I've been reading several different posts on the forums about the use of magic in the Barovian setting, and I wondered if perhaps a "Witchery Reputation" meter, similar to the Exhaustion system, might be helpful?
It would be fairly simple: Every time a player casts a spell or uses a potion in front of an NPC garda (or perhaps any guard, peasant or nobility NPC) they would gain a point of reputation for witchery. This would have no observable immediate effect, and if they abstain from such behavior their meter would slowly go down back to zero, similar to the Exhaustion system and taking it easy. But if they continue such behavior it would continue to rise until they would gain temporary caliban status or something similar.
The difference between this and Outcast Rating is that Outcast Rating is more durable, while this would be temporary. Perhaps the level of the spell and/or the familiar/companion summoned could factor in to how much the reputation grows.
Note that there is no exception for healing spells/potions, because the fact is that healing magic is "barely tolerated" by Barovians and Gundarakites, according to a DM post (I believe) on this setting. And, regardless, each observed instance of someone using healing magic would strengthen the player's reputation as one who uses witchery, even if the use is benign and tolerated.
Is this a decent idea or a horrible one? I am suggesting it, but I may have overlooked much that makes it completely impractical. Feel free to shoot me down with magic missiles.
From Native Barovian and Gundarakite Role Play Guide here: http://www.nwnravenloft.com/forum/index.php?topic=6563.0
Gundarakite and Barovians barely tolerate healing magic. They do not differentiate the different schools of magic. Their daily lives are devoid of such acts. Therefore, they react to the visible effect of a spell or prayer. A cleric summoning an undead warrior and a mage doing the same will be treated equally in their eyes. This goes for any other visible spell, such as barkskin, stoneskin, flameweapon, and the like. Because of this fear of witchcraft, any item or weapon that appears “tainted” by witchcraft, such as glowing blades, will be viewed as dangerous. The average Barovian and Gundarakite will never use any item that has these “frightening” properties. If an item is magical, but does not make its magical property obvious, such as a simple plus one dagger, then that item is fine, since as far as the native knows, it is just a nicely crafted blade. Items that illuminate light though, such as robes, may be looked upon suspiciously; common folk use natural light sources.
The temptation to use magical items or spell abilities that the engine provides your character class is a role playing challenge. For example, a Gundarakite ranger will at some point have the engine ability to cast some arcane spells. However, due to the Gundarakite’s ideology, they would be oblivious to this. They would never even dream of learning how to cast spells. They may however, through prayer, if they like many Gundarakite follow the Morninglord, learn to cast healing spells.