Fantasy Traveller
- Thread starter Jame Rowe
- Start date
Golan2072
Cosmic Mongoose
It would be interesting to read, for the very least. Now with the SRD it would pretty much doable even as a commercial product if you want.
How much of it is already done? I recall reading a long discussion of fantasy town-generation as well as a discussion of skills; and I did write a long list of monsters back then (which I might re-write for the SRD sooner or later). Is anything else written?
How much of it is already done? I recall reading a long discussion of fantasy town-generation as well as a discussion of skills; and I did write a long list of monsters back then (which I might re-write for the SRD sooner or later). Is anything else written?
Matrix Cypher
Mongoose
=O ooooooo that would be cool. :shock: 
Golan2072 said:
Someone wrote a Roman-themed Army (split between Legionnaries and Auxilia), Sailor and Merchant chargen and I've done a wizard, thief and commoner chargen (none of which are particularly thematic), as well as chargen rules for elves, dwarves and such. Next is a spell list and a slight modification of the army, sailor and merchant to be more generic. I'll probably post it to CotI unless you want to host them for FTPs.
If you don't so it, we will 
Supergamera
Mongoose
I can imagine an adaptation of some of the Computer rules for magic items. Also, some of the Psionics rules can be adapted to make melee combat maneuvers.
captainjack23
Cosmic Mongoose
Jame Rowe said:
Jame,
I think we're (sort of) having a conversation over on COTI about magic, and systemns thereof, correct ?
Would it be convenient if I posted what I have here ? I'd surely like to be involved in any kind of actual publication......if that is not being too pushy.....
TrippyHippy
Emperor Mongoose
Just call it "Fantasy Traveller" - keeping the Traveller logo, but with a green lettered "Fantasy" scrawled above it.
I think that a Fantasy Traveller would work very well. I'd also like to see a "Time Traveller" to allow for historical settings, and maybe a "Modern Traveller" too.
I think that a Fantasy Traveller would work very well. I'd also like to see a "Time Traveller" to allow for historical settings, and maybe a "Modern Traveller" too.
captainjack23 said:Jame Rowe said:
Jame,
I think we're (sort of) having a conversation over on COTI about magic, and systemns thereof, correct ?
Would it be convenient if I posted what I have here ? I'd surely like to be involved in any kind of actual publication......if that is not being too pushy.....
Only if you don't mind my copying it.
You know, I ought to put my stuff up here too. And stop pushing, would you? :wink:
captainjack23
Cosmic Mongoose
Jame Rowe said:captainjack23 said:Jame Rowe said:
Jame,
I think we're (sort of) having a conversation over on COTI about magic, and systemns thereof, correct ?
Would it be convenient if I posted what I have here ? I'd surely like to be involved in any kind of actual publication......if that is not being too pushy.....
Only if you don't mind my copying it.
As Tolkein said, Cash or Cudos...
either here, or in a yahoo group (or similar). Depends how much input from the peanut gallery you want......
Rikki Tikki Traveller
Cosmic Mongoose
Not peanuts! Almonds all the way!
Some of us (well me actually) would LOVE to help with something like this (I was Plankowner on COTI until my account got shut down for some reason, must be my breath...). Anyhoo...
Fantasy Traveller would be a lot of fun and greatly expand the scope of the game mechanic that we love so well.
Most of the weapons are already in the Core Book, so really races and magic are the big issues. Magic as a variation of Psionics could be very nice for a "low magic" setting with more exotic stuff for a "high magic" setting similar to the D20 Fantasy settings that we normally see.
There is another type of low tech setting that would work and that is the old Star Vikings (not the TNE version) where you have space ships that basically last forever and societies that have regressed back to the middle-ages. There was a series of books (but I don't remember the author or any of the titles) that dealt with one such situation. There was a TechnoPriest that ran the starships by rote memorization and "prayers".
Some of us (well me actually) would LOVE to help with something like this (I was Plankowner on COTI until my account got shut down for some reason, must be my breath...). Anyhoo...
Fantasy Traveller would be a lot of fun and greatly expand the scope of the game mechanic that we love so well.
Most of the weapons are already in the Core Book, so really races and magic are the big issues. Magic as a variation of Psionics could be very nice for a "low magic" setting with more exotic stuff for a "high magic" setting similar to the D20 Fantasy settings that we normally see.
There is another type of low tech setting that would work and that is the old Star Vikings (not the TNE version) where you have space ships that basically last forever and societies that have regressed back to the middle-ages. There was a series of books (but I don't remember the author or any of the titles) that dealt with one such situation. There was a TechnoPriest that ran the starships by rote memorization and "prayers".
captainjack23
Cosmic Mongoose
Okay, then. First, my mandatory interminable rationalization for the rules I want to develop !
Introduction & general Dog-headed statement of intent
For my money, and this is just my opinion, I think it would be kind of fun to work out a magic system from two starting points: first, what did the people in period believe about how magic works, and how could that be modeled, and second, to try not to be just another D&D magic system.
I've done some research on the first point in the past, and looking at classical writings about magic (source stuff, not Victorian and Neo-Victorian pastiche), and one thing that struck me was that there were a heck of alot of spells to make someone love you, and also to cure illness...and yes the two did overlap - there was a lot of curative stuff for what seems to be varieties of nasty STDs....
....not sure how that would play in an RPG... ...
What was Classical (ie IRL) Magic believed to be like ?
Descriptively, classical magic seems to have had very little of the point-a-finger and zap em type of magic in many RPG systems and was very different from memorized spells or channeled spells, which really act more like fiddly high tech death ray guns with limited ammo, and such.
In fact, it was generally (but not always) offstage kind of methods with spells being either slow and effective (but often at a distance or in the future ) or quick but mostly flash, or based on the use of previously enchanted objects/animals. *
So, lots of curses, lots of invoking of petty local gods, and lots of ways to summon and bind minor spirits for later convenience...and some stage - type magic ("hey presto ! Standards of all nations! And you there, why do you have this denarii in your ear ?"). Animal tricks were big, too.
A classical period mage would seem more like a ....I don't know.....mechanic ? Carnival shyster ? Cult leader ? Mad scientist ?
Initial Goals for destroying Traveller as we know it
That said, I’m initially hoping to focus on one area of magic for starters, Specifically Goetry , the use of bound or commanded spirits to effect the world: basically modeling all spell effects as the action of some kind of supernatural entity , or of powers gained from the imprisonment of the same.
Part two will be the more personal types of magic using similarlity and contagion: similar events cause similar effects, and things once in contact remain in contact ; thus a voodoo doll is linked to the target so strongly that what happens to the one happens to the other . I lack a properly snooty name for it, as yet.
Thus, as proposed, magicians would have access to sleight of hand that works but is limited or trivial; slow insidious curses from afar; animal control, and magic based on commanded spirits for the big bang.. Oh yeah, plus enchanted stuff: mirrors, gems, beds, shoes, you name it.
Can you give us an example of how it would play out for crimminy's sake ?
So, enter Ambrosius Corvus, master of love phylacteries, and soothing ointments, balms and salves for cupid's measles ! In his cart he has bound no less than three spirits to do his bidding, small, yes, and innocuous, but both stealthy and reliable (one in the form of a crow), and has a contract with an ACTUAL BABYLONIAN SHE-DEAMON !!!
Four snakes wind round him, protecting and warding him : Asp of egypt, Adder of Africa ,Cobra of the indus, and ...well, some kind of aactually harmless but very intimidating large black snake that does this great hissing thing....
Okay, not exactly Gandalf, but not yer typical fireball slinger, either....
* As an aside, I’m guessing that the at a distance or offstage flavor of most magic was due to the simple fact that IRL mages were either charlatans or self deluded (or both) since spells don't work in real life, they have to happen “in a while” or happen offstage if it is to be believed;
The above is a rewritten but substantially similar post to my original on COTI, FWIW..... :wink:
Introduction & general Dog-headed statement of intent
For my money, and this is just my opinion, I think it would be kind of fun to work out a magic system from two starting points: first, what did the people in period believe about how magic works, and how could that be modeled, and second, to try not to be just another D&D magic system.
I've done some research on the first point in the past, and looking at classical writings about magic (source stuff, not Victorian and Neo-Victorian pastiche), and one thing that struck me was that there were a heck of alot of spells to make someone love you, and also to cure illness...and yes the two did overlap - there was a lot of curative stuff for what seems to be varieties of nasty STDs....
....not sure how that would play in an RPG... ...
What was Classical (ie IRL) Magic believed to be like ?
Descriptively, classical magic seems to have had very little of the point-a-finger and zap em type of magic in many RPG systems and was very different from memorized spells or channeled spells, which really act more like fiddly high tech death ray guns with limited ammo, and such.
In fact, it was generally (but not always) offstage kind of methods with spells being either slow and effective (but often at a distance or in the future ) or quick but mostly flash, or based on the use of previously enchanted objects/animals. *
So, lots of curses, lots of invoking of petty local gods, and lots of ways to summon and bind minor spirits for later convenience...and some stage - type magic ("hey presto ! Standards of all nations! And you there, why do you have this denarii in your ear ?"). Animal tricks were big, too.
A classical period mage would seem more like a ....I don't know.....mechanic ? Carnival shyster ? Cult leader ? Mad scientist ?
Initial Goals for destroying Traveller as we know it
That said, I’m initially hoping to focus on one area of magic for starters, Specifically Goetry , the use of bound or commanded spirits to effect the world: basically modeling all spell effects as the action of some kind of supernatural entity , or of powers gained from the imprisonment of the same.
Part two will be the more personal types of magic using similarlity and contagion: similar events cause similar effects, and things once in contact remain in contact ; thus a voodoo doll is linked to the target so strongly that what happens to the one happens to the other . I lack a properly snooty name for it, as yet.
Thus, as proposed, magicians would have access to sleight of hand that works but is limited or trivial; slow insidious curses from afar; animal control, and magic based on commanded spirits for the big bang.. Oh yeah, plus enchanted stuff: mirrors, gems, beds, shoes, you name it.
Can you give us an example of how it would play out for crimminy's sake ?
So, enter Ambrosius Corvus, master of love phylacteries, and soothing ointments, balms and salves for cupid's measles ! In his cart he has bound no less than three spirits to do his bidding, small, yes, and innocuous, but both stealthy and reliable (one in the form of a crow), and has a contract with an ACTUAL BABYLONIAN SHE-DEAMON !!!
Four snakes wind round him, protecting and warding him : Asp of egypt, Adder of Africa ,Cobra of the indus, and ...well, some kind of aactually harmless but very intimidating large black snake that does this great hissing thing....
Okay, not exactly Gandalf, but not yer typical fireball slinger, either....
* As an aside, I’m guessing that the at a distance or offstage flavor of most magic was due to the simple fact that IRL mages were either charlatans or self deluded (or both) since spells don't work in real life, they have to happen “in a while” or happen offstage if it is to be believed;
The above is a rewritten but substantially similar post to my original on COTI, FWIW..... :wink:
Rikki Tikki Traveller
Cosmic Mongoose
The book "Master of Five Magics" deals with the various specialities that would develop if the magical laws were real. It might be a source of inspiration. I think there was a sequel too, but haven't read it.
