Editing Paradox (section)

=PARADOX FLAWS (OPTIONAL RULE)=

Since magic is a dynamic force, so is Paradox. When a mage pushes and the cosmos pushes back, sometimes it does something weird. 

A Paradox Flaw is a hindrance that manifests as a result of the mage's spell. Perhaps the mage's attempt to create flames causes his own clothes to catch fire, or his scrying spell renders him blind temporarily. The Effect can be random, and it is almost always detrimental.

If you have a Paradox Judge, several Narrators and a good player base, you can assign Paradox Flaws at a whim. The more Paradox Traits Backlash, the more dangerous and significant the Flaw is. This system requires careful arbitration, and it can get clumsy if lots of magic flies around and requires constant arbitration in many places.

You might also use Paradox cards. Have your Paradox Judge come up with a stack of random detrimental or strange Paradox Effects. Hand out five cards to each player. Then, when a mage suffers a Paradox Backlash, have the player draw a card from someone else's shuffled hand, and give a card in return. The mage suffers the Effect written on the drawn card. Since it's someone else's card, he never knows what'll happen. The Paradox Judge can also wander about with the remainder of the deck, just to make sure people aren't always in the clear. You'll want to drop in new cards or change some every few sessions, just to keep people on their toes.