๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
HEY RP FRIENDS I have a general question! Where do you stand on your character learning preternatural or supernatural abilities from other canons?
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
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?
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
Is it a matter of canon compatibility? Tell me your thoughts!
Lindsard
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
Lindsard
is moot for me.
Lindsard
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?
Lindsard
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.
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
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.
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
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?
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
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
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
It's fun to think about but also confusing lol
Becky
For me it really super depends. Like. ABILITIES versus 'skill'
Becky
like some magic for me falls under things that are very, very... xmen mutant like
Becky
you're born with the capacity or you're not
Lindsard
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??"
Becky
Yes.
Becky
like
Becky
Alaric's magic is largely small magic and psychic stuff + power channeling. And that's fine
Becky
but I feel like it's pretty clear where his limitations are as a single person
Becky
he can't teleport.
Becky
he can't... make a magic horse
Becky
He CAN MAKE OYU THINK HE DID
Becky
but the spell usage to actually do it is WAY beyond him
Becky
but also in fairness some of the other stuff in canon like portals/telportation stuff are clear on it needing many many people + ritual
Lindsard
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.
Becky
but anwyay I guess ultimately it's 'does it fit into the framework of the canon I'm starting with'
Becky
and also that. Alaric will learn anything for the sake of learning but his use of magic for offensive purposes is limited and he's good with that.
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
oh yeah of course, on both the character attitudes and on the offensive magics
Lindsard
In the setting I'm currently playing him, all characters get some form of magical abilities. Guess who hates it?
Lindsard
So it can be a fun mechanic that way.
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
true! But that's game setting granted which is a whole different thing I think
Lindsard
Lead to interesting growth. Yeah, very different.
Lindsard
I did think about it before dropping him into it, though. Is this something I'd want to deal with?
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
True! That would have to be part of the consideration
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
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
Becky
I like arithmacy for this in particular
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
rofl ITS NOT MAGIC screams Hawke into the sun
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
But yeah, I think I'm going to go with if its explicitly completely impossible in Thedas, then he can't do it.
โ„œ๐”ข๐”ž๐”ก๐”ข๐”ฏ
I stand very wary about it, tbh. But I also play many nonmagical characters, often from magical canons
Commenterri
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.
Azure โ˜ช Moon
I think it's fun when used to build cross canon cr/when the characters are turbo nerds who would have a genuine interest
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
Yeah, there absolutely need to be like. Limits...
Azure โ˜ช Moon
I definitely judge when it's just "because it would be cool" and with a character who doesn't enjoy various types of studying though ngl
Becky
you can also sort of tell when someone is... playingwith a possibility and growing vs
Becky
sort of grafting on abilities for either cool points or because they think they can win DWRP
Commenterri
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.
Becky
the second is like insta-recoil
Commenterri
It seemed like a reasonable extrapolation of that ability to coalesce it into another form.
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
Becky : God I hate that. You can't win at fun?? Or like, you can, but its by having fun???
Becky
reikofanel: PRETTY MUCH and it involves your rp partner ALSO having fun
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
Commenterri : That's where I'm at too. If it makes sense as a growth of existing abilities
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
The problem with playing a malleable protag is they can usually learn everything within their class, theoretically. So I vibe check every so often.
purpleppleater
Isabela has 0 interest in learning magery, but i've had plenty of other characters that would be very interested in learning learnable magic
Lindsard
It's a good idea to vibe check.
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
Okay, here's where I am then:
โ€ข Does it break the game (canon or current setting)?
โ€ข Is it out of character to learn?
โ€ข Does it break any CR?
โ€ข Does the character want to or will they put in the interest or effort?
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
If the answers are no, no, no, yes, then its good
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
Though I guess that last one could fall under ooc
Commenterri
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?
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
With things beyond cantrips I totally will, with this particular thing I'm gonna just go with he can't learn it
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
hff I missed some of these responses, stupid mobil
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
Azure โ˜ช 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.
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
โ„œ๐”ข๐”ž๐”ก๐”ข๐”ฏ : 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?
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
Or through a game setting, like Linds' Cullen in Noctium rn
โ„œ๐”ข๐”ž๐”ก๐”ข๐”ฏ
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.
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
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.
โ„œ๐”ข๐”ž๐”ก๐”ข๐”ฏ
No!!! Not at all, hah.
โ„œ๐”ข๐”ž๐”ก๐”ข๐”ฏ
I think it's more a...the one time I played D&D I played a human with no powers. That's me, pfft.
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
Hey, sometimes its fun to be the 'normal' character in a powered canon. Extraordinary by being ordinary!
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
I think that's a trope even, idk where I heard that
โ„œ๐”ข๐”ž๐”ก๐”ข๐”ฏ
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.
โ„œ๐”ข๐”ž๐”ก๐”ข๐”ฏ
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.
๐“ต๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฏ ๐“ผ๐“ฑ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“น
Whereas my list is malleable protags and D&D ocs on average lately, but people being into different types of characters is part of what makes rp fun
โ„œ๐”ข๐”ž๐”ก๐”ข๐”ฏ
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.
โ„œ๐”ข๐”ž๐”ก๐”ข๐”ฏ
And here he kind of is getting that from a different angle, by being a submissive.
โ„œ๐”ข๐”ž๐”ก๐”ข๐”ฏ
But I think it's definitely a valid angle of character development.
Lindsard
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.
Lindsard
And for another, you never gave me that vibe at all when we tagged together.
fireinwinter
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. :-)
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