Magic Interpretations in BTS2 (Repost)

[mrloucifer]

Interesting.

[Lord Z]

I like this class concept as an option and really like it as an NPC. As a playable class, however, being restricted to only rituals is very limiting to the character's usefulness in an adventure. It's the same problem Deckers had in the older editions of Shadowrun, in which they were more useful to the team staying at home instead of joining first-hand. How would you compensate for that?

[Lord Z]

As far as making a ritual portable and quick goes, there is the Talisman spell already. It is a high powered spell as it should be. To make it more useful to low level characters, you could make it into a class ability. If you want ritualists making all sorts of talismans and stocking up, limit them only by materials and PPE like Techno-Wizards. If you want them scaled back, limit them to only storing a specific number of spells in talismans at a time, perhaps spells equal to the personal PPE or one spell pewr experience level. This magic charged item method would be the most Palladium-way of doing it.

[Lord Z]

Just for having it documented in this thread, I will mention the Dollmistress O.C.C.s that I created. These ladies are summoners who trap entities and bind them into dolls so exploit their powers. It is all in the Court of Tarot Errata netbook here: http://nexusnine.net/doc/nb/

M, I think you fractional ritual casting ability seems like a workable concept. You would have to introduce a restrictions. Otherwise, a rules lawyer will have a Ritualist casting Globe of Daylight fifty times until he spends the required PPE to create a much more powerful effect.

Consider the anime Full Metal Alchemist. One of the rules in that magic system is that transmutation circles must be drawn before producing any effect, no magic words or any likewise method of convenient casting. Several characters sidestep this restriction by carrying permanent circles with specific effects on or in their bodies. One favorite spell effect from a talisman or portable summoning circle or ward combined with the passive defense of amulets could make for a very useful character.