.
Is there a certain list of effects that can be achieved with magic? How about a list of effects that can't be achieved? ?
Inborn: Nope. Generally limited by a dice roll and GM fiat and what elements you know and how well you know them.
Learned: Limited to amount of magic in the area and knowledge of it and prep time for real spells. Limited by learning and time spent learning for other stuff.
How often can magic be used? What happens if someone uses it too much? What are the ill effects of using magic on a person? The beneficial effects? How about the effects of suddenly not using magic (quitting "cold turkey")? ?
Inborn: As often as one wants (and sometimes emotion/need means whenever it wants, too). Using too much leads to exhaustion/coma. Using it on people = magic pollution = bad. beneficial effects are uncommon, since most die or are changed, or nothing happens at all. Quitting it is not possible since stuff will happen anyway.
Learned: Depends how much is available and not claimed by other mages. Using too much means you try sometimes not in one of the books or aren't competent enough and put too much magic through you during the ritual which means you become a laundry problem for someone to clean up the robes covered in ash. Using magic on people can be done, and can work, but items are easier and more reliable. Quitting isn't possible since you are in this for life, so quitting means you are dead (Retiring is possible, but rare).
What sort of things are required to do magic? Ritual? Strange Materials? Time? Energy? A weird Crystal? A magic wand!? WHAT!?!? ?
Inborn: Energy, and time, and imagination.
Learned: Rituals, chants, materials, meditation, consultation of charts, checking the time of day, wind path, seasons, last meals eaten, path of the birds outside the window, divination to see if divination will be successful. Err. Pretty much everything.
How does magic influence society?
Who learns it? Can anyone learn? What about the poor people who can't even read? Can they learn? ?
Inborn: Magic is entirely inborn and is generally only taught by a mage after one has gained basic control and they find you (or you find them) and they explain what they know. It's purely democratic and basically picks people at random as far as most can tell.
Learned: Only the nobility can learn this, or those they sponsor. Poor people cna pick some up from listening to mages, but they're always given a lot of disinformation along with it. The poor will never learn magic. It's not sanitary.
How is it learned? How does the common person feel about his son learning magic? What about an aristocrat? ?
Inborn: No one wants their child to have magic. Parents suspecting children of magic have been known to drug and then blind them or cut their hands off or their tongue out, to be on the safe side. (This doesn't work, but it is done anyway.) Killing a mage of this kind is generally a very dangerous undertaking since the magic will act to protect itself.
Learned: College teaches this magic, and the common person won't have a son learning it but could have a former child now a minor noble and will never associate with scum like you again most likely. Nobles like their sons to learn magic, if they have no aptitude for the sword or diplomacy or the like. If the family has no mage for whatever reason, they will force it on someone. Most families like to have 2-3 mages, and 3-5 in apprenticeships. Lesser families share mages. Having none is a serious status blow.
Go through the daily life of a peon with emphasis on the parts of his life that are influenced by magic. Does he use a magic axe? Does his wife clean the kitchen with a spell? How does he feel about magic users? ?
The average peon has as little to do with magic as possible. Learned mages tend to be consulted by villages paying a fee for divinations and the like, and Inborn ones are consulted by being asked to do something, and then told to go away.
Are magic users respected, feared, or treated like engineers? ?
Inborn: Feared, pitied, derided.
Learned: Respected for rank as much as anything, and often treated like engineers and somewhat lesser than other family members.
How influential are magic users?
Inborn:
Learned: Very, since they do divinations, but aside from that they're not powerful enough to wield much influence and ties among them are a) family b) college. Other mages are looked upon with distrust or envy often enough.
What kinds of magic are there? How is each treated? How common are they?
The only kinds of magic are inborn and learned. Inborn magic is rare and some of them get captured by Learned mages and used as a power source and die anyway. Mind you, most learned mages who try this fail :)
Learned magic is very common among nobility and treated as a specialized skill.
There are no holy magics in this setting, no gods wielding healing spells and the like. (A witchcraft version of magic standing between Inborn and Learned does exist as the Village Wise Woman/Barbarian Shaman but it's not that common. Many of these tend to be captured by Learned mages seeking Inborn ones.)
Why do people bother to learn/develop magic anyway?
Inborn: They master it or it masters them.
Learned: Something to do, have no choice, ordered, or it's the only thing they're good for.
How does society/mages police magic users? Are their laws regarding how/when it can be used? Spells that are illegal to learn/teach?
Inborn: They are generally hunted down by terrified mobs or live as hermits. Use of this magic is illegal in cities and in the country in general.
Learned: The college keeps a careful eye on mages and the infighting and back stabbing tends to prevent excesses. There are no illegal spells (since few are actually powerful) but some are frowned upon, such as necromatic stuff. Learned magic is used in the cities at will, though it can only be used in the demesne of nobility (even ones own family) with express permission of said family.
Are there dangers inherent in magic use?
Inborn: Using magic is fatal unless one is awfully lucky.
Learned: Using real magic without the proper rituals is fatal.
Some final thoughts:
Inborn magic is very high-powered but rare. Learned is common but rather weak (it does have the advantage of being more versatile but at the cost of taking a long time to do anything useful). The Witchcraft/Shaman variant straddles the line between the two and is basically a self-taught learned style with more emphasis on real magic. It's rare since often the teacher is unable to find a pupil or runs afoul of the authorities.
A divine(?) magic system acting more as psychic powers and used to ferret out and destroy Inborn mages could be added as well. It wouldn't have healing magics, though, since those tend to unbalance a world a lot and exist mostly to keep characters alive when their own stupidity should have killed them.
My other questions shall be answered within aslhk's ones, hopefully. To begin:
What is Magic?
No one knows what magic is, nor where it comes from. It's a kind of energy from some other dimension/plane/universe in the case of those Inborn. [This is because I'm the sort who prefers mysteries to answers.] Learned magic is different, and is (to an extent) a non-renewable resource.
How does it work?
Inborn: Magic is drawn down/into you once a day (dawn or dusk). Once it's all used up, you're stuck. Actual use and effects are user-dependant but follow basic elemental patterns (earth, air, fire, water, void) with the mage having access to one (or more?) of those. Casting requires
a) time to focus ones will; b) Mood. A caster who is sick, hurting, in pain, or shock can't work healing magic or nice spells to help people. While in pain, most of them can't use magic; c) Desire. Need drives their magic, and imagination to cause results; d) enough energy to cast the spell.
Learned: Spells are taught by a college of some description to worthy students (Almost all lower nobility). It takes time to learn and master magic, so mages known magic, not magic + thieving/tacticts/sword fighting. Once they head down the road to magic, they can't step off .. too much time and effort investing in teaching them. This magic works by drawing upon the magical energies of places and people, the stars and sun, the moon, astronomy, and the like. Basically cross alchemy/astrology/tarot/divination and the like with some real spells in ritual form. Most uses of real magic actually draw upon spill-over magic from the use of inborn mages, so it a non-renewable resources that, nonetheless, gets renewed in different areas at sporadic intervals. It requires a lot of work, memorization, items and things to focus the magic.
Is it systematic or chaotic?
Inborn: Very chaotic. The amout of magic each mage gets varies sometimes for unknown reasons and spelling items or people is always a dangerous undertaking. Using magic to change people or oneself (healing or shape shifting) is generally very risky.
Learned: So systematic the systems have systems. Lots has been written about said systems, which leads to competing schools and theories and sometimes outright assassination. New spells are rare unless the area has been saturated in magic again and even then actual useful/powerful spells are only taught to really promising/skilled/suck up students.
Is it dependable?
Inborn: Er, well, yes. Unless it runs out. But, as far as is known, if one has the energy and skill and the spell is possible they can do it. Reliability in getting the same effect isn't as likely.
Learned: Oh, yes. Even the magic is, since it's very ritualized and grounded in traditions. (This is necessary since magic is unpredictable unless grounded/channelled in various ways to make sure it does what one wishes it to.)
Who can use it?
Inborn: Only people who have it inborn. The nature of this is debated. It can be inherited, but tends to skip generations. Generally pregnant females in a high-magic saturated area have a strong change to have a child born with magic, but there are no guarantees. The onset of magic use also varies, and is NOT tied in with puberty in any way, shape, or form. (That being said, many first exhibit magic the first time they have sex perhaps because they let down their guard/barriers and waken it.)
Learned: Anyone taught by a college. Only college teachers teach it, and they never leave the college. No one leaves them to teach outsiders. It costs money, so only nobility or those sponsored by nobles learn magic. The colleges can deny anyone for any reason. Learning magic from a college mage not in a college is possible, but you don't learn much (and no real magic) and generally knowledge of how magic works and not being college-taught is punishable by blinding/removal of hands and the like. (This isn't to say that it's not common: divination is common in lots of places, ditto with astrology. But accurate/accepted results are only possible for those trained by a college.)
What is the cost of using it?
Inborn: Ostracized by people generally as a matter of self-preservation when magic firsts manifests. Sometimes the first real flowering of the magic can change the person entirely (species, sex, loss of memory etc.) and until they get a rein on their emotions and needs their magic is too volatile to trust. Even after they achieve a modicum of control they're grudgingly tolerated and often pitied.
Learned: No life. Also, adherence to the specific beliefs/studies of their college over all others. Loyalty to family and crown and school are a must. Going out and travelling the world is very rare and almost unheard of, since it takes time away from teaching and learning. Taking on apprentices is possible, but only to teach them basic precepts and send them to the college for instruction.
Is it learned or is it something people are born into?
Inborn: Inborn.
Learned: Learned.
How often can it be used?
Inborn: Any time, as long as one is in the right mood, has the right need, and enough energy.
Learned: Any time, with proper rituals, chants, items, planning and the like. Different spells or divinations or whatnot are subject to times of day, seasonal issues and the like as well. Generally, any use takes at least 10 minutes of preparation.
What does magic do?
What is an entire day like in the life of a budding mage? What about the life of a successful mage? The life of an uber-powerful mage? ?
Inborn: Budding mages spend their time alternately starving and trying to conjure up food or a place or sleep and often suffering from severe angst :) Successful mages have survived the flowering of their magic and, to some extent, understand it. With luck, they've found another mage to compare experiences to and understand how their magic works and how to control and use it better. Uber-powerful mages seldom exist and most seem to vanish one day literally into the magic and never return.
Average day (budding mage): Why me? Oh, crap, I feel sick. Eew. I'm oozing magic. Stop that. Oh, my god. What did I do to that tree? Why am I purple? Must eat.... no! It's trying to eat me. Wow. Did I do that? Oh, noooo. Not another mob ... I'm starving. Wow. I did it! Real food! I feel happy! Okay, time to try stuff..... wow, I feel drained. Sleep. Why me? I feel all tingly .. what did I do now? Okay, I need breakfast. Breakfast ...... I hate this.
Average day (successful mage): Convince villagers you did not curse anyone. Help them for a pittance because you have nowhere else to go. Wonder what happened to some mages you knew who have vanished. Continue trying to figure out the why and how of magic.
Average day (uber mage): Transcend your fleshly body and break the bonds of matter.
Learned: Budding mages spent their entire time in lessons. And more lessons. And memorizing spells, and other stuff. Successful mages sell their services to others outside the college and travel to an extent, though it means they get behind on learning. Uber learned mages have spent a lot of time in magic saturated areas and are almost all teachers at colleges.
Average day (budding mage): Go to class. Learn. Eat lunch. Go to class. Go home. Cram like mad with some books borrowed/stolen from the school. Sleep. Sneak into library very early in morning and cram some more.
Average day (successful mage): Be a pompous prick. Sell magic to the ungrateful scum around you. Serve your family or be taken down a peg or two or killed. Engage in politics to become an uber mage. Regret the loss of your youth.
Average day (uber mage): Check on the Inborn mage you have chained up somewhere, bleed some more magic out of them. Teach classes from memory and keep an eye out for those who might be able to channel real magic. Groom them accordingly. Engage in subtle propaganda, political, magical wars with other uber mages. Work on capturing another mage to replace your current pet.
Do spells have to be prepared before hand, or is magic spontaneous? ?
Inborn: All spontaneous, even prepared stuff.
Learned: Spontaneous? What's that? I think I can do that. Give me a few hours.
Is there a certain list of effects that can be achieved with magic? How about a list of effects that can't be achieved? ?
Inborn: Nope. Generally limited by a dice roll and GM fiat and what elements you know and how well you know them.
Learned: Limited to amount of magic in the area and knowledge of it and prep time for real spells. Limited by learning and time spent learning for other stuff.
How often can magic be used? What happens if someone uses it too much? What are the ill effects of using magic on a person? The beneficial effects? How about the effects of suddenly not using magic (quitting "cold turkey")? ?
Inborn: As often as one wants (and sometimes emotion/need means whenever it wants, too). Using too much leads to exhaustion/coma. Using it on people = magic pollution = bad. beneficial effects are uncommon, since most die or are changed, or nothing happens at all. Quitting it is not possible since stuff will happen anyway.
Learned: Depends how much is available and not claimed by other mages. Using too much means you try sometimes not in one of the books or aren't competent enough and put too much magic through you during the ritual which means you become a laundry problem for someone to clean up the robes covered in ash. Using magic on people can be done, and can work, but items are easier and more reliable. Quitting isn't possible since you are in this for life, so quitting means you are dead (Retiring is possible, but rare).
What sort of things are required to do magic? Ritual? Strange Materials? Time? Energy? A weird Crystal? A magic wand!? WHAT!?!? ?
Inborn: Energy, and time, and imagination.
Learned: Rituals, chants, materials, meditation, consultation of charts, checking the time of day, wind path, seasons, last meals eaten, path of the birds outside the window, divination to see if divination will be successful. Err. Pretty much everything.
How does magic influence society?
Who learns it? Can anyone learn? What about the poor people who can't even read? Can they learn? ?
Inborn: Magic is entirely inborn and is generally only taught by a mage after one has gained basic control and they find you (or you find them) and they explain what they know. It's purely democratic and basically picks people at random as far as most can tell.
Learned: Only the nobility can learn this, or those they sponsor. Poor people cna pick some up from listening to mages, but they're always given a lot of disinformation along with it. The poor will never learn magic. It's not sanitary.
How is it learned? How does the common person feel about his son learning magic? What about an aristocrat? ?
Inborn: No one wants their child to have magic. Parents suspecting children of magic have been known to drug and then blind them or cut their hands off or their tongue out, to be on the safe side. (This doesn't work, but it is done anyway.) Killing a mage of this kind is generally a very dangerous undertaking since the magic will act to protect itself.
Learned: College teaches this magic, and the common person won't have a son learning it but could have a former child now a minor noble and will never associate with scum like you again most likely. Nobles like their sons to learn magic, if they have no aptitude for the sword or diplomacy or the like. If the family has no mage for whatever reason, they will force it on someone. Most families like to have 2-3 mages, and 3-5 in apprenticeships. Lesser families share mages. Having none is a serious status blow.
Go through the daily life of a peon with emphasis on the parts of his life that are influenced by magic. Does he use a magic axe? Does his wife clean the kitchen with a spell? How does he feel about magic users? ?
The average peon has as little to do with magic as possible. Learned mages tend to be consulted by villages paying a fee for divinations and the like, and Inborn ones are consulted by being asked to do something, and then told to go away.
Are magic users respected, feared, or treated like engineers? ?
Inborn: Feared, pitied, derided.
Learned: Respected for rank as much as anything, and often treated like engineers and somewhat lesser than other family members.
How influential are magic users?
Inborn:
Learned: Very, since they do divinations, but aside from that they're not powerful enough to wield much influence and ties among them are a) family b) college. Other mages are looked upon with distrust or envy often enough.
What kinds of magic are there? How is each treated? How common are they?
The only kinds of magic are inborn and learned. Inborn magic is rare and some of them get captured by Learned mages and used as a power source and die anyway. Mind you, most learned mages who try this fail :)
Learned magic is very common among nobility and treated as a specialized skill.
There are no holy magics in this setting, no gods wielding healing spells and the like. (A witchcraft version of magic standing between Inborn and Learned does exist as the Village Wise Woman/Barbarian Shaman but it's not that common. Many of these tend to be captured by Learned mages seeking Inborn ones.)
Why do people bother to learn/develop magic anyway?
Inborn: They master it or it masters them.
Learned: Something to do, have no choice, ordered, or it's the only thing they're good for.
How does society/mages police magic users? Are their laws regarding how/when it can be used? Spells that are illegal to learn/teach?
Inborn: They are generally hunted down by terrified mobs or live as hermits. Use of this magic is illegal in cities and in the country in general.
Learned: The college keeps a careful eye on mages and the infighting and back stabbing tends to prevent excesses. There are no illegal spells (since few are actually powerful) but some are frowned upon, such as necromatic stuff. Learned magic is used in the cities at will, though it can only be used in the demesne of nobility (even ones own family) with express permission of said family.
Are there dangers inherent in magic use?
Inborn: Using magic is fatal unless one is awfully lucky.
Learned: Using real magic without the proper rituals is fatal.
Some final thoughts:
Inborn magic is very high-powered but rare. Learned is common but rather weak (it does have the advantage of being more versatile but at the cost of taking a long time to do anything useful). The Witchcraft/Shaman variant straddles the line between the two and is basically a self-taught learned style with more emphasis on real magic. It's rare since often the teacher is unable to find a pupil or runs afoul of the authorities.
A divine(?) magic system acting more as psychic powers and used to ferret out and destroy Inborn mages could be added as well. It wouldn't have healing magics, though, since those tend to unbalance a world a lot and exist mostly to keep characters alive when their own stupidity should have killed them.
Answering Questions .. and Adding a Few More
Aslhk's reply to my ramblings on magic...
So, here is a list of magic-defining questions:
What is magic?
----------------------------
Where does magic come from?
How does it work?
Is it systematic or chaotic?
Is it dependable?
Who can use it?
What is the cost of using it?
Is it learned or is it something people are born into?
How often can it be used?
------------------------
What does magic do?
---------------------------
What is an entire day like in the life of a budding mage? What about the life of a successful mage? The life of an uber-powerful mage?
Do spells have to be prepared before hand, or is magic spontaneous?
Is there a certain list of effects that can be achieved with magic? How about a list of effects that can't be achieved?
How often can magic be used? What happens if someone uses it too much? What are the ill effects of using magic on a person? The beneficial effects? How about the effects of suddenly not using magic (quitting "cold turkey")?
What sort of things are required to do magic? Ritual? Strange Materials? Time? Energy? A weird Crystal? A magic wand!? WHAT!?!?
Tell me more about this magic stuff.
How does magic influence society?
------------------------------------------
Who learns it? Can anyone learn? What about the poor people who can't even read? Can they learn?
How is it learned? How does the common person feel about his son learning magic? What about an aristocrat?
Go through the daily life of a peon with emphasis on the parts of his life that are influenced by magic. Does he use a magic axe? Does his wife clean the kitchen with a spell? How does he feel about magic users?
Are magic users respected, feared, or treated like engineers?
How influential are magic users?
Okay, that's enough for now! It's someone else's turn. In some games, this questionairre may need to be filled out several times. For example, g&g had several distinct magic types, each with its own prices, power levels, and social aspects. In D&D, divine magic and arcane magic are very similar but the social aspects can be quite different. Ah well, enough babble! In short, fill out the parts that change--don't bother writing the same thing three or four times.
Other Considerations:
Mine are mostly meta-game thoughts....
What do YOU want magic to accomplish, both in the system and cultural milieu?
By this, I mean: What do people think of magic and magic users? Do they fear them? Why? Because it is possible? Because of some clich? Mage War? The power/effectiveness of magic is a system response to the cultural question. To me, the attitude of people to magic is the most important issue to address, and the reasons for it.
What kinds of magic are there? How is each treated? How common are they?
How do people become magic users is very important. Is it inborn? If so, is it inherited? If it is taught, who is allowed to learn it? What different varieties are taught?
Why do people bother to learn/develop magic anyway?
This depends on how magic is viewed in their society. And if this is widespread .... though they'd still need good reasons to move to Kingdom Magic'R'Us anyway ... and have a way to get there.
How does society/mages police magic users? Are their laws regarding how/when it can be used? Spells that are illegal to learn/teach?
And finally, not a question, but some ideas...
- Diseases unique to magic users.
- Magic-eating creatures and the like are fun, too.
- Dangers inherent in magic use (cthulhuesque monsters, say?)
All I can think of, so far......
So, here is a list of magic-defining questions:
What is magic?
----------------------------
Where does magic come from?
How does it work?
Is it systematic or chaotic?
Is it dependable?
Who can use it?
What is the cost of using it?
Is it learned or is it something people are born into?
How often can it be used?
------------------------
What does magic do?
---------------------------
What is an entire day like in the life of a budding mage? What about the life of a successful mage? The life of an uber-powerful mage?
Do spells have to be prepared before hand, or is magic spontaneous?
Is there a certain list of effects that can be achieved with magic? How about a list of effects that can't be achieved?
How often can magic be used? What happens if someone uses it too much? What are the ill effects of using magic on a person? The beneficial effects? How about the effects of suddenly not using magic (quitting "cold turkey")?
What sort of things are required to do magic? Ritual? Strange Materials? Time? Energy? A weird Crystal? A magic wand!? WHAT!?!?
Tell me more about this magic stuff.
How does magic influence society?
------------------------------------------
Who learns it? Can anyone learn? What about the poor people who can't even read? Can they learn?
How is it learned? How does the common person feel about his son learning magic? What about an aristocrat?
Go through the daily life of a peon with emphasis on the parts of his life that are influenced by magic. Does he use a magic axe? Does his wife clean the kitchen with a spell? How does he feel about magic users?
Are magic users respected, feared, or treated like engineers?
How influential are magic users?
Okay, that's enough for now! It's someone else's turn. In some games, this questionairre may need to be filled out several times. For example, g&g had several distinct magic types, each with its own prices, power levels, and social aspects. In D&D, divine magic and arcane magic are very similar but the social aspects can be quite different. Ah well, enough babble! In short, fill out the parts that change--don't bother writing the same thing three or four times.
Other Considerations:
Mine are mostly meta-game thoughts....
What do YOU want magic to accomplish, both in the system and cultural milieu?
By this, I mean: What do people think of magic and magic users? Do they fear them? Why? Because it is possible? Because of some clich? Mage War? The power/effectiveness of magic is a system response to the cultural question. To me, the attitude of people to magic is the most important issue to address, and the reasons for it.
What kinds of magic are there? How is each treated? How common are they?
How do people become magic users is very important. Is it inborn? If so, is it inherited? If it is taught, who is allowed to learn it? What different varieties are taught?
Why do people bother to learn/develop magic anyway?
This depends on how magic is viewed in their society. And if this is widespread .... though they'd still need good reasons to move to Kingdom Magic'R'Us anyway ... and have a way to get there.
How does society/mages police magic users? Are their laws regarding how/when it can be used? Spells that are illegal to learn/teach?
And finally, not a question, but some ideas...
- Diseases unique to magic users.
- Magic-eating creatures and the like are fun, too.
- Dangers inherent in magic use (cthulhuesque monsters, say?)
All I can think of, so far......
Thursday, February 12, 2004
INTERVIEW WITH THE WERE
INTERVIEW WITH THE WERE
Just doing some prep stuff for the LOLAD novel, basically. Thought I'd share this snippet.
"This isn't going to be like that last interview, is it? I spent weeks being laughed at by friends as being the first were mousse. I don't even let Junior eat dessert. It rots the teeth."
"Ah, no, ma'am. I'll let you preview this before it goes to the printer."
"How nice of you. For the record, it's were moose. M-O-O-S-E."
"You can become a moose?"
"Of course. And a cat, but I prefer being a moose. Except in the parks. Tourists are evil."
"They are?"
"One of them stared at me and said I was the ugliest horse he'd ever seen!"
"I see. Well, do you mind the tape recorder? I'd be typing this, but, well, your son, ah, my computer."
"What?"
"Well, your son pissed on my computer. Ma'am."
"Oh, that. Don't worry. Jerry is just going through a marking his territory phase. You can use ours."
"Ma'am, that is a typewriter."
".... And?"
"A typewriter isn't a computer."
"Oh. I'd always wondered why the names changed. I thought it was copyright. So Underwood doesn't make computers?"
"No, ma'am. They don't really make typewriters anymore. But I don't we're here to talk about that. You claim to be a were moose?"
"Oh, no. No, I don't."
"What?"
"I don't claim to be one. I am one."
".... Right."
"But I can't show you."
"Why not? Is there a veil?"
"A veil? I'm not widowed."
"I meant, some magic that somehow makes it possible for your existence to have been hidden from the world for centuries."
"What are you talking about?"
"So you're saying there isn't one?"
"You think there is one?"
"No, I - never mind. So why can't you change?"
"My husband doesn't like me doing it in front of food."
"Food? Did you say food?"
"He's rather old fashioned. I keep telling him drive throughs are to order food, not eat the tellers, but never listens. Men never do. Anyway, dear, he'd punch you in the face a few times, which is why I can't - say, you're looking pale. Are you all right?"
"Fine."
"But you look really pale!"
"I'm fine, really.."
"And besides, why would you think we're hidden? You know about us!"
"But that's just stories, myths."
"So you're saying it's not real? Is that it?"
"Ah. Maybe we can continue this some other day?"
"If you want to. I have to feed Junior anyway. And make sure he doesn't mark his territory on anything else today. I'm thinking of investing in a cattle prod."
"A .. My. Look at the time. I'd better go. Deadlines to make, stories to write..."
"It's a shame Otis wasn't here. I'll have to let him know you came by, Mister... Say, I never got your name."
"Uh. John. John ... Johnson. Good day to you!"
"What a curious man. Jun .... Otis Junior! Were you making faces at the poor man? You were, weren't you! What have I told you about changing in front of guests! Get over here right now and if you even think about marking territory on him I'll make sure you never can again, you got it! Good. Children these days.... When your father gets home, he'll be angry, you mark my words. No meat for a week, at the very least! But at least you did mark him for your father, just in case."
Just doing some prep stuff for the LOLAD novel, basically. Thought I'd share this snippet.
"This isn't going to be like that last interview, is it? I spent weeks being laughed at by friends as being the first were mousse. I don't even let Junior eat dessert. It rots the teeth."
"Ah, no, ma'am. I'll let you preview this before it goes to the printer."
"How nice of you. For the record, it's were moose. M-O-O-S-E."
"You can become a moose?"
"Of course. And a cat, but I prefer being a moose. Except in the parks. Tourists are evil."
"They are?"
"One of them stared at me and said I was the ugliest horse he'd ever seen!"
"I see. Well, do you mind the tape recorder? I'd be typing this, but, well, your son, ah, my computer."
"What?"
"Well, your son pissed on my computer. Ma'am."
"Oh, that. Don't worry. Jerry is just going through a marking his territory phase. You can use ours."
"Ma'am, that is a typewriter."
".... And?"
"A typewriter isn't a computer."
"Oh. I'd always wondered why the names changed. I thought it was copyright. So Underwood doesn't make computers?"
"No, ma'am. They don't really make typewriters anymore. But I don't we're here to talk about that. You claim to be a were moose?"
"Oh, no. No, I don't."
"What?"
"I don't claim to be one. I am one."
".... Right."
"But I can't show you."
"Why not? Is there a veil?"
"A veil? I'm not widowed."
"I meant, some magic that somehow makes it possible for your existence to have been hidden from the world for centuries."
"What are you talking about?"
"So you're saying there isn't one?"
"You think there is one?"
"No, I - never mind. So why can't you change?"
"My husband doesn't like me doing it in front of food."
"Food? Did you say food?"
"He's rather old fashioned. I keep telling him drive throughs are to order food, not eat the tellers, but never listens. Men never do. Anyway, dear, he'd punch you in the face a few times, which is why I can't - say, you're looking pale. Are you all right?"
"Fine."
"But you look really pale!"
"I'm fine, really.."
"And besides, why would you think we're hidden? You know about us!"
"But that's just stories, myths."
"So you're saying it's not real? Is that it?"
"Ah. Maybe we can continue this some other day?"
"If you want to. I have to feed Junior anyway. And make sure he doesn't mark his territory on anything else today. I'm thinking of investing in a cattle prod."
"A .. My. Look at the time. I'd better go. Deadlines to make, stories to write..."
"It's a shame Otis wasn't here. I'll have to let him know you came by, Mister... Say, I never got your name."
"Uh. John. John ... Johnson. Good day to you!"
"What a curious man. Jun .... Otis Junior! Were you making faces at the poor man? You were, weren't you! What have I told you about changing in front of guests! Get over here right now and if you even think about marking territory on him I'll make sure you never can again, you got it! Good. Children these days.... When your father gets home, he'll be angry, you mark my words. No meat for a week, at the very least! But at least you did mark him for your father, just in case."
Monday, February 09, 2004
Looking for ideas for Weres for the loladish novel
I'm trying to figure out a dark side for weres, a part of their culture that has gone to evil or something like that. Vampires have Shadows (vamps who feed on other supernaturals), fae have faelings (stillborn babies) ..... nothing for were, yet. I don't want to go into a cliched "hunts down and eats flesh" idea...... so looking for anything anyone is up for suggestion.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Saturday, February 07, 2004
Making Worlds Unique....
Caveat: I'm sure unique isn't quite the right word. But it'll do.
What do I mean, then? Mostly - uniqueness isn't always good. Really unique ideas will have people going "huh?" Example: A sci fi setting where the heroes are preventing an alien invasion using feel good music and time travel to the middle ages to retrieve artifacts lost by a previous team - which turns out to have been them - and they run the risk of meeting themselves and blowing up all of creation, which, according to their superiors, should be terrifying enough to convince the invaders to not invade or risk - literally - everything, but in order to do so they must destroy it and stop themselves form doing so, again if necessary. And since everything is here, they did, but the aliens are still invading so they didn't. And then add in some MIB types trying to protect time, a time travelling Homer writing the Iliad and a bunch of other stuff ... yeah, unique, but so is jumping off a building spray painted neon black and screaming "I sunk Atlantis!" in sanskrit while trying to do a triple gainer and half flip and drink a ceasar.
So, uniqueness is not all it's cracked up to be by any shot. Heck, there's, what, only 3 stories that get told? Being unique is more taking the normal and distorting it, or asking "what if?". But diffference. Ah, difference is what we want I think ... a world that has something that can be said to be it's own, to separate it from the many other settings, something you can sum up quickly. (Go ahead, pick a setting and try it. If the setting is any good, you can do it.)
So, you have the difference that gives the setting it's punch, what makes it stand out from the crowd. But that's not all (or even enough), so we get ot the heart of making a world different - alter the normal. For examples:
Your mileage may vary.
What do I mean, then? Mostly - uniqueness isn't always good. Really unique ideas will have people going "huh?" Example: A sci fi setting where the heroes are preventing an alien invasion using feel good music and time travel to the middle ages to retrieve artifacts lost by a previous team - which turns out to have been them - and they run the risk of meeting themselves and blowing up all of creation, which, according to their superiors, should be terrifying enough to convince the invaders to not invade or risk - literally - everything, but in order to do so they must destroy it and stop themselves form doing so, again if necessary. And since everything is here, they did, but the aliens are still invading so they didn't. And then add in some MIB types trying to protect time, a time travelling Homer writing the Iliad and a bunch of other stuff ... yeah, unique, but so is jumping off a building spray painted neon black and screaming "I sunk Atlantis!" in sanskrit while trying to do a triple gainer and half flip and drink a ceasar.
So, uniqueness is not all it's cracked up to be by any shot. Heck, there's, what, only 3 stories that get told? Being unique is more taking the normal and distorting it, or asking "what if?". But diffference. Ah, difference is what we want I think ... a world that has something that can be said to be it's own, to separate it from the many other settings, something you can sum up quickly. (Go ahead, pick a setting and try it. If the setting is any good, you can do it.)
So, you have the difference that gives the setting it's punch, what makes it stand out from the crowd. But that's not all (or even enough), so we get ot the heart of making a world different - alter the normal. For examples:
- a culture where everyone is raised communally and have no concept of family
- A matrilineal culture where men who dress up as women are considered women and can then run their own household, can only marry men etc.. Entirely a gender issue, no sexuality stuff involved.
- Barbarians with no concept of money at all invading civilisation to steal bird feathers to sacrifice to their gods because all the native ones died in a plague
- A city where people never speak for fear of offending the gods.
- A town where everyone dresses in bright colours to blind death
Your mileage may vary.
Monday, February 02, 2004
Game Idea I Need To Get Out Of My Head
King Lodik is dying and the realm of Manichee is being engulfed in a perilous succession war over the throne. The six Dukedoms are dying to control the sons of the king and assassination has become the rule of the day, with the peasants waiting for the lords to murder each other off so they can return to harvesting crops or face a famine the lords either do not know about or are too embroiled in their plots to care about.
Note: This is conceivced as a one-kingdom game, making setting creation much quicker than in most games.
The Kingdom of Manichee
Geography: The land of Manichee is a wealth of pastureland and forest in the north, bounded by the Grey Teeth Mountains that are all but impassible. To the east the land is bound by a foul swamp said to be inhabited by the dread witch Jeliz - none have returned from its depths. In the south the land is farmland and rivers, bound at it's end by the Wasting, the relic of a long forgotten war. Only the west allows travel to othger lands by the Jagged Coast, and travel through the reefs is perilous during the summer, the only months one can make it to their land safely.
But 300 years ago a way through the Swamps was discovered and trade with the outside world, largely the kinddom of Caryldan, has prospered, bringing new sciences and modern weapons into the land.
Succession: For well over 800 years the line of Lodik has ruled in a Salic succession, but the kings only surviving son died last night of natural causes (for kings to be, assassination counts as a natural cause). The war over who takes the throne next is heating up and renegade ideas of having the females (or their male children) included in the line of succession have threatened to split the kingdom in half.
The royal family is listed below. Males are in CAPS, females in lowercase. No spouses etc. are listed to save time.
| LODIK | DAVIS (dead) | A BASTARD |
| Mira | A PC RAFAEL | |
| MAX (the fool) | UGIT Elwen | |
| HERON | Riles | |
| Alluwen | Madine | Vesyil A PC |
| TOLKIR | MORN Alyesha DURK A PC |
Note: MAX is mentally challegened, and many believe him unfit for the throne even though he is next in line. His son UGIT is a sadist, and but-ugly. His daughter is slow.
Magic: Magic is done a la modern earth witchcraft and is very iffy to use, rarely works right, and is mistrusted. The rule of 3 applies.
Religion: Some gods, but they are not involved in the world and their names mostly only known to the secretive priests who serve them (Mystery cults, more or less)
Society The King rules all. His word is law, no one breaks it. Under him are the Dukes who rule the 6 dominions in the kings name. Under them are Barons, under then knights, then villagers, peasants, and slaves. Slavery is rare (there are better things to trade with the outside world) but does occur. Indetured servants rank with slaves and are basically peasants given to/sold off to a baron because the family can't afford to raise them.
Barons rule their area with approval from the Duke. They can enforce laws as they wish, and most Dukes are just concerned that they pay their taxes and train knights. The Dukes settle all disputes between baronies (and between peasants and their lord, if one reaches their notice). The king settles ducal disputes and is the final authority in the world, seen as the embodiment of the gods will by the pious.
(Some kings in the past have even displayed royal powers but they tend to be rare.)
Laws are whatever the King says. Taxes, the same.
Possible complications:
- Caryldan considering an invasion.
- The dukes vying for power as well, Lodik was once one of the ducal houses, after all. If MAX & UGIT die and HERON does (so he can have no sons) by right one of them gains the throne. No one wants MAX or UGIT on the throne, really, and HERON is an old man as well, and his death - unless he produces a son - will just spark off another war, so people don't want that.
- The crops need to come in! Famine!
- The Witch in the Swamp closes the trade road. Panic ensures. Traditionalists like it. Modern thinkers fear that Manichee would fall behind the rest of the world and be conqured the next time such a road opens.
- A priest decides what candidate s/he wants on the throne and begings using his/her cult to arrange matters.
PCs would basically be the heirs listed, bastards, or friends of the heirs ("from our adventuring days"). PCs could be any level for such a game, but 2-6 should be good enough.
Any ideas?
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