Specific effects include communicating with others, working together as a group, and riding inside the minds of others. If you want you can also make a difference between Nyads and Nereids the usual river and spring nymphs and large powerful Sea nymphs. The term magical effects refers to the ways in which magic influences and alters the world around it. The Lord of the Rings is a low magic setting, but it is a high fantasy setting. If you actually have light magic and youre just not telling them until later, then great; youve foreshadowed without even trying. A basic form of mana manipulation is cloaking their bodies in mana to protect them from harm (sort of like Aura in RWBY). However, it makes it harder to build tension when power levels can change at any given moment as needed, especially at climaxes, where emotions will naturally be high. In time cities arise around these safe harbors, and ever so slowly life begins again. If most people are one or the other, and Conduits are rare, then most Conduits will also be the children of Interferers. Why should I only have one source of magic? If you figure out exactly what each type of thread is doing to hold the world together, you can not only extrapolate what magic they can do when woven, but also predict the damage that the world will suffer when too many of them are used. The only other limiting factor to the magic is that in order to produce the energy in the first place, is that you need Inspiration to help channel your thoughts & familiarity. The audience will be looking for the pieces that might come together in the climax to enable the hero to win, rather than waiting for the hero to have an emotional moment when there is no other viable turning point. One of the things I noted in that comment is that what seems to make sense differs between individuals, cultures, and even species. I definitely have more work to do. magic system. For a small redistribution of energy or matter, this is hardly a large price to pay. Conduits take magic energy from their surroundings, and Interferers take energy from Conduits to do magic by adding a bit of energy to the system (making a gust blow harder than it would, for example). What do you think? Telekinesis: You mention psychics using their own energy for telekinesis. Old magics can occur without any intent. Magicians train to control different aspects of reality, but a magician is also constrained to the limits of reality. You have the tank, often a warrior, who has great armour and a lot of health and will draw attacks and take the damage. Martin or the show writers lean hard by revealing how it works, I think theyll reveal something thats logically consistent. Our bills are paid by our wonderful patrons. In Dune, those who are exposed to spice develop powers over time. Theres a reason why RPGs with team-based fight systems (I use those when playing around with the RPG Maker myself) are often based around the Tank/Damage Dealer/Buffer principle. Magic systems can even serve as a vehicle for theme, exploring topics such as power, privilege, oppression, and greed. It sounds like youre going the scientific route with energy. But that doesn't mean all magic systems work equally well for stories. If a villain is gloating about killing the heros friend, the hero gets really angry, they attack with powers drawn from their newfound fury, and then the villain *still* crushes them before mocking them for their pathetic temper tantrum, then the audience isnt going to establish a connection between sudden emotional outbursts and conflict resolution. And for Mind and Body, Distorter will be their name. If I can find a way to make it work, it would be cool if sound can be harnessed and redistributed as well. (And I LOVE the idea of sea water improving magical power- its like a psudeo science in the sense that you could say that the Sea Water makes the magic (like electricity) conduct better and so being around it over long periods would wear off on you and make you more powerful? Random Treasure Generator. I was wondering if any of you could give your thoughts on it. Honestly, I cant think of a reasonable or cohesive cap on what it can do so I hope the limitations will balance it out. *someone like me* well dont I feel important! Hey Ryan R Im still plugging away at it (when Life lets me anyway! This generator gives you names for their various alliances, covens, and clubs. Most of the time, this yearning leads them to the Towers, where they are never seen again. Things holy magic can do include lighting incense, putting people to sleep, and pacifying demons. Nevertheless, you will always introduce something which, as far as we know, does not exist in reality. It flows through all life and can be controlled by any sentient object. A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R.R. Weak to medium Hydro, very rare chance of getting weak Eco as well, Learns magic more easily than other races. a conspiracy to hide everyone selected (difficult to justify how they manage this). Who knows! (As a side note, I mentioned teleportation because it would help get the various alien species in my universe together quickly so there could be stories based on interaction between them. Mages connected to certain Primals are sometimes more common in parts of the world than others. What I was thinking but forgot to put it in my original comment was that it could be because of their bloodline, their ancestors used that kind of magic so it comes easier to them. To do this, I would need to work out whether adding the sorts of new particles and forces needed for this scenario to what exists in real life can be done in some mathematically consistent way. Learn everything you need to know about grammar. The protagonist doesnt understand Naming well either, so we never expect him to solve major plot problems using soft magic. I have seen several people on StackExchange Worldbuilding, for instance, and commenters on the HPMOR fanfic, talk about how changing natural laws can cause problems and criticize many writers lack of thought about this. Using items means a disarmed magic wielder might be powerless, it could also mean every magic wielder has an item unique to that person, perhaps even with their own unique abilities. The expeditions that have come back tell of fantastical landscapes, filled with mystic flora and fauna. For Light and Darkness, Shade will be their name. Life is responsible for, well, life and health. However, as we are all well aware humanity and its constructs are fragile things and some event happens that upsets the norm; war, a terrorist attack on these factories, solar flare, etc Regardless this event causes a change within these factories, the main computer systems get a little bit fried, perhaps even gain a modicum of self-awareness. Magical properties are randomly given to some creatures and elements (eg: Fire breathing dragons, Gem stones that arent affected by gravity)- this type of magic is Irational but still has rules (depending on each specific example), But the most common form of magic is the one humans can control- this is a rational hard magic that is all about Energy, our ability to create & manipulate it. So you've figured out what the source of your magic is, but who and what can tap into that source? 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. However, if were shown the hero struggling more in fights as a result of exhaustion after using said ability (e.g. By adopting a specific mentality and pairing that with martial art forms, they can move and manipulate their element. What is the development of science, your description of kinetic or thermal energy makes me think the inhabitants have some scientific knowledge, but if thats the case why is it that they havent studied transpiration? I forgot to mention the Towers :(. I still have hopes to use it someday, but Im not sure for reasons Ill give soon. A magical source is where the magic comes from. A rational magic system follows rules, thats what makes it a rational system. On Way of Kings Shows Us the Damage Meta Mysteries Can Do. Check out my other generators Mother wont take kindly to that. In some magic systems, gods or other powerful beings are the source of all magic. Bodily energies wouldn't make for a great choice as the body runs out of all types of energy, at least in real life and most works of fiction. Now we go back to the Beginning. This has been extremely helpful! Try to group together similar effects, sources, and costs. First off, Id like to say that your idea is amazing! Moon magic is cyclic in its strength, strongest during a full moon and weakest during the new moon, and is also weak during the day. What about Time? Emotion-based powers arent impossible, just easy to do in a way thats ultimately unsatisfying. That also means that magic is an entity of its own, hence experimenting with it can be highly dangerous. Your approach may vary wildly from other fantasy authors, and thats okay. The latter, sorcerers, actually do not have magic ability. (The more kinetic energy in the object, the harder it is to stop, as remember, you are the cork and you are the one who must withstand the energy that you are withholding from the tendency towards balance. However, I am suspecting my response to it will be pretty long, and I have other things I need to work on. While she does talk about how it adds limitations, that doesnt actually seem to be her primary focus. What are the interconnections between the ideas Ive come up with? A rational magic system is supposed to be understandable. I went through this process recently with an RPG Ive been working on. Slytherin still could breed dark wizards and witches perhaps they have a tendency towards dark magic. In this guide I will cover the major aspects part of most magic systems, hopefully it'll help you create your own magic system and provide you with a checklist of sorts to make sure you're not forgetting an important part. This suggests that telepathy and telekinesis (at least if I go with something like your suggestion) imply some form of teleportation. Magic can be taught and learned, but like the Arts or sciences, whether someone is good at magic or not depends on their inherent skill, talent, and dedication to their training. But it technically isnt magic if you put yourself in the characters shoes. Could perhaps some or all of them be elements alongside the classic four? Im using the elements as chemical states and even nature transforms between them (ice to water, water to steam, or the other way around for water). Ive been working on a magic system in my head, but would like help on a few things. However, you can mix pieces of magic plants and animals in a pot and get powerful effects. For example, in The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien uses the near omnipotence of the One Ring to explore the dangers of authoritarianism, which he fought as a British soldier during WWI. Once eaten, the magical substance builds up in their systems until they focus their will to cast magic. If you are not creating a game, where you want a firemage be as powerful as a dark wizard for balancing sake, your magic doesnt need to be symmetrical. Untold masses dead, fear, uncertainty you get the idea. But fighting style isn't the only thing that could change when you decide whether or not powers can be combined. You can take the time to practice it yourself, but youre better off finding a teacher. That will keep your characters from going deus ex machina at you (meaning suddenly doing something they shouldnt be able to, just because you need them to). Theyre more afraid of the death of their world than their own personal death, however. Lets delve further into this topic together. Some extra stuff: There could be plots in which some would try to exploit/affect this source of energy but there could be a mental cost, such as suffering and being unable to think straight, for those who had to provide it. also just a thought, you also could have mentioned the Eragon series which uses language as the limitation for casting, and physical energy for fueling spells. 2023 Mythcreants LLC, all articles, art, recordings, and stories are the copyright of their respective authors. *squeals* Chris you are my hero and your articles inspired me to try writing and you are very, very, very awesome *squeals* If they need to gather energy beforehand, they cant just build a wall of ice without any preparation (which limits their powers). This may or may not be an insuperable obstacle. In this case, rational, soft, and hard come from Brandon Sanderson. In the TV show Im writing, there are dryads, nymphs, and naiads, which are all parts of nature. You can certainly use that, even though information might sometimes not be easy to find. 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. Im working on setting up a writing blog on WordPress, mirroring it to tumblr. Divine magic is often more powerful/useful, but isnt always reliable. Sandersons Third Law. To craft your framework, just answer these questions. Moon magic: Moon magic draws power from the spirit and energy of the moon. Just because the system has volumes of lore and backstory to support it doesnt make it a rational system, though it does help to make it more believable. This also gives some spirits incentive to become a mages familiar they get much more experience of the human world by being there than collecting random memories. However, a few fantastical powers can go a long way toward livening up many fantasy stories. When you look at all your categories together, you shouldnt find any large gaps where a category should be, and two categories shouldnt be unusually similar. A waterbender cant control air or earth or fire. A system where the only users of this magic are at first the cultists until the Heroes learn it out of necessity and self-defence, and accepting the price that it separates them farther from the group consensus of reality which is the measure by which society defines sanity, and that in fact belonging to a species of animal as social as humans are means that diverging too far from your species in the way you perceive and experience reality carries certain risks and costs to it, more or less well understood to tradition and to the majority of systems of magic because what most of these theories agree on is that the more minds believe that something is So, the more difficult it is for one individual Mind to impose a different understanding than what the Many agree on EVEN IN THE PERSONAL REALITY the putative magician themselves inhabits, and CERTAINLY if they have to use the force of their personality, belief and magic to convince other individuals that what THE MAGICIAN believes as fact is in actual good and honest coin Really So in the shared consense reality they all co-inhabit by reason of their shared belief that they do in fact have at least some things in common in their universes, enough to make a Reality of and enforce/defend it by the power of your shared beliefs. Mages draw energy from these Primals to cast spells, but are limited by the amount of Primal energy drawn, mainly from environmental factors. Or some effect it has on the world? That can create an interesting dilemma if a person primarily driven by a particular emotion starts to lose it, how likely are they to remain committed to their goals? For Time and Space, Keeper will be the name. Magic is part of an enormous range of stories, but finding 2 stories which use the same magic system isn't as easy as it may sound. It could also be from astral radiation or human emotion. As far as using body energy outside of the body is concerned, this is something you will have to wing. But the Mother eventually grows tired of such a long and drawn-out abuse of the balance, with the plants greedily hoarding the sunlight for themselves each day; in autumn she begins to draw water out of the plants, more than just the droplets that form on leaves in the morning. ;P. I doubt anyone will read this, but I had this flash of inspiration on my commute home today for a magic system for a book thats been spinning in my head for a while. First, if its similar to someone elses that is purely coincidental. Shapechangers all use either the strong or weak nuclear forces, and telekinetics and poltergeists use gravity. One or all could be part of the system and manipulation of the paper in . Ive found this post while looking any information about making own magic system for an cRPG. Certain effects that were considered: In a superpower system, spells are unique to each individual. For example, a character could bind own mind blob to a fire blob and basically then he will control those fire, while his body will unconscious. Rituals are easy to execute, but can be dangerous. > how are you handling the problem that (I would imagine) youd have to assign EVERY object/environ in your game world a energy attribute/variable. A guarded merchant named Willip seeks a company of . Tension and payoff are reduced if the reader feels like a solution to something is as simple as a character just ratcheting up their feelings. With that said, lava could still count as fire, so the point about magic being based on fire vs. ice might still stand. A grammar checker, style editor, and writing mentor in one package. 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. you have to touch the person youre putting to sleep or touch the demon youre pacifying. They instead study the laws of nature and learn to manipulate them. Now the fall is a far more distant memory, and one less likely to be associated with mages, but the habit has become too ingrained to change. Obscuring the rules is easier if the cause and effect can be separated by space and time or the cause isnt directly observable. Gaining power Combining powers Limitations A curse rang out as he knew he should of just got up instead of trying to weave when he was too tired to focus. In the Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix, necromancers can control the dead using bells and music. The four elements are chemical states: solid (earth), liquid (water), gas (air), and plasma (fire). Not that hard to extrapolate. Fantasy Name Generator. Because that makes it much more obvious and harder to forgive if you do need to break a rule for plot. Hi there, I know this blog was posted a while ago but Ive only just found it and its exactly the kind of thing Ive been looking for, plus Ive seen more recent comments here so hopefully theyll be some people still interested. .and It would probably look a lot less like the X-Men than a lot of fictional magic systems do. You need to think it through and you need to make it understandable for the reader, because otherwise they cant imagine your world and they cant dive into it which is why people read stories. Souls allow us to exist as Individuals, separate from the Aether. More like youre a easily broken, magical gun (Aim, shoot fireball, repeat.) As far as the potions are concerned specific plants have always been said to possess magical properties, which is why they are used in the potions. I made myself wait until morning to reply Luckily for the majority of the population of the Voden Imperium, the nanites are happy to sit mostly dormant, quietly replicating away. Rewriting and revising is what turns the idea into something worth reading. Moreover, there are clearly references about people performing experimental magic that can have deadly consequences, for example Luna Lovegoods mother dies from experimenting with magic and there are parts of the Ministry of Magic that regulate magic and how it is performed. Id especially suggest that, because your holy magic is used by priests, so it, too, is tied to the gods. Magic in Tolkien is a reflection of _spiritual_ power. If you eat after dark, shell take away the blessing. Sun magic is strongest at noon and weakest at night. Cool system, sounds like it has great story possibilities. You have the damage dealer, usually a mage, who can deal out a lot of damage, but has weak health and often limited choices in armour, making them vulnerable in a battle. In case if something enters inside such bonded blob it will exit on the other side of the bond. Im creating a story set in a dragon-people city, but humans do exists. Spells are also incredibly varied, which makes adding randomized details a . Every action we take, even the most mundane has a profound effect on the Flow of Creation. That was exactly what i thought! Magic, though commonplace, isnt an essential element in fantasy fiction. Water was taken and later give back. However, humans actually have relatively little energy I dont have the precise numbers, but I have read that using only your own energy, you wouldnt actually be able to lift very much at all. So, in my story world theres a plague spreading among the populace known as the Grey Death (somewhat analogous to the Bubonic Plague). If they need to rely on chanted rituals, they cant do something in a few seconds and they cant start a ritual while the enemy is looking for them, because the voice would lead the enemy to the hiding spot. Some feel cohesive; others feel random. You can have that, too, while still retaining rationality. There are Waterbenders that Bloodbend, Firebenders that shoot lightning, and the occasional Earthbender that Metalbends. It takes many years to master. The God of Parties, on the other hand, would be very chaotic. Practitioners are all female. Hey! SWAMP, kind of based off of iguanas in design, rare chance of getting magic. In this world i was playing with humanity had long ago developed nanotechnology as a means of improving quality of life; whether that meant cleaning up the environment, being used for medical purposes, or for body augmentation didnt really matter. You should take a look at Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality.Google search it; itll come right up. Vampires are electromagnetic, which is why they are hurt by sunlight (photoelectric effects), are solid but turn to dust when killed (they actually are dust, and their solid form is a magnetic shell), have superstrength (they can easily lift metal objects, and can use opposing magnetic forces to move their own body quite forcefully). We accept that our universe works the way it does without necessarily knowing which physical law is at work at any given time in any given thing happening. So, if we want to maintain conservation of energy, we need to assume another power source. Source Materials Who and what wields it How to wield it What are the powers? And the One became Two, Two became Three, and Three became All Things, (Actions) Without this action, the person is consumed by the power, turning into a brute beast, only wanting to destroy those with more power then themselves. You make good points about the gap between different kinds of magic. Now the magic is tied directly to ones own life force, the more magic they use the weaker their magic becomes and the weaker they become, with rest their strength will come back but their magic will not and if they run out means they used up their entire life force so they die and the only known way to regain all their magic and life force is to take the life of another completely consuming their victims life force\magic. That would make Harrys choice important in two ways: hed be the odd one out who can control all powers (like the Avatar controlling all elements) and he would be limited in what he learns to control by the house he chooses. I also had the idea that there would be some very powerful, old spirits who have long-standing contracts with humanity as a whole. Can they absorb a gust the then use that to start a fire, or can they only use it to create a stronger gust? The lich controls the power and consumes it, the specre is consumed by it. One final aspect to think about is whether or not those who cannot wield power can somehow gain the ability to do so and if those who can wield magic can lose the ability do so and if those changes can be reverted. This isnt a formula for magic systems, but a guide for those not sure where to start or what exactly is a magic system. All magic can be learned by anyone, its just that the magic they didnt inherit will be harder to learn. The only difference is Life energy contained in every living creature, and every creature has own Mind ball in place of real brain. There is a bit more magic involved in the storyline, but just for that part, do you think that all makes sense? All are well known for changing things theyre associated with into other things or even changing other women into one of them, so that can be fun. Character Power Generator Your character has the Illusions (Can create and destory illusions) ability! The Chinese traditional elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, a different classification scheme that is equally arbitrary. Mother takes away the gift of sunlight and its heat and sends all of the water down upon the plants to punish them in their death. (Unless you take the elements as actually solid, liquid, gas, and plasma, but this isnt mentioned in the show itself, might make magic too powerful, and there are some states of matter that dont fit into these groups). Those who dont contain their power are simple called Unchained, with the name of their source before or after the Unchained, if you want to designate it further. Is it connected to religion or religions of your world (since something based on the principle of good and bad [if you have to keep that, use evil instead of bad] should have a connection to religion)? Thats cool. (oops, forget this one!). Wizards arent included in this; as far as we know, you cant just simmer a wizard in a pot for a few days and end up with a magic potion. Sorcerers tend to specialize in offensive magic except the temptresses, necromancers and spell book readers. If you use this source, decide why reality is so malleable is everyone in a dream or a virtual reality game? However, if your magic system serves more to create a fantastical ambience than to resolve any major conflicts, then explaining how magic works on the page likely isnt necessary. But we know some things. If you're using this generator, you might also find the Magical Artifact Generator useful.

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