Lunar magic?

[jarulf]

Just out of idle curiosity, anyone using the new edition for 3rd age? How do you handle cyclic Lunar magic?

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Yes, but the players are in Umathela... so it hasn't arisen as an issue.

However, it could be done as a form of sorcery limited in strength by the Moon's phases.

Or, as a form of mysticism (using Dragonewt magic as an example), based on the caster's score in a relevant mystical skill, limited by the moon.

There are several approaches possible.

 

[Ultor]

Haven't crossed that bridge yet, but when I do I suspect I'll be using something very similar to the RQiii rules, ie Lunar Magic as sorcery applied to common magic, with the Lunar Magic skill taking the place of the manipulation skill and the Common Magic skill taking the place of the Grimoire.

Dark/dying moons mean no manipulation, crescent moons mean only one manipulation, half moons mean normal manipulation and full moons mean increased manipulation of some description. Perhaps the full moon would allow a Lunar Magician to substitute her Lore (Red Goddess) skill for her Lunar Magic (manipulation) skill or something generally beneficial.

Effects on non-progressive spells would need to be worked out but iirc Gods of Glorantha had some guidelines on that which might still apply.

Argh, you've whetted my appetite. Time to design a Lunar Magic user...

 

[jarulf]

Yes, but the players are in Umathela... so it hasn't arisen as an issue.

Indeed, our beloved Goddess hasn't turned her full attention to Umathela yet, but once the last of the hill brbarians have embraced her wisdom and benevolence it may be time.

However, it could be done as a form of sorcery limited in strength by the Moon's phases.

I think lunar magic has been described in both RQ3 and 1st ed HeroQuest but I remember the sorcery treatment of common magic (spirit magic in RQ3).

 

[jarulf]

Argh, you've whetted my appetite. Time to design a Lunar Magic user...

Please post something about it if you do.

What you suggest looks good, thanks.
Does anyone know if the sorcery treatment of common magic is still canon?

I just have this vague feeling the lunars do weird things with everything they touch. Anything that gets lunarized becomes subject of the moon cycles, they mix stuff and generally behave in a very unorthodox way.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

Indeed, our beloved Goddess hasn't turned her full attention to Umathela yet, but once the last of the hill brbarians have embraced her wisdom and benevolence it may be time.

Of course, in his Eighth Missive of 1240, the Silent Prophet successfully prophesied the Red Sun — a new a stellar body (the Red Moon rising in 1247 ST).

Heathens will be heathens....

 

[jarulf]

Of course, in his Eighth Missive of 1240, the Silent Prophet successfully prophesied the Red Sun

The true and just path of the Goddess reaches back in time to those of wisdom and foresight.

Heathens will be heathens....

Sadly true. It will soon be done though once the last of the rebellious little holdouts in Dragon Pass are brought into the light.

I was thinking, if we ignore the weirder mixed magics for a moment, could one not just simply apply the lunar cycle to Pact and Manipulation skills for Theists and sorcerers respectively?

I suppose it could work for Common Magic as well, but just increasing the skill chance isn't quite the same. One could have the cycle affect the magnitude, but we get the same problem again with the spells that aren't progressive.

I've no idea how one would handle Spirit Magic though.

 

[Lord High Munchkin]

I think the Mysticism route might actually offer better results as regards modelling Heathen Moon-worship.

The basic ideas are in the Dragonewt book. Obviously there will need to be changes to represent the Lunar cyclical nature.

 

[Ultor]

Argh, you've whetted my appetite. Time to design a Lunar Magic user...

Please post something about it if you do.

I've written up Stalethia the Moondancer here. The Lunar Magic rules I'm using are very simple:

Lunar Magic: Allows sorcerous-style Manipulations of Common Magic, depending on the phase of the Red Moon. Dark/Dying: No Manipulations. Crescent Moon: One Manipulation. Half Moon: Manipulations as if Lunar Magic skill is Manipulation skill. Full Moon: Manipulations as if Lore (Lunar Theology) skill is Manipulation skill. Thus, Lunar Magician may increase range, duration and targets of spells and combine spells. It has no effect on Magnitude.

I'd be interested to know what people think about the NPC in general too, including the specialized Legendary Abilities.