TopHat
Minstrel
To me, worldbuilding is half the fun of writing. There is no better feeling of satisfaction then when you've made a living, breathing world with all of the kingdoms, guilds, species, climates, religions, magicsystems etc seem to fit together like a jigsaw-puzzle.
And now there is only one piece left of my magicsystem, then I hope it will finally work! Let me break in down to you;
In this system the wizards draw their strenght from a inborn power. Emotion and intention are vital to be able to make an effective spell. For example, a wizard who faces his mortal enemy who he hates more than anything, will have an easier time casting a lethel spell. If he however should be forced to cast a protective spell on his mortal enemy it would'nt work very well.
This means that people who are born with this magic, but haven't recieved training, are quite dangerous because everytime they experience very strong emotions like spiteful hate or great love for example can cast magic by mistake with unpredictable results. Through training wizards can learn to block out this power and only use it when they choose to.
The cost of using magic is their inborn power and if they try to use to much magic at once they risk of burning out their power. This can be solved by using wands, rings or amulets to increase their power. Sort of like a sparebattery.
There is more to this system but this is the basic concept. Here's my problem;
Because magic is "activated" through strong emotions and intentions its plausible to think that its a will-based system. The most skillful wizards can cast spells using only their will. However, what about the average wizard? How do you use more delicate spells like magically picking a lock or lighting a candle without having the candle explode in a firestorm? How do you direct it?
I really dont want to rip of something or use overused cliches, but I've comed to realise that most things have already been done so I should'nt think too much about it.
No matter the method, it is only to serve as a focus point for the wizard will and isn't necessary for the success of the spell.
First I was thinking of wizards learning to associate a particular effect with a specific word. But that feels to much like Eragon or Ursula K. Le Guins work. How about specific handgesture? However there are a limited number of gestures that a hand can make. Maybe both? Or carrying a book of symbols who serve as a focus points?
(Writing this far also makes me realize that what I'm looking for sounds an awful like The Dresden Files as well.)
Does anyone have any ideas of how to solve this without ripping of something that's already out there?
Yours,
TopHat.
And now there is only one piece left of my magicsystem, then I hope it will finally work! Let me break in down to you;
In this system the wizards draw their strenght from a inborn power. Emotion and intention are vital to be able to make an effective spell. For example, a wizard who faces his mortal enemy who he hates more than anything, will have an easier time casting a lethel spell. If he however should be forced to cast a protective spell on his mortal enemy it would'nt work very well.
This means that people who are born with this magic, but haven't recieved training, are quite dangerous because everytime they experience very strong emotions like spiteful hate or great love for example can cast magic by mistake with unpredictable results. Through training wizards can learn to block out this power and only use it when they choose to.
The cost of using magic is their inborn power and if they try to use to much magic at once they risk of burning out their power. This can be solved by using wands, rings or amulets to increase their power. Sort of like a sparebattery.
There is more to this system but this is the basic concept. Here's my problem;
Because magic is "activated" through strong emotions and intentions its plausible to think that its a will-based system. The most skillful wizards can cast spells using only their will. However, what about the average wizard? How do you use more delicate spells like magically picking a lock or lighting a candle without having the candle explode in a firestorm? How do you direct it?
I really dont want to rip of something or use overused cliches, but I've comed to realise that most things have already been done so I should'nt think too much about it.
No matter the method, it is only to serve as a focus point for the wizard will and isn't necessary for the success of the spell.
First I was thinking of wizards learning to associate a particular effect with a specific word. But that feels to much like Eragon or Ursula K. Le Guins work. How about specific handgesture? However there are a limited number of gestures that a hand can make. Maybe both? Or carrying a book of symbols who serve as a focus points?
(Writing this far also makes me realize that what I'm looking for sounds an awful like The Dresden Files as well.)
Does anyone have any ideas of how to solve this without ripping of something that's already out there?
Yours,
TopHat.