You too can be a mage!

[Dooey Jo]

It's true, man!

The Veritas Academy

I've mostly skimmed through some of the articles in the Magick (*snickers* what's with that damn 'k' they always have to add at the end! It's annoying!) section. I thought it was pretty interesting. Interesting in the "ha ha" sense. Especially that "Ars Anima Gladius" thing. Enchant your sword to have it make psychic attacks on impact, or make its attacks vampiric in nature. Or have it rip a hole in the very soul of the opponent when you score a hit! Here's a quote of that:

Assault with a magical weapon is infinitely more layered than assault with a mundane one. Why? A sword can cut your skin, but the sword wielded by the magician can slice your soul in half. A cut from a sword might get infected, but a cut from the sword of a magician can act as a hole in your energy system, letting your life force pour out.

On a basic level, there are several approaches to making your attack more than physical, each with varying results and effects on the victim. You can attack them from a distance, make the essence of the attack vampiric, manipulate your chi to explode into the sword, project entropic forces, even use the contact of the sword with the skin as an instant psychic link with which your sword can deliver a previously programmed psychic attack.

The whole thing sounds like it's taken right out of an RPG or something. I've been thinking about creating a magic system for my self and my fictional universes. Maybe I should base it on some of the ideas on this site...

But damnit, why don't they write instructions on how to make cold, blue fireballs appear which you can use for illumination? That's what I want to learn, because that skill would come in handy sometimes!

[The Grim Squeaker]

Damn, they copied my +5 energy drain, wounding icy longsword

[Mobiboros]

(*snickers* what's with that damn 'k' they always have to add at the end! It's annoying!)

Blame Aleister Crowley. He added the 'k' to the end to signify the difference between will working (magick) and parlour tricks and illusionist games (magic).

That said. I want a spear and magic helmet!

[The Nomad]

But damnit, why don't they write instructions on how to make cold, blue fireballs appear which you can use for illumination? That's what I want to learn, because that skill would come in handy sometimes!

Here it is man, Psiballs !!

Though I wonder... Is it some kind of RP, or do they really mean it ? If it's the former, I say : awesome ! If it's the latter, I say : oh fuck

[HemlockGrey]

People think if they add a "k" to the end it makes it much more arcane and mysterious. Rather pathetic, since virtually everyone will find your average street-performing magician to be a thousand times more miraculous than these "magickers".

[The Grim Squeaker]

theres also j or g, for example: majick, for "exotic" magics

[The Nomad]

Shit, I skimmed through their "lessons" forum, and it appears they do mean it.

Well, at first glance, I do nonetheless think it can be a valuable source of... "inspiration"... for RPGing, or writing some fantasy.

[General Zod]

Reading over the website it seems as though someone has been reading one too many White Wolf books.

[Nephtys]

So Jack T. Chick WAS right. Playing D&D does get you the power tocast real spells...

[Kamakazie Sith]

I bet Einstein would be rolling in his grave, if it were possible, with all his quotes being taken out of context.

[Glimmervoid]

Weird people who believe in magic (I utterly refuse to add the k) always freak me out. The psychic I can understand but magic powers are fantasy not reality.

Ps dose that site come under "mockery of stupid people" or do we have to be respectful because I want to say a lot more.

[Molyneux]

Weird people who believe in magic (I utterly refuse to add the k) always freak me out. The psychic I can understand but magic powers are fantasy not reality.

Ps dose that site come under "mockery of stupid people" or do we have to be respectful because I want to say a lot more.

Meh, I don't believe in magic, but if someone shows me a spell that works, I'll buy a pointy hat posthaste ^_^

[Glimmervoid]

Well that just means you are using the scientific method. You will change your mind if some one shows you evidence. I would do the same thing. But the problem is... there is not evidence.

[Broomstick]

The link's not working, which is a shame - makes it hard to attack this shit directly.

However I will say >EEEP!<, wannabe-magicians!

Most of the time I'd say they base these things on role playing games, not the other way around. Sad to say, there are idiots who believe this stuff whole-heartedly. Then there's the rest of us who have figured out that when it comes to smiting, using a sharpened piece of metal or a stout tree limb is far more effective than "psychic attacks".

Provisionally, I'd say it comes under "mockery of stupid people". I'll check that link later to find out for sure.

[Stark]

DUDE! I can finally recharge my Lordly Charm of Bright Flaming Doom Hex Antioch!

It's scary that they're serious. I mean, you cut someone with a magic sword, and their soul is broken... but they're DEAD. So... how does it add to the weapons effect again? Do they lose 1 hp per turn for 1d10 turns?

[Molyneux]

Well that just means you are using the scientific method. You will change your mind if some one shows you evidence. I would do the same thing. But the problem is... there is not evidence.

Yeah, I know...problem is, deep down - I want there to be evidence. I want to see magic, real magic, and know that there's cool stuff to be found. It's on the same level, for me, as hyperdrive and human augmentation...I want to be more than I am.

Which is exactly why I'm going into engineering...if I went into something like parapsychology, I know I'd be too damn biased to be worth a damn.

[Stark]

Y'know, I *don't* want to see magic. This is the *real world*. Magic would do all the things it rarely does in fantasy, like create an untouchable ruling elite. Oppress the masses. Control the masses! If there was magic, we'd be fucked.

[Balrog]

Y'know, I *don't* want to see magic. This is the *real world*. Magic would do all the things it rarely does in fantasy, like create an untouchable ruling elite. Oppress the masses. Control the masses! If there was magic, we'd be fucked.

That only depends on how common and what types of magic there is. If only a few individuals posses it, then a ruling elite could emerge (or just as likely be repressed by governments scared of their powers). But if your average Joe could shot a fireball from the palm of his hands, things would definitly be interesting

[General Brock]

If this catches on, it could really give scientology a run for its money. Hehehe.

It's even better written baffledabblegabble.

That psiball hand-glow technique would really be useful if you could still use your hands while channelling it. No more fumbling for just the right light angle when working on little mechanical toys, on the car, looking for the house key and keyhole, reading when the power is out, flaging down a lift, and all.


Attracting moths might be a problem, but there may be a zapper variation of the spell... the pseudo-potential is endless, simply endless.

[Molyneux]

Y'know, I *don't* want to see magic. This is the *real world*. Magic would do all the things it rarely does in fantasy, like create an untouchable ruling elite. Oppress the masses. Control the masses! If there was magic, we'd be fucked.

That only depends on how common and what types of magic there is. If only a few individuals posses it, then a ruling elite could emerge (or just as likely be repressed by governments scared of their powers). But if your average Joe could shot a fireball from the palm of his hands, things would definitly be interesting

Heck, who needs fireballs?

I just think it'd be awesome if everyone had some minor magical potential - Magery 0, in GURPS terms - but someone willing to actually study and put effort into it could develop more powerful abilities. If magic was a skill like mathematics or physics, I would be very happy.

[General Zod]

The link's not working, which is a shame - makes it hard to attack this shit directly.

However I will say >EEEP!<, wannabe-magicians!

Most of the time I'd say they base these things on role playing games, not the other way around. Sad to say, there are idiots who believe this stuff whole-heartedly. Then there's the rest of us who have figured out that when it comes to smiting, using a sharpened piece of metal or a stout tree limb is far more effective than "psychic attacks".

Provisionally, I'd say it comes under "mockery of stupid people". I'll check that link later to find out for sure.

There's not a whole lot to attack for the most part. It seems as though the site's author lifted alot of inspiration from fantasy roleplaying games and novels. Having read actual legitimate books on the occult from the 16th and 17th century, this is a joke in comparison. Not that the 16th and 17th century books were any more 'legitimate', in terms of gaining real powers, but they at least weren't laughably pathetic.

[The Nomad]

It's scary that they're serious. I mean, you cut someone with a magic sword, and their soul is broken... but they're DEAD. So... how does it add to the weapons effect again? Do they lose 1 hp per turn for 1d10 turns?

But with my fearsome Warlock powers, I could use those two Soul Shards to summon two Succubi . ph4r teh maagick 3som!§1§1§1:!


I skimmed through the Psionics section. Well, typical fallacies ( "there are a few phenomena yet unexplained by scientists, so they must be supernatural" geez, Occam's Razor ye know ? ) mixed with pseudo-rational advice ( "not everything is supernatural, so investigate the simplest explanation before claiming supernatural influence" geez, Occam's Razor's wonderful, ain't it ) and pseudoscience ( "your consciousness is made up from quantum probability waves which resonate with ambient energy fields, thus enabling Psionics" ).
I won't read more of the Chi section. New age bullshit at first glance, anyone care to correct me ?
I'll try some of the Sorcery articles. They might be more entertaining.

[Duckie]

Y'know, I *don't* want to see magic. This is the *real world*. Magic would do all the things it rarely does in fantasy, like create an untouchable ruling elite. Oppress the masses. Control the masses! If there was magic, we'd be fucked.

Ah, but if you're one of the ruling elites oppressing and controlling the masses, you're not the one who is fucked, are you?

If Magic existed, I sure as hell know what I'd be doing. (1 Ticket to Hogwarts, Scotland, please!).

[Glimmervoid]

Y'know, I *don't* want to see magic. This is the *real world*. Magic would do all the things it rarely does in fantasy, like create an untouchable ruling elite. Oppress the masses. Control the masses! If there was magic, we'd be fucked.

Ah, but if you're one of the ruling elites oppressing and controlling the masses, you're not the one who is fucked, are you?

If Magic existed, I sure as hell know what I'd be doing. (1 Ticket to Hogwarts, Scotland, please!).

Did any one see the D&D movie. That was a what a ruling magic elite would be like.

[The Nomad]

Did any one see the D&D movie. That was a what a ruling magic elite would be like.

I wonder if Einy would allow me to test his railgun on you for reminding me of this awful piece of garbage.