Basically, if you ever wanted to ditch gurps magic and retool all of its spells as advantages, this is your book. Extends further the rules about magic, adding ceremonial, spirit, runic, freeform, material alchemy, herbalism, and realworldinspired magic. If you like that magic system and want a more fleshed out version, gurps magic is the book for you. Thaumatology has detailed examples, but thats hard work. The system is arranged around wider ranging, and more subtle, effects than the usual mage as artillery systems seen in many rpgs, though very high. Ritual path magic the mechanics enable someone with the right resources to cast incredibly powerful spells if they can come into the resources to do so, which can be expensive to buy, and difficult to find, but it enables players to do something cool by breaking the mold, and gives hard numbers so they can do it in no. Designed to emulate the magic of realworld traditions and popular books, movies, and television shows, this framework. The setting it describes was originally depicted in a chapter of gurps allstar jam 2004, a 3rd edition supplement. Alchemical baroque is a short 24page settingworldbook supplement for gurps 4th edition by phil masters. Full gurps powers statistics for each spell, enabling tinkerers to reverseengineer and tweak spells to their hearts content.
These magic users wield a kind of innate magic known as sorcery. Sorcery, sorcery became his favor ite magic system to the. The best defense isnt a good offense, its gurps sorcery. Gurps magic expands the basic magic system that comes in the basic set. Chinese elemental powers puts the power of the elements in your hands. The thrust of this book is aimed at what i call medium power games which is confirmed by the authors post that it was inteneded to work well with wuxia campaigns. Gurps has been the premiere universal roleplaying game for almost two decades. The discussions of different magical styles would enhance any game that features magic. This book comes in handy if you, the gm are looking for guidance on directing a magic using players character growth by putting some limitations in place. These magicusers wield a kind of innate magic known as sorcery. Incantation magic pdf gurps dungeon fantasy adventure 1. Sorcery introduces a new system that models magic as a power and spells as mystical advantages the sorcerer can draw upon instinctively, easily, and repeatedly. Thaumatology is a general book of optional rules for different magic systems in gurps.
However, it is a lot easier to learn the rpm system than the basic magic system, so it may be simpler for a gm to become comfortable with rpm than to master the more convoluted aspects of basic gurps magic. I think what i mean to say is that i wish that the defaults made them a little less rare, but i guess depending on what i want, i could just massage the parameters a little. Thaumatology was originally the description and discussion of the miraculous, but some modern stories and games including gurps. Like all gurps rule books this is a well written take on the subject. This issue also includes a random thought table where its not what you know but who knows you, as well as a car wars article thats all about the tech. Gurps thaumatology has gurps fourth edition updates of the best third edition magic. Gurps thaumatology is really a book about tweaking the magic system or.
Gurps thaumatology requires the gurps basic set, fourth edition. This is a 36 page pdf that starts chapter one on page 4, the last chapter ends on page 33, and there is a one page appendix with a statted out example character. Minor tweaks for the spellbased magic of the basic set. The general idea was i wanted spells useful to a beginner with sorcerous empowerment 2, so no ability cost over 30.
That said, this chapter is, if nothing else, a neat bridge between all three of gurps powers, thaumatology, and sorcery. I spent a further 63 hours look looking over the preliminary pdf for any. For more options and insight into other magic systems, check out the core gurps thaumatology book. The full extent of each of these chapters can be seen in the. Apart from that, sorcery is certainly generic enough to be dropped into many settings. I thought id share them so i could get some feedback, and in case anyone else found them useful. Gurps lite 4th edition, a 32page distillation of the basic gurps rules, is available for free download. Gurps thaumatology ritual path magic pdf ive done subjective comparisons of the ritual path magic system before, but i havent ever spoken directly to the book in which it is contained. Powers as magic tends to be better balanced with other character types since its built around advantages which is how most characters are built. Basically, if you ever wanted to ditch gurps magic.
Gurps thaumatology steve jackson games gurps fourth. Sorcery recently, and felt inspired to try statting up a few utility spells. Magic in the basic set and in the gurps magic supplement is a skillbased system that has lots of prebuilt spells. Ritual path magic, or rpm, is a great rules light alternative to the default gurps magic system. Augment sorcery with the defensive and forewarning spells found within gurps sorcery. Jun 09, 2019 sure, you poeers set arbitrary limits on damage or preconstruct a list of of approved spells, but examples like that sunbolt make things difficult for the gm. Building on ideas from gurps fantasy and taking full advantage of the possibilities opened by gurps thaumatologythis volume explores the distinctive nature of urban magic how magical groups are organized, what magical practices magicx city supports, how cities make magic more effective, and how magic makes cities work better. Jan 11, 2019 thaumatology sorcery thu aug 10, this site uses cookies. Mirror of the fire demon pdf gurps dungeon fantasy denizens. This supplement requires the gurps basic set and gurps magic. Nov 01, 2016 however, it is a lot easier to learn the rpm system than the basic magic system, so it may be simpler for a gm to become comfortable with rpm than to master the more convoluted aspects of basic gurps magic.
A broad variant of ritual magic system with some examples. Gurps thaumatology has gurps fourth edition updates of the best third edition magic variants, plus many allnew options. Written by jason pk levine illustrated by guy burwell, paul daly, shea ryan, and dan smith. The setting is an alternate history version of the pulpera 1930s, in which magic, which existed mostly in the shadows throughout history.
Steve jackson games is committed to full support of gurps players. Nevertheless, its a welcome addition to the evergrowing list of alternatives to the standard magic system from gurps magic. Protection and warning spells stop trouble in its tracks. Then thaumatology adds several completely new systems for different takes on magic realm based magic for a mage the assension type game for example. Gurps thaumatology pdf the purpose of gurps thaumatology is to offer solutions. Gurps thaumatology is not just for gurps players, but an essential reference for game masters of any role playing game that delve into applied or theoretical magic. I can see that being the basis for a weirdtech gadgeteering system just as well as for magic.
Thaumatology sorcery seems like an application in lessons learned from writing this chapter. Some magic is so exciting, explosive, and hyperkinetic, it feels like its flying off the screen and into your mind. Yet wizards in some settings can conduct rituals even powerful ones quickly, safely, and repeatedly. Academy, fraternity, guild, order, school, society. This weeks release was hinted at beforehand, but gurps thaumatology sorcery wasnt exactly what i expected.
Page references these are the page reference abbreviations being used in the data files. Often, rpgs are accused of tying up magic in strict rules, losing its truly fantastical, magical. The list is a bit difficult to navigate because there are a. Magic is a creative force, and those who can harness its full potential can change the universe. This issue of pyramid, the pdf magazine for roleplayers, provides new kinds of magical options for cinematic universes.
This is a listing of the publications from steve jackson games and other licensed publishers for. Years and years of gurps gameplay have worked out the kinks in power costs, etc. Gurps lands out of time pdf a setting that pits man against dinosaur. The drawback is that each spell is its own effect, and. Super sorcery styls jun, the example is executed perfectly, my only wish is that there might have been more. Rice discusses whats necessary to have mages duel, how magic works when participating in a duel, plus relevant character traits and useful new equipment. Powers as magic tends to be better balanced with other character types since its built around advantages which is. More than 1,500,000 copies are in print not counting foreign editions.
Its a book to buy if you want to tweak, replace, or create your own magic system for gurps. Magical styles and exemplified in gurps magical styles. Whether youre playing mystical wu and brave xia in ancient china, modern martial artists locked in a secret street war, or classic fantasy dungeon delvers questing after a unique powerup, gurps thaumatology. The directory of all printed gurps titles at steve jackson games website. Like most power talents, additional levels of sorcery talent add to skill rolls when any sorcery advantage or skill is used. Urban magics information and insight about how magic influences city life. Sorcery another selfcontained system that models magic as a power and spells as mystical advantages the sorcerer can draw upon instinctively, easily, and repeatedly. Building on ideas from gurps fantasy and taking full advantage of the possibilities opened by gurps thaumatology, this volume explores the distinctive nature of urban magic how magical groups are organized, what magical practices a city supports, how cities make magic more effective, and how magic makes cities work better. Gurps often treats spells as skills, balancing stronger magic not with point costs but by requiring more time, risk, energy, or all three. Get tips for how to apply the rules to gurps magic spells, gurps thaumatology. After this is a discussion on optional traits and how to handle things like advantages, disadvantages, and other skills that might be thematically appropriate for a certain style. The purpose of gurps thaumatology is to offer solutions.
To limit access to artillery magic, the gm might define such spells as the exclusive secrets of particular schools of magic, as defined in gurps thaumatology. This gives you the flexibility to create and cast any spell you can imagine, along with the confidence that it will follow clear and consistent rules. Sorcery there is a new gurps book out, released yesterday. Sorcery treats magic as a power and builds spells as modified advantages. These interactions are as flavorful as they are balanced perfect for a magic system. Thaumatology was originally the description and discussion of the miraculous, but some modern stories and games including gurps use the term for the. There is plenty of attention to crunchy bits, for certain, but also plenty of more philosophical discussion about how magic works and what role it fits in a game world.
The list is a bit difficult to navigate because there are a lot of perks, but thats really a small problem. Thaumatology sorcery thu aug 10, ritual path magic with magical styles. Often, rpgs are accused of tying up magic in strict rules, losing its truly fantastical, magical essence. This book still leaves a fair bit up to the gm, but it may well end up forming the core of a magic system which will be to many players taste. Thaumatology sorcery thu aug 10, this site uses cookies. Direct link gurps 4th edition thaumatology sorcery. Therefore, it is my own opinion that sorcery should be the default newbie friendly magic system for gurps. I mean, its a weird hangup i guess, because the default system has a lot to offer, but because i feel like i dont know how to create my own spells for it, that is a showstopper for me. Spell casting takes a while typically 1060 minutes, and the results tend to be subtle.
Ritual path magic, a complete, standalone, and selfcontained magic system for gurps. Nearly all sorcerous spells however powerful can be cast in a mere second with but a single fatigue. Pathbook magic thaumatology has its origins in gurps voodoo, and contains a completely different set of effects. Soemp works similar to divine favor from the eponymous volume in powers series. Also, you only need the basic set and thaumatology. Protection and warning spells thaumatology sorcery of thorns sorcery for money babylonian magic and sorcery pdf swords and sorcery white box varg vikernes sorcery and religion in ancient scandinavia gurps ww2 gurps after the end 1 gurps pdf gurps after the end. The spell colleges can be rearranged to suit the flavour of a setting. Jun 20, 2019 gurps thaumatology chinese elemental powers pdf admin june 20, 2019 0 comments pyramid, thaumatology, chinese elemental powers, e23, and the names of all products published by steve jackson games incorporated are registered. Archived from the original on 20090531 a bibtex archive in progress to archive the bibliographical data for gurps books.
Cover of gurps thaumatology sorcery as with last couple. Age of gold is a settingworldbook supplement for gurps 4th edition by phil masters. The chinese view of the elements xing is rich and nuanced, with cycles of creation and destruction. Sorcery puts you in complete control, giving you a potentially unlimited grimoire and as much power as you can afford. Sorcery, one of its advantages is that since it uses powers, it is already balanced. Gurps thaumatology contains the best 3rd edition magic variants and adds many allnew options. Gurps magic all the spells from the third edition gurps magic and gurps grimoire, plus dozens of allnew spells, in the ultimate tome of magic. It presents a couple brand new alternate magic systems and a couple significant modifications to the standard spellbased magic system. This gives you the flexibility to create and cast any spell you can imagine. Magic is the base thaumatology is the tweak for at least quite a bit of the book. Pdf magazine pyramid included new rules and articles for. Steve jackson games written by phil masters additional material by c. For a list that spans various books see various books and paths of magic.
982 777 799 752 230 1132 1506 1481 1179 1224 527 1379 220 1265 410 1005 1060 426 1466 999 1247 241 1359 384 581 13 1365 517 833 99 343 948 1349