Re: Was: [DARK-SUN] - Elements

'Wilson, M.D. wrote:'
>
> I don't really see a need for it to be extra-planar in nature at all.
> Extra-dimensional, maybe, but in AD&D those are two different birds. And
> then there's the possibility that magic is self-created--that murmuring
> certain words, making just the right gestures actually creates energy which
> can then be shaped. After all, no one said we have to obey the law of
> Conservation of Energy; not in a SJ universe. :)
>
> Hemlock

   Extra dimensional == Extraplanar both terms refer to alternative
cotemporaneous alternative existences and or universes.  They are
interchangeable terms. Dimensional is most often associated with an
alternative Prime (Secunde ??) Planes and is in fact accessing another
plane.

   Second Edition alludes to The Positive/Negative theory in the
Complete Wizards Handbook as one of the most commonly accepted theories of
where the power of magic comes from. As well as the DMG I don't have my
hands on a copy right now... I will private email you the appropriate pages
when I get mine back.

   The concept of mana is unused in AD&D except in Athas where it is
equivalent to life energy.

  I play a blend of 1st and 2nd edition... after all as the book clearly
states it is a derivitive work.  Anything 2nd edition made no comment on or
that was ambiguous that 1st ed did explain retains its first ed meaning and
definition... the two really work best together and provide a framework for
the original intent of the game.  1st edition at least clearly states that
the Law of Conservation of Energy is valid in a magical system if the
multiverse (Prime, alt primes, innerplanes, outerplanes,) are observed as a
whole.  From this concept came the requirement for material components which
were consumed (transported back to plane of source  as energy) came from
even spell which have no material components actually did ... the air the
caster exhaled as he cast the spell.

 I am also working on a 'scientific' examination of the AD&D multiverse as
presented in AD&D and the P/N theory explains everything nicely except for
potions which were always the real of the alchemist primarily and not really
the mage.  It also explains shifting results of spells from plane to plane
and (I hope) will allow a DM to better know the mechanisms behind magic and
be able to more fairly judge where a spell should fit in the scheme of
things and how it might work among the planes or elsewhere.


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