Blood, Sweat & Steel
Magic System
(Using the 12 Questions)
Anyone who has been following the progress of this game for any amount of time probably knows that if not for the magic system, this game would have been completed more than a year ago. I have really struggled to come up with the best system possible for this game. In fact, there have been three magic systems written up for this game over the past year. I was literally at the point of giving up when a good friend of mine by the name of Mitchell Willie referred me to an article aimed at aspiring fantasy writers. It was a list of 12 questions to ask yourself when creating the magic system for your world. I decided to come at my system from a completely different angle, and just create the system conceptually before worrying about game mechanics. I think I might finally be on to something.
First, I want to provide a link to the article I used, which can be found here. Next, you will find my notes on the 12 questions in coming up with my ideal vision of the magic system for Blood, Sweat & Steel.
12 Questions to Shape Sorcery
- How is it learned and executed?
Magic is learned in one of 3 ways. The first of which is to be a “scholar”, deciphering old tomes, scrolls and other ancient writings. The second of which is to be an “Apprentice”; someone who studies under another sorcerer. The third of which is to be a “thrall”; someone who is a direct servant of a supernatural entity.
Generally speaking, Sorcery is executed by combining ancient words, arcane gestures, and material components in specific ways which channel magical energies from supernatural entities. Powerful rituals may also require hallowed ground, celestial timing and even animal or human sacrifice in order to be successful.
There are two categories of Sorcery. The first of which are called Spells. Spells are less powerful sorcerous effects, with limited scope, but they may be cast quickly and don’t require direct contact with a supernatural entity. The other category of Sorcery is known as Rituals. Rituals are the most powerful effects a sorcerer can perform, so they require direct contact with an entity in order to work.
- How is it accessed?
Most directly, sorcery can be accessed by summoning a supernatural entity to the material world. A summoned entity may be commanded or bargained with in exchange for favor by the entity. Indirectly, magical energy may be harnessed, channeled and shaped into the desired effect by the sorcerer. Rituals require direct contact and involvement with a supernatural entity, while spells can be accomplished by directly harnessing magical energy.
There are 2 realms from which sorcerers can access magical energy and interact with supernatural entities. The first of which is an unlimited number of parallel universes, known as “The Planes”. These parallel dimensions are host to a myriad of supernatural entities with direct access to magical energy. Supernatural entities from The Planes are most often referred to as Demons or Gods, although supernatural entities aren’t inherently good or evil. One man’s god is another man’s demon. It’s all a matter of perspective. The second realm is where life energy from the material world goes when their body dies. This realm is called “The Mist” and it is the home of ghosts, spirits, and other supernatural entities most commonly associated with the paranormal. Essentially, The Mist is actually just another parallel dimension, but it is the only dimension in which all life energy from this world goes when the body dies. Just like The Planes, spirits, ghosts, etc. are not inherently good or evil, and just like supernatural entities from The Planes, entities from The Mist generally dislike being pulled back into the material world.
Very rarely, under extreme circumstances a supernatural entity from either The Planes or The Mist can become trapped in this world. Any supernatural entity trapped in this world is desperate to escape it, and will lash out at anyone they come in contact with, unless they believe that person can help them return to their own plane of existence.
- Does it have a will of its own?
Magical energy is not itself sentient. Magical energy exists in parallel dimensions. Supernatural entities have direct access to it, and sorcerers can channel some of that energy for smaller effects, but they lack the ability to control it as well as the supernatural entities who actually exist in those realms. That’s why they need direct contact with supernatural entities in order to perform very powerful sorcery.
- Is it restricted in space and time?
Yes, magical energy cannot exist permanently in the material world. That is why spells are so limited in their scope, and why supernatural entities can’t just live in the material world all the time.
- What can available magic do?
There is no “available” magic in the material world. All magical energy must be drawn from another dimension. Raw magical energy drawn from another dimension can be shaped into magical effects, but the scope, power and duration are very limited. Spells are limited to Scenes and line of sight, for example.
- How does it relate to the characters and the world around them?
Sorcerers are at the least, distrusted, and at most, hunted and killed. Society in general despises sorcerers and considers nearly all of them to be vile and evil. However, some “priests” have found a way to channel magical energy in a positive way, though at a great personal cost to themselves. Magical energy is inherently negative in nature, and has a corruptive effect on sorcerers over time. Continual use of sorcery can lead to an obsession with magic that is addictive in nature, and it can create an uncontrollable lust for more and more power. Most supernatural entities despise being dragged into the material world against their will, and will therefore do anything they can to “get even’ with those who force them to act against their will. There is nothing more dangerous than a demon scorned. There are a few supernatural entities who have compassion for the material world and actually try to help when they can, but these entities are extremely hated by other supernatural entities and are often hunted down and destroyed by those entities.
Sorcerers rarely perform Spells or Rituals openly or publicly, for fear of backlash and angry mobs ready to drown, hang or burn them. Even priests with churches who have been accepted by the locals will rarely perform feats of magic
- What is the cost of sorcery?
The cost of sorcery varies, mostly dependent on the size and scope of sorcery being used. Spells cause fatigue in the way of Stress, and if a sorcerer fails significantly with a Spell, there is a chance of backfire or backlash from the Spell. Rituals have the highest cost, as direct contact with a supernatural entity increases corruption within a sorcerer. The ultimate result of corruption is insanity and eventually, death. In game terms, Corruption is a Special Quality that causes complications for the sorcerer at the most inopportune times.
- What can it not do?
Everything created with sorcery is impermanent. When a sorcerer dies, any effects that sorcerer created cease to exist. Artifacts can be created, but the same rules and parameters are used for artifacts as are used for Spells and Rituals.
- How long does it last?
Magical energy is impermanent in the material world. The longest a magical effect can last is for the life of the sorcerer. When the sorcerer dies, any magical effects still in effect die with the sorcerer. The exception would be artifacts, although their stability degrades over time. In addition, artifacts have very specific purposes. For example the “Eye of Shardash” is an artifact that can summon the demon Shardash to this world, in material form, under a full moon on hallowed ground. Otherwise, the “Eye of Shardash” is just a strange looking orb that looks like an eyeball with no magical powers. Magical energy from other dimensions cannot normally exist in the material world for extended periods of time. In game terms, Spells only last for a single Scene, while Rituals are used for longer lasting effects.
- Who can use it?
Anyone with sufficient knowledge and training can perform sorcery. Sorcery requires great focus and most will spend most of their lives trying to master it. Most sorcerers have very few skills outside of performing sorcery because sorcery requires so much of their time and attention. In game terms, a character must use a Quality and a Talent slot in order to play a sorcerer, and must spend some Skill Points on either or both the Spell and Ritual Magic Skills.
- How do others react to it?
While reactions can vary greatly, a good rule of thumb is at the least, sorcerers are distrusted and largely disliked, while at the most, they are hunted and killed. People in larger cities tend to be less hysterical about sorcery but still dislike and distrust anyone using it. But in smaller villages and hamlets, people are terrified of sorcerers, label them as evil, and try to destroy them. Conversely, they are in awe of their priests and shamen, respect them deeply, and see them as the last defense against the dark arts of sorcery, despite the fact that priests and sorcerers derive their power from the same sources.
- Why haven’t people with this power taken over the world?
The biggest reason why sorcerers haven’t taken over the world is that they simply don’t live long enough to do so. They are either killed by mankind, their zealots, or the very abominations they summon into this world. In addition, the corruptive effects of sorcery over time inhibit a sorcerer’s ability to remain sharp and focused enough to concoct and enact a plan that could actually take over the world. Magic is not permanent, and it is very unstable. The cost to use it is high, and the consequences for failure even higher. Sorcery has a self-limiting nature to it.
