Replies & Responses

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From: Argrath@aol.com
Date: Tue 17 May 1994 - 04:41:42 EEST

Gary Newton (isaac@twics.com) asks about compatibility of magic across the good old GL divisions. Greg Stafford has explained this as being like a development of an internal organ in a particular way, which is incompatible with development in any other way. A weaker analogy, which I came up with myself, is that it's like training yourself to be a doctor or a lawyer. The two fields are not mutually exclusive by any means, but their characteristic modes of thought are very different. There are a few people who have an M.D. and a J.D., but they're darn rare, and they don't generally practice in both fields at once.

The spare-driving ways of Stygians are, indeed, a bother. The Henotheists have three different levels of involvement in the visible gods, from mere toleration to actual dual worship. (It's actually more complicated than that, but we're just talking about magic here.) Each tradition has its strengths and weaknesses, but none is so much more powerful than the rest that it dominates
(or so we deduce from the fact that Ralians haven't conquered
anybody near them, except for the Trader Princes who only faced disorganized clansmen).

     In game terms, one way to do it is to limit the spell lists of magicians so that they are roughly equal. The advantages of flexibility will be balanced by the disadvantage of having to learn all those sorcery skills. I don't think people should have both spirit magic and high sorcery, but they can mix the low spells with spirit magic. Remember that this is an RQ-level explanation--don't extrapolate to what the society does.

Re: Heroplane
Alex says, "assuming it has an 'objective' existance [sic]." You know what happens when you assume, don't you <G>? Or is that just an American joke?

"GoG is, all things considered, about the most God Learnerish book in existance."
Alex is spot on.

Alex on Peter: "Peter said 'What if there were a mythic "truce" or mutual understanding between Solar and Storm worshipers?'
(pardon my paraphrase, Peter)."

     Well, I don't know if Peter will or not, but I think you ought to go back and look at what he wrote before you use that particular paraphrase. 'tain't what he said, nor even close.

Nick in X-RQ-ID: 4011 finds the GoG statement of all-saints-to- all-cults ludicrous, and will not countenance it. Not that it matters, but let me suggest something which startles a lot of people when they first hear it.

     In Islam, Jesus and John the Baptist, along with the Hebrew prophets, are recognized prophets. I have a Muslim friend who believes in the virgin birth of Jesus. I admit I don't know of any muslims who honor St. Paul or any of the other apostles, but the GoG story is not as far-fetched as all that. Nick already knows this, thus his cladistic tree method of determining who your saints are.

     I admit I had trouble at first imagining Rokari, say, acknowledging a Boristi saint. How would they learn of him? Obviously only from Boristi... unless the saint makes himself known to all believers! In this scenario, his own divinity makes him known across sectarian lines. Or not. I really don't feel strongly one way or the other.

     And Nick has his usual gracious and so-relevant comments about the legal profession (whilst misreading what I said). Beats me why, when we're all friends here.

Martin

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