Youll have to figure out exactly what characteristic weft threads are adding, but thats completely doable. The only limit is your imagination. 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)? Source Materials Who and what wields it How to wield it What are the powers? If an Interferer and a Conduit have a baby, can it do both, or just one? The Sorcerers faction includes wizards and witches and then theres sub factions with in the faction that include the like of temptresses, necromancers and others I cant seem to remember though I have them written down somewhere. Or you could think of the world like a house, a house has wood beams to hold the roof up, pipes to run water, electrical lines to power appliances, etc. Yes, that kind of priest would merely be concerned with problems with the locals, then their holy magic can be far more generic and not tied to a god. Having people combine spells into more powerful versions could make for a great epic battle at the end, but at the same time not allowing them to be able to combine spells could provide for epic fights as well. Magic systems can even serve as a vehicle for theme, exploring topics such as power, privilege, oppression, and greed. The mingling of the two forces became one and allowed him to harness the energy of the wind, one face of the energy of nature. We'll also throw some brainstorming questions your way to help get those magical creative juices flowing! For example: Your mum had speed enhancing paint you will have some form of it or Your mum had paint that could carry poison within it, your dad had paint that could take the physical appearance of slime and your grandma had paint that floats you now have floating poisonous slime paint. As far as your magic/psychic system goes, I can understand why you put so much thought into it. This is only my second serious piece of writing, so its really encouraging to hear stuff like that from someone like you. Dryads are usually depicted as tree spirits, or tree nymphs. Its not uncommon for people to have phantom sensations or memories weeks later. Why are naiads more rare and powerful than tree nymphs? Dryads represent trees but usually can move about unless they are hamadryads which are locked to a particular tree than a tree type. Viewpoint characters dont use magic and the audience doesnt understand how it operates. Decay would be speeding up entropy, life would be slowing it down or trying to instill some kind of anti-entropy into the world. That would then explain why accidential magic can happen when someone is enraged or otherwise under emotional pressure its triggered subconsciously. They weave certain spells out of the fabric of reality. Their eyes are blinded and their organs fail. Teleportation is hardest to work out, because it includes the idea that you can pull a body apart and put it back together without any consequences. How does the energy reach an object (including a brain) without affecting and potentially being dissipated by everything in the way (including air)? As you can see there's a lot to explore, but if you're looking for names you're at the right place. If youre at a loss, take a page from Brandon Sandersons Mistborn series. If they need to gather energy beforehand, they cant just build a wall of ice without any preparation (which limits their powers). Blood is messy and sticky and gets in the carpets and really why would anyone who doesnt consume it like a vampire want it as payment? It could range from absolutely anything to a single effect such as moving objects or pausing time. Like I said, its early days but any feedback or suggestions would be super-welcome!! The tricky thing about powering magic with emotions is that it generally leads to magics power being as fickle and arbitrary as emotions, which often makes problems and solutions stemming from its use feel arbitrary. Our Plane falls on the 3rd Dimension, being far away from perceiving the World. Spirits that become familiars dont affect ambient energy levels, making casters bound to them potential weapons, but also wild cards (whether theyll help you depends on both their own desires and their familiars). Fortunately it's not that hard to create a magic system, so this guide will be relatively short, but the amount of work you'll have to put into the creation of your magic will depend entirely on how detailed you want to get. Its important to note, that the Elements dont just represent their Physical Aspects, but also their Symbolic and Conceptual inferences as well (Through their Mental/Spiritual Aspects), for instance: Water is often associated with the concepts of Healing & Nourishment. This helped me separate my thoughts and put them into their own categories. This creative freedom is exciting, but it also requires a lot of world building work to invent a fleshed out and textured fantasy world. Do you want to bring in some elemental control? So you've figured out what the source of your magic is, but who and what can tap into that source? Generate a random star system, including primary planet . Maybe Im just saying this because Id defend Harry Potter to the ends of the earth. If you read up on no other system of supernatural beliefs, check out that one. If Luke needs to suddenly call out for help while hes hanging below a floating city, he can make contact with Leia (without their relationship already being an item). Isnt that glove from the Aladdin TV series? What about Time? Pick just one source; Ill discuss how to add variety to your magic system in the next section. Heres how this system might break down: A long list of constraints will make it much easier to craft conflicts in your story. Learn everything you need to know about grammar. Magic does exist and it follows rules is the first rule of a rational system. I know its been a whole since you made this post, so I was just curious to how things have developed since then? If anyone interested, here is description of my magic system: 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. You can also read his books to see his systems in action; personally I recommend Elantris. What do you think? Spell lists ala D&D can be fun, but spell creation in a limited system can be very flavorful. Group B dont have magic at all. The more practiced & skilled to are then the less and less the Inspiration needs to be- if youre unskilled then youll need a person running by or a tree falling over to Inspire you. Magic source description generator This description generator will generate a fairly random description of a the way magic works in a random world. Light? Life Once you master the flow of paint in your body you can change your appearance temporarily. Practically everyone uses it in their daily life. Silver drains magic and therefore hurts all creatures that are magic. This has been extremely helpful! You can CREATE new energy into an object that wasnt already producing that same energy (Eg- Can make a static ball move in any direction). Oh, I see what I missed last time. I would use something else than Gluttons. Just remember that great ideas are only the start, solid implementation has to follow, and learning that takes a lot of time and practice. Ill be talking more about it in another post, if someone wants to here it, of course. If you want to create a hard magic system, you need to create a specific logic that serves as the foundation for the entire system. Electronic telepathy, involving artificial devices that transfer neural information, could work, as scientists are already developing them. That might work as well, but its a completely different kind of image in peoples minds. Magic should be limited when its used by humans or other mortal beings as opposed to being used by divine or other immortal beings. Rewriting and revising is what turns the idea into something worth reading. Then I really thought about the setting and that would breakwell, everything. Water was taken and later give back. For telepathy and telekinesis, you mention sources of energy. Those who do contain their power are called Gluttons, based off of glutton for punishment (could someone help me with the names, im horrible at naming things). Good luck! If by the end of your story the hero has reached twice or more times the power of the strongest person at the beginning of the story, how come nobody ever reached that same level? But we know some things. Crafting a hard magic system can be a complex endeavor, though soft magic systems also require a bit of care and attention to develop. Remember that energy doesnt dispense when its used it only takes on a different shape. Like it doesnt work on them or around them? Everything in Tolkiens world is carefully designed to avoid being preachy; but most of it also has a carefully thought out moral and spiritual basis, and certain elements (like whether orcs have free will, and are therefore capable of redemption, and the implications of what that means in terms of how the good characters treat them and the conflict with the literary need for a clearly identifiable group of bad guys) troubled him to the end of his life and which he was never able to resolve to his own satisfaction. It could make for some interesting stories devout priests who get power from their deities versus irreligious wizards who use their own will as magic, bio-mages who draw upon the weak but flexible power of living organisms versus geo-mages who draw upon the mighty yet unsubtle power of the land itself, Incidentally, all examples you have given, Cay Reet, are about how (most) magic-users cannot use all types of magic; do you think that a system in which magic-users could learn all possible magic (at least theoretically) but what is possible for magic in total is strictly limited could work? You just need a set of guidelines that all of your spirits/nymphs follow. I wanted to try my hand at creating a really fleshed out magic system for fun, and never planned on making a story or doing anything with it. Ive currently got 11 tabs open that I need to look through. Now we go back to the Beginning. The difference between the two is obvious as soon as you watch the show. 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. They worship and revere the Living Mother (what we might call Mother Earth) in her role as custodian and bringer of balance. Ocean: Ocean magic draws power from the ocean, and by extension the rivers and lakes that are born from and eventually lead back to it. For every energy type, there are only 3 things you can do with the energy. (Obviously, if character will try to use this energy, he probably will die). It is the rarest of the Primals to be connected to. Are there magical societies or a hierarchy of magic users? I wouldnt use categories of magic to add structure thats just adding more complexity. Or does it speed up molecules/atoms to heat up an object (if we have mostly realistic world)? 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. Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, on the other hand, use soft magic. Now I think I covered everything, please comment, I accept anything you want to contribute, thank you. However, we can only identify that its missing because the system is logically consistent as a whole, even if it isnt perfect in every depiction. I still have hopes to use it someday, but Im not sure for reasons Ill give soon. There might be countless possibilities, but it will take countless years to figure it out. Novice mages are taught how to bring out their mana to create energy bolts, shields, weapons, and constructs. Students learn all of the spells by memorization, because theres no logic underpinning how they operate. If spellcasters can run out of magic, itll be easy to put them in a tight spot when you need to. What fuels the use of magic? Interesting perspective on the Harry Potter magical system. That is, unless you have a good relationship with him. In the TV show Im writing, there are dryads, nymphs, and naiads, which are all parts of nature. So, this sheet is meant to help fantasy world-builders (for any media, not just writing) create the magic systems for their worlds. 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. You need to lay enough groundwork and hard rules and be consistent enough that it doesnt feel like a character getting angrier will suddenly allow them to start winning a climactic battle, at least not without significant buildup to such a thing happening. If youre curious about the source However, a few fantastical powers can go a long way toward livening up many fantasy stories. And theres nothing less exciting than a story where the protagonists can escape from any danger just by wishing it away. VINE DWELLER, based off of forest nymphs from folklore in design, moderate chance of getting medium to strong Eco magic, extremely rare chance to get weak magic of another Type as well. In the last forty-eight hours, this generator has been used to construct 2069 worlds and 9.7 GB of images. These are some questions you should ask when you brainstorm. These systems usually adopt limitations from physics, even though physics is no longer a limiting factor. Our bills are paid by our wonderful patrons. For just one example, Magoroh Maruyama describes several different possible paradigms of science, which Robert A. Freitas Jr. mentions in the book Xenology in relation to extraterrestrial minds. Thank you Cay, for making me think more about what i want my theme to be. As fascinating and logical as this system is I think it loses points on merit and morality and doesnt set a good example to children. Is it light and full of wonder? The thing is, I believe that what seems natural in these cases can depend on culture and perhaps even species. Talking of the wedding feast: Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. 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. (Currently called Reformancers, Defining and Refining) The act of changing your sight so you see physical objects as they are, without needing light (eliminates glare and shadows), and the act of changing your sight so you can see a person's inner qualities. Because people tend to be put off when your story changes rules in the middle. Theres nothing wrong with using classic tropes, but if you want to stand out in the crowded world of fantasy, youll need to learn how to use them in an innovative and unique way. Eating it makes them very sick, but because of this immune reaction, they can cast more powerful spells. Its no surprise the avatar state causes plot holes during Avatar: The Legend of Korra. While both of these magic systems have mysterious aspects, in general they dont invoke wonder because they are understood. And the One became Two, Two became Three, and Three became All Things, (Actions) It takes decades to master a Type of magic, and some mages (any magic user, human, dragon person, whatever) spend their whole lives perfecting one spell. Its way too easy for me to make everything very logical with a specific and predictable reaction to every action, which is why Im trying to challenge myself with a more whimsical(?) Everything is made up of atoms and molecules, so someone with the power to influence those could, theoretically, create new stuff in a heartbeat. Angelic and demonic can stay, but dont over-simplify things. 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.). Check out the Magic Generator Pack . Im definitely not saying these problems are insurmountable, just that I do need to think a lot about them. Once youve figured out what kind of system you need, its time to start building! 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. If every spell casts creates a knot that must result in the opposite effect happening then the incentive to kill becomes too great. Weft threads are what complete the fabric, what is woven through the warp to add the unique characteristics of the fabric (e. g., a 3/1 twill for denim or a satin weave for silk). Update/thoughts soon. Start by looking for further implications of what youve already established. Most of the time, this yearning leads them to the Towers, where they are never seen again. Are humans the only species capable of doing so or are elves, trolls or even some or all animals able to do so as well? LEARNED: obtain magic through studying. If youll allow my humble but informed opinion. Its time to create a system of rules that will feel cohesive and logical. What are the interconnections between the ideas Ive come up with? If Rowling had, for instance, done more with the four houses, things might have been different. And of course, if magic is viewed as an alternate system of physics theres no reason why physics has to match the naive categories of intelligent beings; think of how weird quantum physics seems, for instance. Elements are a system which people understand easily, other systems would have demanded more explanation. 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. His thoughts compiled into a fortified plan to use his skills to accomplish it, without leaving his comfortable chair. Mind energies are bit different: they could be bonded with any type of energy. What themes will your magic system discuss? Making sense in case of magic means being constant. Its said more than once that really powerful wizards and witches can do wandless magic or even do magic without saying the spells. A common mistake when building magic systems is to forget to include costs. Check out my other generators Lets delve further into this topic together. ;). If there are no downsides to using magic, your protagonists might soon become overpowered, able to solve any problem with the wave of a wand. 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. Now that youve brainstormed the effects, sources, and causes of magic, you can put all three together! I think rule based magic is important for worldbuilding, not novel writing. It is believed in this world, at least by this group of acolytes, that the nighttime is caused by plants absorbing the sunlight, and the dawn only comes because the Living Mother has taken it into her hands to manually restore the balance and takes back the light. However, while I do hope to write something that others enjoy, it is also for myself, and I like thinking about things and would not want to write something logically impossible. Because the setting is divided into nations that correspond with the elements, the Avatar is the only person who symbolically belongs to all the nations. (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? (A quiet lunch with my friend is much more repeated/repeatable than when I first met my best friend). Eventually, after many long and cold nights, Mother returns the sunlight and the heat, for even in just anger she cannot maintain an imbalance. Just a drop in, but your explanation of the plant use in relation to magic should be credited to Robin McKinleys use of it in the Hero and the Crown when the MC eats the Surka plant.. it almost seems like this is your reference base. However, you still need to put in the work to create a unique and compelling system that will serve the needs of your story. So if stuff suddenly falls up, we know something is wrong. Im not a novel writer, but I am a worldbuilder. Thank you the idea about energy. For your points about my magic system: yes, I know magic isnt real, so I will have to break some physical laws in my fictional world. Limiting what magic can theoretically do will dramatically cut down the number of plot-breaking scenarios you might have to deal with. Brings back memories of the magic system I was working on for a really trippy book not really super Lovecrafty per se, but set in modern day Maine among a world of dark magicks and secret cults, so in that sense an echo I lost track of back in my 30s and am just now remembering. Or you could simply say that air is good for dodging, while earth is good for blocking. Figured out the important themes and used them to craft something that fits more within the setting. Though after reading the Mythcreants article about the effects of high magic and how it might speed up industry, these two time periods might be much closer temporally. We were ripped out of the (literal) fabric of reality, shaped into a forbidden-to-visit pocket dimension. In fact, they are drawing on residual energy left behind when a spirit interacts with the human world. Magicians train to control different aspects of reality, but a magician is also constrained to the limits of reality. As fun as fantastical powers can be to write, crafting your magic system with care is key. Then you would have to decide whether someone can use all elements that way or just one (as everyone safe for the Avatar in the series). 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). For example, the Goddess of the Hunt will give a blessing that will increase the accuracy and strength of your bow, as long as you dont eat after dark. A combination of both is also perfectly possible and used a lot. (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. Emotion-based powers arent impossible, just easy to do in a way thats ultimately unsatisfying. 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. Theyre usually gifted to devout followers, but anyone can use them once they figure out how it works. About the Avatar thing, what you are saying makes more sense to me now. It's an important aspect to think about as it'll heavily affect your story universe. They will be, Time and Space, Light and Darkness, and Mind and Body. Basically at the begining of the universe the two forces (or gods) Chaos & Order struggled over which would have dominion over the world- Order appeared to win with the natural world as it is ordered and follows laws of physics ect. If a person can wield both kinds of magic, do they influence the person? Many soft magic systems include magical creatures: centaurs, mermaids, nine-tailed foxesthe possibilities here are endless. Sun magic: Sun magic draws power from the heat and energy of the sun. What about pine trees and the like, since they are always green what explanation could be given for why the mother does not retaliate against them? Because there is no sunlight and no heat, the water is frozen and white, and blankets the ground. I just thought of something related to teleportation, however. Also, I read that chemical changes play an important role, and those probably cant be detected externally at all. Ive since abandoned it and am working on something that, while in a similar vein, is quite different. Dont expect to put out a perfect draft, having to do revisions or rewrites is disappointing, but its a normal part of the process that helps us strengthen our skills. Can it be used to harm others or cause destruction? And I had trouble writing with what nature aspects nymphs, dryads, and naiads would relate to, so I went with that. 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? 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. 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. 2015 2022 Kristen Kieffer | All rights reserved. ( ): Furthermore, it is meant to be mysterious in-story and something that not everyone has. I have three ways to get magic, and four types of magic, and several races of dragon. Now, if magic in Tolkien just went by power levels like a Pokemon duel, Sauron would have won this handily, being pure blood of an order of beings who if we looked at these things just on the power level dimension clearly outranked the mortal clay that was mixed into Luthiens veins. You can get away with a strange assortment if you have mechanics that explain it. Even within one category, theres no way to extrapolate new spells because the rules are so eclectic. 2. This is the name list Tolkien draws from at least for a couple of the Dwarven characters in The Hobbit. Whether with words, gestures, complicated rituals, or just pure thinking, the idea that someone can control reality with their mind is at the base of every magical system. This was implemented to further refine (/complicate?) Vibrations function is fundamentally the same as electric signals in the brain, in that there are millions upon millions of different signals being sent and working together to achieve something, even something as simple as moving your arm. These individualized magic systems can be a great way to make characters stand out, but they also come with their own challenges.