I'm looking for input on how to make my magic system in my world building make sense.

[Dragonmaster_Dyne]

I have a general concept on how "magic" in my world sounds on paper but I was looking for some helpful insight or advice to make it more practical and for lack of better term believable to the reader. Magic as I'll define it in my novel's lore is essentially mana manipulation. Some individual and/or species will be much more naturally adept at focusing and honing the world's natural energies generally speaking.

Humans for example would have to be extraordinarily gifted to be able to wield mana. On the other end of the natural ability spectrum, dragons and elves would just be able to feel it like a quiet whisper in the breeze. The act of harnessing the energy into a magical attack or defensive ability would put great strain on the caster's physical body depending on how powerful the spell is. A good analogy would to be think how good is the antenna hardware receiving the signal.

The ancients evolved overtime to have certain elemental affinities created as a response to their environments that were able to passed be to their kin. Individuals who lived in hot arid deserts or around volcanic areas would have far better ability to wield fire and scorching heat as an element. Inversely, one who was born in the cold frozen tundra would have an incredible ability to drastically drop the temperature and create ice based projectiles from the present water moisture.

Another idea I wanted to play around with was having the use of magic considered severely taboo in my world. Over several millennia, most of the general populace lost the ability wield mana out of a long forgotten fear as a result of the Grand Cataclysm (working title) that destroyed the once highly advanced world. The hatred of mana manipulation stems from (mostly) human's hatred of the dragon race as they once blamed them (which they were responsible for good reason) for the global destruction and carnage of the past.

I figured I'd get my magic system at least put on paper and I'll fine tune as I go. Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[pmmg]

Does it need to be explained to the reader?

Just having a character who has interest in it, may lead to conversation about it, which can bleed out over time. Someone who studies it may know a bit more about mana and how it works than another, but maybe they don't really know either. They just try to work their spells, and sometimes offer commentary. "Casting the Fireball was unusually hard today, must be a drain on the Mana in this area."

I think if you spell it out, it kind of lends itself to an RPG feel. But those are all set to rule cause players need some definition. People living in those worlds may not really know it all inside and out.

Really, the story should be told from the eyes of the characters in it. What do they know? and when would they care to speak about it?

 

[Mothyards]

I think the way you have it here could lead to it being semi soft.
An understanding that where you were born can affect the way you get magic if you get it at all, even having the people at the time think its tied to their birthplace rather than it being generational, if its set in a time period where biology isnt well known and people dont tend to move far distances.

I also agree to some degree with Pmmg above, does the reader need to know this? The less you explain usually the softer it is and vice versa, ultimately how does it tie into the story and how the characters view it. I can imagine some people believing that magic is a gift from the world or some local deity or something because of how it would appear regional, which could lead to story themes of home and ties to the land.