Musings on the mage wars

[Havard]

Thanks for the thought provoking responses Havard!

Any time

I think you can seperate out divine magic without hurting the idea much.

agreed.

I'm not so sure about what's established fact outside of the FFC, and original Blackmoor player comments, but which sources were you thinking of? I haven't read the d20 sourcebooks or the 4e one, something there?

The DA modules, and even the FFC gives me the impression that wizards are fairly rare. Individuals like Robert the Bald and the Wizard of the Woods are unique individuals. Making magic too commonplace takes something away from that IMO.

Anyway, what if we think like a post catyclismic historian for a moment and imagine that all the sources are ancient and suspect, as you would do in real life trying to piece together a history from a handful of chronicles. Some of the "authoritative" sources can't really be trusted at all, and some of those biased works actually contain contextual facts.

Seems like a good way to look at it.

"by the boatload" - yeah its a bit exxagerated in tone but then again a boat load might only have been 20 or 30. The picture though, of a wilderness whose magical nature is an irresistable attraction to wizards, who come in like a goldrush, forming rapid settlement and conquest is a very intriguing one..

I think we have a similar view of this. I agree that wizards will have been drawn to the magic of Blackmoor at some point, but that the number of individuals drawn to the north will still be limited. Of course, "Arcanists by the boatload" could be taken to mean wizards and their retainers. If we are thinking in terms similar to the Ars Magica RPG, wizards will usually be accompanied with a number of assistants, apprentices, bodyguards etc, which can better justify the "boatloads" phrase.

Yes, I think that its entirely possible to fit in the TWC timeline this way and keep the 815 date. I didn't stick with that idea really because it seems too implausable to me that Blackmoor could have trade, travel and some settlement, some wizards, and contact with the world at large in general, and still somehow remain a secret to all but a few wizards for 800 years. I mean, one of the central themes, from the FFC onward is how special the magical nature of Blackmoor is. The Wizards Cabal book makes it a central motivator for the stampede of mages into the place, the mage wars, and the reason for the council.
So, if we accept that Blackmoor is to wizards like an oilfield to EXXON, then the 815 date just doesn't work. Of course, there's always some way or other to get around such problems if you feel you need to.

I think the question is what Blackmoor is like before Kargas Dolhaunt's discovery. I place this discovery to the year 600 because I connect Kargas and Pissaic. It is Kargas who discovers the unique magic of Blackmoor, drawing so many mages to the north. During the previous 600 years I see Blackmoor as a wild place with a remote colony. I don't find it strange at all that the discovery has not been made prior to this. It has just been to far removed for any competent mages to go there. There may be a few exceptions, and perhaps some of them even knew about this magic, but managed to keep it to themselves?

I completely agree the player contributions should not be diminished, but I think that it can all fit together either way.

It is worth keeping in mind at least. This was my least favorite part of TWC. It practically diminished Arneson's entire campaign, which to most of us is the core of Blackmoor, IMO.

I'm seeing the Cabal as being repressive and self interested. Not altruistic at all. In fact I was again struck with the parrallels in feel between Blackmoor and Herbert's Dune, with the Cabal being a lot like the benegessirit and Spacing Guild, controling a precious recource.

I think this is a good presentation of how the organization works. The challenge is to explain how such an organization could have grown out of the visions of a fairly well meaning individual like Skelfer (although opinions on him differ), and not the least to be lead by someone like Sildonis, the current Wizard of the Woods.

Actually, I don't like the idea of Sildonis being the "High Spellwise" of the Cabal. I think the Wizards of the Woods should have been separate from this organization since the days of Pete, and Wizardly function even the Cabal respected as independent.

Now that I think about it, it could be interesting if the tradition of the Wizard of the Wood actually went back to Kargas. We are never told the true fate of Kargas, and it would be interesting if he went on to become the first Wizard of the Woods, a secret later learned by Pete and continued by Sildonis?


-Havard