Questions about Lunar Magic

[Corvantir]

I want to start a Gloranthan campaign and I am finishing a second read of HeroQuest: Glorantha. I must admit that I am a bit confused by Lunar Magic.

My problem started with the Seven Mothers Cult and the Magic entry of each subcult. For example, the Magic entry of the Full Half Moon subcult (HQ: G page 190) states: "Evocations, Glamours, Grimoires". Until then I thought that Glamours were created through the direct use of a Lunar Phase mimicking spells, charms or Rune affinities. Evocations or Grimoires are thus creating Glamours. If Glamours are created through Evocations (mimicking Rune Magic), Lunar Grimoires (mimicking sorcery spells) or Lunar Charms (mimicking spirit magic), why are Glamours in the Magic entry list ? Shouldn't the Full Half Moon Subcult magic entry list hold Evocations and Grimoires only ?

Here is how I understand and sum up the rules and definitions:

- Glamours: direct use of the Lunar Phase to mimic Rune affinities, spells or charms.

- Lunar Evocations: direct use of a Lunar Phase to create glamours mimicking the Runes that phase can replace.

- Lunar Grimoires: direct use of a Lunar Phase to cast spells mimicking sorcery.

- Lunar Spirit Tradition: direct use of the Lunar Phase to call charms mimicking Spirit Magic.

Am I wrong ? Is there something I have misunderstood ?

To finish, when a Lunar Phase is used as an Augment, is it still based on the Runes it can replace (Fire and Change in this case) ? In other words, when the Full Half Moon is used to Augment another ability, can I use it as if it were either the Fire or Change Rune ?

Thank you for your help.

Edited April 11, 2016 by Corvantir

[Corvantir]

And two other questions about Lunar Grimoires and Lunar Magicians.

Can a Lunar Magician learn Grimoires connected to another Moon Phase than his own Moon Phase ?

Must this Lunar Magician wait until he reaches 11M as a Lankhor Mhy Mage must to be able to learn Grimoires from other organizations as a new ability ?

Thanks again.

[soltakss]

I have thought for a long time that all magic in HeroQuest has been made far too complex. Lunar Magic is just adding further complexity to an already over-complex system.

 

What would I do?

Drop the lot and have everything as an Ability that can be used to do things and to augment.

So, a Mage has a Grimoire and can use it to cast spells or generally to augment. A Priest has a Rune and can use it to cast feats and augment. A shaman has an ability that can be used to summon.control spirits and augment and so on. Lunars would work exactly the same, each Phase of the Moon provides an ability that can be used to do something and augment. What it does depends on how you interpret the Phase of the Moon, whichever school of magic is followed and who the person is, so a troll could use the Dark Moon to emulate Darkness magic but a Mage could use the Dark Moon phase to control demons.

[Corvantir]

Thank you for your answer soltakss.

I don't really find HQ2 or HQ: G magic rules overly complicated. I rather find that they are sometimes lacking in precision. I have no difficulty with the other kind of magics though, just with Lunar Magic.

On the other hand I agree that it could work as you wrote and that a few guidelines would be enough to improvise on this ground.

[David Scott]

On 11 April 2016 at 10:36 PM, Corvantir said:

Here is how I understand and sum up the rules and definitions:

- Glamours: direct use of the Lunar Phase to mimic Rune affinities, spells or charms.

Glamours: direct use of the Lunar Phase or Moon rune.

Yes, this is pure Lunar magic. A glamour is something you create. The rules for glamours are the same as normal Rune magic, spells and charms. Mechanically there is no difference. Glamours mimic the runes the phase replaces. The real difference is they are subject to the moons cycles.

On 11 April 2016 at 10:36 PM, Corvantir said:

- Lunar Evocations: direct use of a Lunar Phase to create glamours mimicking the Runes that phase can replace.

Lunar Evocations: direct use of a Lunar Phase or Moon Rune to create glamours that mimic the Rune Magic of the runes the phase can replace. No feats are available.

On 11 April 2016 at 10:36 PM, Corvantir said:

- Lunar Grimoires: direct use of a Lunar Phase to cast spells mimicking sorcery.

Lunar spells: direct use of a Lunar Phase or Moon Rune to create glamours that mimic sorcery of the runes the phase can replace.

Note that Lunar sorcerers may have normal spells and grimoires without the moon rune or phases that are not cycle linked. As soon as a grimoire has a phase or a spell containing a phase in it becomes subject to the Moon's cycle.

On 11 April 2016 at 10:36 PM, Corvantir said:

- Lunar Spirit Tradition: direct use of the Lunar Phase to call charms mimicking Spirit Magic.

Lunar charms: direct use of a Lunar Phase or Moon Rune to create charms that mimic the charms of the runes the phase can replace.

The Lunar tradition is like any other spirit tradition. It has spirit societies that specialise in particular aspects of working with spirits.  Moon spirits can be associated with any phase and are tied to the moon's cycle. Tradition members have access to the spirit world of the Moon where most moon spirits come from. There are also charms and societies that don't access moon related spirits.

On 11 April 2016 at 10:36 PM, Corvantir said:

to finish, when a Lunar Phase is used as an Augment, is it still based on the Runes it can replace (Fire and Change in this case) ? In other words, when the Full Half Moon is used to Augment another ability, can I use it as if it were either the Fire or Change Rune ?

Yes

sorry for the delay in replying to this. I only just spotted it. It's been a long time since I worked on the Lunar magic. Be aware that this is only for Lunar magic, other moon rune based magic maybe different (e.g. the moon magic of the Twisters is tied to their cycle).

[David Scott]

On 12 April 2016 at 6:56 AM, Corvantir said:

And two other questions about Lunar Grimoires and Lunar Magicians.

Can a Lunar Magician learn Grimoires connected to another Moon Phase than his own Moon Phase ?

Yes. He's just not as good with it. It will have to be a standalone grimoire not hung off his phase, starting at 13.

On 12 April 2016 at 6:56 AM, Corvantir said:

Must this Lunar Magician wait until he reaches 11M as a Lankhor Mhy Mage must to be able to learn Grimoires from other organizations as a new ability ?

Yes, the sorcery rules on HG p174 apply. Be aware that the Lunar Sorcerer's cult may have access to dozens of Grimoires, so the limitation may not actually be a problem. The lunars definitely have a policy of finding new grimoires and translating them. The full cult of Irrippi Ontor certainly has access to dozens of Grimoires, mostly based around Truth, Illusion and Fire. Others exist but must be standalone.

 

[Corvantir]

Thank you very much for your answers, they help a lot.