Other A General Guide to Magic (Searching for help)

[Llayana]

The inconsistencies of stories with magic bother me. I believe there should be one set way things work.. Not easy, as magic is very diverse. I am looking for someone to help me create...let's say a book...about the fundamentals of magic. This would include things like focuses (a variety of ways to channel your magic) and the types of magic (such the difference between arcane and physical.)


To make it clear, I am not making something for people to follow. I'm just writing a book because I like the idea and have strong opinions about it. I posted this because I don't think a single person should work on this...

 

[Mordecai]

Hi Llayana,


Sounds like something really tough you're looking to conquer. While your idea is very interesting, you may find it to be difficult to get people to adhere to your guidelines in roleplays as magic varies dramatically from roleplay universe to roleplay universe, as I believe it should. That's the beauty of magic in roleplaying! You can create an endless combination of characters that, so long as they adhere to the same "rules of magic" within a roleplay, shouldn't be limited by a grand "this is how magic works" rulebook. I will never be convinced that a character in a Harry Potter universe is going to operate under the same rules as a character in a The Golden Compass universe.


But that is just my two cents. Good luck with it if you choose to pursue it! (:

 

[Llayana]

Oh, no I'm not looking for everyone to follow it. That would be insane, and not in a good way. This is more for myself, and anyone who feels like reading my two cents on magic And I don't know The Golden Compass, but I'm sure it works with Harry Potter. For example, the majority of the magic they use in Harry Potter happens to be arcane rather than physical, they also use two techniques of focus to concentrate their magic, vocal and wand.

 

[Mordecai]

Got chya! That makes way more sense. (: I hope you post it publically when you're done. I'd love to read it.

 

[Llayana]

Thanks, and have fun waiting forever ^^

 

[Dusky]

Hmmm.... This sounds interesting, but unless you're seeking to apply it to a world of your creation I'm unsure of the merits of displaying it on RPN. A more general guide on how to build magic up in roleplays, though, would be really intriguing. Lord knows I could use such a thing.

 

[Llayana]

As I said to Mordecai, this is more for myself than anyone else. If anyone else wants to read my two cents, cool. I just think its something that should not be written alone.

 

[Grey]

You have a lot of research ahead of you. Magic in fantasy fiction is an academic thesis all by itself.

A more general guide on how to build magic up in roleplays, though, would be really intriguing. Lord knows I could use such a thing.

//opens Gdoc, commences typing

 

[Bone2pick]

//opens Gdoc, commences typing

I'll certainly give it a read if/when you finish it. Magic is such an expansive topic I wouldn't even know where to start.

 

[Llayana]

Magic is such an expansive topic I wouldn't even know where to start.

Yes, it is quite an expansive topic. For example, in the section about focuses I am likely going to mention how bending from Avatar: The Last Airbender is magic, or at least VERY close. These are using a technique of body movement to channel their energies to manipulate the physical world. Manipulation of the physical world in such a way is physical magic...

 

[Isamalthea]

I would recommend looking into the magick associated with Paganism. They do a lot of spell casting, channeling, and stone-works as well. Pagans believe that the universe is completely and simultaneously connected with energy. Manipulating, tuning into, or channeling that energy is what is referred to as "using magick." Think James Cameron's Avatar and how the Pandora world works. Same concept.

 

[Llayana]

All of that is part of it, but alas magic is SO much more..

 

[Grey]

Before I forget, I did end up writing that guide, but it's more a jumping off point than something comprehensive.

 

[FictionalReality]

Hi


I would love to help you out with this, if you're still looking for someone. It seems like an interesting idea, though it will likely take a while to research and write about every topic. I would advise possibly seeing if you can find a few more people as well to research different areas. If you could message me that would be great.

 

[MLAQTS]

This seems like quite an interesting idea, and I would love to receive a copy of the work if and when you do finish it. I too have attempted to write a fictional treatise on the nature of magic before, but unfortunately abandoned it over time as I gradually began to lose interest in it.


If you haven't thought of this already, I would recommend you to detail the source and nature of magic in a book on its fundamentals, rather than just mechanics and application. After all, you are seeking to unify fictional magic, and what better way is there to unify things but by a universal source or nature? My idea in my original treatise was that the source of magic is essentially the imagination of the magician, so that whatever the magician consciously wills might be. I proposed that any method then of performing magic was simply a channeling of the magician's imagination into a representative physical form, that it might be closer to taking an absolute physical form (i.e.: the result of the magic).


Perhaps my post has helped you in writing, though of course I do not pressure you to use or be influenced by any of my ideas, especially since you are primarily creating this work for yourself. I do however have great interest in your endeavors, so please tell me your thoughts if you will; I'm more than willing to listen to your ideas, or assist you wherever you might desire assistance.