Building a magic system
A little guide to help you with your magic system.
1. Source
- External source: Energy from the outside that the mage can draw upon or convert into magic energy.
Earth
The atmosphere
Drawn from elements
From another dimensions or realms
Gods
Supernatural entities
Star or planet constellations
Weather phenomena
Magic as life energy
Magic as omnipresent energy that flows through everything
- Internal source: Magic coming from within the body of the mage, generated by him
Coming from the mind
Generated by the body
From the soul
2. Magic control through:
Incantations
Hand gestures
Written symbols
Focus/concentration/will of the mage
By connection to the source (object, supernatural creature, another realms etc)
Rituals
Blood
Sacriface
Emotions
3. Magic limits - what can't be done by magic
Range of effect
Lenght of effect
Limited by the mage's focus
Limited by the mage's stamina
4. Magic costs
Exhaustion of stamina
Pain
Gradual loss of senses
Burning off the mage's soul
Buring off the mage's life span
5. People who can use magic:
Born with it
Trained
Bestowed upon them
Awakening magic in some way
Ritual
Deal with a supernatural entity
Consumption of blood of a supernatural creature
Acquiring it from a near-death experience
6. Mages regarded by the society:
Hidden from it
Led by it
Feared
Expelled/hated













