Why the rules of logic are necessary in a fantasy world.

[Jemini]

So, there is a certain very stupid argument some people make whenever you try to point out an inconsistency in a fantasy story. It goes a little something like this.

"You realize you are trying to ask for logic in a world where magic exists, right?"

There are several dozen reasons why any author of merit has already rejected this notion without even needing to be told, but seldom have I seen the argument against this stupidity laid out so well as this video recently posted up in response to the 1st episode of the Loki Netflix series.

 

[ArcadiaBlade]

As a fantasy writer, it is given that sometimes when writing fantasy theme, we don't really put much into logic. That is of course when talking about magic and whatnot. But its only magic and other supernatural things in the world we built in.

Yet, we still apply logic to the world since while it is called 'fantasy', we still need something to keep the world we create having balance or everything we write is basically just random gibberish some kid wrote.

Hell, even power fantasy have their limits as well and apply logic when it counts yet no one would realize it since it was either hidden well or not much explain but when writing something, logic will keep the world we made into balance and don't necessarily poke it as much or it'll ended up bad.

 

[Deleted member 45782]

I dislike the it's a fantasy so anything goes type of comments. I remember on/fantasy writers or something people mentioned some realism in stories. One comment mentioned how your story doesn't have to be realistic since it's fantasy setting and whatnot, but at least believable. A story where actions of characters is at least somewhat believable, even if the world setting is not. Because otherwise there's gaps and plot holes that are left out in the open and characters do a sudden twist that virtually has not been mentioned or hinted beforehand or explained why thereafter what caused it. And too many obvious conflicting stuff leads to story doesn't make sense. Sometimes, that and brain cells are lost somewhere. Then it no longer really keeps the reader hooked into the story.

 

[hauntedwritings]

So, there is a certain very stupid argument some people make whenever you try to point out an inconsistency in a fantasy story. It goes a little something like this.

"You realize you are trying to ask for logic in a world where magic exists, right?"

There are several dozen reasons why any author of merit has already rejected this notion without even needing to be told, but seldom have I seen the argument against this stupidity laid out so well as this video recently posted up in response to the 1st episode of the Loki Netflix series.

Very good video!

Any story needs consistency - regardless if it's fantasy or not. Using the argument that you don't need logic because it's fantasy is simply childish.
Because we, as readers, accept the existance of magic and the like in a story. However;

Stories are like games, where the characters are navigating the world with a fixed set of rules to reach their goal. When those rules are broken, it's like that kid that suddenly changes to rules of a game we play because he's losing. If there's a condition that suddenly allows us to draw 7 cards instead of 5 in a cardgame, we want to know about it beforehand, not have it introduced mid-game where the stakes are high.

 

[CupcakeNinja]

So, there is a certain very stupid argument some people make whenever you try to point out an inconsistency in a fantasy story. It goes a little something like this.

"You realize you are trying to ask for logic in a world where magic exists, right?"

There are several dozen reasons why any author of merit has already rejected this notion without even needing to be told, but seldom have I seen the argument against this stupidity laid out so well as this video recently posted up in response to the 1st episode of the Loki Netflix series.

Idgaf about fantasy, if I'm writing a comedy expect comedic shit with logic thrown out the window. We gonna get Looney Toons up in this bitch.

But otherwise I agree. Just cuz the world operates by different rules, doesnt mean it cant make sense. Just saying "its magic" is only acceptable in pure comedies. Otherwise you are just a lazy cunt.

That's why I mainly write comedy. Cuz I AM a lazy cunt

 

[Jemini]

As a fantasy writer, it is given that sometimes when writing fantasy theme, we don't really put much into logic. That is of course when talking about magic and whatnot. But its only magic and other supernatural things in the world we built in.

Yet, we still apply logic to the world since while it is called 'fantasy', we still need something to keep the world we create having balance or everything we write is basically just random gibberish some kid wrote.

Hell, even power fantasy have their limits as well and apply logic when it counts yet no one would realize it since it was either hidden well or not much explain but when writing something, logic will keep the world we made into balance and don't necessarily poke it as much or it'll ended up bad.

Pretty much the reason why I linked this specific video for this is because it points out very much why even the fantasy elements like magic need to have some form of logic applied to it. It just doesn't have to be real world logic.

As a matter of fact, as a fantasy writer myself, I think writing fantasy is even harder than basing things off how the real world works because with real world rules you at least have a guide to follow. If there's magic, you need to make your own rules. That doesn't mean you have the freedom to do anything you want, that means you need to create a set of rules from scratch that are internally consistent within your world. As consistent as, to quote the video, a gun firing a bullet every time you pull the trigger.

 

[AliceShiki]

You certainly need logic in a fantasy world, though you also have plenty of freedom to be very loose with your setting~

Basically, you need some form of internal consistency. Things need to make sense overall.

You can make your story make use of magic while having 0 plans about how your magic system goes, you can 100% make it up on the spot with 0 issues... As long as future chapters stay consistent with what you have already made that is.

Writing fantasy is a not particularly hard tbh, making magic systems isn't particularly complicated either, you just need to be sure to be consistent with what you've made before. As long as you do that, you'll be fine... And well, unless you're crazy enough to try making a complex magic system and not write any notes about it, it's pretty trivial to make a functional and consistent magic system.

I'd honestly say it's a lot harder to plan out a single character's growth than it is to work on a magic system for a whole world... Magic is just too versatile, you have lots of freedom on how to make it~

... People that fail at making their magic system logical are probably just forgetting to make a notes document, really... >.>