magic

[alondor]

ok basically i need to know how people go about making up magical systems for fiction.

[Falconer]

Well, you can go with the Paolini-esque idea that spells require energy, which must come from somewhere. Or the Dragonlance concept that magic comes from the gods (of magic) and they provide the energy, but the spellcaster must have a certain level of magical power. There's also the idea that you are merely harnessing existing forces.

I personally use divine/demonic sources of magic in my fantasy.

[alondor]

I already know where my people's magic comes from i need ideas on how they get it to do their bidding

[Forgotten Dragon's Ire]

Oh how about that they must channel it through their minds or there is always the classic that certain words and gestures command the magics to their bidding or a combination of both

If you wanted to you could also require that some magic needs blood to obey

If you could tell us what types of magic there are in your world we could be more specific

[Drakel]

NVM. delete post plz

[alondor]

thank you ire. Drakel this forum is about the creating of a magical system fr a fantasy book.

As to your question ire he is a detailed description of magic in my world:
Magic is provided i a multitude of way and in multiple elements, humans are limited to a single element of mastery, if they even find the items needed to start such a thing. The elements i have settled on so far are: fire, water, wind, earth, darkness, and light, though i do plan to add more. The main character will be left to elements to master by his parents, each of these items will be imbued into two different swords. other main characters do not need these items to do magic because they are born with the power

[Drakel]

OHHH.... lol srry... I guess I misread the whole thing lol.


then I guess I'm out lol.

[Forgotten Dragon's Ire]

Ok Here is an idea you might want to use
they could mentally tap into whatever source that fuels their magic and channel it using gestures etc. all the while, depending on how well they can channel(this is where the skill and practice come in) determines how powerful a spell it is

example a Fire caster wants to create a fireball to hurl at his enemies so he taps into the heat around him(such as a fire nearby) and draws power from it to use as his fireball he then casts his spell and if a novice at channeling the power would create a puny ball of fire as he could only tap into a small amount of the heat around him while a more experienced caster does the same thing and could tap into much greater amounts of heat(say he could grab much more heat because he has had practice at holding it) and creates a ball of fire which he can hurl at his enemy and explode in a massive inferno

These sources of energy could probably include just about anything

for fire, the heat of someones body or the air the sun

for water, the moisture in the air a stream nearby someones own body fluids

etc etc i'm sure you don't need me to explain past the general idea

One note though i suggest that if you allow absorbing heat or moisture from someones body that it is only a skill taught to experienced users for a last resort as it could be considered as amoral to allow young casters that ability because if they take to much they could kill someone easy

[jwalter]

That's true with greater power comes greater responsibility and the young one might not be able to handle the responsibility with such responsibility. It would be a good concept to have the energy from the source that could be considered as the basic ones like deriving the fire energy from the heat of the body. This seems to be a good one for the magical fiction.

[Wardonis]

I use combined system of dual power, internal (bodys power) and the either power form the planets elemnts. I have it so when they spend the time necciasry to cast a spell from the either it doesn't drain them because its not their power they are using to ast with but its stronger than anything they can cast on thier own. It requires reagents, chanting, dancing.. almost a cerimony of sorts where as casting from thierself is fast and quick but not as powerful and very draining.