Two weeks ago, in the distant past that was the year Twenty Oh Eight, we asked what your New Year’s Resolution is. 23% of you answered 1280 x 1024, a traditional choice. In a very close second, 1680 x 1050 garnered 22%, a newer resolution for newer times. Only 1 solitary person is still committed to 800 x 600. Now, the question with all New Year’s Resolutions is… will you stick with it?
Over New Year’s, I took a trip down to Miami (Florida, not my alma mater) and visited with The Main Event. In addition to some Left 4 Dead and Rock Band 2 playing, we took that time to discuss and speculate on the fantasy epics that we’ve enjoyed so much (and eagerly await the next installment.) He’s more well-read than I am within the genre, and was explaining some about the Mistborn series and the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, particularly how the two handle magic.
While an interesting magic system is not enough to drive a fantasy setting, it does appear to be part of the main hook when getting readers. Likewise, in a fantasy RPG system, this provides an immediate appeal to playing the game if the magic is interesting enough. In systems like Mage: The Ascension/Awakening or Ars Magica where everyone is a magic user, it’s practically a requirement to make the game fun.
To that end, The Main Event and I compiled a short list of different kinds of magic systems. The question thus is:
[poll id="108"]
I’m sure many others have been left out, as we compiled this list just on the ones we are aware of. Are there other awesome magic systems out there, in print or otherwise? Enlighten us!