As our new game develops, it turns out Wizards get their power from a Dark Gift that was inherited generations ago. Using magic risks madness, as it connects you to the Outer World, a scary place full of scary things.
With that in mind, I’m thinking about tweaking the Wizard’s Corruption move. We’ve established that the ritual and use of magical language in spellcasting is a way to “refine” the energy of the Outer World, making it more palatable to mortal minds. So I’m trying to come up with a corruption move that reflects this. Maybe something like:
When you cast a spell without spending one of your Hold from Channelling, mark corruption.
I hesitate, though, because other corruption moves don’t give you a direct in-game benefit like this. Does this corruption move seem legit? Any suggestions?
This seems legit to me; see Let It Out for a comparison. Really what you’re offering here is a Let It Out without the possibility of dodging corruption, but with more reliable results.
This interests me; you won’t know until you try it, but I think it might work.
As far as i understand… wizards in this game should be able to cast magic without spending holds from Channeling? not even rolling for channeling or let it out?
Anyway, if the group is fine with the move it seems fine for me ^_^
Oscar Iglesias as far as I can tell, the only way to cast a spell is with Hold from channelling. Let It Out can emulate some of the effects, kinda, but it lacks the power of specificity that spells grant you.
Ok, I’ll give it a try. My other concern is that other Corruption Moves imply some kind of character interaction: making a deal with a dark power, telling an outright lie, hurting mortals in pursuit of a goal, etc. This doesn’t do that.
Can you tie it to the fiction? Like “When you rely on the Dark Gifts for power, mark corruption” and then mechanize the Dark Gifts with a custom move? It’s roundabout but might allow more options in the long run.
Kevin Weiser It kinda does though? Like, based on what you’ve established in your world magic is, I think it does involve communing with a dark power. In the world you’ve described, what’s darker?
The Dark Gift could be the whispers of the Outer World, always tempting, offering more power. Then I could narrate constant temptation for some alien agenda, which is offering immediate power (cast a spell now without channeling!) but also is just making suggestions all the time.
Then, the move becomes: “When you listen to the whispers of the Outer World and do their bidding, mark corruption.”
This includes casting without channeling, but also broadens it to other possibilities.
Yes. I like the listen to the dark whispers. 🙂 Good idea!
Sorry, Kevin Weiser , seem i explain horrible (non native here :S).
I was talking about how wizards will cast magic in YOUR game without using channeling.
Oscar Iglesias ah, I understand now. Yes, I was offering a new method of spellcasting, at the cost of corruption. I think I’ve got a handle on the new corruption move for the Wizard. Thanks, everybody!