Re: The Magnificent Manual of Mastering Mysticism: A Guide to Magic

by **Feydor** Tue Nov 13, 2012 7:17 pm

Bumping this bad boy.

by **erwtenpeller** Tue Nov 13, 2012 8:09 pm

Holy SHIT what's going on in your signature??

by **Feydor** Tue Nov 13, 2012 8:15 pm

They aren't three grotesquely large and out of proportion testicles, according to Coppersocket it's meant to be a flower. Yeah right.

Think I'm going to bookmark this guide and treat it as the bible.

by **erwtenpeller** Tue Nov 13, 2012 8:28 pm

I already do Wink

by **Skarain** Tue Nov 13, 2012 9:41 pm

erwtenpeller wrote:I already do

And not the only one Very Happy

by **Littlepip** Mon May 06, 2013 8:27 am

Please don't tell me this is the shortened version.. o.o

by **erwtenpeller** Mon May 06, 2013 8:55 am

It's the awesome version. And from these models, I like to deduce in-character theories and "beliefs". Which is a lot of fun.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

by **Drustai** Mon May 06, 2013 9:09 am

I still need to get around to reading those. They look really great from what I've seen so far. Smile

Just been sort of disinterested in the magic scene lately due to no longer playing Drustai.

by **Littlepip** Mon May 06, 2013 9:28 am

*Gasp* Drustai used a smiley!

Editt:

Let’s expand upon this. Consider a table. Why is it a table? Because its soul defines it as a table. Its spiritual essence, its cosmic plan, its internal configuration, has defined that the elements it is comprised of are assembled in such a manner as to be a table. In other words, the soul is the form and the elements are the matter. The soul provides the plan, the shape. The elements fill out that shape and give it mass and presence. The soul is the mold, and the elements are the cement. Together is reality made.

This part right here didn't make much sense to me, it feels like your speaking about the table like it always has been one which isn't possible, since humans chopped down a tree and combined metal with wood to create the table, are you saying that humanoids that can create items like that can shape spirits?

by **erwtenpeller** Mon May 06, 2013 10:02 am

Drustai wrote:I still need to get around to reading those. They look really great from what I've seen so far. Just been sort of disinterested in the magic scene lately due to no longer playing Drustai.

Yeah, it happens. I've been a lot less interested in lighty role-play since I've lost Scuzy, and a lot more into magic again with Alph'el taking off and being a crazy madman.

His most recent experiments concern mirror images, projections and exploring the possibilities of spreading one's consciousness over several locations. It's incredibly fun to play around with.

by **Drustai** Mon May 06, 2013 10:11 am

Thorvald wrote:*Gasp* Drustai used a smiley!

Editt:

Let’s expand upon this. Consider a table. Why is it a table? Because its soul defines it as a table. Its spiritual essence, its cosmic plan, its internal configuration, has defined that the elements it is comprised of are assembled in such a manner as to be a table. In other words, the soul is the form and the elements are the matter. The soul provides the plan, the shape. The elements fill out that shape and give it mass and presence. The soul is the mold, and the elements are the cement. Together is reality made.

This part right here didn't make much sense to me, it feels like your speaking about the table like it always has been one which isn't possible, since humans chopped down a tree and combined metal with wood to create the table, are you saying that humanoids that can create items like that can shape spirits?

Yes. Both mages and mundanes shape their environment. Just mundanes do it through direct physical action, reassembling things at the base, mechanical level, while mages shape it through manipulating the metaphysical cosmic pattern. Also, 'spirit' in this case does not to a sapient, individualistic ghost-like soul, but more the spiritual aura.

Also, keep in mind that that's a theorycrafting section. Meaning it's my own personal opinion on things based on what's available. So that section isn't terribly important and you shouldn't worry too much about it.

erwtenpeller wrote:His most recent experiments concern mirror images, projections and exploring the possibilities of spreading one's consciousness over several locations. It's incredibly fun to play around with.

The latter definitely sounds like something interesting to play with. Smile

by **Vaell** Mon May 06, 2013 10:39 am

Drustai wrote:
Thorvald wrote:*Gasp* Drustai used a smiley!

Editt:

Let’s expand upon this. Consider a table. Why is it a table? Because its soul defines it as a table. Its spiritual essence, its cosmic plan, its internal configuration, has defined that the elements it is comprised of are assembled in such a manner as to be a table. In other words, the soul is the form and the elements are the matter. The soul provides the plan, the shape. The elements fill out that shape and give it mass and presence. The soul is the mold, and the elements are the cement. Together is reality made.

This part right here didn't make much sense to me, it feels like your speaking about the table like it always has been one which isn't possible, since humans chopped down a tree and combined metal with wood to create the table, are you saying that humanoids that can create items like that can shape spirits?

Yes. Both mages and mundanes shape their environment. Just mundanes do it through direct physical action, reassembling things at the base, mechanical level, while mages shape it through manipulating the metaphysical cosmic pattern. Also, 'spirit' in this case does not to a sapient, individualistic ghost-like soul, but more the spiritual aura.

The way I view this is that your average, say, Evoker would see the patterns as almost like a cosmic puzzle. To them, it's a thousand puzzle pieces that you need to take time to think about before you can summon/create a table. If you consistently train this skill and other magic like it - going down the conjuration route - then you view it as a much simpler puzzle (a thousand pieces becoming twenty for Archmagi). This is a pretty simple but easy way to follow magic like that!

As for transmutation: more like playing with lego!

by **Littlepip** Mon May 06, 2013 10:59 am

Well I got one thing to say about this guide! Its so great and magnificent that it makes me brain go buhu and eyes go ow ow..

Never been much of a reader.. So this is like a living night mare to me, I know I have to read it through if I'm ever going to use magic again.

by **erwtenpeller** Mon May 06, 2013 11:02 am

No you don't. Being a fabulous pixie that runs around casting weird-ass spells of sparkly magnificence is also perfectly acceptable RP practice Wink

by **Sohan** Mon May 06, 2013 3:32 pm

erwtenpeller wrote:Being a fabulous pixie that runs around casting weird-ass spells of sparkly magnificence is also perfectly acceptable RP practice

Depends who you throw it at. Wink

by **erwtenpeller** Mon May 06, 2013 3:39 pm

Sohan wrote:
erwtenpeller wrote:Being a fabulous pixie that runs around casting weird-ass spells of sparkly magnificence is also perfectly acceptable RP practice
Depends who you throw it at.

It tends to invoke a desire to attempt a good face-punching. The good thing about being a magical pixie queen, however, is that you are very good at magically dodging said acts of violence.

Pissing them off even more.

Good times. Good times.

by **Isils** Thu Jun 13, 2013 1:08 am

This is the best thing ever.

Miss Drustai, I love your mind!

by **Buren** Sun Jun 16, 2013 4:01 am

Drustai wrote:Runecasting is natural spellcasting. Unlike spellcasting, runecasting does not force magic into unnatural shapes. It channels it through specific runic patterns, which are the natural configurations of the ley lines. This makes runecasting very limited compared to spellcasting—one can only cast spells that adhere to the limits of these natural patterns. However, because of this, it also typically does not corrupt the user.

Quite a lot of speculation below, and I do not mean try mowing that this down, since you have already disclaimed it, I merely wish to introduce another thought to the process! And no, I havent read all the comments so this might have popped up already
Correct me if I am wrong in the following, I am rather rusty on this subject: Isnt arcane part of everything? There is arcane in everything, thus there wouldnt there be an pattern for each of these things? And by assuming that one can combine the patterns, if there already isnt a pattern for every single thing (which we have no real idea of) in existence, since arcane is within everything. Its like an sort of energy that is part of us, and what is around. So what is the difference between the spellcaster and runecaster? Yeah the difference is rather obvious, isnt it? One has to know how to cast the actual spell, and only needs that knowledge of how it felt, in reality (Azeroth) one doesnt need to read any books or alike to gain a knack of arcane. The sorcerer is an example to this. What about the runecaster? Its much different in this case. Runecasters has to explore, research (obviously spellcasters has to upon reaching a certain skill) to find and then use these patterns properly. While the spellcaster, CHANNELS their spells, the runecaster doesnt. Their spells are already there, carved (tattoo'd, painted, whatever) into whatever object he or she might use, and by empowering the rune the spell is activated. So is it really limited? I'd say no, no it isnt.

But then again, since this is a rather "do as you wish" kind of thing, to each its own

Honestly I lost track of what I was trying to explain half way, I hope it added some flavor to it though.

by **erwtenpeller** Sun Jun 16, 2013 8:23 am

Buren wrote:But then again, since this is a rather "do as you wish" kind of thing, to each its own

This is always true, of course. The guide is what it is, a guide, not a law.

You could say rune-casting is limited by one important factor: Physical space. There's only room for so many runes on your weapon, armor... or... Face, or something. At some point, it stops.

If you're interested in the "Arcane is a part of everything" theory, you may find this an interesting read:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

by **Exigua** Sun Jun 16, 2013 8:59 am

There are a few things you didn't consider however. How would the pattern for a transmuted object look like? Runecasting in my eyes isn't limited on the -effects- it can do, just on -changes- if it makes sense. It would be easy making something catch fire, just scribe a rune of fire or "hot" on an object and activate it. But I would believe it would be near impossible to -change- the object to fire, something a transmuter would probably be able to do.
The power of runes is that they are natural, that they are a state that nature "want" to be in, and just require a simple activation for the effect of the rune. I personally believe that you can combine runes to create effects that you don't specifically find in nature, but then it's more like a "puzzle" of sorts. You add one rune next to the other, perhaps connect them, and the effects may or may not fit together. You could have (unknowingly) created another patterns of a completely different effect, the two (or more effects) may all trigger individually but not weave together into that one effect you wished.

Also, for an interesting approach to magic and runes themself I can recommend the series starting with "Dragon Wing" by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman. Here's a small taste from the appendix of the first book:

"Science, technology and biology all use the woven rope of reality.
Magic, on the other hand, functions by reweaving the fabric of reality. A wizard begins by concentrating on the wave of probabilities rather then on reality itself. Through his learning and his powers, he looks upon the myriad of waves of infinite possibilities to find the part of the wave where his desired reality would be true. Then the wizard creates a harmonic wave of possibility to bend the existing wave so that what was once possible becomes part of what is true. In this way the magican weaves his desire into existance."

"The key to rune (or runic) magic is that the harmonic wave that weaves a possibility into existance must be created with as much simultaneity as possible. This means that the various motions, signs, words, thoughts and elements that go into making up the harmonic wave must be completed as close together as possible. The more simultaneous the harmonic wave structure, the more balance and harmony will be manifested in the wave and the more powerful the magic itself."

I could quote so much more, but this will have to do for now.

by **Exigua** Sun Jun 16, 2013 9:08 am

Just had to add this too...

"All Sartan rune structures are built in a hexagonal pattern emanating from the Fountain or Root Rune. This rune is the source of the magic being cast and the point from which all the magic structure springs. The Fountain Rune determines the thrust of the spell structure. In rune magic, this Fountain Rune may be of any type from any of the Houses of magic. In complex spells, then, it is essential in the reading of the spell that one understands which rune is the Fountain Rune. Two separate spells which have identical runes in identical positions may have vastly different effects if they have different Fountain Runes."

by **erwtenpeller** Sun Jun 16, 2013 9:27 am

Exigua wrote:The power of runes is that they are natural, that they are a state that nature "want" to be in, and just require a simple activation for the effect of the rune.

In World of Warcraft at least, this is definitely just not true. The fact that the most prolific use of rune magic in the game is that of Death Knights should be evidence enough for that.

The rest of the quotes where interesting. That whole reality thing is definitely how my mage approaches arcane magic.

by **Exigua** Sun Jun 16, 2013 9:35 am

erwtenpeller wrote:In World of Warcraft at least, this is definitely just not true. The fact that the most prolific use of rune magic in the game is that of Death Knights should be evidence enough for that.

Death is a "Natural" part of the world though, and I would argue that "unholy" is the name that have been put to binding life to inanimate (previously living) objects. While the effect is natural then, putting life to an object, the way it is done is not.

by **erwtenpeller** Sun Jun 16, 2013 9:37 am

Death is natural, sure. But there's nothing natural about undeath Razz

by **Exigua** Sun Jun 16, 2013 9:52 am

Undeath isn't natural, yes. Nor are suddenly things catching on fire (by activating a fire rune). Undeath is the -effect- of using the natural effect of life, but attaching it to what is ordinary not living, the dead. The rune itself can still be natural, it's the use that makes it twisted and unnatural. There is a subtle difference that makes sense to me, at least.

by Sponsored content