What Makes a Magic System Good?

Comments · 127

• ID

  @idnyftw · 1 year ago

  my computer science background ironically made me lean towards working on a magic system that I can just tell the reader "eh, it's wizard stuff, don't think about it too much... point the wand and long press!"

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• SA

  @sapphirewingthefurrycritic985 · 1 year ago

  I like the idea of just having spells named after what they do, a lot like in RPGs. That way you don't have to explain what the spell does because it's in the name of the spell.

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• MA

  @magosti-85 · 1 year ago

  Something I’m trying to do is write an unexplained hard magic system. There are rules that some people know, magic works in a certain way, but only wizards know the ins and outs of spellcraft, and they are a secretive lot

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• CA

  @Cazleb_Baker · 1 year ago

  Brother really cooked with that food magic system idea 😎

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• ST

  @StrawberryGurl22 · 1 year ago

  I think that the ability to have "pushing your luck" be a mechanic in a magic system is always pretty fun. When there's a certain amount of exertion of your power that is relatively ordinary, but, in the heat of the moment, you can use more power, or more magic overall, at risk to the safety of you or those around you in either the short or long term. A lot of the time this pushing it type of system is classified as dark magic or something, but it doesn't really have to be. One of my favorite ways of doing this is, if a magic system uses some sort of fuel, turning yourself into the fuel being the method of pushing it. Cannibalizing your soul for power, stuff like that

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• TH

  @TheJSJosh · 4 months ago

  Suddenly feeling the urge to write a lil story about food-based magic

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• FL

  @flyingfoamtv2169 · 1 year ago (edited)

  I like magic systems that are connected to the human mind, with the departure from reality being the fact that thoughts affect the natural world. It allows for a very diverse depiction of magic with simple and defined rules.

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• TO

  @toavalutaa · 1 year ago

  Here is an idea regarding a possiblemagic system I&apos;ve considered for a Yugioh-themed fanfiction adventure: <br><br>Magic is something almost all living beings can do inherently, albeit with specific magic types (based on the Yugioh attributes) and internal magical reserves. <br><br>I.e. a mage can only cast fireball naturlly if they are born with fire magic as an inherent ability. <br><br>And to make it more balanced, the inherent magic is only as good as the user&apos;s knowledge of their skills. This is so a weaker user can take down a seemingly powerful user through tactics and ingenuity.<br><br>As for non-users, magic can be channeled or cast through magical items. <br><br>This with the only expection being Divine magic, which can be used by divine beings (like gods and dieties). And only the setting&apos;s creator god has full access and knowledge of all magic types, barring one legendary item:<br><br>Sabatiel, the Philosopher&apos;s Stone. In my story, I plan it to be a macguffin rumored to give the user access to all magic types, as it&apos;s creator attemped to tap into the divine to meet or surpass even the creator god&apos;s power, but it got lost throughout the ages until a rumor appeared of a possible sighting, causing a massive search for this almighty object.<br><br>Thank you for reading this rather long list of rambling ideas of mine.

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• ST

  @SteampunkSnowLeopard · 8 months ago

  Something that&apos;s really sparked the magic of writing magic systems was researching cultivation magic systems. I much prefer it over Vancian/genetic systems.

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• SP

  @SpazaliciousChaos · 1 year ago

  This is giving me a lot to think about with the game I&apos;m developing. It&apos;s a ttrpg, one where characters are, at base, humans that carry equipment to do things, really honing in on creativity and capacity for tool use, and peope defining themselves by the tools they carry. This includes magic, which so far is threefold:<br>1. Magical tools, much like other tools, but do strange things that may not be explainable, like a skull that can speak for the dead or a finger bone of a dragon that explodes when broken.<br>2. Relationships with beings that can do magical things, like trapping a djinn in an iron pot or signing a contract with demon who appears when called.<br>3. For lack of a better term, Creative and Ritualistic Meta Social Behavior. This game argues that some things humans do, like swear oaths, sing, exchange tokens for luck, etc. are an act of magic, and treats them as such.

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• NO

  @novacaboose8077 · 1 year ago

  It&apos;s a little thing but the Skyrim music always makes me feel at home. Also, side note: &quot;Fingers of the Mountain&quot; is the best name for a spell I have ever heard. I have yet to hear something beat it and I doubt I&apos;ll be able to myself.

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• GL

  @glanni · 1 year ago (edited)

  I have an idea for a magic system where either a fairy or deity grants people magic that&apos;s based in a personal handicap. Like a prothesis or even a push to improve from the entity. <br><br>Eg. Girl is disabingly shy, insecure and sensitive but she has/gets telepathic powers because some entity demands she deal with the fact that she can&apos;t control what others think. Just an example I came up on the spot.<br><br>But what I like about this approach is that the magic is directly woven in with their personality, and studying their powers inherently forces them to face their flaws.<br><br>I haven&apos;t written anything on this, but I like to wonder which powers other people would have when I see their flaws.

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