wdr@faron.UUCP (William D. Ricker) (04/09/85)
In article <732@mhuxt.UUCP> js2j@mhuxt.UUCP (sonntag) writes: >> I prefer the idea of expensive material components being required to create >> lasting magic. After all, what were all those spells written with? and on? >> For instance, inscribing a rune for a fire spell, better have a little >> ground ruby and dragon blood, etc. This solution make seem artificial,... > Dragon blood for a fire spell? This reminds me of the 'example' list of >ingredients for the components of the ink for a protection from petrification >scroll, which is listed in the AD&D DM's guide. The ingredients include >parts from several different petrification-causing monsters! Anyone who >actually *needs* protection from petrification would never be able to >gather the requisite components. Catch-22. >Jeff Sonntag Jeff, The AD*D spell components are frequently hokey in-jokes to modern technology (e.g., is the the copper wire for communication?) but the concept is firmly grounded in the ancient alchemical tradition of SYMPATHETIC MAGIC. This tradition may be thought of as a generalization of the voodoo tradition of making a doll with a lock of hair and scrap of cloths of the victim, in the victims's likeness, to do him/her harm. As such, to affect fire, one used ingredients which had some connection with fire or immunity to fire, etc. Dragon's blood makes good sense as an ingredient in any of (a) fire immunity potion; (b) ink for fire producing, controlling or immunity scrolls; (c) dragon control devices; and many other related items. Any /good/ reference on medieval alchemy and magical heresies should discuss sympathetic magic. The use of expensive materials /is/ historic: the alchemists used pure, valuable materials in their attempts to further refine them to perfection (pure 'elementals' and gold). I myself have thought the D&D ruling that you had to be Xlevel to enchant even a hankercheif of Nystul's magic mumble to by a great crock. I don't see why any true adventurer would turn to enchanting. I also don't see a research & development type mage turning to dungeon raiding when he's filled a rack of potions. The best solution to the 'problem' is, as people have suggested, social context: if the players ROLE PLAY their characters, instead of MINI-MAX OPTIMIZING, they will find that the character has goals. These goals may involve various tasks, including book research, archeologic searching for remenants of previous magical knowledge, collection of rare required materials, and other pilgrimidges, including being at the right place at the right time of the year/decade/month to incant the final verse; etc. So the Answer is a Question: WHY ARE THE TWO MAGES CONSIDERING GOING OUT OF DOORS AT ALL? Once the /characters/ answer that question, their actions /will/ be constrained by their /character/ to the reasonable. If they spend a year on R&D, it will be for some /purpose/, not just to become grossities for free. (?free?--as others have pointed out, unless they roll up as ducal 3rd sons, the year of r&d will /cost/ many GPs. Who's paying?) So the better developed your SOCIETY and the more it interacts with your player's CHARACTER'S GOALS, the less pressure is on your GAME MECHANICS to maintain GAME BALANCE. A goal-oriented, role-playing game in a reasonably detailed society is inherently self-balancing. If the results of a game-mechanics rule or roll indicate a result contra-indicated by the culture/social situation, you as referee are free to, and I think should, side with your culture. Your mechanics may evolve as you weave the culture. In any case, the primary limiting factor to prevent player-character excesses and grossities is not the game mechanics but the society (-: The "angry villager role" in Original (collectors Edition these days) D&D was the ultimate game-balance: if you offended the culture, you died ala Dr. Frankenstein and his monster. That is in Daz Rulz, release 1. So even the most hide-bound TSRnick is permited to use societal pressure. :-) -- William Ricker wdr@faron.UUCP (UUCP) decvax!genrad!linus!faron!wdr (UUCP) {allegra,ihnp4,utzoo,philabs,uw-beaver}!linus!faron!wdr (UUCP) Opinions are my own and not necessarily anyone elses. Likewise the "facts".