SweeneyTodd on RPG.net just posted about a really simple magic system... it was for FATE, but it amounted to you had a skill with a particular kind of magic and one or more aspects (Edges, basically) in that magic. To perform a minor spell, you'd just roll your skill. To do something really impressive and/or plot affecting, you'd also have to check off an aspect. Run out of aspects and you couldn't pull impressive magic anymore.
That's too simple for my taste, but it does match up with what I want... minor magic is free or almost free, major spells cost you something. It's got the best parts of both worlds... mages who've exhausted themselves aren't useless, magic can be used as often as you like, but we don't have to cripple it because the really impressive spells can only be used occasionally. That's basically what I liked about The Shadow of Yesterday. I have to think about how my system could be changed to reflect that better.
Posted by Kiz at March 17, 2005 10:19 AMCommentsPost a comment