''Realms of Magic'' is a
role-playing game
A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...
supplement published by
TSR in 1986 for the ''
Marvel Super Heroes'' role-playing game.
Contents
''Realms of Magic'' is a supplement describing a
magic system for the
Basic game rules, with numerous demons, dimensions, magic items and spells, and 16 magical heroes and villains.
''Realms of Magic'' includes a pair of
gamemaster's screen s, one of which doubles as the cover, while the other is double-sided with the game's Universal Table on one side, three books with a total of 96 pages between them, and artwork from Marvel throughout.
Book 1 shows what spells are available to characters, and explains how the spells are cast what effects they have. It also presents a new character generation system specifically for magic-using characters. Book 2 contains background information and details the magical realms of the
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is a fictional shared universe where the stories in most American comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Comics take place. Super-teams such as the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Guardians of ...
, as well as some of the powerful magical entities found there, and information on things such as cults and magic items. Book 3 details magic-using characters such as
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in ''Strange Tales'' #110 (cover-dated July 1963). Doctor Strange serves as Sorce ...
and
Baron Mordo
Baron Karl Amadeus Mordo (known as Baron Mordo) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted commonly as an adversary of Doctor Strange. The character was created by writer St ...
and various magical creatures, and includes some characters whose game statistics have been altered using the new rules such as
Doctor Doom
Doctor Victor Von Doom is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in ''The Fantastic Four'' #5 in July 1962. The monarch of the fi ...
and
Magik.
Publication history
MHAC9 ''Realms of Magic'' was written by
Kim Eastland
Kimber "Kim" Lee Eastland (February 26, 1952 – January 29, 2020) was a game designer who worked for TSR.
Early life
Kim Eastland was born in Moline, Illinois, one of two children of Everett and Margaret Eastland. He attended Alleman High Sch ...
, with a cover by
Marshall Rogers and
Terry Austin, and was published by
TSR, Inc., in 1986 as two 40-page books, a 16-page book, and two outer folders.
Reception
Pete Tamlyn reviewed ''Realms of Magic'' for ''
White Dwarf'' #80.
He declared: "For those of us, like myself
..who are great fans of ''
Dr. Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in ''Strange Tales'' #110 (cover-dated July 1963). Doctor Strange serves as Sorce ...
'' it is most welcome."
He added, "In the original game, magic was glossed over, but then so was everything else bar combat
..I quite liked the simplicity of the original. But those who need full rules, or in the case of MSH full background, Realms of Magic is very good".
His main complaint was one of style: "After the refreshingly simple and elegant game systems in MSH, Realms marks a return to the bad old ''AD&D'' style of masses of tables and long lists of specific spells. Also TSR are the unfortunate victims of the state of utter chaos that the Marvel magical universe has got into. It Realms seems confusing to you, don't blame Kim Eastland, blame twenty years of comic writers each going their own way. Having said that, if you are a comic fan and want to try to make sense of Marvel magic there is no better reference work than Realms."
Reviews
*''GameMaster Publications'' #4 (Jun 1986)
References
Marvel Comics role-playing game supplements
Role-playing game supplements introduced in 1986
{{RPG-stub