Portraying magic

From: Paolo Guccione <p.guccione_at_JTSL6v3dz8e9ViSuLfD3FRasL5LItuxpwuyGaQCSPrtJflc8Tl9ys9yiLXCGEt_9_>
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 02:00:47 +0200


These subjects have been discussed lately on the MRQ forums. They started as a rules discussion, but they involve a lot of debate about "How it is in Glorantha", so a considerable part of the subject should be discussed here and not on a rules forum.

First of all, there is the subject of the physical runes used by Mongoose RuneQuest, the system that is used to depict Glorantha in the Second Age. Most theist magic is performed by means of these physical items, whereas old-school RQ divine magic is less used. Someone on this forum suggested that these items, which have never been mentioned when describing the Gloranthan reality of the Third Age, might be a God Learner construct, or at least something that ceases to exist with the God Learners. I would go as far as stating that these so-called "runes" weer in fact a God Learner way of crystallizing your affinity with your god in a physical item that allowed you to manipulate his magic, like a God Learner manipulates his own sorcery. A clear perversion of the true relationship between a believer and his god. Although this idea causes no conflict with all published materials for older versions of RQ, or HQ, for what it is worth, this theory has not yet been confirmed nor rejected. I think a more widespread debate would be both interesting and useful. Hoping such a subject does not attract the attention of the Gift Carriers...

Second, there is the subject of whether a practitioner of Theist magic should be a priest or not. In the "old way", i.e. in RQ 1-4, you had to be a priest or acolyte to performe the most powerful theist magic. This is no longer true in HQ: an Initiate is a person who has a deeper degree of Affinity with his god and his principles, to the point that he may emulate his god with Feats if he is a Devotee, while a priest (godi or god-talner), is the one who performs the Holy Rituals, i.e. the boring stuff, and teaches others the cult doctrine. He has probably a higher Relationship to the Cult, in HQ terms, but he is not closer to his god or more capable of invoking him. It turned out that MRQ rules produce a similar approach, intentionally or by mistake, by not making any difference between Priest and Initiate. This is a bit of a rulesy subject, but since most systems currently in use seem to point this out, it would be a good idea to clarify this point in a debate that supersedes the rules.            

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