Magic system tied to physical materials. Good idea?

[Ace_Sorou]

So my magic system is tied to physical materials. In order to cast spells, you need the materials associated with those spells, and channel Mana through those specific materials. In order to enchant weapons, you have to use the materials with the effects you want and infuse them into the weapons you want to enchant. In order to create potions, you have to mix together the ingredients with the right effects to get the potion you want.
It's simple on the surface, but surprisingly complex when you get into it. Is this a good system to work with?

 

[NotaNuffian]

So my magic system is tied to physical materials. In order to cast spells, you need the materials associated with those spells, and channel Mana through those specific materials. In order to enchant weapons, you have to use the materials with the effects you want and infuse them into the weapons you want to enchant. In order to create potions, you have to mix together the ingredients with the right effects to get the potion you want.
It's simple on the surface, but surprisingly complex when you get into it. Is this a good system to work with?

https://coppermind.net/wiki/Allomancy

 

[Jerynboe]

Short answer is yes it can work. I’d suggest keeping the list of viable materials relatively short and clearly defined (Brandon Sanderson made allomancy work with only about 18 metals that each do exactly two things and mostly only uses about ten of them in his first three books) or extremely thematic such as imparting traits of the thing you are using as a medium onto something else (using a lodestone to make something or someone magnetic, for example)