Make the Magic Work: Create a Stronger Magic System
Are you ready to cast a spell on your magical world? This post starts a series about building magic systems with an emphasis on built-in dilemmas and conflicts.
Tag: magic
Magic System Development: Magic Storage
Personal energy (also needed to cast spells) cannot be stored but can come from others or one’s self, depending on skill level. Magic can be drawn from the nearest sources, ley lines, or nodes, depending on skill level. Magic can be drawn from artifacts regardless of skill level. Magic can be stored but a storage […]
Magic System Development: Magic Origin and Behavior
Where does it come from? Where does it go? The reader may never know but you sure should! Know the source and behavior of the magic in your world – not just to help with consistency but for inspiration. The generation or creation of magic may be indued with spiritual, scientific, or historical significance. Changes […]
Create a Magic System: Social Implications
Know the effects that magic use has on society. Unless the ability to use magic is something that everyone has to the same degree, it is yet another personal difference that will set magic users apart. You need to decide both how others respond to this difference and how magic users themselves respond to this […]
Create a Magic System: Magic User Character Traits
Yesterday we looked at building backstory for a group’s ability to use magic. Today we look at how the ability to use magic shapes the typical individual. We look at creating life-styles, personality traits, and common feelings that are rooted in the ability to use magic. Magic use might foster particular life-styles. The reclusive nature […]
Create a Magic System: Magic User Backstory
Know your typical magic user before you start getting creative. Know who can do it and why, as well as how it affects the character on a personal level. This will give you part of the typical personality, background, and life of a magic user. While these traits might vary between types of magic users, […]
Create a Magic System: Types of Magic and Magic Users
Types of magic structures and types of magic users are closely intertwined since the first defines how magic is harnessed into spells and the other is partly defined by how they cast spells. Consider creating multiple types of magic users and magic systems. Doing this gives you more freedom to play with ideas and issues. […]
(quote) Christopher Paolini: instinctive magic use
“Eragon cried out, and in his desperation he reached for Saphira and the Eldunarí… and without meaning to, he drew from their stories of energy. And with that energy he cast a spell. It was a spell without words… His was a spell of instinct and emotion; language could not contain it.” ― Christopher Paolini, […]
Create a Magic System: Spell Casting
Today’s blog focuses on creating a system for spell casting. Writers usually start with this element of their magic system. They usually – but not always – have a good grasp of how their magic users cast spells. But in creating my own world, I this was one of the last things I decided because […]
(quote) Ronald Dahl on magic
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” ― Roald Dahl
