Innate Magic in Middle-Earth

Michael Saunders 182 Blatchcombe Road Paighnton, Torquay South Devon England Chris Pheby Hadspen Cottage, Hadspen Castle Cary, Somerset BA7 7LR England

This article is essentially a response to Andrew McMuny’s article from OH 3: 11 – 12, which suggested that all the peoples of Middle-earth were born with a certain innate, magical energy which they may, if they know how, expend during the course f their lives. We want to develop this theme within the frame- work of Middle-earth Role Playing in order to find an alternative to the rather unsatisfactory Power Point system currently in use. In doing so, however, we have chosen not to consider the implications, four proposals for magic items. Maybe in the future it will be possible for ourselves (or someone else) to do this.

Initial Thoughts

It would seem that there are two main factors which influence the use of magic, from the Valar right down to the Drughu, which needs to be accounted for. These may be thought of as innate or natural energy (with which one is born and can do little to change) and abilities learned or gained through study and experience¹. Two factors, therefore, will influence a given character’s innate energy: 1) that character’s individual attainment of magical power, and 2) the racial and cultural background in which the character was reared².

Hobbits, for instance, are a very un-magical race, and have equally few powers (save through such items as are available to Men). Tolkien’s Elves, on the other hand, are archetypal magic-users. However, even their magic was often veiled and hidden (such as that used by Elrond), or derivative from a relic of an older age (like the works of Celebrimbor). As time wore on, Elven-magic weakened (even though their knowledge grew). Like the Elves, the Valar and Maïar also clearly realized that their own powers were finite and failing³.

These themes may be related to more tangible game mechanics (by an absurd twist) through the relation expressed by Ohm’s Law, which in modern physics defines the relationship of Volts (V), Amps (I) and Ohms (R) (V=IR). Ohm’s Law expresses a relationship in which two factors define a third. It also correlates exactly with the relationship described by Andrew McMurry’s model of a limited quantity of magical energy inherent to all sentient beings. With some adaptation, our translation of Ohm’s Law could form the basis for a useful game mechanic.

By substituting what we shall call Magic Potential (a character’s innate energy) for Volts (or potential difference), Ohms (or resistance) could be replaced with Magic Insight (which refers to how ​“attuned” to the ways of magic a character is i.e., the lower this value is, the easier it will be for the character to work magic). The third value, Amps (or the current of a circuit), we replace with Magic Level (the greatest level of magic the character can operate with). This substitution results in the following equation:

Magic Potential/​Magic Insight = Magic Level

The method presented here for calculating these values is designed with a view to character generation, but it can also be used in converting existing characters to the system⁴. We will describe the use and meaning of each statistic below. Once you’ve gotten through character creation, the system is surprisingly easy to use. All you have to remember is that the three values are often subject to change and that, once changed, the original values are no longer of importance. Throughout the remainder of this exposition, all fractions will be rounded up for purposes of calculation.

Magic Potential (MP)

A character’s Magic Potential is dependent on two linked factors: 1) the realm of magic (in MERP, Essence or Channeling) through which the character operates and, hence, the statistic associated with the use of magic in that Realm (in MERP, Intelligence or Intuition); 2) the character’s race and/​or culture⁵. To determine a character’s MP, add the value of the appropriate statistic to the bonus for race/​culture given by the table provided in this article.

Magic Insight (ML)

Magic Insight represents how well a character understands and is able to manipulate his or her innate energy. MI is very closely linked to MP, but is also affected by a character’s profession, race, and culture⁶. To determine a character’s MI, multiply the character’s MP by a factor of ten. The sum is divided into the Magic Insight Divider (see table below), taking into account both the character’s profession and the culture in which he or she was raised (Round any fractions up.). Note that greater insight is indicated by a lower score, while a higher score indicates a character who is very poorly ​“tuned” to magic.

Magic Level (ML)

Magic Level refers to the maximum spell level at which a character is able to work magic. It is determined by dividing MP by MI (rounding any fractions up). A character’s ML does not enable that character to cast spells above the actual level of the character’s profession (E.g., an 8^th level mage with a ML of 12 still cannot cast spells above 8^th level; while if the same 8^th level mage only had a ML of 6, he would not even be able to cast spells beyond 6^th level, despite the actual level of his profession). Any change in MP or MI necessitates a recalculation of the character’s ML.

Race/​Culture Table

* These bonuses take into account both life-span and relative magical strength of the races. Note that the values for Elves are extremely high by virtue of their extended life-spans.

** The number in parentheses indicates Lowest Insight.

Factors Affecting Magic Potential

1 — Level Advancement

When a character progresses to a new level under the existing MERP rules, Development Points are gained, some of which are allocated to learning spell lists. By contrast, in the magic system we have just outlined, the Development Points are no longer applied to learning spell lists; instead, each Development Point so allocated is added to the character’s MP, thereby increasing it⁷.

2 — Spell Acquisition

Learning new spell lists requires a tutor or some other source of knowledge, and may be linked to other studies. Characters cannot acquire spells as if by magic not even AD&D has an ​“acquire spell” spell! To learn magic is extremely arduous, and each spell in a list must be learned individually and in order of progresssion⁸. Each spell learned on a spell list costs one point of MP (E.g. To learn the first six levels of a list will cost 6 MP)⁹. In addition, learning spells of a new list will always reduce MI by one point¹⁰.

3 — Spell-Casting

Magic Potential replaces the spell-casting function of MERP Power Points (i.e., the cost of casting a spell is now removed from a character’s MP). Unlike Power Points, however, the loss of MP is permanent and unrecoverable¹¹. A character whose MP falls below zero will die¹².

Factors Affecting Magic Insight

1 — Study

Any magic-user who continues to cast a large amount of spells will eventually run out of MP. Most mages will try to reduce this loss of power in the interim by improving their MI through study. The exact nature of study will depend on both gamemaster and players. Some study will inevitably involve experimentation and will thus be accompanied by a loss in MP¹³. Books and tomes may also provide insight¹⁴.

2 — Lowest Insight

Unfortunately, even the most dedicated scholar can do little to undo natural limitations and the prejudices created by a given way of life. This factor is reflected in what we call Lowest Insight (see the numbers given in parentheses in the Magic Insight Divider column of the table). Regardless of study, a character’s MI value may never fall below this value¹⁵.

Excursus: Generating an experienced character

The above guidelines for allocating a character’s MP and MI scores ignore the level which a character may have already achieved¹⁶. The following system may help to simulate how a character’s scores may have been altered as a consequence of previous experience. To determine how much MP a character has already exhausted, multiply the character’s present level by the constant provided by the table below. This value will then be deducted from the MP score. MI will also change as a character becomes wiser to the ways of magic. The amount by which it will fall calculated in the same way as that of MP¹⁷.

Example: Thelengral, a Silvan Elf

Thelengral is an 8^th level mage with an Intelligence of 93. His MP will be 168 (93 for It + 75 for race). He was raised in Silvan society, so his MP x 10 is divided by 4 (for his profession) and 12 (for his race) to give an MI of 35.

However, because he is 8^th level, his scores will have changed somewhat over time. As a mage, his MP will have fallen by 1 + 64 (8 x 8 points in the process of experimentation and normal spell-casting), leaving him with a MP of only 104. His MI will also have been reduced, reflecting his more advanced knowledge. As a mage, it will have improved by 16 (2 x 8, bringing the new total to 19).

Thelengral’s ML is found by dividing his current MP of 104 by his current MI of 19. Any fractions are rounded up, giving a result of 6. This means he can cast spells up to sixth level. To summarize, Thelengral currently has a MP of 104, MI of 19, and a ML of 6.

* The number in parentheses indicates a ​“maximum” level for the purpose of calculating MI. For example, an 8^th level scout will have insight deducted only from his first five levels.

Footnotes

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