Seekers of Lore: Hero Magic

Seekers of Lore
Seekers of Lore

The major premise of my Seekers of Lore campaign is that during the Age of Amorphia, much was lost. Objects, places, magic, and even deities, all have been… misplaced.

Okay, the deities actually left. The shattering of Paradise means they were no longer capable of making the prime plane stable enough to stay. That will be the topic another post, another time.

In this post, I want to look at how magic is being rediscovered. Fantasy Hero 5e and 6e both spend many pages describing different ways magic can work in a setting.

I don’t yet know all the types of magic I want to include, but I can see some already.

Spell Casting

Not all magic is spells, but spells are magic, so let’s start here.

Often in fantasy settings, wizards and other casters are portrayed as wise, or at least well-studied. They know things, especially spells. This sounds quite like modern academics to me, which tends to group related knowledge into disciplines. There also can be a… let’s call it ‘social’ aspect, where people of like training and education gather together. One can expect that people from a single college share common training and often share outlook.

This sounds like a good fit for packages, in Hero terms. Fantasy Hero books include some packages that are like D&D classes, capturing common elements to fit tropes. That is, there is a ‘wizard’ package, and a ‘priest’ package, and so on. They’re pretty generic though, and I want something more specific.

I think I’ll use the generic packages as a starting point, but will tweak them to fit. I expect to have each tradition focus on a small number of magic types, and bring some related build choices. These packages can also have specific disadvantages/complications built in.

Magic Types

‘Magic traditions’ are about how casters are taught, including both spell and non-spell benefits, and sometimes complications. Okay, if I’m honest, often complications.

‘Magic types’ above, on the other hand, refers to how the spells actually work. Magic types can constrain the specific powers used, and probably set limitations. For instance, rune magic requires Concentration and Extra Time, always… but makes use of advantages other magic types don’t.

Hero System Grimoire, Fantasy Hero Grimoire, and Fantasy Hero Grimoire II all will be involved. As I recall, Ultimate Mystic and Ultimate Super Mage are probably of lesser use… but I’ll double-check. I’ll also want to check out Grimoire Arcanium from Tiger Paw Press. (I don’t have this one in my library yet).

Martial Magic

I wrote above that ‘not all magic is spells, but spells are magic’. Now we’re getting into magic that isn’t spells. I’ve watched a lot of anime, and martial practitioners doing unrealistic things suits my taste here.

Martial traditions are much like casting traditions, except with weapons or other physical attacks. These will be packages containing martial arts plus related powers and complications. Hero System Martial Arts and Ultimate Martial Artist obviously will be involved.

Other Magic

I’m not done yet, but I don’t necessarily have things fleshed out enough to be specific, either.

I picture several other sources of ‘powers’ that can be described as magic.

  • Psionics are not common in fantasy, but they’re not unheard of, either. The Deryni stories, Steve Brust’s Dragaera books, even my beloved Riddle-Master of Hed all have psionic or psychic elements. I’ll want to see how they fit in.
  • Alchemy can be defined as pseudo-science rather than magic. This is another one to examine.
  • Divine powers, calling on the deities, can look like spells… but it doesn’t have to.
  • Magical bloodlines — draconic, demonic, or other — can give powers that defy explanation. Just because you can see into the arcane spectrum and breathe fire doesn’t mean you’re a spell caster.

Closing Comments

Magic can work in many ways. Other campaigns might stick to one type, but Seekers of Lore will, I think, benefit from having many.

Even if it’s a lot more work for me. This is fun stuff, for me at least.

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