They could solve all problems with a snap of their fingers. If youll allow my humble but informed opinion. Most magic systems fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Oreads are nymphs of Mountains. Thank you Cay, for making me think more about what i want my theme to be. This is only my second serious piece of writing, so its really encouraging to hear stuff like that from someone like you. Eventually, after many long and cold nights, Mother returns the sunlight and the heat, for even in just anger she cannot maintain an imbalance. The random Magic Type Generator is a free online tool that lets you generate random Magic Type content for your fantasy or writing project with the click of a button. This was implemented to further refine (/complicate?) If you dont have enough power to spare, the spell fizzles. Sounds right to me). Technically, you could link influencing the elements (moving earth to create a wall for instance) to the way Avatar handles it. To craft your framework, just answer these questions. Can ones magical abilities be stolen or suppressed through fantastical or physical means? These structural integrity threads can be used to apply physical force to something. While both of these magic systems have mysterious aspects, in general they dont invoke wonder because they are understood. :). You could explain telekinesis (telepathy, too, I guess) with having invisible energy arms which are connected to your body and grab the object in question (or create a connection to another being for telepathy). If you go with that, I really hope youll have a scene where your mage character (or one of them) sees the empty shells that older mages have become, their very last memory bargained away in exchange for a little power. The latter, sorcerers, actually do not have magic ability. In another world (a fantasy high-magic setting), I havent fleshed out quite as much, but I do know that magic is powered by your soul, which is also needed to run all brain activity. suggestions? One more thing to keep in mind what if there is an underlying principle, but the characters dont know about it? A very interesting and well laid out post, though I dont quote agree with all the recommended reading. I was actually thinking of precursor aliens having set everything up, but that raises a lot more questions of motivation and the ability to remain undetected. Dispel | Spiritual | Fire | Creature Most priests wouldnt be any more concerned with gods than the average person. Calm Creature. Mystical Paths A slightly humorous generator that produces new mystical practices for characters. If your mage has no limits to their powers, where would the conflict be? A mages magic can be stronger or weaker depending on how much access to a Primal they have at a given time. There is no formula; you are just fueling the clichs. With so many spec fic books, its not unusual to have such coincidences. Or you blame all psychic powers on quantum and be done with it, but I doubt you want to take that way out, otherwise you wouldnt have been plotting that much already. Its unclear whether there are any other self-casting old magic spells besides this one. An alchemist transmutes lead into gold. The mystery is in the water that the Living Mother leaves behind on the plants when the sunlight returns again. You don't have to have an exact cost, like making the average human able to cast 20 fire balls before being tired, but having a cost relative to each other spell will help make sure your magic system is at least relatively realistic in the sense that there's a logic behind it. If travelling to the tower of the Dark Mage takes three weeks on horseback, there should be a good reason if you tell the reader the way back only took a couple of hours. How does a user summon magic, and how does that magic manifest (i.e. These energies are not strictly bound to non-magical air, water, fire and so on, but definitely could affect each other: real fire produces fire energy, in water there are lot of water energy and so on. My major problem is that the subtypes dont connect with the main types of magic (demonic and angelic). So if stuff suddenly falls up, we know something is wrong. Ive used term spell in a broad sense, I mean just an example of what you can do with such system So, basically, you mean just the same system as in Avatar (roughly, just moving the substances physically) plus transformations between substances (earth to water to air to fire and so on)? Lets take a closer look at what these terms mean. Perhaps they only manifest 1 (or 2?) This article was extremely helpful to me in figuring out my magic system. would even mathematically work, as all existing particles and forces seem to be related by deep mathematical symmetries. Movement demands energy and that I deliver, either with my hands, with a machine, or with telekinesis. Limits can come in all sorts of varieties, the ones we've covered are: how to wield it (being disarmed), how to gain power, power limit, limited power source, cost of powers, the ability to combine powers or not, racial differences and whether or not you're born with a specific amount of power and talent or not. The issues with this idea are a) adding more complexity to my magic system and b) giving more power to the side of the war that directly contracts spirits. Little fun fact: the Greek god Hermes was, among other things, the god of thieves and of merchants. All of Creation is born from a single point in time, that exists both Space, Time, Existence, or Consciousness, what we call The Sephirot, or The Spark, or the Egg of Creation, it goes by many names. Its a solid premise, and Im sure youll do amazing things with it. And the HPMOR fanfic mentioned above is about a Harry who does want to find out this why although I dont think it succeeds at conveying this particularly well in the story itself.). Should I make what Interferers can do more specific (not just adding-energy-to-system)? Maybe if their contact to spirits is limited, or the spirits themselves have goals that dont line up with the protagonists goals. So you've figured out what the source of your magic is, but who and what can tap into that source? But we know some things. Lich could do for those who contain the energy, as liches go on living long after they should be gone, so essentially containing life energy past their due date. I feel that doing so, would provide some much needed structure as I go through the worldbuilding process but Im worried that it could make my Mages feel less wizardy, and more like X-men? . Limits then usually come from the strength of the effects (a limit to the area spells can target or the number of spells a mage can use before resting). Once you examine all the implications of this change, youll discover their powers are different indeed. In other words, readers need to understand how your magic system works to ensure its use feels natural and believable within the context of the story. For instance, lets say magic is powered by a substance found within the soil. Now, I think I was misleading about the Storm God. would be for instance the power to congure spectral weapons like a sword or bow and arrow, though they are powerful magic and would be taxing on ones body and life. Some will desire fresh milk, and it will not be possible to have fresh milk for all, unless we have the bottles of Rhinnon Rhin Barnawd, wherein no liquor ever turns sour. And finally, I was thinking about a story involving space travel, so FTL would be convenient to explain how the aliens managed to meet each other in a relatively short amount of time. If you fail to understand the role that magic will play in your story and develop your system accordingly, then you run the risk of undercutting the conflict and tension that keep readers turning pages. They are infused with magic, its part of their genetic makeup. The magic of Avatar feels like the natural result of a different set of physics, whereas the magic of Harry Potter feels like the arbitrary inventions of an author. Hermione explains this to Ron in the seventh book when he mentions bringing food out of nowhere. I forget the episode but Aang (obviously) and Zaheer do it also. Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via : Subscribe for writing hacks, special offers and free stuff, 2023 - Orpheus Technology, prowritingaid.com, How to Build an Amazing Magic System for Your Fantasy Novel, Hard Magic Systems vs. Soft Magic Systems, How to Self-Edit Your Manuscript Like a Pro, How to Craft an Engaging Arc for Your Story, How to Use Deus Ex Machina like Stephen King, ProWritingAid or Grammarly? Do users of angelic magic have to join some kind of religious group? Update/thoughts soon. I see the basis of a rational magic system there, and you have good limits. Ive been working on a magic system in my head, but would like help on a few things. Telekinesis and teleportation require an explanation as to how you direct your power outside of the body. Re: hollow mages this is the fate of the previous mage who had the protagonists familiar she traded away bits of her life in order to extend it, until she ends up functionally immortal but with very little of her original self left, (she breaks the bond with her familiar in the process in order to make deals with more powerful spirits). Is magic inherited, gifted, obtained, or learned? But magical things do have specific usesHarry writes essays on the uses of different plants in potion-making, for example. Some get better with time, some get worse. I think that should cover it, and I hope to get more advice to help me become a better creator. Wavelength: Determines how strong the affect it has It's an important aspect to think about as it'll heavily affect your story universe. For example, if your characters can telekinetically control objects, your story will be more interesting if each character can only control a specific type of object, rather than being able to control anything they want. Mind is represents consciousness Lets delve further into this topic together. I havent even gotten to the actual magic yet. Finally, there are magic uses who seem to draw magic from the earth itself. We've covered limitations in several parts already, whether it's how powerful spells are or how much power you can gain, but it's important to emphasize limitations again. Theyre bodies cant store energy, thats a Condit thing. Dryads represent trees but usually can move about unless they are hamadryads which are locked to a particular tree than a tree type. The Mages dont rule, but merely maintain a beneficial relationship with those that do, but the Empires form of transportation (and thus commerce) is almost entirely dependent upon magical meansSo what does the Imperium bring to the party?