In a magic system I'm working on, there are three "schools", sort of based on the old D6 Star Wars Force powers Control, Alter, and Sense (though they have different names in my system).  

In my version, Control is exactly that, physical and mental control over a target, commanding a target to do something.  

Alter is about changing the inherent properties of something, everything from temporary stat boosts to healing to shapeshifting to creating enchanted objects.

Magic is a lot less overt than in some games.  No Fireball spell, for example.  You can produce a similar effect by setting an object on fire, which is what my question is about.  

I can't decide if setting a pile of wood (or whatever) on fire should fall under Control or Alter.  Am I commanding the pile of wood to burn (Control), or am I changing the temperature of the pile of wood to bring it to the point where it burns (Alter).

Which "school" should this power fall under?

Alter. If the wood was to get up and dance, that would be control. However, ordering the wood to get so hot it bursts into flames is Alter.

I think...

Didn't old Star Wars have combined effects you needed two or more force skills to use?

I'd probably go with "either", depending on the player's choice and explanation. Honestly if either one can produce the fire, just through different courses of action, I'd allow it.


Although if you are stricter,  I think Control might be more likely along the lines of you tell some being to set fire to the wood--rather than commanding it to burn, since being an inanimate object you shouldn't be able to tell it to do something, it couldn't normally do. You could control a person to set it ablaze, command a spirit of fire to touch it, but wood itself can't go against its nature by itself.

Alter works for me if I had to choose.  More like an alchemic reaction than a command, except that you're commanding the reaction... sooo... anyway, Alter is fine, I think.

Yep, Alter.  Silverlion explained it very well in his last paragraph.

Maybe it was the naming conventions, but I found the control alter sense breakdown of the force to not work very well. Questions like this, y'see, and where does Telekinesis fall into?

I mean, you ain't changing shit, just moving it, so it ain't alter, but if control is 'mind control'...well, a big box o' rocks ain't exactly smart neither...

Yup.. gotta be the naming conventions...

Quote from: SpikeMaybe it was the naming conventions, but I found the control alter sense breakdown of the force to not work very well. Questions like this, y'see, and where does Telekinesis fall into?

I mean, you ain't changing shit, just moving it, so it ain't alter, but if control is 'mind control'...well, a big box o' rocks ain't exactly smart neither...

Yup.. gotta be the naming conventions...

In my system, Control includes mental and physical control, so telekinesis would fall under it.

In the old Star Wars force system, control and alter were slightly different.  Control referred to control over yourself, your body, your energy, etc, while Alter referred to affecting other beings and objects.  Under that system, telekinesis fell under Alter.

Alter. You're exciting the molecules in the wood to the point where it bursts into flame, thereby "changing the inherent properties" of the wood.

In the old SW D6 system, Control was used by the Jedi to control the Force in himself. All purely control powers had the user as the target. Also, Telekinesis was an Alter skill.