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NotFishing

NotFishing

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Westenev said :
Knowledge can be, unless magic is so easy utilized that it only needs to follow the will of the user. For example, could anyone go to a dead body, and shout "rise!" - or would there be procedures or techniques a prospective necromancer must perform?

The way I see it, there's two keys to mana magic - finesse and efficiency. Finesse determines the complexity of the spells you intend to cast. For instance, a basic fireball vs a fire whip. Efficiency determines how much mana you use when you cast the spell. If you have low finesse but high efficiency, you can cast extremely powerful attacks but they will be basic and poorly aimed.

You sharpen your finesse by keeping your mind active - reading, puzzle solving, etc, and simply trying out new complex spells. Most mages tend to have exceptionally high IQs. There's also a whole wack of techniques in how you position your orb/wand/staff which help improve accuracy and complexity.

You hone your efficiency by continuous casting, even as it starts to become draining, and your spells just naturally become more efficient.

TL;DR:
Finesse = studying and experimenting
Efficiency = constant grueling practice Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

04-Jul-2017 04:17:17 - Last edited on 04-Jul-2017 04:28:41 by NotFishing

NotFishing

NotFishing

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Westenev said :
If magic is outright outlawed, how would one receive a proper magical education with their master practitioner dead or lacking in parts of their own education?

Several possibilities:
1. You're self-taught. Constant secret practice and figuring things out on your own. Presumably you've lived a hermit lifestyle, or were in a rural area with your own secret location. You might have had to silence the occasional witness.
2. You joined an underground magical cult that can teach you things. Not all 'cults' are actually cults - some simply try to preserve magical knowledge. Most of them are pretty bad, however, and all are difficult to contact. They tend to approach children whose powers have flared up, and induct them before the Paladins can murder them. They also have recruiters who specifically learn the spells that allow them to sense magical users, then they watch you for a few weeks to make sure you're not too careless in your use of magic, and they approach you with an invite. The evil cults tend to murder people who refuse.
3. You purchased a tome on the black market which contains magical advice, tips, and tips, and kept it secret and hidden.
4. You fled to either Naris or the Elven Forest, where you were taken in because magical talent is celebrated there and they aren't racist like the Drows.

You won't necessarily have peak magical talent, but your character shouldn't rely solely on magic anyways, since you can't use it in public and will have to be careful of which player characters you can trust. Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

04-Jul-2017 04:25:07 - Last edited on 04-Jul-2017 04:30:21 by NotFishing

Westenev

Westenev

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My point is, getting knowledge (or finesse) to people who actually need it becomes somewhat difficult when the average person associates what you're trying to teach as evil. This means people are caught in the quagmire of rediscovering information that already exists elsewhere, for the simple fear of being ratted out if they trust other people with their findings. I feel this would vastly slow down any magical progress.

I tend to hold a pessimistic view on these sorts of settings, though, given the struggles Science had to contend with for a good 2,000 years.
Noth
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rest
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happ
ens.

04-Jul-2017 04:28:39 - Last edited on 04-Jul-2017 04:30:32 by Westenev

NotFishing

NotFishing

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Westenev said :
My point is, getting knowledge (or finesse) to people who actually need it becomes somewhat difficult when the average person associates what you're trying to teach as evil. This means people are caught in the quagmire of rediscovering information that already exists elsewhere, for the simple fear of being ratted out if they trust other people with their findings. I feel this would vastly slow down any magical progress.

I tend to hold a pessimistic view on these sorts of settings, though.

Well, I just made a post addressing that. Beneath the gold, the Bitter Steel.

04-Jul-2017 04:29:35

Westenev

Westenev

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Someone really should do something about those magical cults skulking in every dark alley. I hear if they so much as scratch you, you turn into one.

Awkward question: is the government lawful stupid (ie. prosecuting ALL magi they come across... if at all...), or are they a little more pragmatic in their fanatic hate against magic (ie. hiring magi to kill magi)?
Noth
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inte
rest
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happ
ens.

04-Jul-2017 04:32:29 - Last edited on 04-Jul-2017 04:35:32 by Westenev

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