tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904133056957353312.post6730926972594122218..comments2024-03-01T11:52:44.729-05:00Comments on Bat in the Attic: Magic and SocietyRobert Conleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03863009007381185340noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904133056957353312.post-10551169131333018902010-02-18T22:40:30.706-05:002010-02-18T22:40:30.706-05:00I totally recommend Magical Medieval Society: Wes...I totally recommend Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe by Expeditious Retreat press for it's treatment of how that society with magic/miracles could work.<br /><br />One thing to note, in current RL world we have the means to feed everyone, yet many thousands starve to death. We have means to prevent / cure diseases that many, many die from. The resources exist to house everyone in something better than a hut, yet many (most?) people do not.<br /><br />We don't due to various reasons but most boil down to money. I find no reason to believe magic in a fantasy society will be used benevolently. The rich and or those with (magic) ability will use it to get richer most likely by exploiting the poor.<br /><br />Also, the effects of dragons Burnanting the villages and demons/what have you spreading chaos are gonna more than counteract any food production weather controlling going on.<br /><br />Personally I dislike magic replace technology themes and skip this whole issue by saying magic users / holy man who actually can cast miracles are rare. Player characters are probably the only examples in local area.Norman J. Harman Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01319655075997712313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904133056957353312.post-79111761433079260722010-02-18T07:22:27.540-05:002010-02-18T07:22:27.540-05:00A few things that I must point out, which will eit...A few things that I must point out, which will either clarify or confuse your post.<br /><br />In the D&D Vancian Magic systems, magic-users do not memorize spells, they prepare them. This may seem like splitting hairs, but the difference is important. In preparing a spell, the magic is 90% cast, but then bottled up in the magic-user's head, ready to be released with a brief word/gesture/focus.<br /><br />More significantly is the split between Cleric (a playable class) and a Priest. You use the two words interchangeably, and you seem to impress that all clergy are members of the Cleric class, but this is not so.<br /><br />The D&D rule books clearly state that the Cleric class is a special holy warrior, dedicated to fighting chaos and the undead. He is granted spells by his deity. For low-level spells (1st-3rd) he may choose freely, but higher-level spells are often granted by the will of the deity. This is not to say that clergy cannot cast spells, but it does mean that they are part of another (undocumented) system of spells.<br /><br />I often play that high-level clergy are retired Clerics, though. ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07588841039231426774noreply@blogger.com