[Rintaran]

I've always wondered what everyone's preferred level of magic in a campaign was. And with the new Eberron, uber-magic campaign setting, and the FR magic-high campaign setting... I'm beginning to think I'm way in the minority...

[BrotherMouran]

I would put the typical campain I run in the moderate-to-high range, I guess... it depends on your definition of the terms. For an example, the most recent campain of mine (currently on hiatus) started at first level. The highest level characters are now 5th or 6th (haven't looked recently)... one has 3 minor magic items, another has two, and the rest have either one or none. The most potent item is a +2 weapon, if I recall correctly.

[Avantius]

I like it when mages are few, and good ones are RARE.

I like it when you run around the corner and DONT find a mage

So when it comes to epic battles, theres just like this lone hero-mage fighting the demons from other planes and stuff, he trains his own disciples to keep magic in the world...or something

If magic's everywere the settings seem's more like sci-fi

What I like most is the post-apocaliptic aproach of magic, that it was plentifull in the past, but now its like a relic that few can master.

[WoeTheSinner]

Quote

like it when mages are few, and good ones are RARE.

I like it when you run around the corner and DONT find a mage

ditto

i like magic and i like having some big flashy magic thiungs in campaigns like flying ships and all but i dont like throwing it around like public busses a big flying ship should be a big flipping deal (controled my language)

as a rule of thumb my worlds general wizards dont do above lvl 2 spells the masters do up to lvl 4 and they are limited to 10 or so per 'order', meaaning you might find about 10 in a city of 100,000 and the arch magi (1-3 per order) do up to lvl 6...then there are the unique super mages that do up to lvl 9...i keep them handy for plot intervention

i always play sorcerers, when i play , and i like it when im the only Billy Bad @ss in town with powerful magic flowing through my veins

[Ssri-Tel-Quessir Hitokiri]

I like having games with moderate magic in them. I don't like my players relying too much on magic to get them out of certain situations. Also, if they want something powerful, they will have to find the mage that can make it (relatively difficult depending on what they want made) and talk the mage into making it for them.

[Drizzt Ranger]

I would have to vote high, but scarce. Its fun when you have really good magic, but not a lot of people have it. Makes it all the more fun when you start throwing around meteors

Uber is probably my least favorite, because once you get up into epic spells there is literally no limit to what you can do. As an example, I made an epic spell that deals 2000d6 damage in a 1+ million feet radius that only requires a Spellcraft DC of 70-something, simply because it requires 37 other spellcasters. I mean come on, that's just stupid. Okay so I hit level 60 or so, find a mage guild, and I suddenly have the power to blow up a good portion of the planet?

[Dthclaw]

Personally prefer uber. Magic is, to me, the building blocks of a truly fantastic world. Even mid-level Soldiers carry a magic item or two; the local Wizard isn't mistrusted and might be a valued community member; healing magic is common and widespread.

Course, I don't exactly play "by the book," so maybe I'm just the odd-duck DM.

[Lyinginbedmon]

I prefer a Moderate level of magic. I like magic, a lot, and it'll be pretty much commonplace, but it'll still be restricted as in it costs quite a bit pf GP to get, without being part of the North-Beldor Mafia (like our bartender ) or part of a raiding party that goes near a powerful wizard (like a major mistake )

[Raven Bloodmoon]

I voted for High, because I like to add in a lot of fantastic things, such as the HDMS Tarrasque (who was christened today, I do believe ), but I think players should have to really work for that sort of power. The fact that players do not readily have such power is the only reason I didn't vote Uber.

[blacxthornE]

Moderate to high (voted moderate). Basically i like that almost everything has a mystical background or a magical structure in my campaign. The "1001 Nights" theme has basically the same idea, i think. But the common things are really minor, like 0- to 1st-level spells. Spells more powerful than 1st-level spells are rare (except for rare magical territories and non-material planes), and 8th to 9th level spells are almost legendary (altho not unavailable).

[Dthclaw]

Huh. Sounds like a hybrid that averages out to moderate.

1001 Nights... Arabian Nights, right? Been a while since I read any of those...

[RedSlayer]

I guess i perfer moderate

I have a lot of magic items in my campaign, but actual casters are on the rare side.

I think that averages out.

[Bloodstar]

Rintaran, on Sep 8 2004, 11:24 PM, said:

I've always wondered what everyone's preferred level of magic in a campaign was.  And with the new Eberron, uber-magic campaign setting, and the FR magic-high campaign setting...  I'm beginning to think I'm way in the minority...

I think if your a low level mage it doesn't take much to kill you .I like a high level mage because he has a better chance to live, and do great damage.

[Axel]

Low. I like to make, no matter how common mages are, magic items extremely hard to come by. You want that +1 sword? You better work your [CHAIR] off for it. Mages themselves I like to keep with a fair number of low levels but an extremely steep drop off so that there might be 1 mage in a thousand with access to ninth level spells.
Of course, I also prefer to make priests capable of resurrection extremely rare, too.

[Aralan]

Low to Moderate would be my favorite. Its awfully fun when you know that it would be great to have an area effect spell in your bag of tricks but you simply don't just yet. Or when a long range spell would come in handy but you used your only one in the last battle. It gives you something to strive for. It makes you appreciate each level more when you do get access. I have come across campaigns where PC's expected to be able to purchase any item they wanted at the local "magic shop". To me something is lost if magic is that accessible.

Of course if there were a twist to that world where each use of magic "tainted" a character ala Robert Jordan that might make for an interesting setting. . . but overall I think low to moderate is the most fun for me.

The campaign my DM is running currently is perfect for me. Our characters are not rich, nor particularly saddled with gobs of magic items. We're 5th level and only one has a +2 weapon.

Our characters do have an enormous amount of respect within severals towns though and that is extremely gratifying. Its challenging (and loads of fun) when we know we only have so much "healing" available or that we can't annihilate enemies with arsenal of killer spells. We are more careful to pick our fights.