ICRPG How to Play - Using MAGIC, an intro for Players and DMs/GMs

A quick shoutout to DigitalinDaniel - although it's not in this video, he suggested the idea of magic users that can interact with ICRPG timers - that's pretty cool! This video is a quick introduction to the magic system used in ICRPG that highlights some of the stuff that makes Index Card RPG unique among roleplaying games. Of course, any of this can be modified and/or used in other systems like DnD 5e, Pathfinder, Shadowdark, or anything else you're into. IMO, the key to magic in TTRPGs is to treat it like any other ability or piece of gear. Even the highest magic user should have very real weaknesses. Also (and this is discussed in the video), magic should be respected in that no one can fully control it and it can backfire!
If you're into ICRPG, Dungeons & Dragons 5e, Pathfinder, Critical Role, Kane's Kiln, Runehammer, Matthew Colville, Dungeon Craft, Bob World Builder, Nerd Immersion, WASD20, Shadowdark RPG, or other roleplaying game related stuff, please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to this channel to learn more about playing and DMing with Index Card RPG - the best alternative to DnD out there! #icrpg #dnd #ttrpg #rpg #critrole #pathfinder #shadowdark

[@turbulantthing1690]

Another great video. I love that there are layers. A simple system, but if you want complexity or details, it's there for you.

[@Alloyed-RPG]

Yup - tailor it as you need to

[@kevinbailey2005]

Howdy! First off, I love the content you are creating for ICRPG. Let me start by saying that. That being said, I think you missed some major points on this one. Stun points are lost when you are attacked, damaged, or hit in any way, whether you resist the damage or not. For me, this rule sucks, I throw it out. This means the average "magic user" character has a couple of cool, magicky things they can do per day, maybe just one powerful thing they can do per day. Example- get attacked in an ambush, lose 1 stun point = down to 9. Cast spell at power level 2 at the attackers, lose 4 stun points, 5 remaining. Get attacked by a couple of skeletons, lose another 2 stun points, 3 stun points left. Cast a power level 1 spell but fail the check, lose two stun points, 1 remaining. 1 stun point is useless. That is one fight. Underwhelming doesn't even begin to cover it. The other thing is where you mentioned casters having 4 levels. They do not have levels; no character in ICRPG does. There are 4 power levels of spells, new spells are rewards and you have to have 3 spells of a lower level to gain access to the next higher level before you can get the next tier up. Nothing says a newbie caster couldn't cast a 1st power level spell at a higher power level, so a newbie mage could cast a power level 1 spell at 4th power level assuming they want to burn all their mojo for the day. Personally, I think most people that enjoy playing magic users would not like the system for magic use without quite a bit of modification.

[@Alloyed-RPG]

Thanks for the clarification. As is the nature of my channel, I'm on the journey from total newbie in ICRPG to wanting to DM it, so these comments are helpful. As you can see, this is how I read the rules in Master Edition, so I'd imagine that if I misread something that I'm probably not the only one. I'll have to look it over again with fresh eyeballs :)

[@joshuabecklake4950]

The system is simple and even the advanced magic isn't super complicated

[@Alloyed-RPG]

Agreed - pretty straightforward (though, as some of the other commenters stated, I may have misread some things in the book, but then I'd guess I'm not alone there)

[@DigitalinDaniel]

You might be missing that magic can be infinitely casted in ICRPG? The section you're looking at "Deeper Spell Casting" is an alternate method using the stun/spell points for Power. The base game's magic is in the Player's Guide section page 42-49... when you make say a Mage on page 42 and choose to start with an Astral Grimoire, you gain 3 Int spells of your choice on pg46-47... those can be cast each turn indefinitely at no cost, you just gotta roll for it and beat the room/target DC. Priests and Mages both learn new spells via Loot and Milestones.

[@Alloyed-RPG]

Thanks for pointing those out. I haven't delved into that player's guide section as I was (erroneously) thinking the basics would be covered in the actual magic section. As I replied to another comment, I suspect I wouldn't be the only one reading it this way, so maybe some tweaks need to be made in the format of the book as well as a re-reading of it on my part.

[@DigitalinDaniel]

@@Alloyed-RPG I completely agree it is confusing that the base system isn't covered in the actual chapter titled Magic haha

[@shepherd3716]

Where is all the healing magic and where does it explain how many HP are healed when healing spells are cast on characters? There seems to be a real lack of healing magic.

[@Alloyed-RPG]

You are quite correct. Both Alloyed RPG and ICRPG are more “old school” in their approach. Healing magic in such genre is rare by design - such platforms are intentionally more deadly (which tends to promote significantly more consideration of actions at the table).

[@jcraigwilliams70]

Healing magic is there. It's listed in the player section. Roll to cast your spell and if successful, roll your Magic Effort to see how much health you give back.