Conjuring
(Creativity Skill)
Conjuring is the art of combining Misdirection, sleight of hand, and use of simple machines to produce the illusion of magical effects without actual magic, or to change the position of objects without them being noticed by observers.
It combines Misdirection, sleight of hand, cutpurse and pocket picking ('dipping') sub-skills (which may be taken as a favorite use.
It can be used in combination with Fast Talk or Oratory, where a successful of one of those skills first will add to the success chance of conjuring. (For each level of success of the other skill add a +1 rank to the chance of success for conjuring).
Conjuring is defended against using Conjuring itself.
Comments (5)
Dave said
at 6:16 pm on Dec 3, 2006
I really think this skill is misnamed. According to Mirriam -Webster:
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French conjurer, from Latin conjurare to join in taking an oath, from com- + jurare to swear -- more at JURY
transitive verb
1 : to charge or entreat earnestly or solemnly
2 a : to summon by or as if by invocation or incantation b (1) : to affect or effect by or as if by magic (2) : IMAGINE, CONTRIVE -- often used with up <we conjure up our own metaphors for our own needs -- R. J. Kaufmann> (3) : to bring to mind <words that conjure pleasant images> -- often used with up <conjure up memories>
intransitive verb
1 a : to summon a devil or spirit by invocation or incantation b : to practice magical arts
2 : to use a conjurer's tricks : JUGGLE
- conjure with chiefly British : to treat or regard as important <Victor Hugo is a name to conjure with -- Peter France>
Dave said
at 6:18 pm on Dec 3, 2006
For what you're shooting for, Legerdemain or Prestidigitation is much more appropriate.
Legerdemain: 1 : SLEIGHT OF HAND
2 : a display of skill or adroitness
Joseph Teller said
at 10:40 am on Dec 12, 2006
Although dictionaries define it this way, they aren't the best source of common usage. Putting Conjuring in to Google, for example produces links to lots of stage magician sites asap, and in general stage magicians use conjuring as a term more than Prestidigitation and Legerdemain. Legerdemain is from French and is 'lightness of hand'. Prestidigitation is "quickness of fingers". Anyway the problem we have is that I need a term that is NOT just for the Sleight of hand, but for all forms of 'false magic' or 'performance magic' in the system, rather than what is a single component.
Joseph Teller said
at 10:45 am on Dec 12, 2006
There is also something to be said for simple words over complex at times, more people know the word 'conjuring'.
Generally most stage/closeup magic combines Sleight of Hand, Misdirection, Mechanicals (traps, tips, springs, slings, etc), Concealment, Camoflauge ("black magic" in the theater), optical illusions/sight angle tricks, and fakes (artificial digits/limbs, solid objects that aren't). I need something that sort of combines these together (except for concealment as that has other in-game uses).
Dave said
at 7:11 pm on Dec 13, 2006
Then just use Misdirection. Its meaning is obvious and sufficiently broad. Conjuring, to gamers, does not mean sleight of hand, but mystical summoning, especially in a setting that has actual magic. It's misleading and inaccurate, despite the extremely dubious implications of Google. And as for "common usage," no one uses Conjuring to refer to stage magic in conversation outside of the actual profession. Remeber, your audience is not the general public, but specifically gamers.
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