Characters
Now that we have a setting, we need characters.
Using the system posted earlier, 18 points in attributes would be average. Take 20 points to have a slightly above average character. Distribute them as you see fit. Also take 6 points in skills. Feel free to take more as long as you balance them with applicable weaknesses. Acceptable magical skills will be the eight schools of magic, or specific skills. If you know anything about d&d then forget everything you think you know about spells and go ahead and make up your own favorite effects, though I would imagine that most of the time your wizards will be making their effects up on the spot to suit their imediate needs.
I want descriptions of your family, where you grew up, who you know in the planes, and why you chose to pursue magic. Tell me about your favorite class and favorite professor. Tell me about your roommate. Tell me your major if you've picked one. The eight available majors are the major schools of magic, abjuration, conjuration, divination, enchantment, evocation, illusion, necromancy, and transmutation. This is an eight year school, sort of a combination college and PhD program. Tell me what year you are in, though no later than third year will be allowed. I also want at least one major goal that your character wants to accomplish before graduation. Oh, and at least one thing that if discovered by the administration would result in expulsion, for someone, though if not for you then I'll also need a reason you haven't ratted them out.
Email these to me and I'll post the bits that would be public knowledge.
11 comments:
You know as many spells as you want to, unless I decide the spell is out of bounds, but get bonuses for only those you take as skills.
Power Word: Kill?
There is no such spell.
Rumors have long been heard of wizards that could simply speak and end your life, but these are largely false. When wizards kill someone, something more complicated than just death usually occurs. Maybe the blood boils. Maybe the brain is turned to gold. If life is stolen outright, it still exists and is frequently bestowed upon an inanimate object, like the wizard's favorite chair. Redistribution of life, not extiction of life.
more importantly, how do we determine equipment and spells known?
Basically I don't really care about spell lists. I want you to try and make up original effects every time. "Spells" should be thought of as either effects you've used frequently enough to have mastered and found useful enough to remember, or examples you've been shown in class that stuck for one reason or another.
As to equipment, think normal amounts of school supplies, a fairly normal weapon that you might find at a mall knife store, and probably no armor. Clothes, of course.
About power level: although I'd like to be able to just ditch the requirments and say "Be realistic," that may be a bit much. So to avoid constantly ruling that things are beyond you, lets say that without a skill point in a school of magic, only very minor effects and general awarness of magical energies are possible. One point gets you small temporary effects, two gets you moderate temporary effects, three gets you major temporary effects, four gets you minor/moderate permanent effects, and five gets you moderate/major permanent effects. I will further rule that you can only have a maximum of one point per school per year (first year gets you one, second two, and so on).
I hope that makes things clear without making things too annoying.
...so every spell that falls into different schools is possible to cast? For example, cloud kill (which is a level 9 spell, something only master magicians can cast) would be accessible for even first year students?
They could cast a spell that would look like cloud kill, but it wouldn't be very effective. Remember, first years can only have one point in any one school, which only allows for minor temporary effects. I assume that cloud kill, if it's a 9th level spell, is more than minor. The could approximate it, but not actually pull off the real thing.
Has anyone else sent Dan the character info? I'm totally chompin' at the bit to get this game in motion!
I've got characters from two people. I'm waiting on characters from two others who've agreed to play, although I haven't heard from one since. Another three have been invited but either haven't responded or haven't commited. An additional one has been issued an invite by proxy. Josh, if you talk to any of the guys from the NH games, go ahead and invite them to participate. Jeremy (Garra) is going away for a week, so things probably won't get going until after that unless I get more players.
Oh good. I'd still like at least one more character, but I suppose if I don't get one by Monday then we'll move forward regardless.
Huzzah!!!!!!!!!!
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