This game is used as a test of magical skill, favored by Raistlin Majere. Let’s learn more about this simulation of magical mastery from Krynn. Subscribe on Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1143976528
Transcript
Cold Open
It can be seen as an arcane test of magical acumen, or just a fun board game.
Intro
Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today we are going to talk about MageStones Game. I would like to take a moment and thank the members of this channel, and invite you to consider becoming a member by visiting the link in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate links. I am referencing the Dragonlance MageStones Game rules for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below!
Discussion
For magi on Krynn, there are few tests which showcase ones mastery over the world of magic, outside the Test of High Sorcery, quite as poignantly as MageStones. The board itself is the personification of the world of magic with each of its descending horizontal rows corresponding to a school of magic and each of its successive vertical columns corresponding to a plane of existence. Even the stones placed by each mage are mere representations of each casters prowess, symbolizing their own magical energy. By placing their stone, the wizard is investing his own magical energy from a particular school of magic onto their chosen plane of existence. As each stone is placed, they are forming an arcane pattern of magical power which emboldens and enshrines that wizard in the cosmos. The skill of this test is that the wizard vies to create a magical pattern which then dominates and binds the other wizards, while protecting themselves from attack. The first wizard to place all of their stones has created the most powerful pattern binding their known schools of magic with the places of existence, signifying themselves as the preeminent mage.
In the Age of Despair, MageStones was little more than a curiosity, a relic of an earlier age, before the Cataclysm. Only mages who studied the Orders of High Sorcery’s past would discover scattered writings about this test of magic which is only briefly mentioned in its connections with the inner planes and schools of magic. From these archaic historic references the test grew. It was initially practiced to sharpen the wits of apprentice wizards, while simultaneously familiarizing themselves with arcane concepts. Gradually this test grew as symbolism and strategy were layered onto the basic magical school and planar structure inherent to the test. Eventually, it evolved into the ultimate nonmagical challenge between wizards. With this test one might find an apprentice testing their skill against a master of an Order of Magic. Rival wizards would turn to the MageStones test rather than waste their own powerful magic on eachother.
The structure of the board deserves a little clarity before we dive into the mechanics of MageStones. Again, the vertical columns are representations of the Planes of Existence with the center column, represented by the number 6, being the Prime Material plane. It is the safest plane of existence and the center of the board. The reality of the Prime Material plane is that with so much arcane presence, worldly distraction and interference therein, it is the most difficult plane to establish power upon. Surrounding the Prime Material plane is the Ethereal Plane, represented by columns 5 and 7. It is an easy plane to penetrate, but it is also the most difficult to control. Bordering the Ethereal plane on the left, represented by column 4 is the elemental plane of Air. And on the right, represented by the column of 8 is the elemental plane of Earth. These are the simplest planes to enter, but competition over them is fierce, and talented wizards will always try to target them from the Ethereal plane. Finally the outer planes round out the elemental forces, with the left, represented by column 3, being the elemental plane of Water, and on the right, represented by column 9 being the elemental plane of Fire. These planes are entirely hostile to outsiders and the most difficult to enter. However, once a wizard has a foothold therein, it secures their ability to threaten adjacent planes.
The horizontal rows, once again, represent the various schools of magic. The most powerful schools are found near the edges of the board, or the top and bottom, and the weaker schools are located toward the center. In order, the schools are as follows: Alteration, Illusion, Enchantment / Charm, Conjuring / Summoning, Greater Divination, Lesser Divination, Abjuration, Necromancy, and finally Invocation / Evocation. Consciously manipulating various schools of magic on the myriad of Inner Planes to outwit your opponents is where the true skill of this test lies.
Now that we are familiar with the history and construction of MageStones, let’s discover the mechanics of this game. First and foremost, the goal is to place all of your stones on the board, while simultaneously removing other player’s stones. With each successive game of stones being placed, points are accumulated, and the wizard with the most points at the end wins. The target number varies as do the number of stones available, by the number of wizards playing. For each player, you have the target goal of points increased by five. So with two players, the target number is ten. A five-player match would end at twenty-five points. Alternatively, if you have a specific number each player agrees on, you can use that instead. Ultimately the player with the highest number wins. In a two player game, each player has twelve stones of a single color.. In a three player game, each player has eight stones. With four players, six stones are used. Five players have five stones each, and six players have four stones each. The stones must be placed in front of the player for all to see.
If this is the first game, each player rolls 3d3. If you use a d6 rather than a d3 die, 4, 5, and 6 should be assigned as 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The player with the highest total goes first and play precedes clockwise. In successive games, the winner of the previous game goes first. To begin play, a player rolls 3d3. The sum tells the player which plane of existence, or column they can place one of their stones in. It is up to the player which school of sorcery, or empty square in a row, to place it on, within the column. If the player rolls triplets, or three of the same number, they get to take another turn. This continues with each successive triple roll. If the player rolls a one, two and three however, they lose their turn, and cannot place a stone in the prime material plane, or column 6. If any column is full, the player loses their turn as well.
The strategy is represented by Binding and Dispelling other wizards stones, or magical energy. If bound, the dispelled stones must be removed from the board, returned to the player. You can bind a player’s stone by placing a single stone on either end of another player’s stone. This may be vertically, horizontally or diagonally. It can even travel from the top of a single plane of existence to the bottom of that same plane, but not from the edge of a school to the opposite edge of a school. There can be no empty spaces within a bound group, and any stone in the Prime Material plane, or column 6 is never dispelled, but can be used to bind other stones. Multiple players’ stones can be bound in this fashion. However, binding only happens when the outer binding stone is placed, so if a dispelled stone’s square is now open, it is considered safe from the bordering stones. And you can never dispel your own stones.
There are of course consequences to those not paying the closest attention. If you make a binding move without realizing it, before the next player rolls their die, the stones are saved and not dispelled. Due to Raistlin Majere concealing his remaining stones and winning multiple horses from another wizard, the rule of Raistlin’s ploy has been created. Not only do the stones need to be in full view of all players, when there is only one stone left to a player, they must announce it. If they do not by the time the next player rolls their die, any player can call out “Raistlin!” and cause the player with one stone remaining to lose their next turn. When all of one player’s stones are placed the game is over. Scoring is made in the positive for each stone on the board, and negative for each stone off the board.
You can play the game as teams as well, and there is a fair amount of strategy to be learned and employed, MageStones is a game worth exploring with friends and rivals alike. Always remember to consult the rules if you run into any problems.
Outro
But that is all I have to say about MageStones game. What do you think about the game? Do you enjoy the lore and Dungeons & Dragons references in it? Do you have any tried and true strategies you would like to share? Leave a comment below.
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Most of us walk in light and shadow but there are the chosen few who carry their own light to brighten both day and night.
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