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I could talk about my magic system for hours, but I will leave it at that unless anyone would like to know more XDXD
"Hair. Mouth. Cheese of yak. Come, Sintar, bRiNg a MeLoN."
Okay, I have some time today, so I’m going to write out my thoughts and advice. I might come back to this tomorrow.
So, for anyone who’s interested, here’s my tips for
Designing Magic Systems
I like to think of there being three main aspects of a magic system: Access, Effects, and Cost. Access refers to any prerequisites for using the magic. Effects are what the magic does. Cost is any downsides to using the magic. Of these, I think effects is actually the least important. Access and costs can both be very important, but cost probably a bit more so.
Access
There are a lot of creative ways to have people access magic. The two most basic are ‘you’re just born with it’ and ‘anyone can use it.’ Having a magic system where people are just born with the abilities can be a bit boring, but it also can be done in interesting ways (one simple way to make it more interesting is to explore the social and cultural implications.)
Likewise, a magic system that everyone can use might seem boring as well, but there are interesting things to do with that as well. A downside is that using magic doesn’t make anyone special, but on the other hand it lets you put more emphasis on skill and technique.
Beyond these two basic set-ups, there are practically endless amounts of creative methods of access that are usually far more interesting. As an example, a magic system I’m currently working on involves these sentient trees, which can form a bond with a person, giving them magical abilities. I think this set-up is pretty strong, because it adds some nuance to what could otherwise be a plain power-set: for one thing, a sentient being adds some interesting dynamics, and also, the magic user’s powers are reliant on an external stationary object, which could be destroyed.
That’s all I really have to say about access. There’s a ton of possibilities, and not really any rules, so I don’t have any advice on the subject other than to keep it in mind. (It’s also something I still have issues with sometimes.)
Effects
There’s a lot to say about this.
I said before, that this is the least important of the three main aspects of a magic system. That’s might seem weird, since this is the bulk of what the magic system is. The thing is, however, that narratively, exactly what the magic does doesn’t have that much effect on the story. Any given problem in a story could be solved by many different magical abilities.
Additionally, coming up with effects that are actually original is hard. Most magic systems share a lot of similar abilities with others. But the thing is, the core ability of a magic system isn’t the most interesting thing about it. That’s why you can make an interesting, unique feeling magic system about telekinesis or natural elements even though those are extremely common magical abilities.
The way to do this is by using unique limitations. As an example let’s use the ability to manipulate fire. This is extremely common, and on its own pretty boring. But there are lots of interesting things you could do. Maybe you can’t create fire, so you need to carry around the materials to start one. Maybe can only control how hot the fire is. Things like this could make a fire magic system feel unique, despite how common that general ability is.
Cost
Cost is a broad category. Essentially, I’m defining it as anything negative that results from using magic.
The most basic sort of cost is for magic to require some sort of fuel, which is quite literally a cost to use the ability. It has the negative result of leaving you with less fuel to use later. This isn’t a particularly interesting cost. It’s not bad—the majority of magic systems have this in some form—but it’s often better to have additional costs as well.
Going back to the fire magic system, there’s a lot of super interesting costs that could be implemented. Maybe using it causes you to heat up, eventually reaching dangerous internal temperatures, or it could just outright inflict burns on you. Or, conversely, it could take heat, eventually causing you to freeze.
Magic could sap your sanity, delete memories, turn you evil, etc.
You could have external costs as well, like decaying things around you. I don’t think this is very common, because I can’t think of any examples, but that would just make it more unique if you think of an interesting one.
Inspiration
Some thoughts about getting inspiration.
When I get inspiration for a magic system, it’s often only one of its three aspects (access, effects, and cost), and then I have to extrapolate the rest from there.
For example, I have a magic system called Immancy, which started out essentially as a cost idea: I wanted it to be super open-ended, where basically the only rule was that there was always a cost, which you could choose. (As a side note, that didn’t work out great, but it eventually evolved into something a lot better.)
Sometimes I might also get a super strong idea for a certain visual. It might be related to the access, effects, cost, or be a bit vague, but don’t discount that. Visuals can be a really strong aspect of magic.
Balance
As a final thought, sometimes it’s hard to find a strong method of access, effect, and cost for a magic system. As I mentioned, I often get inspiration for just one of the three, and oftentimes you can’t just mash three ideas that came to you separately together. You want it to be cohesive.
I have a lot of magic systems, and sone of them have a core idea I really love, but other parts are weak.
For example, Resonancy was a magic system of mine that started out with an interesting set of effects, and a powerful visual. The visual was these glowing crystals. The effects were based on manipulating fundamental aspects of reality: matter, energy, space, time, etc. Unfortunately, I still haven’t found a strong system of access/costs for this magic system even though I love the visual idea and the abilities.
Another example is Immancy, which I mentioned earlier. I had a strong idea for costs, but when I tried to write a story with it, the effects were not as interesting as I had thought, and the whole thing was mediocre.
I don’t really have a solution for this issue. It takes some fiddling sometimes. Sometimes it just doesn’t seem to click, and things just don’t quite work. The best advice I’ve got is to ask yourself what access/effects/cost would fit most interestingly and cohesively with the access/effects/cost you have.
Last note: not every magic systems needs all three of the aspects to be super interesting or unique. Costs is probably the most important—good costs will automatically make the effects feel more unique, but it’s also possible to have fairly generic ones.
So, that’s that. I hope that was helpful to anyone who took the time to read all that.
🏰 Fantasy Writer
✨ Magic System Creator
🎭 Character RPer
📚 Appreciator of BooksI have a sort-of magic system. It has many, many problems. I love it so much but it loves to frustrate me and taunt me with its vagueness. Maybe you guys could help me make it make sense?
Inky magic system
Basic idea: Ink is a dark liquid substance found in the earth that has the ability to give life. It brings to life the inanimate objects it is used on, but those objects are still somewhat limited by their physical form. (Example: A teddy bear may be able to waddle around, but it won’t be able to suddenly talk without a mouth or voice box.)
Ink is a natural resource that is mined in the same way we mine oil. In this industrial steampunk world, it is mostly used to power machines, such as trains or automatons, but some people have begun to be more inventive with the resource.
Other things:
- Ink loses its magic the farther away it gets from the earth, so it does not work on flying machines.
- Ink is much more effective when it is refined, which is a process that was recently invented in this world. Raw ink doesn’t do very much as far as people know.
- If someone were to drink it they’d get really sick and they’d probably start hearing voices or something and need to go to the hospital. Don’t know why this fact matters, but the question of what would happen if I drank it was really bothering me for a couple weeks.
🎵It takes a long time to wait 🌻
My magic system is element based, and characters are either born an elemental or not.
I think.The elements are earth, air, fire, water, darkness, and maybe electricity or starlight??? I’m not sure. I think there is also a way to attain all abilities by murdering those possessing them in a certain ritual, but I haven’t figured out the ritual yet. Dark Magick of some sort probably.😭 If you can’t tell, it’s very undeveloped. There are also verrry rarely prophets. There is a cost to using these abilities, but I don’t know what is is.😭 Clearly, I don’t know what I’m doing. XDIf you want to find all the cops, they're hanging out in the donut shop.
What in particular do you want help with? It sounds pretty cool to me. I could probably help, but I’m not sure what you want to improve.
🏰 Fantasy Writer
✨ Magic System Creator
🎭 Character RPer
📚 Appreciator of BooksThanks! I guess it just sounds worse in my head.
It seems a bit limitless to me, I guess. It can bring anything to life, including just plain drawings made with the ink (Benny, from the adventure role play, if you remember him). Is that too overpowered or vague? I could just be too hypercritical of my own writing lol
🎵It takes a long time to wait 🌻
*Runs away screaming as writers chase me with pitchforks*
*Appears out of random shadow, that is somehow in the middle of a field with no clouds, or any object to cast a shadow.*
This your first time?
Tagging people I seem to remember using magic before. I’m not sure if y’all are the right people, I apologize if you aren’t
I use magic… Why no tag for me? ;(
Anyway! My magic system is like what you said about fire and elements and stuff!
But there is more to it, based on the person’s element, they also get an additional power!
Like the Keepers! (From my WIP… They have a bunch of different names…)
Like, Rapha, the Keeper of water/ Rapha, the Keeper of the throne of healers/Rapha, the Arraia princess.
Or, Jirah, the Keeper of earth/Jirah, the Keeper of the throne of providers/Jirah, the earth prince.
Or, Shalom, the Keeper of air/Shalom, the Keeper of the throne of peace bringers/Shalom, the air queen.
Or, Nissi, the Keeper of fire/Nissi, the Keeper of the throne of warriors/Nissi, the Eidechse chief.
(Wait, I only have four Keepers… So I just listed all of their names… Or they could also just go by, Rapha, Jirah, Nissi, and Shalom…)
ANYWAY!!!!!!! Say if you take Rapha, she controls water… but she can also heal!!! With the healing power of water!
Or Nissi, he controls fire! But he can channel that fire to make himself stronger!
And Shalom, she controls air! But she can also “change the mood in the air” aka she can semi control emotions! (Like she can blatantly just change peoples emotions, but she persuade their minds in a way… aka mind control lol!)
And Jirah, he can control earth, but he can also make plants grow extremely fast! So it is connected to their element!
But then there is also animal/humanoid, species… That is a whole other thing! And plus there is the powers that they can achieve themselves… But that is also a whole different thing too! If you would like to hear more,i could tell you! (sorry this was a lot, and fine of you didn’t read all of it)
"Hate has caused a lot of problems, but it hasn't solved one yet"-Maya Angelou
It seems a bit limitless to me, I guess.
Okay, I can see that. Yeah, I have had similar problems where I made a magic system that has a very simple premise, but as a result, I was worried that there were a bunch of overpowered applications of it that I hadn’t considered yet.
Your magic system has some interesting parallels to a magic system called Awakening from a book called Warbreaker. Have you heard of or read it? That could be a possible source of inspiration. (To be clear, I’m not suggesting you just copy ideas from that, but I think oftentimes, seeing how one thing does it can generate ideas to do something completely different, but other things that it does might be applicable to your system. If you want me to, I can give you a brief description of how it works.)
Moving on, it seems to me that some good limitations could help a lot. I’ve got a few questions:
- What is the process of using Ink to bring an object to life?
- What useful things is a sentient Ink drawing capable of doing?
🏰 Fantasy Writer
✨ Magic System Creator
🎭 Character RPer
📚 Appreciator of BooksMagick (I’m specifically spelling it with a ‘k’ because the ‘k’ on the end is connected to the occult, and I want it to be clear that this is bad magic)
Wow, I didn’t know that. I just spelled my dark magick with a k because it looks more evil. XD
If you want to find all the cops, they're hanging out in the donut shop.
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