I have been working on deciding which system would best represent the power of channeling in Wheel of Time. D20 just does not have what is needed to do the job and there are several reasons why.
1. No way to show the channelers strength with individual flows
2. Talents have to be feats which just strikes me as wrong
3. To be honest, channelers that are not exceptionally weak (Morgase) can mop the floor with a non-channeler who does not get the drop on them. Yes it isn't balanced, but life isn't fair.
4. Magic in D20 is too codified. One thing that is made very apparent is that the One Power is near limitless in what it can do. D20 does not support this kind of magic at all.
It is for those reasons that I have been trying to find a system to create a WoT game for a few years now and after much debate have settled on the L5R 3rd Edition System. Let me list the reasons why.
1. You are able to have characters be strong in one flow because the 5 flows are all represented in the characters stats (Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Void for Spirit).
2. Talents can be advantages and as an added plus if you want a character who is bad with a specific flow (a male not able to use water well for example) you can have disadvantages to show that.
3. Combat in the system is DEADLY. Also you don't have the my turn takes 30 minutes effect that 3rd edition D&D had (4th fixed this thankfully).
4. The magic system in the book supports free forming. As the DM you just have to find out A. What the channeler is wanting to do, B. Tell the channeler what flows that uses and C. Tell them how many successes they need on their check to pull it off.
Anyway, I highly recommend avoiding D20 for a Wheel of Time based game. It cannot represent things properly IMO.
1. No way to show the channelers strength with individual flows
2. Talents have to be feats which just strikes me as wrong
3. To be honest, channelers that are not exceptionally weak (Morgase) can mop the floor with a non-channeler who does not get the drop on them. Yes it isn't balanced, but life isn't fair.
4. Magic in D20 is too codified. One thing that is made very apparent is that the One Power is near limitless in what it can do. D20 does not support this kind of magic at all.
It is for those reasons that I have been trying to find a system to create a WoT game for a few years now and after much debate have settled on the L5R 3rd Edition System. Let me list the reasons why.
1. You are able to have characters be strong in one flow because the 5 flows are all represented in the characters stats (Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Void for Spirit).
2. Talents can be advantages and as an added plus if you want a character who is bad with a specific flow (a male not able to use water well for example) you can have disadvantages to show that.
3. Combat in the system is DEADLY. Also you don't have the my turn takes 30 minutes effect that 3rd edition D&D had (4th fixed this thankfully).
4. The magic system in the book supports free forming. As the DM you just have to find out A. What the channeler is wanting to do, B. Tell the channeler what flows that uses and C. Tell them how many successes they need on their check to pull it off.
Anyway, I highly recommend avoiding D20 for a Wheel of Time based game. It cannot represent things properly IMO.
Channeling in the Wheel of Time
- 13/10/2009 10:25:02 PM
1481 Views
An "accurate" WoT game would be heavily, HEAVILY biased in favor of channelers
- 13/10/2009 10:54:04 PM
1055 Views
Good idea - esp. since in Ars Magica, you have a "non-magical" character under your control, as well *NM*
- 16/10/2009 12:44:36 AM
441 Views
It's "no" to all the questions *NM*
- 14/10/2009 12:15:41 AM
458 Views
I agree *NM*
I still think 1a and 1b are "true
- 14/10/2009 03:41:30 PM
963 Views
Yes, this is my opinion too
- 14/10/2009 08:31:46 PM
938 Views
Some comments.
- 15/10/2009 04:13:49 PM
990 Views
Re: Some comments.
- 16/10/2009 03:15:36 PM
1063 Views
Can't reply to all of these - many of these OP-discussions are heavy on the philosophy
- 16/10/2009 06:39:09 PM
1029 Views
Re: Channeling in the Wheel of Time
- 14/10/2009 04:18:34 PM
1161 Views
Maybe Mage: The Ascension would work better. A vague, open-ended system would be better
- 14/10/2009 07:30:32 PM
927 Views
What is Hardened Air anyway?
- 16/10/2009 05:39:42 AM
968 Views
Re: What is Hardened Air anyway?
- 16/10/2009 01:19:14 PM
1058 Views
Further note re: visibility.
- 16/10/2009 02:57:55 PM
884 Views
That was probably 'bending light', as Rand used on Egwene in Cairhien, no? *NM*
- 17/10/2009 06:52:21 AM
419 Views