Ars Magica for d20
Considerations for Hermetic Magic for
D&D
I have been thinking of converting Ars Magica to
d20. The following web site makes an attempt but I do not entirely care for
it.
http://www.users.qwest.net/~jordanerik/Gaming/ArM/
Some
early thoughts on Conversion are as
follows:
Arts: Treating Arts as skills
is tempting but the advancement for Arts as skill is enough different that
redesign is necessary. Therefore, include Arts as a special class feature. A
character gains points to spend on Arts when he/she gains experience levels.
Basic differences between the ArM
Magus and the D&D Wizard would
be:
Magi need to roll to cast spells
while Wizard spells are automatic.
Magi may
cast some spells a great number of times in a day while Wizards are limited to
few castings.
Magi may cast spontaneous
spells while Wizards may cast only prepared
spells.
Magi utilize magical essence called
vis to use in spells and magic items while Wizards do not recognize this
substance and may only use experience points and valuable items for such
tasks.
Magi require greater access to magical
texts for advancement than do Wizards.
Magi
know the Parma Magica to gain spell resistance, Wizards generally do not have
spell resistance.
Magi may specialize more
than Wizards may.
Where are Magi found
on Kyrith?
In the West there are two great
lands separated by the Bay of Beltar. To the north of the bay is the warrior
Kingdom of Lymetha to the south of the bay is Srota, ruled by powerful Magi.
Ages ago, there was a great magical kingdom of Taurum which suffered a terrible
disaster and fell into the sea. The people of Lymetha and Srota are survivors
of that disaster and inheritors of its secrets. The Magi attempted to rule over
all the people but a rebellion started which over threw the Magi. The Kingdoms
of Lymetha is the result of the rebellion as well as the Ralani kingdom of
Stroth which these people carved into the lands of the Rani.
The Magi of Srota have little
influence outside of their lands but reign supreme within their territory.
While Wizards and Sorcerers may practice within Srota, they must join an the
Order of Magi and abide by their rules. Many Wizards choose to study the magic
of the Magi as research materials to follow that tradition are more common in
Srota. Similarly, many Magi who leave Srota find it difficult to maintain their
research activities in other areas because materials are more difficult to
acquire.
Posted: Thu - January 8, 2004 at 09:36 PM