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From: mff@wuphys.UUCP (Swamp Thing)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Limiting Magic
Message-ID: <255@wuphys.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 3-Apr-85 22:43:40 EST
Article-I.D.: wuphys.255
Posted: Wed Apr  3 22:43:40 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 5-Apr-85 02:31:48 EST
References: <1179@reed.UUCP> <26000002@siemens.UUCP>
Organization: Physics Dept., Washington Univ. in St. Louis
Lines: 53

> By the way, I have a really neat magic system, but it has one flaw that
> the obvious solutions won't really fix:  a magic user can go off and spend
> some huge amount of time making an arbitrary number of potions or enchanted
> swords or whatever and then carry huge amounts of magic with him.  Any
> suggestions on "realistic" reasons why magic users cannot do this, that don't
> restrict the ability to make a few potions or swords or whatever?
> 
> The first time a couple players tried my system out they rolled up new
> characters, both became magic users, and spent a year making "runes of
> illusion".  (Illusion is a first level spell, and they both specialized in
> rune writing, which means that was the only way they could do  magic.)
> They then set off with backpacks full of runes that they could use at a
> moment's notice, effectively having hundreds of illusion spells available.
> It was funny, but a disaster as well.  They were supposed to be able to
> make some small number of runes, not hundreds; but they were also not supposed
> to hang around town so long before they left.
> 

The simplest way of curing this problem that I can think of is to remind
players that they don't live in a vacuum.  If two 1st-level nurds want to spend
a year making magic (assuming your system allows this), the first thing they
have to worry about is how to support themselves.  Sure, they can sell their
services, but that takes time.  Manufacturing items usually (and, I think
should) require intense consentration for long preiods of time.  It is also
usually expensive.  And writing scrolls takes ink.  Not just any old ink, but
magic ink.  This is also hard and expensive to make, and should not be
available in umlimited supply (how many black dragon claws can you expect to
find, for gosh sakes).

If that doesn't stop them, perhaps it's time to introduce them to some of your
more interesting NPC's.  Hundreds of scrolls should be worth alot of money.  If
you're just sitting in town making scrolls for a year, the local Thieve's Guild
is certain to find out.  Mabye a local mage (perhaps the one selling them all
that ink and scroll paper) gets a little greedy.  The possibilities are
endless.  I just can't see a first-level character holding on to something that
valuable too long.





						Mark F. Flynn
						Department of Physics
						Washington University
						St. Louis, MO  63130
						ihnp4!wuphys!mff

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