In that case, the concept is entirely provable, since the human population is expanding at an increasingly exponential rate. If the theory is true, then eventually, people will either stop being born (signaling the end of human growth and expansion, which the god you describe would not be in favor of) or stop being born with souls… an entirely different philosophical dilemma. Whether that happens in a population supportable by earth or one that will require a well established method of space travel is based entirely on the number of souls available.

But then, that brings up another interesting little problem: If there is an infinite number of souls, then that means that an infinite number of souls will never actually have a chance at any sort of physical experience. That means that an infinite number of souls will essentially have to suffer, at best, an incomplete existence or, at worst, limbo. And assuming souls take turns, then a soul that has experience physical existence once will never do so again. It all seems somewhat cruel for a god that is supposed to at least be sympathetic.

The best alternative to the cruel god, then, is that souls are created at the same time each new life is born… and that’s a whole other unopened can of beans…

To be happy is what matters in life and it requires being loved and respected by others.

Magic, generally, in terms of RP, is derived by some ’system’ or other, be it a D&D system, a game, or a novelist. (Please consider here that I am making assumptions that this AMF was being utilised in a Multiversal setting) Each player is likely to be drawing from myriad sources, potentially amalgamating several of them into one system they develop for a particular character. This works in free form roleplay, and especially in a multiversal setting as all sources/genres/styles can join in one ‘world’ of play. Unlike in games like D&D, where strict rules are in place, and structured systems. The mix of different influences, all as valid, makes an AMF impossible.

Look at the example of Elemental magic: Fire, Wind, Earth etc, some people would say that the particular element has to be already present, allowing simply for manipulation, others that the element is created by the sorcerer/mage, in creation, some would say that normal physics apply, and thereafter manipulation is used.

In the same stroke, the effects created by Elemental magic could quite easily be reached by other means, be it through science, and inducing chemical reactions, or through some other magic system such as David Eddings’ Will and Word from the Belgariad and Malloreon series of books.

An AMF would be unable to apply to every single magic system that is in existence, and the player would not necessarily know which system is being used by the mage, or indeed the workings of it.

If the workings of a particular magic system are known, then an AMF could work. For example, let’s take the magic system of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series; Saidin and Saidar. The two parts of the One Power, male and female respectively. It is used by allowing the One Power to flow through you, and then bending that flow to perform the magic. The stream, that connection to the One Power, can be cut or blocked with ‘wards’ and utilisation of the One Power against another user. In this sense, if all players were using that system, an AMF could be achieved, though the question would have to be asked about how it would work if the creation and maintenance of the field needed the same ‘magic’. However, in the books, certain artefacts can block the effects of the One Power.

In a free form setting, however, lies the paradox… All systems are valid. Which means that an AMF could be created, and it would be valid. But, at the same time, the magic would be valid based on the argument made above.

So then, one must ask, what can be done? The only real way is to develop a set of rules and guidelines for the magic in use during a particular game, allowing use and breaking of AMFs. This, at the same time, would break the whole thesis of a ‘free form’ style, removing the game from that genre.

My own advice would be to not even contemplate an AMF, but rather look at ways in which you can deal with the magic being directed towards you. In a combative situation, switching on an AMF when you are, say, a mech, and saying to your mage opponent, “You can’t attack now,” could probably be considered as a god mod (Cheating, for any non-RPers reading this), just as would be a mage using a spell that instantly blows up the planet.

But then, as a magic user, I would be interesting in seeing how my character would deal with something blocking his magic, and if it would be possible to break such a field.

In conclusion, I don’t think an AMF would be a legal or fair movement in a free for/multiversal roleplay setting, but in a world where magic has strict player guidelines, then it could be utilised. Even then, where is the fun in that?

With an AMF, how can you have your Barbarian kill the all powerful Sorcerer with nothing but his bare hands? :D