About: Vancian Magic   Sponge Permalink

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Vancian Magic is a specific form of "rule magic" that conforms to these functional rules (along with whatever other metaphysics the writer chooses): 1. * Magical effects are packaged into distinct spells; each spell has one fixed purpose. A spell that throws a ball of fire at an enemy just throws balls of fire, and generally cannot be "turned down" to light a cigarette, for instance. 2. * Spells represent a kind of "magic-bomb" which must be prepared in advance of actual use, and each prepared spell can be used only once before needing to be prepared again. That's why it is also known as "Fire & Forget magic." 3. * Magicians have a finite capacity of prepared spells which is the de facto measure of their skill and/or power as magicians. A wizard using magic for combat is thus

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  • Vancian Magic
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  • Vancian Magic is a specific form of "rule magic" that conforms to these functional rules (along with whatever other metaphysics the writer chooses): 1. * Magical effects are packaged into distinct spells; each spell has one fixed purpose. A spell that throws a ball of fire at an enemy just throws balls of fire, and generally cannot be "turned down" to light a cigarette, for instance. 2. * Spells represent a kind of "magic-bomb" which must be prepared in advance of actual use, and each prepared spell can be used only once before needing to be prepared again. That's why it is also known as "Fire & Forget magic." 3. * Magicians have a finite capacity of prepared spells which is the de facto measure of their skill and/or power as magicians. A wizard using magic for combat is thus
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  • Vancian Magic is a specific form of "rule magic" that conforms to these functional rules (along with whatever other metaphysics the writer chooses): 1. * Magical effects are packaged into distinct spells; each spell has one fixed purpose. A spell that throws a ball of fire at an enemy just throws balls of fire, and generally cannot be "turned down" to light a cigarette, for instance. 2. * Spells represent a kind of "magic-bomb" which must be prepared in advance of actual use, and each prepared spell can be used only once before needing to be prepared again. That's why it is also known as "Fire & Forget magic." 3. * Magicians have a finite capacity of prepared spells which is the de facto measure of their skill and/or power as magicians. A wizard using magic for combat is thus something like a living gun: he must be "loaded" with spells beforehand and can run out of magical "ammunition". A frequently used fourth rule is a naming convention: Possessives and variations thereof -- e.g. Sumpjumper's Incendiary Surprise. In a series of spells that is often the same or slightly varied, e.g. "Bigby's X Hand" (...Fingers, Fist, Grab). This tends to create the problem that the mage must somehow know which spells will be most useful in the near future. If you are expecting combat, then you aren't going to prepare "talk with animals" that day. If you need to talk with an animal, you are then out of luck unless you wait until the next day. To work around this problem, some writers use a Mana or "spell points" system, where the mage can cast any spells they know at any time, using up some of a fixed pool of energy which then gets replenished later. The name comes from Jack Vance, writer of exotic Science Fiction and Fantasy. Vancian magic first appears in his Dying Earth. Gary Gygax and his collaborator Dave Arneson subsequently "borrowed" the basic ideas for the magic system of Trope Codifier Dungeons and Dragons. The disapproving term is "Utility Belt Magic" (you load it, then have N buttons to press). Compare Powers as Programs. See also Fantastic Science. Compare Ritual Magic. Examples of Vancian Magic include:
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