Ilona Andrews is the pen name for the married writing team of Ilona and Gordon Andrews. They are best known for their Magic series, which is set in a world where magic has returned, causing major changes in society. The series follows the protagonist, Kate Daniels, who is a mercenary with magical abilities. She is tasked with solving various supernatural mysteries and fighting evil forces. The Magic series is highly acclaimed for its strong world-building and unique blend of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. The authors have created a richly detailed and complex world, filled with magical creatures, mystical artifacts, and different factions vying for power.
The authors have created a richly detailed and complex world, filled with magical creatures, mystical artifacts, and different factions vying for power. The series also features a wide range of compelling and well-developed characters, including shape-shifters, vampires, and witches. Kate Daniels, the main character, is a strong and witty heroine who becomes entangled in a dangerous web of supernatural politics and power struggles.
Kate Daniels ("Magic Bites" series by Ilona Andrews): Midnight Games
Hi folks. For starters, I legitimately do not know if this should be a conversion, advice, or possibly even product discussion thread, and I have no idea how to make multiple category threads without duplicating. If I'm in the wrong spot, sorry, and please feel free to tell me how to relocate, do it your self, or asks the mods to.
This is a pure fan boy, passion project of mine; but the community often seems on board to help with this kind of thing, and maybe this will be useful to other fans or story tellers.
The entire series of Kate Daniels is worth a read, but I particularly loved the 3rd book "Magic Strikes". In that book, the main characters (and several of the supporting cast) get pulled into a magical gladitorial type tournament known as the Midnight Games. For various story reasons, the owners/designers of the games are fixated with the number 7. The grand tournament they hold annually involves an elimination style event with teams of 7 members, each of whom must fit a certain role.
This isn't even the most important part of the book, but the specialized team concept has been locked in my brain for over a decade now. Each role speaks to a different combat style and/or weapon/offensive choice. The 7 roles are as follows:
Shield - Defensive fighter
Shiv- Fast fighter (the character in the book dual wields military combat daggers)
Sling - Ranged fighter (guns, bows, whatever)
Spell - Magic user/caster
Stone - not defined, but implied that it's the big guy/gal
Stratego - not defined but implied captain/leader/strategist
SwordMaster - seemingly duh (only weapon specific role; maybe because main character is a sword user)
My questions/objectives are several fold.
1. Can anybody find any already published/established game system rules for a Kate Daniels world setting? I don't want to reinvent the wheel, and all of the series, characters, creatures, and mechanics would be fun to play with.
2. Anything by the authors to better define these roles? I'm reaching out, but the chance of getting an answer is likely slim. Anything with the creative input and authority of the authors would be ideal though.
3. If the above two can't be met (or if folks just want/like alternatives), how would you define these roles? What is required for a fighter (generic term, not the class) to qualify for a role? What actions, weapons, or styles might be restricted or excluded from a role?
In the book, several one off characters from other teams seemed like they could qualify for multiple roles. Obviously these terms are pretty broad in several places.
Is defensive waiting to strike back, using a shield, guarding others, or all of the above?
Is fast initiative, multiple attacks, precision damage, or other quick take down options?
All feedback, ideas, questions welcome. Anyone with superior search-fu, please feel free to provide links.
Thanks in advance to all.
Am I on the wrong forum, is the subject too niche, or just no takers?
To my knowledge and a quick google there's no RPG conversion already. In general Kate Daniels' setting's an urban fantasy with the twist that about half the time active magic won't work (but shifters are still unnaturally strong etc.), and when magic's working 'technology' (not really defined; skyscrapers suffer so it may go into materials sciences even, but guns and swords aren't damaged. I dunno) doesn't work. Balancing that sounds a pain.
Leaving the magic/tech up thing aside urban fantasies have much more limited arrays of magic powers available than PF. It might be better to work with a system which limits that a bit, perhaps by buying each power separately (Savage Worlds edges) or which tend to be limited conceptually (FATE aspects).
I don't remember the Midnight Games well enough and I don't own a copy of that book, but a team for a gladiatorial game is unlikely to want exactly that balance unless it's enforced somehow. Is it?
Yep. Each team member is one of those roles, and a full starting team is seven members. However, depending on the capabilities of the character, it's entirely possible that one could qualify for multiple roles. To draw a rough analogy, you might be an excellent forward, but if you start a soccer match as the goalie, you're staying near the net.
This is part of what I'm trying to figure out or create. I want to know what the rules are for what qualifies a fighter to be a certain role. As important, are there any traits that exclude one from certain ? Once they're in the pit, it's use the tactics that let you win/survive, so the role defining qualities have to be more like wrestling weight categories, things that are set before the reality of the chaos of the match begins.
Also, in the elimination round before the finals, not all seven must participate in every match. So, different combinations of roles and abilities come into play. Part of that is the Stratego's job to sort out. A team must have four surviving fighters to stay in the games. A Stone, presumably the BIG (and strong/tough?) fighter, may still fight with a sword or be preternaturally fast, but he/she's always the team Stone.
As to the setting at large, the powers may not be as limited as you think. All types of magic uses exist in that world, because when magic came crashing back to the world it was colored by the faiths and folklores of all cultures and tribes throughout history. Some stuff is more common than others, but nearly anything is possible.
Post Shift Resonance (the magic/tech shifts) are more challenging, but not impossible. I'm thinking something along the lines of a modified and semi-randomly cyclical version of the Time of Troubles and/or Spell Plague. As far as how the magic treats "tech" it seems to be a vaguely Amish approach. Not a perfect equivalency, but any mechanically complex, technologically or chemically sophisticated items fail, break, or go inert. No guns, no computers, no internal combustion. Basic hand tools, forges, and possibly simple pulley machines work. Weirdly too, sometimes phones (but that's a rather funny bit from the books).
Thanks in advance to all.
One of the strengths of the Magic series is the authors' ability to create intense and action-packed plotlines. Each book in the series is filled with thrilling adventures, intense battles, and high-stakes conflicts that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The series also explores deeper themes such as love, loyalty, and the sacrifices one must make for the greater good. Overall, the Magic series by Ilona Andrews is a must-read for fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. The books are filled with intriguing world-building, captivating characters, and fast-paced storytelling that will leave readers eager for more..
Reviews for "The Role of Magic and Supernatural Elements in Ilona Andrews' Magic Series"
1. John - 2 stars - I tried to get into the Ilona Andrews magic series, but I just couldn't. The characters felt flat and one-dimensional, and the plot was predictable and lacked originality. I found myself not caring about what happened to any of them, and that really affected my overall enjoyment of the books. I also felt that the world-building was lacking, as there wasn't enough detail provided to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I was disappointed with this series and won't be continuing with it.
2. Emily - 1 star - I really disliked the Ilona Andrews magic series. The writing style was overly simplistic, and it felt like I was reading a book aimed at teenagers rather than adults. The romance between the main characters felt forced and unnatural, and I found myself rolling my eyes at their interactions. The plot itself was weak, and it felt like a rehashed version of other urban fantasy novels I've read before. I was bored throughout and struggled to finish the first book, and I definitely won't be continuing with the series.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really unimpressed with the Ilona Andrews magic series. The pacing was off, and it took forever for anything interesting to happen. The main character was supposed to be a strong, independent woman, but all she did was rely on others to save her. The secondary characters were forgettable and lacked depth. The magic system in the series was confusing and inconsistent, making it hard to fully understand how it worked. Overall, I found this series to be a disappointment and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. David - 3 stars - While the Ilona Andrews magic series had its moments, I ultimately didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. The world-building was intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The plot had potential, but it lacked depth and complexity, making it feel like a generic fantasy story. The characters, while likeable, lacked development, and I struggled to truly connect with them. While I appreciate the effort put into the series, it just didn't capture my attention or leave a lasting impression.