Dirk Gently Holistic Style Magic

[Fieari]

Dirk Gently, the hero of two novels by Douglas Adams ("Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", and "The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul") once described his method of navigation. If he's lost, he looks for someone who looks like they know where they're going, and follows them. He says that he rarely ends up where he intended this way, but more often than not arrives at where he should have been going in the first place.

Playing a freeform chatroom style game once, I designed a mage character based loosly... VERY loosly, on this principle. He was the stereotypical "bumbler" type mage with a catch. Not once did any of his magic work the way he wanted it too: but it always produced the results that were needed at the time. The character was a lot of fun to play, and despite the fact that everything tended to work out in the end, in fact, everything invariably worked out in the end, his companions became downright paranoid about him using magic, and would rather have done anything but let him cast the next spell. The effects were quite often very detrimental to the party in the short-term, though it all came together in the end for the greater good.

I was sitting here thinking about this character concept, and trying to consider ways it could be worked out in D&D terms... I'm coming up with mostly blanks, but that's why I'm posting here... I thought maybe someone might have an idea that could help out.

Obviously, any build of this sort would either: A) Require a LOT of DM work/support, or B) Require a LOT of trust in the player's ability to roleplay well, or C) A combination of the two. Basically, either the player says his intent and the DM interprets in a new and "exciting" fashion, or the player does it. But how would things be tied down? What limits would be put in place? How to determine bad effects? Perhaps the exact build I'm looking for isn't even practical at all for the game (which would, quite frankly, be a pity... because in the freeform game it was a heck of a lot of fun) but could something similar be brought about?

Hmmm... how about a mage who is only able to cast "a spell", and then rolls to see what actually gets cast from a list? Thoughts?

 

[Tuzenbach]

What you're suggesting would require rules that would easily fit into a book of 120-160 pages. Isn't it interesting that the more chaotic, diverse, and unpredictable a RPG variable is, the more rules are needed to play it properly? Weird contradiction, if you ask me.

 

[Tilla the Hun (work)]

Hmm...

I disagree about the size of the rules required...


In fact, I think I could hybridize the current dnd system quite quickly and come up with something quite workable - though a trifle clumsy. Some thought would yield a better system, but try this:

The player chooses an effect that some spell has, and casts the spell. He then rolls on an 'action' chart (in reality, the random magic item listings in the DMG) and an 'effect' chart.

The effect chart is simple...

1- Spell is normal, no extra effects.
2- Spell is random spell from all schools lists as far as any description goes, but the effects of that random spell occurs as well as the desired effect (randomize targets, etc.) (or roll to see which or both occur 1d3 style)
3- Item effect - basically, roll on the random item chart and whatever comes up, play it up in the description - potions fall out of the air, scrolls unfurl and cast themselves, weapons appear, cast the spell, disappear, the target is encased in the magical armor having the desired effect.

Heh. Requires GM assistance for quick resolution, but would be mildly hilarious.

The bard states "I cast CLW on the cleric to stablize hime." ::roll:: Spell Effect ::roll: Druidic ::roll:: Summon Natures Ally -- A wolf appears in a mist of smoke and licks the clerics wounds healing him for 1d8 + 1/level then dissappears.

Or, instead of SNA, you get Call Lightning...
---the bard casts his spells, and you notice dark rainclouds forming over his head. Thunder rumbles ominously as he finishes his spell, and a bolt of lightning arcs down to the cleric, healing him for 1d8+1/level, and electrocuting him for 3d6.

For the next ten minutes, whatever the bard looks at gets +1d8 and -3d6 from the healing lightning bolts - including party members.

This would be funny, right?

Hmm - just keep the random spell effects at the same level, thus you avoid potentially negating your desire to large degree...



Alternatively, just treat evey spell the player casts as on old style 2nd ed wish spell... CLW? Remove as many hitpoints as would've been healed, but don't drop the current number...

 

[Gez]

Dirk Gently, the hero of two novels by Douglas Adams ("Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency", and "The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul")

You forgot "The Salmon of a Doubt".

 

[LordVyreth]

You forgot "The Salmon of a Doubt".

Well, it wasn't finished, so I don't know if I'd count it. Though we do have a few chapters of it from the Adams compilation of the same name.