Obv I have Hawke learning some minor magics and things from other canons, but what about things that are explicitly stated to be impossible on their world? Is that something you deem them unable to learn? Or only possible in the game?
I think it really depends on a lot of factors for me. The biggest weight on the scale for me is, "Would it be IC for them to want to do this, and if so, what's the motive. Does it make sense from a development perspective, or is it more just me thinking it would be cool?" Not that the latter is an invalid reason, but if the former isn't met, then the latter
If it's impossible in their canon, then I ask why. If it's environmental, and they are not in that environment in the game, then that makes sense. If it really is a matter of, "This is physically impossible," then what in the game mechanic makes it possible, and do I want to deal with the implications/fallout?
Sometimes that can be fun, and sometimes it feels like a mistake. I don't generally side eye anyone else doing this unless it's obviously for power gaming purposes or to shoehorn themselves into certain interactions.
Yeah there's a lot of mental calculus that goes into it for me like that too. I'm butting up against illusion and teleportation magic right now. Illusion doesn't have any examples in Dragon Age really, but it's not stated to be impossible. Teleportation is but for the sake of not breaking the game.
So is it that mages from Thedas can't do it, or just can't do it in Thedas? If being removed from the setting is already "breaking" the mechanics, then is it something that could be learned outside of it?
But also larger things like... can non mages learn Earth magic from canons were magic is a taught thing, like generic witchcraft in some canons is something that can just be taught to anyone
Yeah. And part of what goes into it for me, too, is how much fun will this be for other people if my character can do this? How much impact will it have on castmates coming into the game going, "Wtf??"
Or like...I could probably have Cullen learn some sort of non-mana based magic, but why would he ever? lol Character attitudes factor into it a lot for me.
But yeah, we've played with Hawke and Anders learning quite a bit of wizarding world magic since they had incredibly close CR with Hermione in Drift Fleet, but most of it is possible stuff in DA
I'm of mixed minds on this. When I was co-modding another game where magic was just part of the world, we allowed it and it very swiftly got out of control to the point where we had to lock it down and address it with the player base to try to keep the power levels at a reasonable level for everyone in the game.
Here in Duplicity, I had my vampire character learn some minor shapeshifting from a DA mage. He was from a canon where at least two sub-species of the type of creature he is have the ability to shapeshift and he, himself, displays shapeshifting in the form of being able to turn into a cloud of shadow.
Okay, here's where I am then: โข Does it break the game (canon or current setting)? โข Is it out of character to learn? โข Does it break any CR? โข Does the character want to or will they put in the interest or effort?
It wouldn't hurt to double-check with the mods that it's allowable? It was in the way back times when the game first started. Kal and I did reach out about it. But I know there have been changes since almost three years ago, so it might be worth it to just get a vibe check from them that it's okay?
Azure โช Moon
: I didn't see your replies before! I do love turbonerd interactions, but yeah it doesn't make sense if the way to learn it is something the character wouldn't do and then the mun just handwaves it.
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: Didn't see this either >.< But yes! That's another way it could be ooc I think. It would kinda break the characterization unless done in a very specific way, for a specific purpose?
Yeah. I have Kai Gracen (a non-magical elf) in Meadowlark, which is another game-granting power game but I honestly am being very careful with them...idk, I'm just not personally interested in many of the ways it could develop.
hff trying to not let my bad brain taint this because this is all very good feedback and lizard brain is like now they think you're a power gamer hiss bad rper hisshiss which is. Dumb.
But yeah for me it's definitely about what would be fun for me to play out, and magic is a tough one, because I feel like I need to feel confident in how the magic works, and so many canons are vague on that.
But yeah, that's at least partly my character type, where if I wanted to play a magical character I would, hah. And I do play one...of my currently four active characters.
Right! Like, Rhys would definitely be interested in learning other types of magic, but I'm just tentatively moving towards maybe I'll let him get stronger in his own kind of magic, partly because he's defined in canon a lot by the fact that he's not a good magician.
I definitely don't see you as a power gamer. For one thing, power gamers never worry about this. They just do it and get defensive if even a whiff of questioning follows.
I think one of the perks of RPing is exposing characters to magic/information/etc. from other canons and seeing what they can pick up. I don't think there's anything wrong with thinking about this and you're totally not a power gamer.
โข Does it break the game (canon or current setting)?
โข Is it out of character to learn?
โข Does it break any CR?
โข Does the character want to or will they put in the interest or effort?