If you only specify one source of magic, you cant suddenly drop someone into the story who uses something different. Are there other applications that would make sense? If an elemental mage can only use elements which are not opposite, they have to choose between the four elements when they start training. They can do things with water, and also move farther away from their source (something other nymphs cannot physically do). Maybe incorporate the Lawful Chaotic axis, too? Everyone is also born with it. Some ideas are more fleshed out than other, if thats saying much. Heat Honestly, I cant think of a reasonable or cohesive cap on what it can do so I hope the limitations will balance it out. The younger generation tend to favour unconventional weapons. In my example of magic that is acquired by consuming a plant, a clever alchemist might distill and concentrate the plant down to an elixir that is digested more quickly. Really sorry about the length but Im really happy with this magic system and am wondering what other people might think of it- and the people here seem like they know what theyre talking about and are enthusiastic to hear more. Some get better with time, some get worse. Each time Harry, Ron, and Hermione find themselves in danger, they can only escape that danger using magic that weve already seen them learn. Last limitation is that the caster has to concentrate on what theyre doing. It is inspired from some character sheets that ask you a series of questions. A wizard casts a powerful spell. What important historical events in your story world were affected by the use (or failure to use) magic? But because of Saurons _spiritual_ and _moral_ corruption, ADDED to the fact that dis werent no ordinary Elfk, Luthien was able not only to win handily but to pretty seriously humiliate Sauron before his boss (no other than Morgoth, the Satan figure in Tolkiens universe, Old Scratch himself) by the pathetic ease by which she shelled him? The Living Mother may hardly notice a tiny imbalance such as this. Hello to anybody that sees this. But it technically isnt magic if you put yourself in the characters shoes. The second Twist to my setting is that the magic in my world is in fact technological in origin, Yep, Im doing the whole forgotten tech trope :-), The Grey Death is in fact a invasive form of Nanotechnology, accidentally released into the public. The only difference is Life energy contained in every living creature, and every creature has own Mind ball in place of real brain. Are all individuals able to tap into the magic source or only a lucky few? Is magic kept secret in your story world? Aurai are wind nymphs. Those rules shouldnt be arbitrary, like fire magic doesnt work on Tuesdays or you cant cast an illusion spell in months without an R in their name. The rules need to make sense within the system. Life is movement and if part of nature isnt moving (even the earth) then it resembles death and not life. To make an arbitrary assortment of abilities feel like they fit together, he gave them a strong theme. 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. Professor of Political Theory in Star Trek. The differences come into play when various factions go to war. Who will use magic: the protagonist (hard magic), or the antagonist / side characters (soft magic)? Now you have all the tools you need to create your own magic system. Other beings and worlds exist on the other higher planes, essentially are in a higher state of Existence, or State of Being, determined by Spiritual Awareness, beyond what a mortal of our Plane can even fathom. In Game of Thrones, the red woman throws leaches into a fire, and later several lords die far away. In The Locked Tomb trilogy by Tamsyn Muir, using magic exhausts necromancers, and causes some of them to bleed. Most magic systems fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. How does this constitute a magic system? If youre at a loss, take a page from Brandon Sandersons Mistborn series. If so, what differentiates them? Coins, gems, art objects, and magic items from the d20 SRD . Update/thoughts soon. So what do you think? But you can use pretty much anything you wish, whether it's a magic absorbing rock, special water or perhaps a type of wood. This is super helpful, thanks so much for taking the time to write it and to provide examples. Magic systems vary from colorful bears with tummy badges to ritual blood sacrifices. Another rare one is magic transference, my idea of that one is gaining an ability that an extinct race once used, examp. Terminology is pretty difficult to deal with, because there isnt a big enough shared vocabulary for storytelling to have the discussions we need to have on the site. None of those energies could be stored by characters themselves, so they can only use energies from environment. These people are often social outcasts. Thisbook extrapolated the authors theory that this means that by our observation of the universe we are in fact playing some role in creating it and that that bolsters the philosophical school again, dont remember its name or nearly as much as I should if I hadnt been such a bloody stoner all through college ;) that each individual lives in their own separate universe which they create or have a part in shaping. I want to make it rational, just didnt thought about it from this point. Because that makes it much more obvious and harder to forgive if you do need to break a rule for plot. For more inspiration and guidance in creating your magic system, I recommend these articles and resources. Extreme focus is needed for complicated attacks If one were to observe the Vibrations and the way they Flow(this is another process, different from the other Four Laws) it would seem whacky, but they are extremely intricate and complex. Superpower name generator Could a small group of magic wielders defeat an army of non-magic wielders? Paint can depend on someones mental state and will There are a few online articles about this: the ones I remember off the top of my head are Universal Fire and Universal Law, found on LessWrong. You can also use that fickleness, maybe, and some other things this answer mentioned, to weave in logical limitations on emotion-based magic that will make it perhaps more palatable to your readersin fact, in ways directly related to the example of exhaustion. ( ): The elemental magic of Avatar is a great example of splitting the same form of magic into different types. Plus, itll make the villain look rightfully confident and in control, rather than stupidly arrogant for powering up his adversary, and itll build up their threat level when the hero at seemingly full power wasnt a match for him. In the first book, Ron doesnt know any troll-slaying spells, so he uses the Levitating Spell to knock out a mountain troll instead. How might someone with an unusual background or extraordinary dedication take magic either a step further or a step in a new direction? This is the easiest part from technical point of view in my current design. It is divided into two domains: the stone, minerals, and metals of the land, and the flora and fauna of the natural world. To the Avatar thing: the point is not using a scientific system for your magic. Other magic that is extremely rare is healing lethal injuries or bring someone back that was just killed (only have a certain amount of time to do it). These terms, originally coined by Brandon Sanderson, are widely used by fantasy fiction writers today. Been developing a magic system for a story of mine thats in its early development stages. So, for each point in environment will be possible to calculate the energy value. (Obviously, if character will try to use this energy, he probably will die). Both Harry Potter and Avatar: The Last Airbender are hard magic systems, because they explain magic and its rules to the audience. If I knew that I could kill every jerk i know unapologetically and without remorse, and be assured that someone would be returned to life as a result of that action then whats stopping me from just killing indiscriminately all the time? Telekinesis: You mention psychics using their own energy for telekinesis. powerful mages who control transportation but do not rule (again, difficult). Nature as a such comes in every now and then as well. Magic can be taught and learned, though whether or not a persons good at it depends on their study/training, and their innate talent for the practice. These properties can give limitations but also make some stronger. In time cities arise around these safe harbors, and ever so slowly life begins again. As far as your magic/psychic system goes, I can understand why you put so much thought into it. Other examples include alohamora and colloportus, reparo and diffindo, accio and depulso (learned but not named in-series, as I recall), etc. Learning about one doesnt give a better understanding of another. Why can only some people do time magic or elemental magic? Using the Harry Potter example, the rules of what magic can and cannot do are defined throughout the books new things are added throughout the series, but there is some structure in the form of spells, potions, etc., and a few laws that are hard limits (such as the no true resurrection one), yet the author of this post states it is not rational (although hard). As far as the potions issue, again, these are based off historical ideas about magic and potions. You should understand why some spells have symbols in common but different dance moves. Youll need to set guidelines for how these beings operate so that you can explain why they do or dont answer prayers whenever theyre asked. 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. Its easy to handle in books, because author can just describe the effects. Awesome, thanks! Could you chip in? Note that most, if not all, superpowers in this generator will belong . P.S. It has been decided that the human body is too impure of a vessel, being asynchronous with the rhythms of nature, to successfully accomplish this with sunlight. Nevertheless, I will go with your assumption for what follows for the moment, as it does involve fewer changes to known physical laws and is easier to discuss (plus, I already mentioned some of the consequences of lack of conservation in my previous post). Project | Fire | Destroy | Item Such as the Sorcerers have staves and other magical items that are extensions of them selves(of course most people already knew that). Basically, all magic in the world draws power from six Primals, vast entities of the natural world: the Sky, Sun, Moon, Earth, Ocean and Stars. The law of magic that makes it so you cant summon food out of thin air feels like something invented by JK Rowling for plot purposes, not the logical result of a different set of physics like in Avatar the last Air bender. For example, a tree nymph can make a leaf tornado appear, but cant work with other materials. That way, it would mean using that energy to influence an element. Certainly using more types adds complexity that might be a burden in shorter stories, but I think you could start with the type of thread that is most prevalent, and explain more rare threads as the story progresses. this is all super helpful! Astral Armor-- "Though spun from strands of glamor and mana, the protection it offers is no illusion." Magic Formula-- Yep. Thats what I mean when I say Dumbledore and Voldemort should have paid for their enormous use of power at the ministry of magic in Harry Potter.