Quote from: NicephorusBESM 2e actually 2 systems.  The first is ok but, like most free form systems, it boils down to "we don't have any real advice, just make it up as you go"

This was all I needed. Just carte blanche for my players to be creative with any effect they could imagine and some concrete way of making magic a limited resource for the sake of play balance.

Changed the whole way I look at magic systems in RPGs. Now I never find myself wanting more than one page of magic rules, nevermind dozens or hundreds of pages of spell lists.

I even created a version for my Fudge campaigns that was even simpler (no Energy Points to keep track of).

Quote from: KrakaJakI like 3rd edition SR Magic (I haven't gotten to play with 4th). It was pretty free form and was always hilarious when a Mage Passed out.

"A Fireball here, a Manabolt there, and a Power--aaarrghh!!!" *collapses*

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalWhat, you mean that the magic was woefully underpowered to the extent that in some situations wizards would be better of throwing rocs than casting lightening bolts?

Try reading my post again.

Quote from: Mr. AnalyticalWhat, you mean that the magic was woefully underpowered to the extent that in some situations wizards would be better of throwing rocs than casting lightening bolts?

I gotta say, I ran a campaign with Decipher's LotR RPG, and magic sure didn't seem underpowered. The wizard PC was throwing spells with impunity, and doing a lot of damage during combats. As written, the magic system can be overpowered. The fatigue Target Numbers for spells are simply too low.

Quote from: YamoThis was all I needed. Just carte blanche for my players to be creative with any effect they could imagine and some concrete way of making magic a limited resource for the sake of play balance.

Changed the whole way I look at magic systems in RPGs. Now I never find myself wanting more than one page of magic rules, nevermind dozens or hundreds of pages of spell lists.

You...surprise me. Have you ever played HeroQuest?

Quote from: droogYou...surprise me. Have you ever played HeroQuest?

I've hearda little about it online, but I have been avoiding it because I've heard that it has mechanical rules for "social conflict", which I hate it a game (I'm a die-hard "just roleplay it!" kinda guy).

PC wizards are effective spellcasters in LotR?

In the novels, the only spellcasters are immortal beings of the order of Angels...

And they do not use magic to any particular degree...

V.

Quote from: VolkazzPC wizards are effective spellcasters in LotR?

In the novels, the only spellcasters are immortal beings of the order of Angels...

And they do not use magic to any particular degree...

V.

This is incorrect.  Elves are certainly described as 'using magic' by Tolkien.  Dwarves could enchant items with runes (rather extensive mention of this can be found in The Hobbit).

As for humans, the 'Mouth of Sauron' is described as a 'Black Numenorean sorcerer' who survived for centuries (eons?) through his magic.  He had no ring of power.  Also, the Seer Malbeth (advisor to the last King of Arthedain/Arnor, i.e. the Northern Kingdom of the Dunedain) is described as having the power of foreknowledge (he predicted that Arvedui would be the last king of an independent Arthedain, foretold the Fellowship's journey through the paths of the dead 1000 years ahead of time, etc.).  Beorn is described as 'a kind of magician' by Gandalf, and in any case obviously could change shape into a bear and had some kind of control over lesser animals.  During the Second Age, before they became corrupt, Tolkien describes the Numenoreans as able to communicate 'mentally' with their horses.  Etc.

Finally, every spell described in the LotR RPG is based on something found in Tolkien's books.

Quote from: AkrasiaThis is incorrect.  Elves are certainly described as 'using magic' by Tolkien.  Dwarves could enchant items with runes (rather extensive mention of this can be found in The Hobbit).

As for humans, the 'Mouth of Sauron' is described as a 'Black Numenorean sorcerer' who survived for centuries (eons?) through his magic.  He had no ring of power.  Also, the Seer Malbeth (advisor to the last King of Arthedain/Arnor, i.e. the Northern Kingdom of the Dunedain) is described as having the power of foreknowledge (he predicted that Arvedui would be the last king of an independent Arthedain, foretold the Fellowship's journey through the paths of the dead 1000 years ahead of time, etc.).  Beorn is described as 'a kind of magician' by Gandalf, and in any case obviously could change shape into a bear and had some kind of control over lesser animals.  During the Second Age, before they became corrupt, Tolkien describes the Numenoreans as able to communicate 'mentally' with their horses.  Etc.

Finally, every spell described in the LotR RPG is based on something found in Tolkien's books.

Another one to add is the Witch-King of Angmar, the most powerful of the Nazgul. He had been a magically powerful guy before he was enslaved by Sauron. As I recall, some of the other Nazgul were strongly implied to have been so as well.