Do you generally hash out specialist and magical abilities during
chargen, or do you just work it out on a...
Do you generally hash out specialist and magical abilities during chargen, or do you just work it out on a case-by-case basis? Do you write anything down beyond a title?
I don't write anything else, but I've seen some players do it. As a player or referee, I don't bother negotiating anything until it's needed - I'm lazy that way ;)
If you define too much of the ability beforehand, you lose most of what makes freeform magic interesting. It's worth discussing the ability a bit with the player though, to ensure that they know what to expect: "this specialist move is really powerful, using it will require a roll in most cases", "this spell is a tad too generic, casting it is going to be expensive"…
I know some players who need to have exemples of what his own spell can do. I think exemples are better than pre-set rules. I think it's good to make the player understand that he can do what he wants with his spell, if want he wants is correct with the spell name. It's like each spell is a spell family.
guillaume jentey A spell list like in old school Rolemaster! But yeah, it's important to make sure that players are comfortable with what they can do with their powers. Tore Nielsen If you're making pregens for your own game, you probably have an idea of what everything does, so I wouldn't bother. If the pregens are for another referee, then it might be useful to have a few words' explanation for each spell or ability. ... That, or a note to the referee that them and the player are free to interpret the wording - or change it - however they see fit.
And, I think it's the "job" of the refeeree to make the players understand what is a freeform magical system... definitly my english is shit ! Because after that, it's a real pleasure for the player to find new way to use his spells and for the refeeree to see what his players can find... I'm to tired today to write in englis... sorry... I'm going to hang myself !
I'm pretty skeptical about the flow of freeform magic. I've tried it a lot, in many ways, but it's always endless discussions and negotiations. I'm waiting impatiently my first try of MM magic to see how Maître Nieudan is dealing with it.
I don't write anything else, but I've seen some players do it. As a player or referee, I don't bother negotiating anything until it's needed - I'm lazy that way ;)
ReplyDeleteIf you define too much of the ability beforehand, you lose most of what makes freeform magic interesting. It's worth discussing the ability a bit with the player though, to ensure that they know what to expect: "this specialist move is really powerful, using it will require a roll in most cases", "this spell is a tad too generic, casting it is going to be expensive"…
ReplyDeleteI know some players who need to have exemples of what his own spell can do. I think exemples are better than pre-set rules.
ReplyDeleteI think it's good to make the player understand that he can do what he wants with his spell, if want he wants is correct with the spell name.
It's like each spell is a spell family.
Eric Nieudan What about pregens?
ReplyDeleteguillaume jentey A spell list like in old school Rolemaster! But yeah, it's important to make sure that players are comfortable with what they can do with their powers.
ReplyDeleteTore Nielsen If you're making pregens for your own game, you probably have an idea of what everything does, so I wouldn't bother.
If the pregens are for another referee, then it might be useful to have a few words' explanation for each spell or ability.
... That, or a note to the referee that them and the player are free to interpret the wording - or change it - however they see fit.
Eric Nieudan
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about all questions Cathia Remond had with her spells. I think she needed to have exemples.
guillaume jentey Yeah, you're right. Same with Magi max, who asked about spell costs the night before the game ;)
ReplyDeleteI think it's a learning curve. Plus the laws of magic change with every referee, so it's OK for each table to come with their own usage.
And, I think it's the "job" of the refeeree to make the players understand what is a freeform magical system...
ReplyDeletedefinitly my english is shit !
Because after that, it's a real pleasure for the player to find new way to use his spells and for the refeeree to see what his players can find...
I'm to tired today to write in englis... sorry...
I'm going to hang myself !
I'm pretty skeptical about the flow of freeform magic. I've tried it a lot, in many ways, but it's always endless discussions and negotiations.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting impatiently my first try of MM magic to see how Maître Nieudan is dealing with it.
I don't put up with no shit ;p
ReplyDeleteActually I don't have to. Either I'm a horrible tyrant or a pushover, but it's always been super painless for me.
It'd have been great to see that before you try my own freeform magic in the next week play. Well, let say semi-freeform (I'm a tyrant).
ReplyDelete