What Is Your Magic Called?
Given - probably too easy, but can be made cool if you really
need something to work, "the world is this way, just
Weasel Talking, Crumbing, Half Ticking, Foshing, Wet because", I would make a case that magic words and runes
Casting, Telakas, Baren'Tol, Sorcery, Aklenelle, Ba, Borgus, work this way
Smelding, Wax Wein, Tiffling, Cloud Calling, Dordil,
Kenning ... ? Other - MUST be a manipulating force that changes reality,
not a source, like blood or crystals. Those are substances,
Level of Magic System? and may contain energy, but are not energy in and of
themselves. Same with runes and magic words, those aren't
High - world destroying potential power, they direct power from somewhere else - where?
Medium - kingdom built around it Notes About Mana
Low - one person is mildly impressed Mana is a ubiquitous magic source, but you need not follow
the common trope. It can have any unique name you desire,
Other, more specific levels, like "ultra-high" or "medium- and lots of invented properties. You should understand the
low" properties of you mana.
Learned, Inherent, or Inherent-Learned? How do you control it? Why does that work?
Anyone can learn it - D&D wizard Can you see it? Feel it? Manipulate it by hand?
Only special people have it - XMen Are there more than one type of mana?
You have to be special AND learn it - Jedi, Harry Potter Despite where you find it now, where did it come from
originally?
If Inherent, How Common To Be Born With It?
Is it made, or has it always existed?
"X in every Y people are born with the ability."
Is mana indestructible?
It is/isn't hereditary.
Is there a "mana cycle", like the nitrogen cycle in nature?
What Actuates the Effect?
Notes About Gods and Supernatural Beings
Probably the most important part of the checklist. There is so
much in this question, because it's not about how someone Luckily for us, lots of people believe in the supernatural
does the magic, it's about how the magic actually works, already.
under the hood. This informs a lot of other decisions! The
properties of your unique mana, or your unique alchemy, this God is a convenient windfall in terms of designing a magic
is what fuels the system. system. If he, or she, or they, made the world, we assume
they can make or alter anything. At most, your God made
Mana - creation energy, potential unformed reality literally everything, and can do it again. At least, a lesser
God has some creative powers, that need not be explained -
Mind Over Matter - mental fortitude and clarity, there is no because God.
spoon
Supernatural beings are not as easy, but still pretty easy.
God or Gods - you outsource to a higher power They don't necessarily need to be explained. The easiest is to
say that they were created with powers. Harder would be to
Sympathy - redirection of existing energies explain how their powers work, but we sort of take for
granted that these supernatural beings are made, by God(s),
Demons or other supernatural beings - you outsource to a to wield extraordinary powers.
supernatural power
Limited or Universal?
Science - it works because it's real (any sufficiently
advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic ... or Universal - you can produce an unlimited number of unique
however that goes) effects
Science Fiction - it works because it's real, but only in this Limited - you can produce a limited number of unique
fictional world, things such as alchemy, magitech, effects
steampunk, etc.
If Limited, What are the Effect(s)?
What does the magic do? This is a big topic. This checklist is mostly for the
construction of a magic system, not so much how it fits into
What is the Source? your world, but certainly worth a great deal of thought. How
is this magic viewed by your societies? Embraced? Hated? Is
A wall socket doesn't make electricity, it just brings it to you. there a hierarchy? Do users of this magic involve themselves
If your magic system is electricity-actuated, a wall socket is in politics? Do they involve themselves in war? With great
your source. Let's say a wizard uses a mana-actuated magic power, comes great responsibility.
system. The source might be crystals, if the crystals provide
the mana to him. Or maybe he get's mana from blood, or
silver, whatever you want. Don't get confused, the crystal,
the blood, the silver, those things aren't magical, but they
CARRY something magical, in this case, mana. Could be
that you contact God by ingesting sea water, or beer ... up to
you!
Does it Require a Reagent?
Things like dried newts, candles, ink for writing, pure gold, a
soul to steal, etc.
Spontaneous, or Prepared?
Describe both how long the magic takes to execute, AND,
how long it takes to prepare. Nightcrawler can use his power
instantly, on a whim. A stereotypical wizard needs time to
grind herbs, read books, and boil stuff; but once he's ready,
the casting is pretty instantaneous. There are some magics,
where the actual execution takes all day, in a lengthy ritual,
lots of chanting and dancing.
How Common Is This Magic in Society?
Probably a range from extremely rare to completely
integrated. A completely integrated magic will behave in the
same way as computers do in modern society -
extraordinary, but draw no extra attention.
Users Tend to Be ...
Users are almost always shaped by their magic. If they
become more educated, that may have an effect. If they are
feared, that will have an effect. If they are loved and
honored, that will have an effect. My personal belief, is that
if magic is common, it's effect on personality will be
moderate, and if the magic is rare, the effect on their
personality will be extreme (maybe extremely good, maybe
extremely bad).
Are There Limiting Factors?
Source is a limiting factor. Reagents are a limiting factor.
Probably the most important thing to determine, is whether
or not there is a ratio between the amount of power, and the
magnitude of the change. If a tiny bit of effort can destroy
the planet, that seems ... stupid. It should be that power is
limited, somehow. There are lots of creative ways to
hamstring users who are too powerful - maybe they can only
use magic at night. Make it thematic to the type of magic.
What are the Social Implications of Your Magic?
