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A few in game questions


Adrian

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How are transfer students handled? I mean the academagia is (effectively) one of a kind, right?

 

1. how do they figure that a student who's been through a incantation specialized school, would be on par with students of a certain year at the academagia?

 

2. in the case for later 4th and 5th years, how do they handle the problem that most transfer students probably are lacking in knowledge of the advanced college courses?

 

3. How are transfers approved? I imagine on a case by case basis... Are they typically students that did not get accepted in year one, but show such great promise now that they can be accepted?

 

4. And are there any stigmas attached to such a student?

 

5. I also suppose that such a transfer student might be beyond a typical student of the Academagia in the area of their specialization. Do they typically take more advanced classes in that area?

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Freespace;

 

For your questions:

 

1. how do they figure that a student who's been through a incantation specialized school, would be on par with students of a certain year at the academagia?

 

There is a test of general magical knowledge.

 

2. in the case for later 4th and 5th years, how do they handle the problem that most transfer students probably are lacking in knowledge of the advanced college courses?

 

They cannot transfer, unless they pass the test. Rumor: Or, if their parents pay enough. :)

 

3. How are transfers approved? I imagine on a case by case basis... Are they typically students that did not get accepted in year one, but show such great promise now that they can be accepted?

 

Via the Regents, based on the test. Rumor: and all the gold. :)

 

4. And are there any stigmas attached to such a student?

 

Yes- sometimes good, sometimes bad, usually both mixed together.

 

5. I also suppose that such a transfer student might be beyond a typical student of the Academagia in the area of their specialization. Do they typically take more advanced classes in that area?

 

It depends on the Student! :)

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I think it was mentioned at some point that magic was volatile (or maybe just gates...), does this mean there should (lore wise) be a chance of failure (maybe just on gates again)? - Would mastering a school help reduce the risk of failure (if it existed)? And if it is volatile are there then any problems being passively exposed to magic/ using magic?

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Actually, that brings to mind another question.

 

In regards to Gates; after a mage has had enough practicing, and can be considered a master and wouldn't lose control over a Gates spell, do the odds of "accidents" decrease? And are there any examples of Gates spells that have no random risk when cast?

 

As an example, assuming that a Gates master wouldn't botch it, would there be any risk of randomness in summoning specific objects (like the pot summoning case) where the spell has been properly prepared to find the item?

 

I understand that in order to get to the point where one can do that, one has to practice and thereby risks disaster, but I'm curious if there are indeed any spells in that pillar that are risk free once you do have that experience.

 

Edit:

 

And also, what separates a "pot summoning" spell, from a controlled "human summoning" spell? Since Oursoak mages are the only ones shown to be capable of teleporting, it must differ from regular items in some way. How so?

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Adrian and Freespace;

 

All magic has some volatility, but in other Pillars the risk is usually related to a mistake in drawing the Phemes or the Border. In Gates, the actual magic itself appears somehow to have an element of risk and randomness which cannot seemingly be removed, no matter how proficient you are. On the other hand, Oursoukan mages do not seem to suffer from this problem. Historically, Elumian mages also seem to have been able to do away with this risk- but the how and why has been lost to history.

 

As to why...well, you would have to ask *them*. :)

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Adrian;

 

Generally, there is no such thing as a 'wrong' Palette (as compared to errors in the Border, for instance.) Different Palettes may make a Spell weaker or stronger, or give or remove effects, however. It is possible for a Spell to have no effect, but this is pretty rare, I believe.

 

If that answered your question? :)

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To a degree yes. The palette is closely tied to the border though, isn't it? Or is it possible to get different palettes with the same border?

 

Also, with 3D phemes and spherical palettes - where do you draw the pheme? ON the palette, inside the palette? Are they just touching each other or how does that work?

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Adrian and Freespace;

 

All magic has some volatility, but in other Pillars the risk is usually related to a mistake in drawing the Phemes or the Border. In Gates, the actual magic itself appears somehow to have an element of risk and randomness which cannot seemingly be removed, no matter how proficient you are. On the other hand, Oursoukan mages do not seem to suffer from this problem. Historically, Elumian mages also seem to have been able to do away with this risk- but the how and why has been lost to history.

 

As to why...well, you would have to ask *them*. :)

So the player can be happy that this Magic Feature isn't implemented in year 1?

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I see, That clarifies the Gates issue. Here's a question, if some Gates researcher actually rediscovered the key to the random factor, A: What would happen to him if he publicly revealed that info, (would they likely weigh the discovery's benefits before punishment, in other words) B: would that info bring Gates into discussion for an unban, and C: Who has the final say on such a matter?

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1: In Year 2, will the use of Forbidden Magic in a duel be blatantly obvious? ("No, I didn't cast any Gates magic, that Blood Tarantula just dropped on Philipe all by itself! I'm sure it's just a coincidence that a massive blast of Indiscriminate phemes levelled half the arena at the same time!")

2: Will the dueling geas prevent the opponent, once defeated, from reporting the use of forbidden magic to the regents?

3: Regarding the Indiscriminate pheme: What form does its expression (the damaging effect on the individual and the hapless passerby) take?

4: How easily can the secondary victim figure out what happened and who's responsible?

5: Are there any particular social rules or Regent attitudes towards tossing the pheme into your spells, or do people mostly only care if it soaks them?

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Ramidel;

 

1: In Year 2, will the use of Forbidden Magic in a duel be blatantly obvious? ("No, I didn't cast any Gates magic, that Blood Tarantula just dropped on Philipe all by itself! I'm sure it's just a coincidence that a massive blast of Indiscriminate phemes levelled half the arena at the same time!")

 

Yes, I believe so. :)

 

2: Will the dueling geas prevent the opponent, once defeated, from reporting the use of forbidden magic to the regents?

 

An excellent question! I am not sure yet if constructed Geasa will be in Year 2, but if so, that could be one result, yes. ;)

 

3: Regarding the Indiscriminate pheme: What form does its expression (the damaging effect on the individual and the hapless passerby) take?

 

It depends on your Spell! ;)

 

4: How easily can the secondary victim figure out what happened and who's responsible?

 

In general, fairly easily. Casting isn't too discreet, although there are some ways around that. Many Mages are able to determine who cast the Spell, though, as 'spell residue' is clear- especially if checked directly after the Spell was cast.

 

5: Are there any particular social rules or Regent attitudes towards tossing the pheme into your spells, or do people mostly only care if it soaks them?

 

The latter. Some of your Instructors might not want you to do it for reasons of safety, but 1st Year Borders are fairly robust.

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INTERESTING! To tell the truth, I'm not really up to speed on geas' but from my understanding they're basically magical contracts which bind people to certain effects if certain conditions are met/not met. Could we get a little extrapolation on this?

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HAHA! I play too many fantasy games.

 

I see yet another way to make a slaveling control a person without mastery.

 

Edit: So are there any laws against... say, putting a geas on a person that would kill them if they didn't do some task?

 

Silly question I know, but I need to know.

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I thought that there were a few types of Geasa and that the duel version was the most predictable thus used most often. Plus it makes sense that in a duel version both would have to agree but for the others I don't think so. Legate, we need you to explain this for us please. :)

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