bubba smith Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 how on earth did the teen champion cantrip decide on THAT codename? it sounds more like an alien planet than a sorceress unless its an inside joke on her clumsiness[she can trip over anything] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korvar Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question I thought that "cantrip" as meaning "small quick magic spell" was fairly well known... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbywolfe Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question I'm into fantasy (as are a majority of my friends) and I'm not familiar with that term either, so I'd have to say no, it's not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtelson Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question Among the definitions of Cantrip is a magic spell, done by Sorcery or Witchraft. I believe it's also British slang for a hoax or con. DnD took co-opted the term and used it for small (0-Level) spells. As to how well the term is known; How do you judge that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodstone Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question I thought that "cantrip" as meaning "small quick magic spell" was fairly well known... Well, it's been in the common vocabulary amongst gamers since TSR released Unearthed Arcana in 1985 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbywolfe Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question It became "common vocabulary" the year after I was born. Is it used very often in anything other than gaming? I've never come across it in any of the fantasy I've read. Just curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimble Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question I actually bought Unearthed Arcana in 1985...but not all gamers are as old and wise as me. I don't even think the term is used in the new D&D versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odraude Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question I actually bought Unearthed Arcana in 1985...but not all gamers are as old and wise as me. I don't even think the term is used in the new D&D versions. Cantrip is used on page 158 about the Wizard class for 4thed DnD. They are 1st level spells like Magehand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoreBrute Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question It became "common vocabulary" the year after I was born. Is it used very often in anything other than gaming? I've never come across it in any of the fantasy I've read. Just curious. According to Wikipedia, it has been used in fantasy before: In the novel, "When Darkness Falls," by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory, a 'cantrip' is used to describe a short (one or two words, or one flick of a magic wand) spell or incantation that triggers a series of spells, or acts as a trigger that completes a much more complicated spell (which would ordinarily take hours or days of chanting and conjuring to complete). It acts as a magical shortcut or abbreviation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodstone Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question Cantrip is used on page 158 about the Wizard class for 4thed DnD. They are 1st level spells like Magehand The Cantrip was a single, versatile, 1st level Mage spell back in 2E. Later, they introduced the Clerical equivalent, the Orison. Cantrips and Orisons were 0 level spells in 3E. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hfergus Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question I've heard the term cantrip long before I ever heard of DnD. Not sure where, but I am a sci-fi/fantasy geek, so I probably read it somewhere. It was always a fast, often simple spell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodstone Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question I've heard the term cantrip long before I ever heard of DnD. Not sure where' date=' but I [i']am[/i] a sci-fi/fantasy geek, so I probably read it somewhere. It was always a fast, often simple spell. Just for the record, I wasn't trying to imply that D&D coined the term or anything, just that it's been a common term amongst gamers for over 20 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiggins Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question I have the origional unearthed arcaina and I think that the cantrip spells there, were better than the 2nd ed catchall Cantrip. So I used my DM perogrative and brought them into 2nd and later 3rd. The thing I liked about 2nd over 3rd was the weapon speed factor and spell casting times. There is no way a fighter with a 2 handed great sword is going to go before a thief with a dagger. And the casting time for spells put a giant "KILL ME!" sign on a wizard, keeping them from getting too powerful or becoming a crutch for the other players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question \ There is no way a fighter with a 2 handed great sword is going to go before a thief with a dagger. Sure there is. A longer weapon means the thief is in reach of the fighter's attack well before the fighter is in reach of the thief's attack. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary says even D&D got it right sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question Oh, and the word cantrip is of Scottish origin, and I believe is related to caltrop. The original meaning, I think, was "to play a trick." If I'm not mistaken, it's only about a couple of centuries old, and has been associated with magick/witchcraft the entire time the word has existed. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary says etymology can trip you up if you're not careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BNakagawa Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question It's not exactly a household name, I'll grant. Then again, it's a silly name for a silly character (based on a ludicrous character) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbywolfe Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question It seems that the term is somewhat common in fantasy, more so than I thought. However, this is the Champions thread. Not everyone familiar with the Super genre is going to catch a gaming/fantasy reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utech Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question Seems like a good name you can learn something from. And a good hoot'n holler better than 'Nightcrawler'. 'Nuff said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywind Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question It seems that the term is somewhat common in fantasy' date=' more so than I thought. However, this is the Champions thread. Not everyone familiar with the Super genre is going to catch a gaming/fantasy reference.[/quote']Considering fantasy is a more common genre than supers, I think most, if not all, players get it, having played fantasy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba smith Posted January 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question Seems like a good name you can learn something from. And a good hoot'n holler better than 'Nightcrawler'. 'Nuff said. and te lay in question looks better than kurt wagner me i think she looks like a teenage reese witherspooon and thats not so bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwiggins Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question Sure there is. A longer weapon means the thief is in reach of the fighter's attack well before the fighter is in reach of the thief's attack. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary says even D&D got it right sometimes. if the above pair are fighting, each will roll D10, add weapon speed, minus dex bonus. if the fighter don't roll a 1. usually the thief will go first, make a half move and attack. If the thief has the 3rd ED feat "spring attack" he will move in, attack and move out of range before the fighter can do anything. the fighter will have to follow (depending on his movement) or find another target or change weapons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question if the above pair are fighting' date=' each will roll D10, add weapon speed, minus dex bonus. if the fighter don't roll a 1. usually the thief will go first, make a half move and attack. If the thief has the 3rd ED feat "spring attack" he will move in, attack and move out of range before the fighter can do anything. the fighter will have to follow (depending on his movement) or find another target or change weapons[/quote'] If you really want to talk about it, can we take it to Fantasy Hero or something? Lucius Alexander The palindromedary also reiterates that Lucius Alexander doesn't play D&D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrosshairCollie Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question I'm familiar with the term from Magic: The Gathering, mostly; it was the staff nickname for the cards that tell you to draw a card in addition to whatever (usually minor) effect the card does, like Bandage (Prevent 1 damage, draw a card). They said it meant 'little trick'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matrix3 Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question I believe I first encountered it in 3rd Edition GURPS, and it is/was used heavily in Changeling: The Dreaming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt the Bruins Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 Re: a [can]trippy question I think I was familiar with the word from stage magic and sleight of hand. I don't recall being puzzled by its meaning when I first ran across the D&D reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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