Difference between revisions of "Magic systems"

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(Change categories into headings, add new headings, list MP first and rename it to single-pool. It should be easier to list new systems now.)
 
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; Slot-based
A magic system typically defines a set of non-standard attacks and effects which are limited by an in-game restriction, such as a resource required to use those abilities.  A magic system might be derived from the games [[lore]], or the other way around.
: [[Spell]]s are prepared in advance, and once prepared a spell can be cast at anytime with little or no chance of failure, but once cast the spell is consumed; to cast a spell twice it has to be prepared twice, and so on.
: Typically the maximum number of spells that can be prepared is finite, either with an explicit cap (i.e. 'Slots'), or by requiring a finite resource (i.e. Material components).
: Variations include: more powerful spells require more slots/resources; [[D&D]]-style leveled slots; pre-requisite spells to implicitly consume extra slots for powerful spells.


; [[Mana]]-Based
== Costs / Restrictions ==
: [[Spell]]s consume a quantity of spellpoints (i.e. [[Mana]]) when cast, otherwise spellcasting is unrestricted.
It is quite common to combine more than one of these methods.
: Variants are: '[[Aspected Mana]]' (Fire mana, water, defensive, aggressive, etc., and other more unusual divisions); [[spell]]s consuming things other things instead of mana ([[Hitpoints]], material components, food, etc.), and spells consume more then one type of thing/aspect of mana (e.g. 3 fire mana and a stick of charcoal))
 
A Mana/Chance system might allow memorization of any number of [[spell]]s, with the drawback that they cost mana and may fail. [[NetHack]] does this.
 
A Slot/Mana/Chance system might allow you to memorize a short list of spells, which then may be cast as above. [[Crawl]] does this.
 
=== Single-pool ([[Mana]], Stamina) ===
[[Spell]]s consume spell points from a separate unique resource (usually given a short name like 'MP' or 'SP') when cast, but spellcasting is otherwise unrestricted.
Variations include: '[[Aspected Mana]]'/`Multi-pool` (fire mana, water mana, offensive mana, defensive mana, etc.); [[spell]]s consuming things other than mana ([[hit points]], material components, food/nutrition, etc.); spells consume more than one type of thing/aspect of mana (e.g. 3 fire mana and a stick of charcoal).
<!-- These variations should be moved into their own headers. -->


; Chance-Based
=== Slot-based ===
: [[Spellcasting]] is essentially free, but has a chance of failure, probably a very large chance.
[[Spell]]s must be prepared in advance, after which it may be cast at any time. In many systems, once a spell is cast, it is consumed; to cast a spell twice, it must be prepared twice.
: A variant is to have the chance of failure be affected by some combination [[stat]]s, skill, or environment.
Typically the maximum number of spells that can be prepared is finite, either with an explicit cap ('Slots'), or by requiring a finite resource (i.e. material components).
Variations include: more powerful spells require more slots/resources; [[D&D]]-style leveled slots; prerequisite spells that implicitly consume extra slots for powerful spells.


It is quite common to combine more than one of these methods.
=== Chance-Based ===
[[Spellcasting]] is essentially free, but has a large chance of failure, especially for high-level spells.
A variant is to have the chance of failure be affected by some combination [[stat]]s, skill, or environment.
 
== Effects ==
See [[spell]]s.


A Slot/[[Mana]] system might let you memorize a shortlist of [[spell]]s, which are then cast as a mana system. [[Crawl]] does this.
== Related links ==
A Mana/Chance system might allow skill to reduce the mana cost of casting spells. The [[Pen and Paper]] [[GURPS]] does this.
* [http://roguelikedeveloper.blogspot.com/2008/05/unangband-magic-system-part-one.html Designing a Magic System] - article on [[Ascii Dreams]]


[[Category:Magic]]
[[Category:Magic]]

Latest revision as of 02:44, 21 February 2022

A magic system typically defines a set of non-standard attacks and effects which are limited by an in-game restriction, such as a resource required to use those abilities. A magic system might be derived from the games lore, or the other way around.

Costs / Restrictions

It is quite common to combine more than one of these methods.

A Mana/Chance system might allow memorization of any number of spells, with the drawback that they cost mana and may fail. NetHack does this.

A Slot/Mana/Chance system might allow you to memorize a short list of spells, which then may be cast as above. Crawl does this.

Single-pool (Mana, Stamina)

Spells consume spell points from a separate unique resource (usually given a short name like 'MP' or 'SP') when cast, but spellcasting is otherwise unrestricted. Variations include: 'Aspected Mana'/`Multi-pool` (fire mana, water mana, offensive mana, defensive mana, etc.); spells consuming things other than mana (hit points, material components, food/nutrition, etc.); spells consume more than one type of thing/aspect of mana (e.g. 3 fire mana and a stick of charcoal).

Slot-based

Spells must be prepared in advance, after which it may be cast at any time. In many systems, once a spell is cast, it is consumed; to cast a spell twice, it must be prepared twice. Typically the maximum number of spells that can be prepared is finite, either with an explicit cap ('Slots'), or by requiring a finite resource (i.e. material components). Variations include: more powerful spells require more slots/resources; D&D-style leveled slots; prerequisite spells that implicitly consume extra slots for powerful spells.

Chance-Based

Spellcasting is essentially free, but has a large chance of failure, especially for high-level spells. A variant is to have the chance of failure be affected by some combination stats, skill, or environment.

Effects

See spells.

Related links

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