Post/Author/DateTime	Post
elven warriorXX 09-12-05, 07:43 PM	I am trying make arcane magic different. I have gone through many ideas like: and idea were arcane magic is shaped through your Essence (which is a green/blue aura), arcane magic is powered through stones, it comes from the earths core, it comes from dragons, it comes from a planar wave. But none of them fit, and i am out :P So i want to see other ideas from other people. As they say 2 minds are better then 1
Fargren 09-12-05, 07:54 PM	Try psionics. It could be what you are looking for. Power comes from one will, and his capability to make it affect the world.
elven warriorXX 09-12-05, 07:57 PM	i Like psionics and use it often. I am looking fo ideas for arcane magic. Just tell me how arcane magic works in your world.
TheErsatzFacsimileOfMe 09-12-05, 08:23 PM	I've never really given much thought to how Arcane magic works. I would usually stick to the idea that Arcane Magic comes from a source which is yet to be discovered. That way no powergamers can metagame a way into tapping into said source. But, if I had to pick, I'd say it came from Dragons and Elves.
Fargren 09-12-05, 08:25 PM	I'm sorry my advice wasn't usefull. Well, i'm not currently DMing, and the source of magic in our setting is a big secret, wich we are actually trying to discover so I can't tell much about it. You could do it like in DragonLance: there are three moons, wich are the home of the three gods of magic, that provide spells to those of their alignment. But there, arcane amgic and divine magic have a blurry distintion.
elven warriorXX 09-12-05, 08:42 PM	like the moon one :D and this CS is very advanced and they know were magic comes from. Thanks so far guys :D
Raiden Drake 09-12-05, 09:12 PM	in my world, arcane magic come from the far realms, much like background noise in the space, some kind of ever-present radiation... there is a plane call "the first step" between the regular planes(materia, elemental, sigil, hell, etc... etc...) and the far realm, this place work as a lens channeling magic to the multiverse divine magic come form the gods, every god channel its power using clerics, favored souls. Druids and shamans use the magical energy that gods radiate and gets impregnated in every living thing... As for the question were does the background magic came from... there is this uver-god in the far-realms that radiate it... he is call the DM... :P
Doopliss 09-12-05, 09:21 PM	You could always rip off Eragon. Magic comes from a great language of all sentinent things, half-buried in time. Though words are hard to find, the use of even the most generic words can have a critical outcome when shaped with an intent. Not the power of your will, just intent. You can still say the words without causing an effect due to this "intent" issue. It could be input by allowing you to cast any spell for which you know relative words. Even something as complicated as Cloudkill could be handled with the word "Poison." as for the more specialised ones, eg. baleful polymorph, you would say something like "Transform frog." You would mentally specify the target through intent. As for a balancer, they cost energy(mental, physical, your call. For the purpose of D&D, most likely a pp like system or constitution governing it.)depending on the power of your chosen intent. Should you try to cast a spell that requires more power than you have, it works(or starts to work) until you run out of energy, in which case you could be knocked unconsious or killed. You may or may not be allowed to stop the casting if it has a duration of instantanious, but spells of other durations can be cancelled with a thought.(or word, at your discretion) If you're not interested in questing for words/learning them in-game, you can make a large list of 'spellcasting' words, and give the person a set number at each level. Theoretically, sorcerers would get more energy to cast spells, wizards would know more words. Either way, you should start play with four or five as a spellcaster. I'm big on finding them though ;)
Discordia 09-12-05, 09:24 PM	I once devised a theory on magic that went like thus: All physical objects and forms of energy are connected by invisible, intangible cords. Magic is that art of pulling these cords to manipulate what's connected to them. Even most wizards don't realize that this is what they're doing, as it requires special magic to see the cords. This makes it possible for anyone to potentially master the art of magic, as there's no real inborn factor - it's all external. Of course, WotC just had to go and create the sorcerer, so it guess it needs some tweaking.
elven warriorXX 09-12-05, 09:41 PM	all good so far :D here is my Essence magic idea Arcane Essence The Essence, or the Arcane Essence as it is called by arcane spellcasters, is an inner power that all living creatures have. It is used to shape arcane magic into spells and spell-like abilities. The Arcane Essence is a bluish, green aura that surrounds living or undead creatures. A spellcasters aura is much stronger and brighter then a commoners aura, but the Arcane Essence can not be seen by anyone, it is invisible to the naked eye. Only cretin spells like detect magic, or identify allow wizards or other spellcaster to see this aura. Every time an arcane spellcaster cast a spell it drains his Essence from him. Arcane spellcasters learn how to channel arcane magic through their Arcane Essence and cast spells. Arcane Essence is like a channeler for arcane magic and spell-like abilities. Divine spellcasters do not use their Arcane Essence to shape spells, they use another force called the Weave, but when they cast spell like detect magic they are still seeing the Arcane Essence.
Raiden Drake 09-12-05, 09:41 PM	I once devised a theory on magic that went like thus: All physical objects and forms of energy are connected by invisible, intangible cords. Magic is that art of pulling these cords to manipulate what's connected to them. Even most wizards don't realize that this is what they're doing, as it requires special magic to see the cords. This makes it possible for anyone to potentially master the art of magic, as there's no real inborn factor - it's all external. Of course, WotC just had to go and create the sorcerer, so it guess it needs some tweaking. sorcerers could just have a natural insigth to this cord thingy
elven warriorXX 09-12-05, 09:57 PM	sorcerers could just have a natural insigth to this cord thingy yah there ya go :D
elven warriorXX 09-13-05, 11:03 AM	any more different magic systems?
scott644 09-13-05, 11:43 AM	Back in 1st and 2nd Editions magic had different sources (as it does now). Divine magic came from the gods and channeled through the casters. Psionics came from the individual. And arcane magic came from manipulating the magical forces of the world. More advanced versions indicated arcane magic drew energy from the ethereal plane and created disturbances there - there were even monsters created based on this concept. It seems to me this could be adapted to 3.x with some minor tweaking.
Raiden Drake 09-13-05, 12:00 PM	Divine spellcasters do not use their Arcane Essence to shape spells, they use another force called the Weave, but when they cast spell like detect magic they are still seeing the Arcane Essence. I suspect that this weave have some relation with the gods, but where does the gods powers came... is this weave their essence?
elven warriorXX 09-13-05, 02:56 PM	The Weave is a linviable force that covers the land. Beacuse the world was infused with energies both arcane and divine, the weave is much like that of the Weave from FR. The Essence is a inner power, while the weave is a outer force :) The Weave is run by a god but the Essence is not but it must be mastered to cast arcane spells. The Weave is a fabric, the Essence is a aura
NinjaE 09-13-05, 04:30 PM	IMC, magic is the programming language of the multiverse. Thus, a create fire spell would actually be the caster saying something like " Setvalue onfire=1" in the Old Tongue. 'Course, the Old Tongue is not exactly simple. In fact, it's base 27, 9, and 3, all at the same time. Except for wild magic. That's base 73.8 .
elven warriorXX 09-14-05, 03:45 PM	IMC, magic is the programming language of the multiverse. Thus, a create fire spell would actually be the caster saying something like " Setvalue onfire=1" in the Old Tongue. 'Course, the Old Tongue is not exactly simple. In fact, it's base 27, 9, and 3, all at the same time. Except for wild magic. That's base 73.8 . Very neat idea you got their :D anymore magical backgrounds?
The Weave05 09-14-05, 04:33 PM	The Weave is a linviable force that covers the land. Beacuse the world was infused with energies both arcane and divine, the weave is much like that of the Weave from FR. The Essence is a inner power, while the weave is a outer force :) The Weave is run by a god but the Essence is not but it must be mastered to cast arcane spells. The Weave is a fabric, the Essence is a aura Now, I like threads about me and all, ;) but come now, I am a person, not a fabric :D But anyways, in my old campaign, I use lunar alignment as part of my spellcasting source. It goes for divine and arcane casters alike, but when the moons align, it gives some random spells a twist and others more powerful or even allows extra spells to be cast that night. Now, not only is their almost always a parade and stuff, but magical assassinations and attacks are frequent, so its also just as dangerous. I used it a few campaigns ago and can't find any of the papers and charts I had. Oh well. Hope that helps :)
elven warriorXX 09-14-05, 05:08 PM	Now, I like threads about me and all, ;) but come now, I am a person, not a fabric :D But anyways, in my old campaign, I use lunar alignment as part of my spellcasting source. It goes for divine and arcane casters alike, but when the moons align, it gives some random spells a twist and others more powerful or even allows extra spells to be cast that night. Now, not only is their almost always a parade and stuff, but magical assassinations and attacks are frequent, so its also just as dangerous. I used it a few campaigns ago and can't find any of the papers and charts I had. Oh well. Hope that helps :) lol :P yes that is another good idea :) here is another one i did with a Weave/Essence system The Arcane Essence and the Divine Weave The Arcane Essence is a invisible force that arcane spellcasters use to shape spells, and the divine Weave is a force that is run by a god and does the same thing but for divine spellcasters. They are both not raw magical energies, only a conduit for casters to be able use the magical power in the land and that surrounds all (arcane magic), or from the gods divine power (divine magic) both fill the fabric of Arcania and both are invisible but are infused into the world. They both co-exist through Arcania and are like long ribbons that flow around the world and planes of Arcania. These forces can not be seen but they fill the air with the power to use magic across Arcania. i like this one :) i may use it now that i fixed it up with some ideas i got from reading your posts. Keep posting :D
spectralphoenix 09-15-05, 03:20 AM	Suppose that characters have an Arcane Essence or the like, but instead of shaping spells themselves, they bargain with extraplanar creatures for them. So if a wizard wants to prepare spells, he uses his spellbook to find a entity capable of granting him the spell, and he agrees to give the entity a certain amount of arcane essence in exchange for a spell. The wizard's spellbook records how to bargain for a spell in terms that the entity understands. Higher level spellcasters have more Arcane essence and can bargain with more powerful entities. Entities could include elemental lords, gods, things from the Far Realm, and so on. The difference between this and Divine magic is that the wizard is essentially a free agent; if his alignment changes or he doesn't want to do what his deity says, he can just ask someone else for a given spell. Example: A 3rd level mage wants to prepare Burning hands, Chill touch, and Invisibility. He contacts a Fire Elemental lord for the burning hands, Wee Jas for the Chill touch, and a djinn for invisibility. He haggles with them for an hour, and all three work out a deal that essentially amounts to "give us a portion of your daily energy and we will give you the spell." If acharacter wanted to research a new spell, he would have find a way to describe it exactly to whomever he was negotiating with. If the mage wanted to research a new fire spell, he couldn't just ask Kossuth to give it to him, he would have to describe it very precisely in order to work out a deal. Magic items would be infused with power in exchange for XP, and scrolls could be written contracts between the creator and an entity. Thats my system, though I think NinjaE's is the coolest.
Glanoric 09-15-05, 04:14 AM	The homebrew game I'm about to start running is going to have a major plot twist eventually wherein the party discovers that the source of all magic is a sort of generator powered by the ever dreaming bodies of a progenitor race (probably Le Shay though I may get around to making my own). The ability to channel said magic (no wizards in my world) is a trait that was carefully infused into certain people several hundred years ago and that is carefully monitored by a nation that many people thought whiped out during the great war but that actually won the war and still exists, hidden, using the rest of the world as slaves.
elven warriorXX 09-15-05, 11:19 AM	Suppose that characters have an Arcane Essence or the like, but instead of shaping spells themselves, they bargain with extraplanar creatures for them. So if a wizard wants to prepare spells, he uses his spellbook to find a entity capable of granting him the spell, and he agrees to give the entity a certain amount of arcane essence in exchange for a spell. The wizard's spellbook records how to bargain for a spell in terms that the entity understands. Higher level spellcasters have more Arcane essence and can bargain with more powerful entities. Entities could include elemental lords, gods, things from the Far Realm, and so on. The difference between this and Divine magic is that the wizard is essentially a free agent; if his alignment changes or he doesn't want to do what his deity says, he can just ask someone else for a given spell. Example: A 3rd level mage wants to prepare Burning hands, Chill touch, and Invisibility. He contacts a Fire Elemental lord for the burning hands, Wee Jas for the Chill touch, and a djinn for invisibility. He haggles with them for an hour, and all three work out a deal that essentially amounts to "give us a portion of your daily energy and we will give you the spell." If acharacter wanted to research a new spell, he would have find a way to describe it exactly to whomever he was negotiating with. If the mage wanted to research a new fire spell, he couldn't just ask Kossuth to give it to him, he would have to describe it very precisely in order to work out a deal. Magic items would be infused with power in exchange for XP, and scrolls could be written contracts between the creator and an entity. Thats my system, though I think NinjaE's is the coolest. That is really cool :D i just have Arcane Essence usedto shape arcane magic but i have never thought of bargaining with gods :D good job
Sjay1 09-15-05, 11:35 AM	what happened to the regular Weave?.... the layer of magic that lies over the world..that wizards shape to create magic effects?... That is how it officially works right?...
sooperspook 09-15-05, 11:39 AM	Personally i got rid of the wizard and sorcerer class altogether. instead arcane casters are all warlocks from CA. of course this meant i had to modify all other casters. :P I also use Incantations from UA. Where magic in general comes from is a mystery although divine 'magic' isnt actually magic per se. rather it is the manifestation of your faith/deity's will. Most arcane incantations call upon otherworldly beings for their power (such as demons, elementals, spirits, even extraplanar fey). Only warlocks ahve 'internal' magic and even that is a result of making pacts or having an ancestor who did so. I like to keep things mysterious so there are all sorts of theories on wehre magic comes from and how it works. it keeps all those learned sages of my world busy arguing instead of causing any real damage. :)
elven warriorXX 09-15-05, 12:12 PM	Personally i got rid of the wizard and sorcerer class altogether. instead arcane casters are all warlocks from CA. of course this meant i had to modify all other casters. :P I also use Incantations from UA. Where magic in general comes from is a mystery although divine 'magic' isnt actually magic per se. rather it is the manifestation of your faith/deity's will. Most arcane incantations call upon otherworldly beings for their power (such as demons, elementals, spirits, even extraplanar fey). Only warlocks ahve 'internal' magic and even that is a result of making pacts or having an ancestor who did so. I like to keep things mysterious so there are all sorts of theories on wehre magic comes from and how it works. it keeps all those learned sages of my world busy arguing instead of causing any real damage. :) yes :D divine magic is not really "magic", arcane magic is true magic and all others are just sub-magiks to arcane magic
spectralphoenix 09-15-05, 09:34 PM	what happened to the regular Weave?.... the layer of magic that lies over the world..that wizards shape to create magic effects?... That is how it officially works right?... That's how it works in Forgotten Realms. The Core books don't really say anything about why magic works, it just does.
elven warriorXX 09-16-05, 10:25 AM	I like to put in a CS where magic comes from just to make it different from the other settings. Eberron also does not tell you were magic comes from, it just says magic is magic.
Mini_Mike86 09-16-05, 01:13 PM	all good so far :D here is my Essence magic idea Arcane Essence The Essence, or the Arcane Essence as it is called by arcane spellcasters, is an inner power that all living creatures have. It is used to shape arcane magic into spells and spell-like abilities. The Arcane Essence is a bluish, green aura that surrounds living or undead creatures. A spellcasters aura is much stronger and brighter then a commoners aura, but the Arcane Essence can not be seen by anyone, it is invisible to the naked eye. Only cretin spells like detect magic, or identify allow wizards or other spellcaster to see this aura. this idea works for sorcerers who naturaly have an innate ability to cast spells. but wizards shouldnt have an arcane essence as they need to learn how to cast their spells? plus wouldn't animals be born with it too? can't really imagine every pack of wolves you meet to have spell casting abilities..? Our group uses the idea of Ley Line's these are similar to that whole cord thingy but rather than magic tugging the cords. Ley Lines are the invisible links between the inner & outer planes they are a sort of arcane plumbing system. our group has decided that different schools or even types of spells belong to a certain plane or even certain deitys and must be called into the material plane along the Ley Lines. Examples: Transmutation {Polymorph} -: Everchanging Chaos Of Limbo Evocation [Fire] -: Elemental Plane of Fire Necromancy -: Negative Energy Plane, Ethereal Plane or maybe even Wee-jas Transmutation [teleportation] -: Astral Plane Conjuration [healing] -: Positive Energy Plane e.t.c. you get the idea Sorcerer's can naturally tap these Ley Lines and Wizards must learn how to access the 'taps' to the magical plumbing, or even force it with the use of material componants XP costs are a form of backlash from accessing these ancient magical ley lines
Mini_Mike86 09-16-05, 01:21 PM	Sorcerer's can naturally tap these Ley Lines and Wizards must learn how to access the 'taps' to the magical plumbing, or even force it with the use of material componants we even did a campain where we played a group of Duergar dwarves and we physically mined the ley lines to stop all magic from ever reaching the material plane. leaving all magic items usless as these items tap the ley lines for the magic to work. Which left all non-divine spell casters useless. As divine spells are cast through the caster via there deity who have no need for ley lines.
elven warriorXX 09-16-05, 01:33 PM	here i will make it a bit clearer The Arcane Essence and the Weave The Arcane Essence is a invisible force that arcane spellcasters use to shape spells, and the Weave is a force that is run by a god and does the same thing but for divine spellcasters. They are both not raw magical energies, only a conduit for casters to be able use the magical power in the land and that surrounds all (arcane magic), or from the gods divine power (divine magic) both fill the fabric of Arcania and both are invisible but are infused into the world. They both co-exist through Arcania and are like long ribbons that flow around the world and planes of Arcania. These forces can not be seen but they fill the air with the power to use magic across Arcania. The Arcane Essence Arcane magic is powered by, and shaped through the Arcane Essence, which is a ribbon of an invisible substance that is used to shape arcane magic. The Arcane Wave is a manifestation of arcane power that surrounds and flows through Arcania, which arcane users use to shape arcane magic into spells that can make a multitude of effects with some elemental energy. The Arcane Wave is a conduit that arcane spellcasters use to channel pure arcane energy for their spells. When an arcane caster mixes ancient draconic words, hand symbols, along with The Arcane Essence he can create just about any spell effect imaginable. The Arcane Essence is a bluish, green aura that fills the world with that ability to control arcane magic, and is very strong around arcane spellcasters or magical items with arcane effects, hence were its got its name Essence. The Arcane Essence can not be seen by anyone, it is invisible to the naked eye but arcane spellcasters can feel it surrounding them everywhere in Arcania. It flows from its magical source to all arcane users on Arcania. It takes many years studying draconic tomes to learn how to harness the Arcane Essence to control arcane magic. It is hard to learn and master these tomes in order to use the Arcane Essence that flows through Arcania but many see it worth wile and study long and hard to gain power over the arcane arts.