[Rq-rules] Music as a Focus

[Paul Cardwell]

Fauns also have this ability, but without the rapist
tendencies of satyrs.

You might also examine Mozart's Magic Flute, where the
hero has the protection of a flute and his sidekick
has a glockenspiel for the same purpose.  The music is
great too.

In Mythworld, at least, these are all combined in the
Cast Resisted Magic roll, the magic of the instrument
being considered potent enough to ensure the playing
is correct for this purpose.  The spell disipates as
soon as the playing stops, affects only one individual
target, but an additional target can be added each
round while the spell still affects the previous ones
(assuming the playing is continuous).  An additional
target resisting the spell does not affect previously
enspelled. Each attempt does consume mana, the same as
for any spell.

Also in Mythworld, these are restricted to fauns and
satyrs, and not available to "mere" entertainers.  In
systems with a separate bardic class (Mythworld has no
classes, just occupations), it might be a totally
separate talent, maybe even for higher levels only (at
least initiate, if not knight and/or priest). 

Paul Cardwell


--- Simon Phipp <soltakss at yahoo.com> wrote:

> MB:
> 
> > I have the AH copy of RQ3, and in the creatures
> book, under Satyrs, it talks about the creatures
> using 
> > pipes and music as a focus for spirit magic
> spells.
> 
> > I was thinking of doing the same thing for players
> to create Bard like characters. Characters would
> need 
> > to succeed in an instrument roll, and then (I was
> thinking) a casting roll for every potential target
> in 
> > hearing range to see if they are affected.
> 
> Sounds like a reasonable idea. Perhaps you might not
> need a second roll for the effect to take place - it
> might just be a magical property of the Bardic
> character of his magical pipes or lyre or whatever.
> If you have a roll to make the music, a roll to make
> the magic and a POW vs POW roll it seems like a lot
> of rolls.
> 
> > Bardic Spells would be kind of limited to things
> that seem appropriate (Fanaticism, Demoralize, 
> > Endurance, Befuddle, Control, Maybe even
> characteristic increases like glamor). I don't see
> music as 
> > being able to ignite swords or heal wounds. Once
> the music stopped the effects would wear off
> quickly.
> 
> You could be very inventive with this and create
> different types of effects. I'd add Sleep, Convince
> and Manic Dance as common effects that I have seen
> in fairy tales and legends. Some effects might wear
> off quickly, others such as Sleep might still have
> an effect.
> 
> > Have people done this sort of thing? What do you
> think would be appropriate in MP cost for a Music 
> > focus spell that has the potential to affect
> multiple targets. Should it have the normal MP cost?
> Double 
> > the MP cost? Normal MP cost +1 for each target
> affected?
> 
> I haven't done it personally, but there's no reason
> why it wouldn't work. It's a common staple of folk
> tales after all.
> 
> It should probably have a MP cost depending on the
> number of people affected and the duration of the
> magic. Perhaps 1 MP per person for every 10 rounds
> plus an additional amount for the type of effect,
> but I'd probably not have the additional amount jus
> tot keep it simple.
> 
> > What is your opinion on using music as a focus?
> How best do you think it could work?
> 
> It could work really well.
> 
> You'd have to decide whether the magic came from the
> Bardic character or his instrument. Does he have a
> Magical Voice, Magical Heart, Magical Lyre, Magical
> Bagpipes or whatever? Where did the ability come
> from? Was it god-given, did he steal it by licking a
> roasted salmon or did he just find a magic item?
> Does he have a fixed set of magical effects or can
> he learn new ones? Is each effect tied to a specific
> tune so he has to learn new tunes to learn new
> effects? Are there any limitations - does it work on
> all species or just humans, what about tone-deaf
> people or people who hate music?
> 
> Once you've worked out the basics, the rest will
> probably come out during play.
> 
> But, it sounds like an excellent idea, very open and
> fluid, an interesting use of RQ.
> 
> See Ya
> 
> Simon>
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