[Torg] A Magic Meta-System (Magic Axiom, 7 of 9)

[Jones Jasyn]

A Magic Meta-System

There are many systems of magic, each differing from the others. The Ages of Magic, and the new Magic axiom, have been written with the varying characteristics of different magic systems in mind. In effect, they describe not just one system of magic, but a meta-system of magic. This meta-system allows us to understand and incorporate many different magical systems.

Here’s how it works:

In some magic systems, magic is weak and chaotic, in others powerful and rigid, in yet others it’s powerful and free-form, with few restrictions on the mage. In Torg, when magic first materializes it is weak and poorly understood, as expertise with magic grows it becomes powerful and controllable, and eventually it becomes capable of effects that are breathtaking in scope. Thus, the varying capabilities of the many magical systems represent not irreconcilable differences, but different stages in the development of magic, that is, different levels of the Magic axiom.

By analyzing the unique characteristics of specific systems, we can place that system within the overarching Magic axiom.

Examples

• Dungeons & Dragons magic (at least in Third Edition and earlier) revolves around magic-users learning and casting spells. Magic-users are specialists, and not everyone can be a wizard. These are all prime attributes of the Age of Arcana, so D&D fits somewhere in that range, probably at a 13.

• Magic in Brandon Sanderson’s fiction (such as Elantris or the Mistborn trilogy) revolves around innate abilities, channelled through external props (in Elantris, magical sigils, in Mistborn, pieces of metal).  Innate magical abilities belong to the Age of Mastery, so these two worlds are probably a 14 or 15.

• Mage: The Ascension presents a distinctive and colorful system of “magick.” Though its metaphysic is fundamentally incompatible with Torg’s, the elements of its magick have clear parallells in the new axiom.

The Mage magic system involves Traditions (each with their own paradigm and symbology), rotes (formalized repeatable effects), and free-form magic (which can accomplish nearly anything). They also have the capability of combining radically different magics into one effect. All of these concepts are present in the Magic chart, conjunctional magic being the most advanced at a 17 (probably the best rating for the Mage system).

The mechanics of Mage: The Ascension cannot be perfectly replicated within Torg (not uncommon, see the Translating Game Mechanics sidebar). Even so, its concepts fit into the Magic chart and an appropriate axiom rating can be determined.

In a similar manner, the Ages of Magic meta-system enables gamemasters to adjudicate the Magic axiom of nearly any other setting they wish to translate into Torg terms, some more easily than others. This gives Torg magic an unprecedented level of flexibility and scope, its only limits the imaginations of writers and gamemasters.

Jasyn Jones
jasynj (at) gmail (dot) com

"To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
Ulysses, Alfred Lord Tennyson

Check out my Torg webpage, Storm Knights:

darleyconsulting.com/games/stormknights/