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Thread: Magic in BR

  1. #1
    Jim Cooper
    Guest

    Magic in BR

    That Forgotten Realms guy wrote:
    > I think this is the fundamental flaw in your argument. You are basing
    everything on the example of medieval Europe, where everything you may
    be true (though see the next paragraph) but is also inapplicable to the
    campaign setting. The simple existence of real magic (even the limited
    magic of BR) and real gods changes everything. Isn't it obvious that
    the very existence of mages and magic would completely alter the society
    in question? The BR society would be drastically different from any RL
    culture, because no RL culture had magic in it at all.

  2. #2
    Tim Nutting
    Guest

    Magic in BR

    > Now I have to speak up again. To the people of real life medieval
    > Europe, magic was a *real* and *integral* part of their society. Heck,
    > people STILL DO believe in magic! It existed for them, so why would
    > they have acted any differently than Cerilians - or, more precisely, why
    > wouldn't Cerilians fear magic the way RL humans did back then? And, is
    > all Cerilians magic flashy, physical manifestations of mebhaighl, or
    > isn't the majority of spells invisible manifestations of magic (ie, when
    > casting a charm spell, is there a big flash of light, or isn't it just
    > an invisible influence? Or, how would people know that a wizard was
    > *only* casting detect magic and not fireball, or not bewitching them for
    > some nefarious purpose?)

    Yes people in the Middle Ages believed in magic, quite thoroughly. They
    also believed in a very active supernatural presence. However, NEVER in
    any recorded history that I have read has there been attributed to wizards
    and sorcerers and such the power that exists in Birthright, or any AD&D
    game.

    For example, gravity was not a really serious concept until the Age of
    Reason. It was a widely held belief that little demons held you down and
    kept you from ascending into the ethereal spheres and thus unto heaven.
    So to did these demons hold down elements such as tables and the like,
    otherwise these things would have floated away. (It's so obvious )

    Q: So why wouldn't people be afraid of magic in Cerilia?

    A: There is no Christian church telling everybody that pagans are in
    league with the Devil.

    Furthermore, all of Cerilia will not have the same reactions. The BoM
    takes a good look at how each culture views magic and its uses, and what
    steps are taken in each culture to control it. Magic is not new to these
    people, it is a very tangible and real thing, it's existence can be proven
    dramatically, for even a simple cantrip can outshine a jongleur's sleight
    of hand. Magicians are a an undeniable reality, AND:

    Magic is not evil

    It is only prudent to respect a person who just might be a powerful
    wizard, for even though magic is well known in the broad spectrum, it's
    details and levels of power are not. Maybe that crotchety old man CAN
    turn you into a frog, so respect him, give him deference. He gets to be
    too much of a pain and someone will put an arrow in him...

    Later all

    Tim

  3. #3
    Gary V. Foss
    Guest

    Magic in BR

    Jim Cooper wrote:

    > Now I have to speak up again. To the people of real life medieval
    > Europe, magic was a *real* and *integral* part of their society. Heck,
    > people STILL DO believe in magic! It existed for them, so why would
    > they have acted any differently than Cerilians - or, more precisely, why
    > wouldn't Cerilians fear magic the way RL humans did back then? And, is
    > all Cerilians magic flashy, physical manifestations of mebhaighl, or
    > isn't the majority of spells invisible manifestations of magic (ie, when
    > casting a charm spell, is there a big flash of light, or isn't it just
    > an invisible influence? Or, how would people know that a wizard was
    > *only* casting detect magic and not fireball, or not bewitching them for
    > some nefarious purpose?)

    In medieval times, people used magic to explain mostly BAD STUFF! That's why
    they feared it. In Cerilia, the majority of spells casters are priests. Think
    about it. They don't have to be blooded, they just need a 9 wisdom.... If 10%
    of the population is of class and level and 10% of those guys are priests
    (again, I could argue that the percentage would be more like 20-25%) that would
    mean 1 out of every 100 people was a priest capable of casting at least first
    level spells. In such a world, you really wouldn't rush someone to the
    emergency room. You'd take them to the temple.

    Secondly, though medieval people may or may not have believed in magic--kinda
    hard to state categorically that they did as our best evidence is really
    anecdotal--and there are many people who believe in it today, that doesn't
    change the fact that becoming a wizard was pretty much not an option in RL.
    Despite these ancient and modern beliefs to the contrary... MAGIC DOESN'T
    EXIST!!! Of course, RL nobles gravitated towards the RL equivalent of the
    fighter character class (though I think many of them would also be thieves and
    priests) because there was no other alternative.

    I mean, the guy who pulls some sleight of hand "magic" in our world may look
    impressive (though I think even the most famous RL "illusionist" David
    Copperfield is a laughable in RL) to a peasant, but if that same guy could cast
    a spell that made a great big explosion, and it wasn't followed by the sour
    smell of cordite, I'd be much more impressed.

    Gary

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