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From: robertp@weitek.UUCP (Robert Plamondon)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Limiting Magic
Message-ID: <158@weitek.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 6-Apr-85 23:13:42 EST
Article-I.D.: weitek.158
Posted: Sat Apr  6 23:13:42 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Apr-85 04:02:31 EST
References: <1179@reed.UUCP> <26000002@siemens.UUCP> <12303@watmath.UUCP> <1883@sdcrdcf.UUCP>
Organization: Weitek Corp. Sunnyvale Ca.
Lines: 32


Most of the answers on "how to limit magic" are intrusive kludges
that cause more problems than they solve.  A better approach is to
go back to first principles and ask some questions:

1.  Is it a bad thing for mages to make magic items to help
themselves? Admittedly, having player characters act intelligently
can be a bit of a shock, but there's nothing WRONG about it.

2.  If it IS clear that the quantity of magic items they can churn
out is too high, you should reassess the magic creation rules in
light of how you want magic to work.  If magic is supposed to be
technology by another name, then mass production, economy of scale,
and other (revolting) things will be likely to work.  If, on the
other hand, magic is an obscure and difficult art, making magic
items is likely to be time-consuming, erratic, and expensive.  Just
HOW time-consuming, erratic, and expensive it is is up to you.


3.  Restrictions that are presented in terms of campaign-world
problems, like materials costs or the time it takes to get something
done, are more palatable than arbitrary rulings that a mage can't
make more than x items without turning into a vegetable or
something.

4.  To simulate the arcane, hit-and-miss approach to magic, large
portions of the rules should be kept secret from the players, which
will force them to use trial-and-error, or steal other magicians'
secrets.

	Robert  Plamondon
	..!decwrl!turtlevax!weitek!robertp