tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post5546459290325197051..comments2024-03-26T22:17:42.458-04:00Comments on Semper Initiativus Unum: Arnesonian Magic SystemWayne Rossihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11347401495298367324noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post-10642473306172915312013-08-09T13:24:31.940-04:002013-08-09T13:24:31.940-04:00Also, imagine coming up with a list of unique rare...Also, imagine coming up with a list of unique rare spell components for the first 3 spell levels, which contain only a dozen spells each. That's pretty doable. Making that list, tracking the inventory, and making sure they appear in the dungeon is a lot more difficult when it's 9 spell levels of 50-70 spells per level like we have at the end of 2E. <br /><br />Maybe that's why he dropped the rule. 1d30http://1d30.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post-75490614101831598932013-08-09T13:21:12.360-04:002013-08-09T13:21:12.360-04:00Well sure, of course you'd keep it simple. Fir...Well sure, of course you'd keep it simple. First off, the money cost is enough I think to cover most spells. Really nice ones could require specific types of wealth: gems, incense, fur, ivory, etc. worth the given amount. The player is then very interested in the description of a treasure as much as the value of that treasure. And you can say "Otiluke's Blue Spheres needs gems as the material component" and that's all you have to remember. Well that and the spell level, which tells you how many GP in gems you need to use. <br /><br />As for the money, 3E was successful in scaling it up by using a formula 25(Spell Level^2), so lvl x lvl x 25, for scrolls (I think that's the number, can't remember). So a 9th level scroll would be (9x9x25) 2,025 GP. <br /><br />I think 100 GP is a good number for 1st level scrolls. Here's how that would break down: <br /><br />L1: 100<br />L2: 400<br />L3: 900<br />...<br />L9: 8,100<br /><br />Which seems like it might be appropriate. <br /><br />Also I figured that in this system you'd have to be able to cast the spell in the first place. So you can't have a 3rd level M-U casting Wish off a scroll the party pooled their money to buy. Remember I'm not trying to talk about scrolls specifically, but the cool Arneson rule Wayne brought up. 1d30http://1d30.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post-91022459201330463112013-08-08T20:48:55.910-04:002013-08-08T20:48:55.910-04:00100 per spell level seems a bit low for higher lev...100 per spell level seems a bit low for higher level spells. A Wish is worth more than 9 Sleeps. Also, any ideas on now to handle spell components without excessive bookkeeping or requiring a specific monster part from a monster that might not fit a particular game world.Hedgehobbithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17606283586332210195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5377543525075660166.post-84105344715175573752013-08-08T17:36:10.031-04:002013-08-08T17:36:10.031-04:00Like a lot of weird rules that get overlooked, thi...Like a lot of weird rules that get overlooked, this seems like the kind of thing that ends up making a LOT of sense if you just shrug and go with it. If you look at an M-U's "prepared spell components" as the scrolls, and an M-U can start scribing scrolls at Level 1 (perhaps using some of his starting funds!) that can definitely work. After all, he doesn't need to upgrade his armor, buy a warhorse, etc. so where else should he put his money?<br /><br />Then the very small number of M-U memorized spells per day becomes the spells he can "cast freely" without long preparation and expensive investment. These refresh every day, so long as he has access to his spellbook to re-memorize any spent ones. <br /><br />An M-U who bemoans that his only useful act that day will be a single Magic Missile (or even better, a Sleep or Color Spray), and who is not deterred by the prospect of hurling daggers (although that's about as useful as anyone else at first level), now has something to fall back on in dire extremes. <br /><br />It's also a nice way to let the party decide where to sink their gold. They can pool up and let the M-U prepare more scrolls, making the next expedition much more likely to succeed. Or they can do the same to the Cleric, getting holy water and Cure Light scrolls. Or they can splurge on things like retainers, flaming oil, warhorses, war dogs, wagons, etc. <br /><br />It's also nice that it neatly solves the problem of the olde magick shoppe; the M-U is the go-to guy for gizmos, but limited by his level, investment of time and money, and procurement of special ingredients (a spur for adventure of course). 1d30http://1d30.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com