COOL and AWESOME Magic System that you should READ and uhhh idk
Here's a concept of a Magic System I made for my "Discworld" concept thingamajig:
Similarly to other fantasy systems, Magic on Discworlds have a "mana"-like resource that is expended upon casting spells: namely, Emotions.
Beings, both human and otherwise, may choose to expend their emotions in order to access branches of spells. Each unique feeling would give access to a different branch, with some overlap and mixing.
Of course, feelings come and go, and some are harder to source than others.
So, experienced magicians learned how to cast Magic without expending the required emotion, by risking entering a state of 'Exhaustion' rendering them feeling cold and emotionless.
Whilst this stunts spell-casting long term, it can be useful to save one's life in a pinch, study another branch of spells or speed up transfiguration. (Transfiguration is related to Wisps, more on that later!) It can even have other medicinal uses like helping save someone from heatstroke or increasing lifespan for example, (which would probably come useful in a world where people aren't sure if their God has died or left them or existed at all so afterlife would probably not be looking too great)
Alternatively, one may choose to use magically charged objects - whether living gemstones, body parts, animal blood, grinded herbs, captured spirits or potions - in order to absorb varied concentrations of emotive magic.
However, this also has downsides, as one can easily overwhelm their senses and decision-making skills short term.
Extensive use can even cause permanent alterations, like changed personality or appearance. Usually these changes in appearance can even transfer to physical traits too which then the person or animal is considered as a Wisp of the original species. These changes usually happen slowly and over a long period of time though and I decided most people would undergo that (if ever) in their 40s since they'd like feel a certain way for long enough or something. just to like give them something interesting idk. like a second puberty. Maybe it could be called like "Grandhood" or something since it'd usually end by the time you become a grandparent.
Also since technically each emotion is tied to some sort of element in this, steam power would technically just be another variant of magic!
There'd also be plants and animals that could for example instill a sense of dread to ward off predators, lull prey to sleep or be perpetually angry so they can swim or run faster or use fire magic and stuff like that idk. Oh yeah also technically power of friendship is a viable magic power source with these rules LMFAO
kianamaiart
theartofmadeline
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