fantasy magic system generator
Hes also known as the God of Mischief. Oh, and thanks for the compliments! Korra did it but that was more so of Avatar state then an Airbending technique. However, certainly Interferers might be rewriting history to make themselves look better. Like it doesnt work on them or around them? Only one. Obscuring the rules is easier if the cause and effect can be separated by space and time or the cause isnt directly observable. In Avatar, most benders can only manipulate pure water, earth, air, and fire. ^_^. (For the record, though, strong emotion results in power use isnt actually a element I like in a system.). For example, a tree nymph can make a leaf tornado appear, but cant work with other materials. ), Fire/heat (fire is a more fickle form of energy and as it is intangible, it is harder to hold on to, though not as hard as air. Many soft magic systems include magical creatures: centaurs, mermaids, nine-tailed foxesthe possibilities here are endless. This type of magic is tricky and potentially dangerous, as the faerie in question could seek out loopholes that benefit them and take more from the person than what was agreed. Just remember that great ideas are only the start, solid implementation has to follow, and learning that takes a lot of time and practice. Source Materials Who and what wields it How to wield it What are the powers? (Find out more). Youll have to figure out exactly what characteristic weft threads are adding, but thats completely doable. 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? What about their views on the consumption of food and water? How does a user summon magic, and how does that magic manifest (i.e. Otherwise, the humans world will fall apart. To the Avatar thing: the point is not using a scientific system for your magic. He has three great articles on building them, named after what he calls his three laws. 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. Motion If a person can wield both kinds of magic, do they influence the person? I think that Ill change the names to be about the Towers, instead of what I have now. Maybe the mad mage could be a catalyst for that, tampering in magic that drives off spirits (or becoming one herself? If magic is based on emotion, those Apaths could, perhaps, nullify it? If were told that a heros ability tires them out, but they can always push through their exhaustion when they need to most in the story, then we stop considering their exhaustion when considering whether we should be worried about them. Im now looking for consistency. There are plenty of sources you can use, like bodily energies, energies in the air, power bestowed by the gods, powers within blood, pools of magic in the world, a worldwide life force, magical artifacts and so on. All life on Terra (my world) is born with a connection to one of these Primals, and what magic they can perform depends on the Primal theyre connected to. We've covered limitations in several parts already, whether it's how powerful spells are or how much power you can gain, but it's important to emphasize limitations again. Obviously you can also combine both ideas, just because you can combine spells doesn't mean you have to. I definitely have more work to do. Soft magic is vague, undefined, and enigmatic. Anywhere there is festivity or drinking he might try to have some fun, which could make for an epic night or a lot of destruction; hes the bane of every tavern and bar. How does the energy reach an object (including a brain) without affecting and potentially being dissipated by everything in the way (including air)? Usually, magic comes from magic users, the gods, magical creatures, or a specific substance. You can use our ProWritingAid Sensory Report to make sure youre including sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell in your magic system. What I really dont like about this article is the formula on how to create a magic system. The answer to which one (or more) to pick is again entirely dependent on what you need from your magic in your story universe. They're overall stregenth of that ability is average. Occult Network-- The magic Internet. If George R.R. But those who have returned have never been inside the Tower. Lets delve further into this topic together. This is where Im stuck for, to the moment. I was wondering if any of you could give your thoughts on it. For this reason, it is particularly dangerous to withhold kinetic energy and should be redistributed as soon as possible else you risk dismemberment from energy escaping randomly). Youre deluding yourself if you think that. The mandrake has been considered magical, because its roots do look vaguely like a human being. However, a few benders can bend their element when its in a different form or less pure. The duration for using paint is limited and if your paint bottle runs out life will slowly start to sap out of you. Other than that, most answers are really just what do you want? However, I will say that if magic uses up energy in the environment putting out fires and stopping movement for instance that would probably create some interesting scenes. This is the easiest part from technical point of view in my current design. As bestselling author Brandon Sanderson explains, most magic systems can be classified as hard or soft in nature. moving more slowly, using other abilities less effectively, taking more hits), and the hero tries and fails to use the ability when theyre already at their limit, then we come to understand exhaustion as a real limitation that doesnt just go away as needed. But in case of computer game, need to implement those rules somehow. While she does talk about how it adds limitations, that doesnt actually seem to be her primary focus. Preview. To have the power of the Towers, one must have originated from them, or been taken to it by someone from the Towers. Because people tend to be put off when your story changes rules in the middle. Another aspect of it are the Akashic Records where all the information of Creation is stored. Perhaps magic-users know what magic can be used for but are not concerned about why it works that way; for all we know, that could be the way most wizards and witches feel in Harry Potter. Reading this made me realize a plot hole before I even put it on paper, I cant thank you enough for the editing time youve saved me! Though I have some questions mainly concerning what allows some to manipulate this balance for a certain time? They each have powers, but only relative to what they are. 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). Precursor aliens might do the job if they had certain motivations (such as wanting to set up a certain situation to see how it develops), but this raises questions of how such a large group made of many different individuals could all stay hidden for such a long time. Some people make a long-term contract with a particular spirit to channel its energy themselves, with the spirit becoming the casters familiar. Of course, I wholeheartedly believe that considering each element of your story is the surest way to craft an engaging novel. Novice mages are taught how to bring out their mana to create energy bolts, shields, weapons, and constructs. 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? This description generator will generate a short random description of a spell, including its effect, appearance and inventor. 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. However, understanding how magic can operate in fiction is key to ensuring that your magic system serves your story rather than undermines it. Your success depends on your knowledge of the gods, your relationship with the god, and your ability to make an appeal. Thats what its all about. Since the protagonists are on this side, it would remove a lot of tension. Otherwise, your categories will feel contrived. If spellcasters can run out of magic, itll be easy to put them in a tight spot when you need to. Though a mages mana reserve grows as their body gets used to their energy loss, certain acts of magic that require large amounts of mana can leave a mage drained of energy and will require them to rest and recharge their energy. 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. As fun as fantastical powers can be to write, crafting your magic system with care is key. 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. Now, of course, this is magic and doesnt have to follow real life but by the same token, as in real physics, it doesnt necessarily have to seem sensible to humans (think of how weird quantum mechanics is). 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. It wasnt meant to be a rational system (although the EU developed it into one and, no, Im not going into the midichlorian desaster), it was simple old-fashioned fairy-tale magic, the kind which does exactly what the heroes need it to do. This is super helpful, thanks so much for taking the time to write it and to provide examples. Ripple: The last step. Rewriting and revising is what turns the idea into something worth reading. But in the real world, moving out of the way would be easier; since spells have straight paths when cast, why use magic when theres an easier non-magic method of avoiding harm? Basically the spirits want more knowledge of the human world, to experience it through human eyes. would even mathematically work, as all existing particles and forces seem to be related by deep mathematical symmetries. If you don't combine spells you'll have 2 (or more) people fighting together, but not as one being. In Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson, magicians owe a demon years of their life in exchange for magic. Many fantasy authors incorporate magic into their stories simply because fantastical abilities are a fun means of escapism. Anger Heat. the frequent earthquakes that break up the surface of the earth and reshape it releasing gasses from below. (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. The Towers will 3 pairs of contrasting ideas. Kristen Kieffer is a fantasy fiction writer and the author of Build Your Best Writing Life and Self-Publishing Simplified. If I use strength to push a boulder, that boulder gets the amount of energy while moving (with a little bit of entropy when it comes to friction, of course). Used by the guy who commands sand zombies or something? Despite that, it can still be used to many different and wonderful effects, think like some of the stuff Aang does. If your mage has a limit on their powers (and having a human with unlimited powers is probably going to break a story, at least with that human being the hero), the limit must always be the same or you need to give a reason why it is different (the character is exhausted and thus cant muster as much magic or the character took a specific potion which boosted their powers, for instance). Also, I read that chemical changes play an important role, and those probably cant be detected externally at all. It could range from absolutely anything to a single effect such as moving objects or pausing time. It isnt a common thing among people of this world, but it is an esoteric art comprised of ancient secrets passed down through generations within a tribe of acolytes. 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. Naturally, youll want a few people in your setting with powers that are unusual among magic workers. The way it goes is that the universe of our perception is just a projection, an illusion if you will, of the real World, the Sea of Energy. Magic source description generator This description generator will generate a fairly random description of a the way magic works in a random world. When an Interferer discovered their ability to pull power from a Conduit and affect the world, they were shunned for interfering. air benders can also create a vacuum around the head to suffocate some one (same guy did this in season 3). These structural integrity threads can be used to apply physical force to something. Group B dont have magic at all. Those affected will suffer from chronic pain, skin lesions, and become prone to violence; but they will also gain super human strength. There are a few keys differences, in that the forces that determine a Vibration are its Wavelength, Frequency, Harmony, Color, and Ripple(subject to change). I really like the distinction between on the one hand the rational-nonrational scale, on the other hand the hard-soft scale. This is where your magic system will become unique, even if it shares elements with existing works of fiction. And after reading this article, Ive found there is one important question missing: How exactly magic affects the world? Lets take a closer look at what these terms mean. Notes on the world: humans are at a hunter-gatherer to city-state level of development, gods are real but you can never talk with them, spirits are everywhere and run on fae logic, and demons are corrupted spirits that will ravage towns/cities and curse people. Its easy to handle in books, because author can just describe the effects. Now, I havent seen anything about your system, apart from what youve written here, but one easy distinction to make would be to give the angelic side healing magic and the demonic side something like destruction or seduction. 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. An explanation for the seasons has its roots here as well. Sky: Sky magic draws power from the vast sky, movement of the winds, and from thunderstorms. You don't have to have an exact cost, like making the average human able to cast 20 fire balls before being tired, but having a cost relative to each other spell will help make sure your magic system is at least relatively realistic in the sense that there's a logic behind it. The magical effects that affect the physical world all manipulate one of the four fundamental forces of physics. but gods, spirits, and demons can. Just knowing how everything works can go a long way. Start by looking for further implications of what youve already established. Know How Your Magic Works Here we discuss considerations outside the scope of this article, such as the effect magic has on society. And it would explain the marked as an equal thing, too. ), revising, scrapping, re-revising, Because I never seem to do anything by halves, my original idea for my book has spiraled out of control into a series, set in a Sanderson-esque system of loosely connected worlds. In Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, magic comes from specific metals, like copper, tin, or aluminum. This same punishment theory may explain why humans are killed for trying to harness and redistribute sunlight. The World we perceive and interact with all stems from the Energy, called Aether, and the Vibrations that come from it, all make up our world. It does what it needs to do in the books. Figured out the important themes and used them to craft something that fits more within the setting. 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). 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. Let the dragon ride again on the winds of time. Thats cool. For example, you can create a magic system that has very clear rules for your protagonist but only vague rules for your antagonist. Most magic systems used in medievalish fantasy have groups of people with access to the same spells and abilities, though their talent with magic will vary. This was long enough ago to be remembered as an advanced society falling, but its manner of advancement being conflated with the magic that exists now, and most specific knowledge of it lost. I like your idea about the gods randomly interacting with the world. Absorb Project Summon Dispel Protect Destroy Restore. Its really creative and for the most part completely logical (and since the people in the story are acolytes, there is no scientific explanation needed since it all seems to fit within your model). Now I think I covered everything, please comment, I accept anything you want to contribute, thank you. No matter what magic they practice, it all centers on the manipulation of their mana to connect to the natural forces they want to control. 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. Once eaten, the magical substance builds up in their systems until they focus their will to cast magic. In my world, magical ability isnt something youre born with, or ordained its contracted, and the Mages Guild, who hold tremendous political sway, (as their magical abilities provide a fundamental key to the functioning of the expansionist Empire that serves as the primary backdrop/Antagonist) is whisking people away in an attempt to stop that fact becoming common knowledge and keep their power consolidated. A rational magic system is one where every spell is guided by the same metaphysical laws. Another limitation is that you have to touch whatever youre casting a spell on, e.g. 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. Hm, I had not planned on it, but it might be interesting. It doesnt have to make sense in our world, but in the world of the story, it does. Some are carefully planned; others contradict themselves and lead to plot holes. Light Magicians are taught to learn about the natural forces within magic if they want to better control them. That was exactly what i thought! And if they can add energy to it, it sounds like they have to absorb that energy like a conduit. Viewpoint characters dont use magic and the audience doesnt understand how it operates. High Magic and Low Magic. Martin or the show writers lean hard by revealing how it works, I think theyll reveal something thats logically consistent. Theyre part of a task force to reweave the knots. What limitations does the magic put on the wielder? A few generations later, some of them did discover the truth, but kept it secret for fear of being blamed by association for the fall, and of people fearing a magical plague happening again. 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. Here are four common categories you can consider. 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. Side note, can anyone contact the spirits, or does it require a special gift.. Thank you the idea about energy. Before you build your magic system, youll need to decide what kind of system you need to create for your story, because different magic serves different purposes. What do the spirits get out of it? But that doesnt mean all magic systems work equally well for stories. But we know some things. Its a very complex mathematical theorem, but the really basic idea I understand is that conservation laws and symmetries are connected. For more inspiration and guidance in creating your magic system, I recommend these articles and resources. Magicians train to control different aspects of reality, but a magician is also constrained to the limits of reality. Each time Harry, Ron, and Hermione find themselves in danger, they can only escape that danger using magic that weve already seen them learn. Eco (plant life). Cool system, sounds like it has great story possibilities. I still have hopes to use it someday, but Im not sure for reasons Ill give soon. I think that is arguable, but fine I personally want to read hard magic systems anyway. 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. magic system. A common mistake when building magic systems is to forget to include costs. If you want you can also make a difference between Nyads and Nereids the usual river and spring nymphs and large powerful Sea nymphs. Using this site means trees will be planted. The pulp could be made of something special that allows for different effects when treated differently. In some magic systems, gods or other powerful beings are the source of all magic. Specific effects include waking the dead, sending dead spirits back into the afterlife, and binding the dead to follow their commands. This is one of the most exciting things about writing fantasy: getting to design your own magic system. Other examples include alohamora and colloportus, reparo and diffindo, accio and depulso (learned but not named in-series, as I recall), etc. In the Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix, necromancers can control the dead using bells and music. I just finished the entire creation story because of these questions as well as creating a more refined system of magic in my book! 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. For a small redistribution of energy or matter, this is hardly a large price to pay. That would then explain why accidential magic can happen when someone is enraged or otherwise under emotional pressure its triggered subconsciously. Slytherin still could breed dark wizards and witches perhaps they have a tendency towards dark magic. Stars: Star magic draws power from the vast expanse of the cosmos, and is primarily psychic in nature. Or you go back to the idea that words shape the world, which is why we have the word enchantment which comes from chanting. Random Magic Shop Generator. If rational magic systems only had a basic framework, they might get dull. Magical effects will make a bigger impact on your readers if you use all five senses. There are 7 types of energy that all link with one another (the first two I made up as a pseudo science which explains the workings of Life & Sentience in a pre-modern scientific age), Sentience