dresden files magic system

Magic is a kind of energy. It is given shape by human thoughts and emotions, by imagination. Thoughts define that shape–and words help to define those thoughts. That’s why wizards usually use words to help them with their spells. Words provide a sort of insulation as the energy of magic burns through a spell caster’s mind. If you use words that you’re too familiar with, words that are so close to your thoughts that you have trouble separating thought from word, that insulation is very thin. So most wizards use words from ancient languages they don’t know very well, or else they make up nonsense words and mentally attach their meanings to a particular effect. That way, a wizard’s mind has an extra layer of protection against magical energies coursing through it. But you can work magic without words, without insulation for your mind. If you’re not afraid of it hurting a little.
-Jim Butcher, Fool Moon (Dresden Files 2)

This is a pretty good kernel of a magic system. Someone should make a pen-and-paper RPG of the Dresden files.

If I could have had both potions going in my system without them making me too ill to move, I would have downed the refresher potion the moment I got my hands on it, but without the blending potion, there was no way I could get inside to MacFinn.

I haven’t read it – does the Dresden Files RPG have a potion miscibility table?? If so, count me in.

5 Responses to “dresden files magic system”

  1. katre says:

    I’ve read the books but not the RPG. I’d be up for trying it out sometime.

  2. Shieldhaven says:

    My gaming group enjoyed Dresden Files pretty well in our brief time playing it. A part of the group that didn’t include me went on to play a longer campaign. My review of the session starts here: http://harbinger-of-doom.blogspot.com/2011/02/dresden-files-rpg-eyewitness-testimony.html and continues here: http://harbinger-of-doom.blogspot.com/2011/03/dresden-files-rpg-first-combat.html. I would recommend the game for those who can handle FATE’s Aspects well. For GMs like me who would have a hard time remembering and applying everyone’s Aspects, it’s less ideal but still all right. =)

  3. ranthoron says:

    Has anyone read dresden files and rivers of london by Ben Aaronovitch and can do a comparison for me?

  4. Jason says:

    Luckily, I have my Dresden Files pdf right here. No potion miscibility table. The section on potions doesn’t mention mixture.

  5. Jon says:

    The Dresden universe is full of rules and systems and factions. Probably makes a good RPG and I think the author is a gamer and contributed to the RPG sourcebooks.

    The books as books… well they will have you rolling your eyes a bit. Especially the early ones. But the author started writing them in college and deserves a bit of slack at the start.

    The audio versions are performed by James Marsters (Spike from Buffy) and he’s a fantastic reader. Highly recommended if you thought about checking these out.

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