What's your favorite type of Magic System?

[MFontana]

Was just wondering what other authors, and readers, prefer as far as their favorite types of Magic Systems in the multiple and vastly different types of stories out there.
Personally, I tend to prefer a subtle mix between the Hard Systems and Soft Systems, when they are executed well and strive to bring the best use of those systems into each of my works as appropriate to those stories.

For my fellow authors, what are some of the magic systems you've used and are most proud of in your own works? (Shameless Self-Promotion is entirely encouraged here if you've got yourself a killer magic system in your works, and as long as it stays on topic).

 

[L1aei]

I lean toward divine systems. If magic exists, I want it to flow from a sponsor; an unknowable power gracious (or capricious) enough to share the wealth.

 

[LiteraryWho]

I feel like it depends on the story. Sometimes one is better than the other. Like, easy example, Lord of The Rings would be markedly worsened by having hard magic, whereas FMA is dependent on being a hard magic system for the story to make sense. Asking which you like better is like asking if you like screwdrivers or wrenches better. It's not a meaningful question.

That said, when I design a magic system for a story, I tend to go with hard magic, just because it appeals to my sci-fi sensibilities.

 

[CountVanBadger]

Hard magic is by far the best for writing action stories. Having a set-in-stone ruleset for what everyone can and can't do makes everything more exciting, because now they (and the authors) have to get be creative with how they use their powers instead of just "And then he raised his arms and made a volcano erupt out of the ground, but she had already conjured a tornado to fly over it, and she summoned an entire ocean to put out the fire, so he waved his hands and a rock giant the size of a skyscraper appeared out of nowhere..."

 

[expentio]

In general, for a common fantasy world, I'd like to avoid all those where magic allows individuals to change the topography. Weapons like swords and shields have to remain relevant, or every non-mage simply gets lost in irrelevance. This kind of nobody can carry any weight is like the worst for a story, if it's supposed to make me feel engaged with characters.
One of the common flaws of cultivation stories, and the like (Yes, I'm looking at you "Sapiens"!).

 

[Anonjohn20]

I lean toward divine systems. If magic exists, I want it to flow from a sponsor; an unknowable power gracious (or capricious) enough to share the wealth.

That's a soft magic system.

 

[L1aei]

That's a soft magic system.

Thanks. I wasn't confident to vote because I didn't know.

 

[Piisfun]

It really depends on the type of story.
For epic fantasy, I definitely want a hard system, but for most web novels, soft is typically better.

Even with a soft system there needs to be limits; you shouldn't have magic be capable of nuclear blasts unless the world is prepared to handle nukes. Planet-breaking spells are fine in a sci-fi world, but definitely don't belong in a fantasy one.

 

[Bartun]

This is my magic system ?

 

[MFontana]

I lean toward divine systems. If magic exists, I want it to flow from a sponsor; an unknowable power gracious (or capricious) enough to share the wealth.

That can certainly lead to a number of interesting twists in a story when it is incorporated well, and lends itself well to both systems depending on the how of the magic functions.
But based on how you described it, that sounds more like a foundational structure than one way or the other, since it could be incorporated into either one.

Hard System: The Patron/Matron grants their followers specific spells, that always behave the same way. (IE: Fireball is always Fireball. Lightning bolt is always Lightning bolt, and so on) and the follower can cast that spell and only that spell, unless they have others granted.

Soft System: The Patron/Matron grants their followers the ability to use a particular type of magic (IE: Fire Magic) and they can then cast spells appropriate to their power within the granted power's scope.

This is my magic system ?

[Image removed to save space]

Nice choice, and definitely one of my favorites as well, especially for artificers and engineers.

In general, for a common fantasy world, I'd like to avoid all those where magic allows individuals to change the topography. Weapons like swords and shields have to remain relevant, or every non-mage simply gets lost in irrelevance. This kind of nobody can carry any weight is like the worst for a story, if it's supposed to make me feel engaged with characters.
One of the common flaws of cultivation stories, and the like (Yes, I'm looking at you "Sapiens"!).

That'd be the key. Balance.
Especially with a high-fantasy adventure story, and there's always a number of ways to approach it.
Honestly, that's why I tend to prefer more of a mixed system. Something that blends Hard elements and Soft elements together.

 

[Author_Riceball]

Was just wondering what other authors, and readers, prefer as far as their favorite types of Magic Systems in the multiple and vastly different types of stories out there.
Personally, I tend to prefer a subtle mix between the Hard Systems and Soft Systems, when they are executed well and strive to bring the best use of those systems into each of my works as appropriate to those stories.

For my fellow authors, what are some of the magic systems you've used and are most proud of in your own works? (Shameless Self-Promotion is entirely encouraged here if you've got yourself a killer magic system in your works, and as long as it stays on topic).

I honestly don’t even care

 

[CinnaSloth]

In general, for a common fantasy world, I'd like to avoid all those where magic allows individuals to change the topography. Weapons like swords and shields have to remain relevant, or every non-mage simply gets lost in irrelevance.

I agree, but also disagree with this. Sometimes, in a world where everyone does magic, or has some unique ability of mass destruction, a character without those capabilities can stand out far more than a character with despite all the explosions, and magic, and craziness.

Take Rock Lee and Guy sensei for example; Both Tai-jutsu style ninja in the pool of characters that do nin-jutsu or gen-jutsu. Rock Lee single handedly had a massive effect across a generation who saw him fight vs Gara.

Or if you want a much simpler example, take Samwise, a hobbit from LOTR. He only had his pots and pans, and heart of friendship, while everyone else had bows, swords, magic, and an incredible prowess to take on entire army hoards. You could say all the hobbits couldn't measure up (duh-dun-dtzz), but through their different sense, and view, of the world, they all managed to do things no other character could within the story, each in their own ways, in order for the success of the whole.

I think no matter the weapon.. magic, sword, friendship, or silver tongue, each play huge roles, it just depends on the writer's will, and knowledge, to use them wisely, or properly.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

As a writer, I tend to go with soft magic so it is more flexible and in tune with the needs of the character and story at the moment.
As a reader, I don't care as long as its consistent.
As a gamer, my favorite so far was the system based on Viking runes in one RPG (I think it was called Ragnarok but I'm not sure). The runes tracked everything - skills, fatigue, special abilities... Casting a spell could literally take a lot out of you, especially if you messed up.

 

[CinnaSloth]

Was just wondering what other authors, and readers, prefer as far as their favorite types of Magic Systems in the multiple and vastly different types of stories out there.

Personally, I enjoy stories that proceed to tell you how things work (Hard magic systems), but somewhere down the line go "Umm.. actually ?" and you learn, that it's all a facade; That the magic you understand, you don't truly understand at all, and through the truth being exposed, it begins to dismantle everything. (Jamming a well-written soft system into the gears)
Of course you, as the reader, and the MC, would be the only ones who know the truth while still progressing throughout the story. In the end, where the MC stares off into the distance. They kind of deteriorate because of it like.... "I have to tell everyone, but no one will believe me", kind of deal.
Then when you're done reading it, and you think about it, when you re-read it knowing the truth, the book suddenly has a different feel, and things that made sense in the past, have entirely new roots you didn't see before. (a mixture.) These, in my opinion, are some of the best kinds of stories, but I'm also a tragic, darker, bleak, character-breaking-story kind of reader.
Fullmetal Alchemist and FMA Brotherhood are two animes that kind of stuck with me. Why? I dunno; There's better anime out there, that's for sure, but these two just did; Just like Romeo and Juliet (1996) also did.

 

[Golden_Hyde]

I gotta Google these terms because all I know is that magic is magic

 

[LightHikari]

As long as it's internally consistent. I generally prefer soft magic for that reason.

 

[Corty]

Hard magic systems are bad because most authors write themselves into corners and rely on ass pulls to progress

 

[KidBuu699]

First time hearing those terms. Usually when talking about magic in a story I am going with the low magic vs high magic distinction. For those of you who don't know those terms low magic means magic users and magic items are rare. Magic is almost like a legend that some people don't believe exist. Think Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings.

High magic is that magic is wide spread and magical items are available to be bought and used by others. Stuff like magical teleportation or Mage kingdoms exist. Usually magic in these worlds can be learned by anyone. . . Or at least a high number of people. Think Dungeons and Dragons

Plus you have worlds that are changing between the two. I think the Witcher and Harry Potter are high magic worlds that are downgrading to low magic.

Now back to your question. Personally I think a hybrid model depending on the mage's "level." So for low tier to medium tier mages I think hard is better. They either don't know what they are doing or are just at the level of memorization from schooling/training. I don't think people who have just learned the craft should be able to do whatever they want with magic.

On the other hand I think soft is better for high level magic users. People that know magic so well they are creating their own spells or at even make it up as they go.

 

[Rezcore]

I like the Naruto system, it's innate but you still must work on it

 

[foxes]

I would prefer a scientific explanation for the existence of magic that is consistent with the laws of physics. Even if it's fantasy.