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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: uCjr on June 22, 2016, 08:49:08 PM

Title: Vancian Magic?
Post by: uCjr on June 22, 2016, 08:49:08 PM
Anybody have the PDF of the Vancian Magic supplement Gorgon Milk put out a while back? It seems to be no longer downloadable but was free when it was. Please PM me if so. And otherwise, does anyone want to talk about Vancian Magic while I research it and develop opinions to add to the discussion?

Thanks!
Title: Vancian Magic?
Post by: talysman on June 22, 2016, 10:34:39 PM
Have you tried contacting Gorgonmilk?
Title: Vancian Magic?
Post by: Dave 2 on June 23, 2016, 10:28:22 AM
I never caught it the first time around.  Otherwise...

Quote from: uCjr;904698And otherwise, does anyone want to talk about Vancian Magic while I research it and develop opinions to add to the discussion?

Sure!

I think it would be interesting to really go full Vancian.  Every spell in existence is simultaneously powerful, specific in its effects, and baroque in its feel.  There's no buy-in phase where 1st level mages kind of suck while they pay their dues, because they go straight to the powerful (in the right circumstances) spells that are all that exist, but simultaneously even a master will never force as many squirming, unwilling spells into their memory as a high level D&D wizard can, so they have to make everything count.  Quite often a known wizard only has threaten to unleash their most potent magics, and often enough that works, the "GM" of that world doesn't feel the need to always call their bluff.

If Gorgon Milk pulled that off, copy me that PDF, because that would be awesome.
Title: Vancian Magic?
Post by: DavetheLost on June 25, 2016, 03:24:38 PM
The Dying Earth RPG went pretty full on Vancian magic ;)
Title: Vancian Magic?
Post by: Dave 2 on June 26, 2016, 03:19:43 AM
Quote from: DavetheLost;905249The Dying Earth RPG went pretty full on Vancian magic ;)

I would hope so!  Is that the one that's mainly about social combat though, or am I just wildly confused?
Title: Vancian Magic?
Post by: DavetheLost on June 26, 2016, 05:18:44 PM
That's the one.
Title: Vancian Magic?
Post by: RPGPundit on July 01, 2016, 07:15:21 AM
Yeah, that was unfortunate. It'd be be great to see a Dying Earth RPG that doesn't suck massive pretentious ass.
Title: Vancian Magic?
Post by: Baulderstone on July 02, 2016, 01:51:42 PM
Quote from: Dave R;904790Quite often a known wizard only has threaten to unleash their most potent magics, and often enough that works, the "GM" of that world doesn't feel the need to always call their bluff.

I played a Savage Worlds wizard built around this concept. I had the Luck Edges that gave me extra bennies, along with the one that let me pass them around to other people. I also maxed out Intimidation,  which I would use to shake opponents with threats of my powerful magics.

It was a few sessions before the other players even caught on that I didn't actually know any spells.