[crossoveranon] if you’re going to put that post out (about monster’s not trying to kill you) remember that one of undynes mums said that for an attack to hurt someone, IT HAD TO BE INTENTIONAL, if alphys didn’t move out the way, it wouldn’t hurt because it wasn’t meant to hurt, so if it hurts you, THAT MEANS THE MONSTER WANTS TO HURT YOU
That's true (at least in Trashqueen's world, and I am trying to stick to that). And it makes sense for a magic system to be based on intent of the user. And towards the beginning Toriel gave sans a "love tap" that did no harm, so it is possible.
I think it comes down to intent vs effect. It's true (for afac) that "intent is everything" but i think I will interpret that line as "intent is the most important thing" meaning if you cast a spell, you can indeed alter the level of harm it can bring. Proper focus is key to doing the spell exactly as you intend.
In the scenario I propose, there is intent, but it's the level of intent used for an average monster greeting. Like maybe a monster throws bullets at you, maybe you're usually supposed to counter with your own bullets? But most humans can't counter.
Suppose one person went for a high-five and the second person didn't know how to high-five so the first person accidentally misses and slaps the second person's face. Now suppose first person had peanutbutter on their hands and second person is mildly allergic to peanutbutter. First person, intending to greet a Stanger, has now kinda injured them. (This doesn't explain why the first person continues to high-five the second person but it's not like a perfect metaphor)
Of course some monsters do intend to hurt you (flowey, royal guard, mad dummy) but besides flowey (maybe mad dummy) I think they intend to capture you but don't realize how effective their hits are. Like punching someone alergic to peanutbutter with peanutbutter on your hands.
It seems like humans- even wizards- are especially weak to magic attacks, just like monsters are especially weak to physical attacks (*not physical injury. They have a cartoonish resistance to regular injury)
Like... if you hit a frog the size of a cat with a stick in self defense, it probably won't die, but isn't that what happens to froggits? You swing once and it's dead. (Whoops, time to restart)
Or like when Aidrian smashed Braids' arm. She didn't known it would destroy the whole arm. She's a trained fighter. She knows how to hit someone exactly as you intend. Pretty sure she only intended to injure the arm.
It's kinda like that.
Goldy: Hello! Sorry I’m late, I just wanted to add my own input! (As if anyone asked)
Mia is totally on the money, mainly because as explained in the UT Lore in the Snowdin Library, what we call “magic” are emotions manifesting themselves in the physical plane. The peanut butter thing is both a funny and accurate way of putting it too!
But personally, I think that when you make something physical, it still adheres to SOME rules of being physical. Like with Stats. The power of the magic in the first place would likely be determined not just by your emotions, but your Attack Stat too. And of course, the final amount of damage would be calculated by pitting your Attack versus the target’s Defense stat. Naturally, even an attack marked with the intent to kill would be affected. And naturally, stats can and will vary amongst all living, sapient life-forms.
And of course, we have to define “killing intent.” It’s a whole league above simply harming out of anger, hate, schadenfreude, fear, reflex, or self-defense. To kill, you have to be able to completely distance yourself emotionally. And of course, your ability to do that is determined by your LV. Kill enough, and it just comes naturally, and you might even enjoy it. It’s a dark road.
...Of course, you don’t need killing intent to kill. There’s such a thing as “death by a thousand cuts,” both purposeful and accidental. TLDR, Intent marks a heck of a lot with magic, but there’s also stats and damage calculation to consider!
