Television World
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Created by Tom Day
Biases: Magic 15@10, Body 15@10, Psionic 3@5, and Technology 15@10.
This is a world where magic works, but only if it is currently being portrayed on television. That is to say, all native spells require that there is an element of what is going on from a convention on television, but it ridiculously easy for anyone to cast it; so long as it matches what is being shown on television.
Magic can be cast differently, but the locals do not believe in that possibility. Magic that is cast differently is at -20, and Magic that is cast according to the rules outlined above is at +20. This is because the local deity is a Neutral Power. Videon loves pictures and spoken words. He bonuses all attempts at visual art, and spoken art by +10 as well. Written art or other writing is at -10.
Videon has a number of Subsidiary Signals (what other Powers might call Angels) such as the dreaded Blue Screen of Doom who is their death angel. Rewind, who is considered by some sects to be the Patron of Second Chances. It is said that she gives her favored precognitive flashes when they are about to make a dreadful mistake with immediate consequences. Those blessed by Rewind are often found in extremely perilous professions. There are several other Signals that help Videon run this world.
The world is otherwise an exact mirror of our own including what is currently on television. The key thing here for example, is that when you pull out a Mentos, it really IS something that gives you a vast increase to all of your skills. When you are thirsty, all you have to do is appeal to the Kool Aid man and he suddenly appears. This is a world that works its best when it is an identical mirror to the real one, not varied with distinct historical details, despite the fact that such a presence would profoundly alter society.
The key here is the fact that while anyone can do it; most people don't. In fact, people consistently refuse to believe in the fantastic or that magic is real, even when evidence is pointed directly at them. The primary reason for this is the Sit Com episode effect, in which things tend to resolve themselves after 30 minutes, no matter how convoluted the effect that might be.
If situations do not quickly resolve themselves (and the people are trained by thousands of years of history to expect that they will), then the Signals will get involved to try to fix things.
There are those who are not affected by this (as anyone can be) but they must actively resist the effect. A few "Hardheads" as they are known by their enemies, and "Real Worldists" as they call themselves engage in various court battles, and publish newsletters declaiming the irrational belief in "A Power in the Snow Screen that Speaks to Us All." as conventional theology has it (Prayers are typically done in front of a snow screen.)
