Frequently Asked Questions

What Is This All About?

Magic Horizons is a roleplaying game. You take the role of a character and act as that character would, facing adversity. Character creation is the process that defines what your character is capable of doing. Magic Horizons is covered by the International Fantasy Gaming Society (IFGS), and is one of their sponsored rules systems.

This Sounds A Lot Like D&D. Is it?

It's a little bit like TSR's Advanced Dungeons & Dragons®, but only so much as, say, Tolkien's Lord of The Rings is like Eddings' Belgariad. Both D&D and Magic Horizons deal with heroic fantasy as their theme (as do Lord of the Rings and the Belgariad), but the way they're handled is different. Unlike tabletop roleplaying games, Magic Horizons uses no dice or charts to resolve things. It's all based on roleplaying, and your abilities as a player. It's also much easier to get and stay "in character" in Magic Horizons, because of the lack of table-talk.

How Do I Find A Magic Horizons Game?

If you live in Wisconsin, eastern Iowa, northern Illinois or northwestern Indiana, Magic Horizons games are held within driving distance of you. Check out the Schedule and Directions pages for how to get to the games. If you live in other parts of the country, check out the page on Starting Up a New Chapter of Magic Horizons.

What Do I Need To Play?

In order to play the game, the minimum you need is to have something vaguely resembling a costume, a weapon (if your character uses one) and some imagination. As you play in the game, you'll eventually want your own copies of the rules and campaign setting, as well as better props.

How Is Combat Handled?

Combat is done with padded weapons, made from foam and either PVC pipe or fiberglas for rigidity. Instructions for constructing the weapons are available on this web site, as are the safety regulations for employing them. Players will hit one another with the weapons, and use certain rules to resolve combat.

How Is Magic Handled?

Magic uses a "spell packet system". Players must say a short incant, followed by a null word, and then must throw a spell packet at the target. If the spell packet hits the target, the spell takes effect. If the packet misses, the spell has no effect. This web site has an index of the various potion and spell effects, for player reference.

How Often Do You Play?

Magic Horizons usually runs once per month, with a month off in December. A schedule of upcoming games is available on this web site, as are directions to the sites we use.

Magic Horizons has two sorts of games, indoor and outdoor. A description of a typical game day is here at the site, and as time permits, recountings of events at specific game days are handled.

Many players will get together between game days to work on new costumes, new weapons, or to practice fighting skills. A listing of some of the practice groups is on this web site.

How Long Does A Game Day Take?

The doors open for registration at 11 AM, with the course usually opening at noon. The game itself usually runs to 6 or 7 in the evening. Social activities, such as going out to dinner afterwards, will often drag it out a little longer. Including travel times to and from the sites, it's often a good idea to allocate a whole day to the game.

Does The Game Have A Game Master?

Not precisely. There is a game committee that handles the logistical hassles of putting on a game. The committee members usually act as Marshalls during the games to arbitrate rules, handle puzzles, and make sure that combat is conducted safely.

How Do You Handle Monsters And Opponents?

Every player is required to NPC at some point during the year; NPCing gives Service Activity Points and GPCs. NPCs are usually designated by specific colors of tabards or headbands. (Green means goblins, brown means orcs, black means great orcs and so on.)

How Much Does It Cost To Play?

Indoor games cost $5 to NPC, and $12 to PC. Playing a split day costs the same as PCing. Outdoor game prices for 1997 have not been set yet; in 1996, they were $8 to NPC and $18 to PC.

How Is The Game Run?

On outdoor games, characters roam on patrol, while the monsters do likewise. On indoor games, the plot is usually directed towards a given goal.

What Sort Of A World Background Is There?

There is a players guide to the game world for sale; it can be ordered from Mike Greenholdt. Additional bits of history can be found on this web site.

Problems with the page? Email Ken Burnside.