fantasy magic system generator

Rewriting and revising is what turns the idea into something worth reading. Is magic kept secret in your story world? If every spell casts creates a knot that must result in the opposite effect happening then the incentive to kill becomes too great. Remember that specific effects are better than broad effects. Its unclear whether there are any other self-casting old magic spells besides this one. 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. On the other hand, it definitely sounds like Conduits could be oppressed now, because they cant cast magic to defend themselves, and Interferers have a strong incentive to control them. If I may make a suggestion as to how to tie these four together, have it not be the first time this has happened. Im glad youre feeling encouraged! As far as using body energy outside of the body is concerned, this is something you will have to wing. The cycle of plants harnessing sunlight and Mother taking it back everyday is no longer considered a mystery, but an accepted fact of life. Another option is that there is a background magic field (see the TVTropes article) present everywhere that psychics draw on. But magical things do have specific usesHarry writes essays on the uses of different plants in potion-making, for example. Broken cities, old equipment, enchanted odds and ends from modern society. ;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. Though some have tried since the beginning, it has been deemed impossible for a human to harness and redistribute sunlight. Ill give a quick(ish) rundown of the basic foundation that lays the groundwork that I have so far for the magic system, Ill go into more detail if anyones interested. Should I divide my Mages into sub-classes (similar to Sandersons Mistborn)?? Emotion-based powers arent impossible, just easy to do in a way thats ultimately unsatisfying. The elemental magic of Avatar is a great example of splitting the same form of magic into different types. How could a magic user be defeated? Calm Creature. Oh wow, thats a steep price for magic. 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. I just wanted to run a few things past eyes that arent mine any feedback/critique/comments would be hugely appreciated!! 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). A strong starting point in order to define your world as "other" to our own is selecting your world's name. 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. Characters could control those energies by some kind of telekinesis (Thoughts & will) plus Mana energy. They weave certain spells out of the fabric of reality. Im working on setting up a writing blog on WordPress, mirroring it to tumblr. 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). Summoning rituals or teleportation spells for example, they too could change. I think youre overthinking things a little in your example. So far, the types of energy that can be manipulated in this way are: Air/wind (although due to its constant motion and near-intangibility, air cannot in most cases be held, but is almost always instantaneously redirected. Magicians have no power of their own except through the spirits they command. Pick just one source; Ill discuss how to add variety to your magic system in the next section. In case if something enters inside such bonded blob it will exit on the other side of the bond. will you include other living beings that conduct photosynthesis like phytoplankton or algae? Hermione explains this to Ron in the seventh book when he mentions bringing food out of nowhere. Harry Potters magic is not irrational. 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. the interactions between spells of opposing Wizards. We have a knowledge of these beings, many of them exist in our mythology as gods, angels, demons, etc. Maybe the mad mage could be a catalyst for that, tampering in magic that drives off spirits (or becoming one herself? All those rules are allow to create literally any classic spell, except teleportation/portals. Both have always existed since the beginning of time and revolve around each other in order to exist. Thats all I can think of at this very moment and I dont want to make this comment any longer. Your patronage keeps this site running. As such, a being of the Physical Plane cannot exist in a Higher Plane, as their Consiousness isnt on a high enough leven to be able to sustain itself, you wouldnt even be able to think of yourself as an actual being, and so you just, cease to exists. The job is dangerous. An even more interesting idea may be that the aliens are actually made of an alternate kind of particles I mentioned earlier. Does it just move objects/parts of object? Wraith, lich, or revenant for example. Why are naiads more rare and powerful than tree nymphs? It sends a positive message to the reader when the magic being performed is a positive being paid for by a regrettable negative but sends the wrong message when its a cheat or lethal act that is only being rewarded or reinforced with a positive. And if they can add energy to it, it sounds like they have to absorb that energy like a conduit. Telekinesis and teleportation require an explanation as to how you direct your power outside of the body. Or some effect it has on the world? And you have the buffer, often a rogue or priest, who can either buff the own group (healing, boosting skills) or debuff the enemy (lowering attack or defence most often). In addition, the spells available for use arent completely based on nonsense, or taught completely irrationally. Used by the Matrix and Mage: The Ascension, some magic systems are based on the idea that reality is more malleable than it seems, allowing some to bend it out of shape. Below, Ive outlined six general steps you can follow to forge an effective magic system for your story. These systems usually adopt limitations from physics, even though physics is no longer a limiting factor. I have two things to talk about. Also I think the name Grey Death is cool, especially if theres some in world reason? Its a generic job title for people whose main concern is to maintain relationships with local spirits and practice holy magic so they can pacify demons. the primary topics discussed in a story). That boar, the Twrch Trwyth? Some kind of mana system (where mana is the energy the mage uses to cast spells) will make the system rational in that case, because it will give natural limits a mage can only cast as long as they have mana left and they need to regain it afterwards (through rest, rituals, or whatever pleases you). Oreads are nymphs of Mountains. Its implied humans discovered the thread and abandoned technology altogether, becoming more and more dependent on magic over the next few hundred years. Its easy to get excited and bite off more than you can chew, but youll do better if you focus on fewer things. Nature as a such comes in every now and then as well. Sometimes you just get turned into a chicken. 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 size of those continental plates and their placement on the planet would be an arbitrary effect of nature, and so the magic they generate might reflect those arbitrary characteristics. It may sound similar to Avatar but it is growing. These are some questions you should ask when you brainstorm. Anyone who uses the magic of these Towers will have a name that corresponds to the pair, not just the Tower they draw from. Therefore, its probably a power you should consider not using unless its absolutely plot relevant for you to have a character who can do that. There is a cap that only the two young men of solitude have managed to break In my plant-based system, there could be a lineage with the biological adaptation to absorb the magical substance directly, without using the plant as an intermediary. The flickering flame casting irregular patches of shadows against the wall was the evidence. 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. The Living Mother may hardly notice a tiny imbalance such as this. What about Time? When the nanites were first created, their creators by which I dont mean their society, but their specific inventors failed to contain them, resulting in a plague similar to the Grey Death. The magical effects that affect the physical world all manipulate one of the four fundamental forces of physics. Its mysterious. However, set guidelines for how people react to exposure. Do you think the metaphor works when stretched so far? the frequent earthquakes that break up the surface of the earth and reshape it releasing gasses from below. Thanks! 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. A grammar checker, style editor, and writing mentor in one package. 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. The latter, sorcerers, actually do not have magic ability. Actually, one of the principles of old-time portions-making was that a plant which looks like a certain body part is good for curing that body part (actual results may vary). The willpower to make changes, no matter what kind of powers or tools are needed in addition. Specific effects include communicating with others, working together as a group, and riding inside the minds of others. Were he an adult already, thered be hardly a limit for him, apart from morals. A primary example of soft magic would be that which Gandalf practices in The Lord of the Rings. : What do the spirits get out of it? So Id rather go science fiction, or full-on, its my world, I make the rules magic. Is it dark and scary? 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. A cunning ex-adventurer named Wlfrilda seeks a company of adventurers to explore the Pikawas Jungle. The best frameworks have limitations inherent to the way they operate. 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). Brandon Sanderson has a knack for creating alluring, original magic systems that immerse the reader into the fictional universe. They grow larger and in summer they enjoy the fullness of a mature plant life. The only limit is your imagination. Gandalf didnt use his powers to destroy the One Ring, so readers didnt need to know how his magic worked to find the ending of The Lord of the Rings to be believable. Such as the Sorcerers have staves and other magical items that are extensions of them selves(of course most people already knew that). The source should give you an idea for how it might become available. You just feel the spell, you dont need to recite anything. Your storys magic system may fall somewhere between these two extremes, and thats perfectly fine so long as you understand the role that magic serves within your story. Now, there is a scene in the Silmarillion where Luthien goes to rescue Beren, the mortal man she loves, from the dungeons of Sauron (who is a corrupted angelic spirit somewhere around the same level in the angelic hierarchy that her mother occupies on the good side); and in the process she engages in a duel of song with Sauron himself, since song/music is the primary metaphor Tolkien chose to express the use of this spiritual/magical energy in the writings which were collected into the Silmarillion. : And sorry about the length of this comment. Those rules are established within the story (unlike underlying rules with Rowling might have for her magic or Lucas might have had for the Force), so at least one character must know them or learn about them as the plot develops. The list includes a thug who burns pewter and becomes stronger; a tineye who burns tin and enhances their senses; a soother who burns brass and can calm others emotions; a seeker that burns bronze and can identify other magic works; and a smoker that blocks a seeker within a certain radius. Like I said, its early days but any feedback or suggestions would be super-welcome!! Around this time Paint is able to be used freely until the children of White wage a war on the Blacks causing their power to be sealed away until further notice. The answer to which one (or more) to pick is again entirely dependent on what you need from your magic in your story universe. However, those impulses are weak, and air is not a good conductor, so I dont think such a detection would work (Im not even sure in water). Im finding that my worldbuilding and plotting inform each other more in this story than others Ive worked on. In order to fully capitalise on paint one must find a weapon they work well with and a fight style that suits your body. 7 Ways To Create A Magic System For Your Novel 1. Both are checked on periodically by officials after. The fantasy genre is one of the fastest-growing genres in fiction, and this also applies to science fiction/fantasy novels. Different fighters prefer different methods, so combining the ideas could lead to a larger variety and possibly a richer world. Mandrake, which is featured in the second book, has historically been associated with witchcraft. For some systems it could be obvious: for example, as I understand, in the Avatar those guys can control existing non-magical things (water, air, fire, earth). weft threads could determine the properties of the warp threads, i.e. And it would explain the marked as an equal thing, too. LEARNED: obtain magic through studying. Magical creatures all have an innate connection to one of the forces, which they can use in ways dictated by the kind of creature that they are. Combustial (fire) Check out the Magic Generator Pack . Or you go back to the idea that words shape the world, which is why we have the word enchantment which comes from chanting. So thats where the other two paragraphs of my previous comment come in. I would point to Ancient Magus Bride as an example where you have both soft magic such as that used by both creatures of myth and the various magi, as well as the more grounded hard sort practiced by sorcerers. Sandersons First Law A person can use their mental conviction to create any of these energy forms by channeling the Ether (Breaking the law of Conservation- Something from Nothing). Do you really have to hop 3 times on your left foot? Gaining power Combining powers Limitations Since there are clear rules in the Harry Potter series, we dont wonder why Harry doesnt just make up an all-powerful spell. This article will help you write a magic system for your fictional world that readers will remember long after theyve turned the last page. In spring, the plants are young and green, and they begin to steal sunlight. What did you think alchemy was? Cool system, sounds like it has great story possibilities. Each time Harry, Ron, and Hermione find themselves in danger, they can only escape that danger using magic that weve already seen them learn. Sometimes this is unavoidable, it happens a lot in games and long stories spanned over many seasons/novels, but for shorter stories it's best to think about what the power limit would be. If you havent seen it yet, I also recommend looking at my other post on magic systems: https://mythcreants.com/blog/how-to-create-an-eclectic-magic-system/ its better suited to creating effects that are varied and complex. Usually, magic comes from magic users, the gods, magical creatures, or a specific substance. Well, your protagonists will use magic to solve some of their problems. (Incidentally has one of the worst magic systems in literary history). A guarded merchant named Willip seeks a company of . They dont lead sermons or pray for people. The differences come into play when various factions go to war. Mana is the clean energy, without any attunement. The costs of magic can be physical, societal, or even financial. 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? If youre curious about setting/technological era, itll take place in two time periods; one in what would be Victorian times in our world, one in WWII time period. Sanderson recognized that the hard magic system is a fashion, just like soft magic was before and this article doesnt acknowledge this. Over time more Blacks appeared and White got lonely so they split their body into seven colours. In a world where the entire population can wield magic you might not have this conflict, not unless some are worse at wielding magic than others. Forms of magic include earth magic, metal magic, plant magic, and animal communication/manipulation. You need to lay down rules and follow them (which is where both Rowlings use of magic in Harry Potter and Lucas use of the Force in the original trilogy fail). If you think of the Sea of Energy as like the actual ocean, than the Planes of Existence can be compared to the different depths, and the deeper you go, the more pressure that exists. Do you need sage, or can you use oak leaves instead? You mentioned Mana, Life and Mind as the elements of your magic system. man to machine interfaces, nanites cluster on nerve ending allowed some individuals to easily interact with ancient tech, or even graft it into their bodies. 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. However, if theyre asymmetric, I think its important to establish why. But that doesn't mean all magic systems work equally well for stories. Thank you so much! So it goes like this, everyone in the world can use magic though alot choose not to because they dont want to get caught up in the conflict with all that do use it. I suspect it might be possible; after all, there are plenty of mathematically worked out theories involving new particles and forces, but Ill have to do quite a bit of research. ( ): Some of them, such as the Breath Weapons have been condenced a little bit for shortnesses sake. WESTERN VOLCANO, based off of western dragons in design, very likely chance of getting weak to strong Combustial magic, very rare chance of getting another type of magic as well. Ask yourself what sources will work well for the magical effects you want to use, and what sources will work well within the world you have created. Moreover, the party must complete the quest without killing anyone. Divine magic comes from appeals to the gods. A single push, that turned out to be a shove, pushed the still air into a rising gust of air. What kind of defensive and offensive things can they do? that were made by the gods. Using magic is physically draining. Dragon breeds or races (this is with Borne magic): Elements are a system which people understand easily, other systems would have demanded more explanation. You should take a look at Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality.Google search it; itll come right up. Hey, dont know if anyones still commenting on this but here goes. Kristen Kieffer is a fantasy fiction writer and the author of Build Your Best Writing Life and Self-Publishing Simplified. Have holy magic as something humans can gain through service to the gods, but have the gods as some random element that cannot be influenced at all. Olwens father told Kilhwch he wanted that comb, razor and scissors to dress his beard with on the day of the wedding, before he would allow him to marry his daughter. Its the same way you need to build your world logical for a novel. Everyone is also born with it. Human muscles actually can produce more energy than our brain allows for us to use because if we used the full force our muscles are capable of, we would risk injuring ourselves. Tolkien, we never find out exactly what Gandalf can and cant do with magic. The Force can do precisely what is needed. Once youve figured out what kind of system you need, its time to start building! So, in my story world theres a plague spreading among the populace known as the Grey Death (somewhat analogous to the Bubonic Plague). If youre working with leylines and the fabric of reality you should model the whole earth as a living thing(as it is)but not necessarily conscious, although that could add tension and the leylines and threads could be like vains in an interconnected system that gets clogged from the knots relating to all manner of natural and unnatural disasters/phenomenon and just like any living thing this system would naturally resemble a circulatory/lymphatic system with currents and nodes to regulate and cleanse said currents.

Miami Tech Life Telegram, Caron Butler House Racine Wi, Articles F