Interesting Magic Systems

[TheJudger]

So, i was thinking about interesting magic system around the world, and it would be interesting if you share your ideas



I have 3 ideas about that:



First one, we have the common magic system based on "magic circles", where you can create circles in your body that represents your magic capabilities. My idea to "modify" that was to do so the character can choose an internal part of the body to create the circles, and more the dangerous, more the results.



Second one is math/geometry based, like, your character has to mentally or physically draw geometry figures to do certain magic. Each different geometry figures has different results, and you can mathematically modify each figure, to distort and obtain more options to the same result. I really don't know how to put this to work, but well, its an idea.



Third one is one based on programming language and logic. Like, you have some sort of "runes" that would act like an language. You'll have 2 alphabets, the first one is the runes that represent "keywords", things that are predefined, and the second one could be an normal alphabet where is for writing strings and numbers that represents variables. Like, if the word "Element" was an keyword, and you have to set an variable like "fire" to define the element of the magic that you wanna create. This is the one i personally more like, how bout you?

 

[Representing_Tromba]

So, i was thinking about interesting magic system around the world, and it would be interesting if you share your ideas



I have 3 ideas about that:



First one, we have the common magic system based on "magic circles", where you can create circles in your body that represents your magic capabilities. My idea to "modify" that was to do so the character can choose an internal part of the body to create the circles, and more the dangerous, more the results.



Second one is math/geometry based, like, your character has to mentally or physically draw geometry figures to do certain magic. Each different geometry figures has different results, and you can mathematically modify each figure, to distort and obtain more options to the same result. I really don't know how to put this to work, but well, its an idea.



Third one is one based on programming language and logic. Like, you have some sort of "runes" that would act like an language. You'll have 2 alphabets, the first one is the runes that represent "keywords", things that are predefined, and the second one could be an normal alphabet where is for writing strings and numbers that represents variables. Like, if the word "Element" was an keyword, and you have to set an variable like "fire" to define the element of the magic that you wanna create. This is the one i personally more like, how bout you?

These are the exact same three magic systems that I use in my stories. Though I also added alchemical magic as well because that's another common one. The only major difference is that I have deep lore about each of the magic systems and strict rules on how they can be used due to said lore.

 

[Ilikewaterkusa]

So, i was thinking about interesting magic system around the world, and it would be interesting if you share your ideas



I have 3 ideas about that:



First one, we have the common magic system based on "magic circles", where you can create circles in your body that represents your magic capabilities. My idea to "modify" that was to do so the character can choose an internal part of the body to create the circles, and more the dangerous, more the results.



Second one is math/geometry based, like, your character has to mentally or physically draw geometry figures to do certain magic. Each different geometry figures has different results, and you can mathematically modify each figure, to distort and obtain more options to the same result. I really don't know how to put this to work, but well, its an idea.



Third one is one based on programming language and logic. Like, you have some sort of "runes" that would act like an language. You'll have 2 alphabets, the first one is the runes that represent "keywords", things that are predefined, and the second one could be an normal alphabet where is for writing strings and numbers that represents variables. Like, if the word "Element" was an keyword, and you have to set an variable like "fire" to define the element of the magic that you wanna create. This is the one i personally more like, how bout you?

Just have multiple of these magic systems lol

 

[BearlyAlive]

Just have multiple of these magic systems lol

This.

Magic math and runic nerding can be combined to some form of ritual magic which then can be planted in bodies to power the combusting of magicalories.

Ever thought about object-based magic, tho? Either objects having specific powers or certain types of things giving certain powers if done certain actions like consuming/breaking/ touching them.

 

[ThrillingHuman]

I didn't read anything but the general gist, but what is interesting about the three types?
Magic circles, geometry figures and language? Seems rather generic.
Why not using gu like in some xianxia, taking drugs, or trading with demons? That seems a bit more interesting.

Think of magic as more like technology and science - but wackier and weirder.
Math is powerful but on its own it does nothing.
Programming is cool, but the language is but an interface to a machine.
Diagrams are nice to understand but they just describe stuff visually.

Why should magic be run on these then? Technology needs hard infrastructure - servers, trains, plants etc.
So should magic then. Hell, Heaven, Mystic Planes, Evil Gods etc.
Technology runs on thermal, electrical, nuclear etc energies.
Sure, let mana be the energy thingue, but don't just make something lame like having a circle directing it and having magic happen.
Yeah you can handcraft a cute and tiny device for a third grade science fair, but can you handmake a powerful CPU?
Need magical infrastructure for actually useful magic - that will make an interesting magic system, not some geometric shape or whatever.

Have magic monopolies, with demons driving very hard bargains for poor mages and giving shit magic, have inconvenient interfaces with you needing to regularly take harder and more harmful drugs to keep casting, have poor environment, with you needing gu to even get anywhere. Just come up with something.

So just don't be lazy if you take it seriously.

 

[LilRora]

Two interesting ideas I've on top of my head are:

1. An incomprehensible force, used by gods (or other supernatural beings beyond human understanding), but only usable by humans by simplification and limiting the force to certain runes/symbols... or basically whatever. Point is, whoever tries to use raw magic gets their brain turned to mush, and only by limiting the magic to certain concepts it is possible to utilize it safely. These concepts are actually very flexible here and could be just about anything.

2. Just one of many supernatural forces, utilized in a certain self-determined way. A good example would be plant-based magic from Ryn of Avonside, but it could be just about anything else other than plants, for instance blood runes, crystals, or hand signs. As for being self-determined, what I mean is that each magic would be encaplsulated is some concept, which would define both its charcteristics and how to use it, for instance a concept of "Rot" would be hardly utilizable conventionally, but a concept of "Structure" could be applied via crystals of different molecular structure and act based on that idea, for instance arranging materials in structures, strengthening only certain structures, or breaking them down.

 

[Corty]

My magic system is simple... there are 8 elements and you can cast magic. Bam... yes, you can use stuff (artifacts of any kind, be it a scepter or a dildo) to cast them even better, faster, and stronger.

That is it. The easier for the reader to understand it the better. The more complex it gets the more quickly you lose the attention of readers.

And a confused reader stops reading. That is not good.

 

[M.G.Driver]

'The Painted Man' had a damn good system of only being able to utilize magic when drawn - e.g you had to carve or draw onto something physical. So people kept wooden sticks, staffs and armors full of the engraving as cramped as they could, maximizing space. Enchanted swords only kept their enchantment if the drawing wasn't damaged or cut in half.

Guess why they called it 'The Painted Man'

 

[ACertainPassingUser]

If you ever want to learn about "Magic" system, better look at "Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha".

Pretty much the pioneer of "magitec" genre, with all the logical Prequisites and consequences of each magic.

It's Seinen, targeted for near-adult audience. not shounen like other magical bullshit.

 

[FaustVoncleave]

A couple I personally like is item based contract based magic systems. With item based the magic comes from the item instead of the person and the challenge is in getting and learning to use strong items. Contracts is basically when one gets magic by making a contract with another being, this can create interesting dynamics of master and servant as well as place unique restrictions on how one's magic works.

 

[gaylolis]

my magic system comes from the manipulation of mana. each denizens has something called magic circuit, which aids in the process. if you overdraft your mana, it will prevent the permanent damage to your body, but will render you incapable of casting magic for a while. that's mostly applicable to mortals though. the stronger you get, the less the law applies.

to cast magic, you must form a mental model that comes naturally to you, or keep at it until you could smoothly form it. like, if you wish to cast fire magic, you can reference the idea of fire and form your most suited definition.

there are primary elements, which for most magicians are considered easier to understand, such as fire, water, earth, wind, etc...due to it being apparent in nature.

advanced elements such as light and darkness, space and time. they're also present in nature but much harder to understand.

there are abstract elements, that even the wizards can't smoothly research, since it's just so complicated. consisting of things like luck, fate, and reality. some even argue that everything was a subset of reality manipulation. many of daring people who tried pursuing its truth end up going insane in the process.

i think one of the most rudimentary form of abstract element is, for example, creating an apple out of thin air, that tasted like a hamburger. or changing the blood cells of every living being into radioactive uranium, while they leak one megaton of rotten spaghetti every microseconds.

someone might mistake it for divine or godly power, but it's kind of different. godly power had a lot of constraints, while reality manipulation just fuck over everything and make them their bitch.

that's why while it exists, it can't be applicable to real world since it could easily destroy the entire reality. if there's any application, some powerful being could make a 'sandbox' where they would experiment with the newfound reality altering powers, not affecting the main world even after infinite destruction attempts.

in the sandboxing process, they'd also have causality immunity, which meant however they manipulate the sandbox reality, it won't affect their own self whatsoever as well.