I've built my fair share of magic systems. They're one of the most fun segments of worldbuilding. One of the first things I typically decide, although it's not exactly required, is to choose whether I'm going to build a soft or hard magic system.
Similarly to how there is soft and hard worldbuilding, magic systems can be approached in the same way, but in all reality not either perspective is needed if you already have a good idea for what your plans are, nor does any particular category need to be adhered. A mix could easily suffice.
Hard Magic System
A hard magic system is known for having a rigid set of rules and explanations for how magic works, alongside foundations, laws, and limitations.
Examples
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Mistborn
Fullmetal Alchemist
My Hero Academia
Steven Universe
Soft Magic System
Meanwhile a soft magic system is far more flexible, and contains an air of mystery. Even if there are hard rules, they don't necessarily need to be explained or well known by the characters or reader.
Examples
Alice in Wonderland
Lord of the Rings
Star Wars
The Chronicles of Narnia
Hollow Knight
Mixed
But these categories are really only tools, and were coined by Brandon Anderson, so for a lot of writing we grew up with it wasn't often considered. People simply made their magic.
Examples
Naruto
Fear and Hunger
Darkest Dungeon
Adventure Time
Regular Show
Cookie Run
The Concept
And so.... we all have to start somewhere. It's time to build the bones of your magic system. I'm sure most of you have arrived to this post with an idea already in mind, so let's solidify that.
So tell me
What is magic in your world? What does it look like? What does it sound like? What makes it unique? It is through casting spells that are read off or is it in everybody naturally? Does everyone have magic? Can magic be stored? What makes something magical and something else not?
Once you got your basics down, the hard stuff follows suit
Casting & Fighting Style
What are the principles for magic being casted or used, because even if magic isn't exactly casted, surely it holds some sort of form, whether fluid or not.
I personally take great care in how magic casted, the appearance, the rituals, the style and dance of it all. This is where in my opinion one's magic system can stand out the most. Do people cast magic from their hands? Their focus and minds? Does it require a song and dance? Or an invocation? Or an ancient ritual?
How does the average person capable of magic access it? If magic is in everyone how do people learn to use it? That and many more questions are what I ask myself until eventually I have a magic system formed.
Requirements & Invocations
What is required in order to cast/use magic?
Can everyone do this?
What happens do those who can't?
Is any material, written or spoken word, or concoction needed to see the proper results of magic?
Is an energy, biological, effort, or otherwise required to use magic?
Do people rely on spellcasting focuses/tools to cast through (i.e. wands, tomes, staves)? Can it be anything (suitcase, toy plush, cane)? Can people do it straight from their hands, feet, body?
Is focus required?
You can always mix and match, there's no rule telling anyone their magic system can't be super complex or super simple. I personally prefer to make overly complex ones.
Religious/Spiritual vs Anatomical
Does the magic of a higher power ever affect the magic in your worldbuilding? Such as the ability for paladins and cleric's to call upon their god. Or a demigod being imbued with superhuman strength. Are there realms that were created by divine beings or materials that can be resourced from gods, angels, or demons.
Many of these same brainstorms can apply to the spiritual. Spirits, ancient animals of the forest, kami, youkai, and invoking one's ancestors could all easily be seen as a form of magic itself.
But what if magic is science and technology in a way? What if magic is anatomical? I'm a huge advocate for magic as a science, and for mana to run through one's veins. There's so much you could explore if magic is intertwined into one's health and/or anatomy.
Side Effects
I love when magic comes with side effects. I love angst. I love whump.
What happens if someone uses more magic than they can handle?
Can magic backfire?
Can magic fail?
Does using magic come with any side effects?
Do curses, hexes, vexes, blights exist?
What are the side effects of having magic used on you?
Can magic be used to hurt someone?
Can magic be used to hurt the caster?
Style
What does it look like?
I mean I don't have to ask much or infer much here.
Combat
Honestly, I could make an entire post alone about magic and combat utility, but for this sector I'm just going to say instead where there is an intelligent species and something to be innovated upon somebody will try to use it to kill someone else.
Health
Especially if magic is linked to one's anatomy, it would be intertwined with one's health. Double this if healing magic exist.
What makes things difficult is deciding how much magic affects one's health, and designing healing magic without it completely derailing the story/worldbuilding already at hand. I could make a whole post on healing magic too to be honest
Education & Legacy
Does the magic need to be passed on? How do younger generations learn of this magic? How do people maintain the magical artifacts of their world? Can people rely on mentors/teachers to train them? Etc. Etc.
Resources, Energy, Components
Energy
As they say you cannot create something from nothing, and usually when worldbuilding I apply that logic to magic too. Although you usually hear of energy or lifeforce such as mana, qi, ether, or lifeblood. You aren't technically limited to make life-energy your source (but I personally prefer to do it).
Whether a creature requires electricity, silk, shadow, soul, or blood there's all kinds of ideas for what powers someone's magical abilities.
But the resource to someone's power doesn't always have to be that simple. Maybe magic is more so a trade, you give something in return besides from energy. Maybe magic has a specialized source like a cursed sword or an amulet of power.
I mean there's endless ways one's magic can be sourced, and here's just a few examples I can think of
Soul and Silk in Hollowknight
Visions, Gnosis, and the Abyss from Genshin Impact
Possession & Mediums in Dandadan
Kyubey's wishes and magical girlhood in Madoka Magica
Cosmic Force in Star Wars
Crowns in Cult of the Lamb
Light in Sky: Children of the Light
Elements of Harmony in My Little Pony
Gems in Steven Universe
Religious spirituality in Faith
The Fears in The Magnus Archives
Resources & Components
You don't need to write down the ingredients to every potion and spell, but you do need to decide if ingredients are needed when it comes to magic. The same goes for vocal invocations, rituals, and dances. You can worry about the nitpicking and specialties later, because the easiest choice from here on out is to decide how most people acquire these recipes and resources.
Does the general public know about these requirements to magic? Is it seen as a typical everyday science? Can you go and find a store of magical maladies in every city? Or are people required to venture into the forest and find a witch's hut in order to achieve their wish?
World Standing
Now to tie the magic to the world around it, one of the most important aspects in my opinion. Without this step often times the magic doesn't really feel real to the characters, story, or worldbuilding. It can feel like a last minute McGuffin. In my own opinion, a magic system that feels detached to its characters or world often falls as a writing pet peeve of mine, although it's not really that serious.
Magic is just like technology in this instance.
What do most people think of magic? What do magic users think of magic? What advancements have been made using magic? Are there nonhuman/non-intelligence species that can use or interact with magic?
If magic is super prevalent then how is it integrated into everyday life? What technologies that would've been invented weren't in the stead of magic?
If magic is lesser known or discriminated against how does this affect the life of one that uses magic? Is it discriminated against through government means? Do mobs or organizations hunt/harm people who use magic? How do these groups put themselves on the same level as those who use magic in order to put them down?
If magic is part of some sort of secret society than how is it kept secret? The bigger the society more likely suspension of disbelief will be broken. Take for instance one of the biggest criticisms of Harry Potter (aside from all the blatant bigotry and transphobia of the writer) was how did these international magical organizations that were large to the point of having entire government ministries and terrorist organizations kept secret from normal human society 24/7.
The excuses made in the writing simply don't cut it, and it only gets stranger when you remember that some non-magical families have their kids sent to the big school. How did they find out about the school? Was a letter just sent? How are they convinced? Why would they agree to send their precious child to a random magical organization they've never heard of upon discovering that their kid might have magic powers?
What even decides if a family is magical or not? What even decides if a single person amongst a normal non-magical family is suddenly magical and needs to go to magic school that is also not known by the majority of humankind.
In a worldbuilding where magic is everything it should be everything. Intelligent species like humans are very good at innovation, and they will try to find the perfect use for everything they can get their hands on. How else could we have discovered the utility of drinking cow's milk, curdling milk into cheese, putting cheese between bread, inventing pizza, making ovens specially for pizza... etc. etc.
Everything you use in your daily life was once another human or civilization's innovation, and mankind will often reinvent the same thing over and over and over.
You analyze civilizations of ancient history and easily figure out why every coastline society has religious stories of a great flood. Anywhere with clay was bound to discover pottery. Anybody with brick was bound to place brick by brick together and create walls, then houses, then villages.
The same idea would apply theoretically to magic.
People would instinctively try to use magic in everything to discover its eventual uses, and since people aren't necessarily all saints, that includes weaponization.
If the magic in your worldbuilding is highly versatile it would be used in all kinds of things, from gardening, to warfare, to transportation, to animal husbandry, to agriculture, to family, and many more.
Higher Powers, Souls, & Spirits
Higher Powers
If higher powers do exist in your worldbuilding, does everyone believe in them? And does it really even matter?
Obviously if there is some kind of god running around in your worldbuilding with godly powers, it in someway, would be probably be tied to the magic. Whether if they exist simply as a god, and their magic never needs to be explained, or whether they rule over a specific branch of magic.... gods can be a powerful backbone in worldbuilding.
But focusing on their relationship to magic, what is theirs in your worldbuilding? Does the average magic user even know of their existence? Or do they prayer to a specific god or pantheon in hopes to receive just a smidge of their power?
Can people become gods through magic? Or see or commune with them? Or similar?
Souls & Spirits
And on a similar note... what about the paranormal in your worldbuilding? Do ghosts and spirits have any ties to magic? What about things such as youkai, cryptids, and kami? The undead?
Final Words
I'm sure there's a lot of typos throughout this post, but I'm satisfied with what I had say. There's some stuff here and there that could be it's own post.
“Be not afraid when you see him, clothed in the shadows of the stars he may be. Instead, embrace him, smile upon him, and take his proffered hand. Aphel will be your guide, and his lantern the shining beacon to light your way until you return, finally, to the place where all things began. “ — The Aelied
The Raian Pantheon: Aphel |
The God of Death and Rebirth, he completes the cycle as the youngest of the Trinity as well as the end and renewal of all life. He is said to have been formed from the death of a dying star, signifying life after death.
Aphel is often depicted as a hooded figure draped in a dark gray cloak, the color gray having been associated with death since it is the same color of human ashes after a body is cremated. He has also been shown to carry with him a staff with a lantern dangling at its end, said to have been lit with the fire of a small star, so as to better guide the souls to the Cradle. There is no set depiction for Aphel’s face, though many scholars and theologians agree that the reason for that is because Raians considered it bad luck to envision the true face of death before one’s time.
Aphel is the only one of the Trinity that has no ‘children,’ though he is also the only one of his siblings to have a widely recognized companion at his side. Eidonus, his loyal watch hound, forever stands by Aphel’s side and is responsible for guiding souls on the verge of reincarnation from Aphel to Meidther to start their new life.
“May Aphel look upon thee kindly, for he is the final judge at the end of a cycle. By his scrutiny is through which a soul’s virtue is decided, and it is his advice that his sister, Meidther, takes into consideration when fashioning a soul reincarnation. So live a righteous life, and pray that Aphel may look kindly upon thee.: — The Aelied
Aphel has no temple of their own for that would imply worshipping separately to his siblings, however, he is largely prayed to during funerals, war, and especially during the annual Festival of Lanterns. This festival honors and celebrates the dead by releasing floating lanterns with a deceased person’s name engraved into the candles to symbolize Aphel’s lantern lighting the way.
Priest(ess): “To Aphel may thy souls keep, and may the skies welcome thee on thy journey. From the ashes of stars thou were borne, and unto ashes, shalt thou return.”
Mourners: “Ashes to Ashes dust to dust.”
(The pyre is lit)
Mourners: “Rise Again with the fire of the stars.”
Worldbuilding questions to get the creative juices flowing 25
Theme: Magic Systems (Hard Magic System)
Now I truly mean it when I say don’t use this to outline your worlds magic or magic systems. Magic systems are complicated, and they don’t always have to be hard magic systems.
Really think and explore them all on your own. They are often much better the more simpler they are, and anything can act as an inspiration to your magic systems. So really use this as inspiration, and not an outline, I mean it.
Now....to the questions
What are the limits? Which limits are more important or dire compared to the others?
What are the weaknesses? Do the weaknesses differ amongst magic if there are groups of it? Are the weaknesses well known?
Are people born with their magic? If not how do they achieve it? How is magic taught/learnt?
How is magic viewed by the society? Does it differ from place to place? How does this affect people who have magic?
What are the natural “rules” of magic? What are the rules that people themselves placed for magic? Why did these rules come about?
Where does magic come from? Where do people normally believe magic comes from? Does religion and magic intertwine? If so in what way?
Does magic affect the body? If so in what ways?
How is magic casted? Can you cast it in other ways anyway? If so what is the effect?
When does magic backfire? What causes magic to fail? Does magic lessen with time? Age? Knowledge? Do physical or mental disabilities get in the way of magic?
What happens when magic backfires? Is there a common effect or is it sporadic and unpredictable?
What does magic look like being casted? Is it even visible? Does it make a specific sound?
What is magic primarily used for? Is it used for everything? How did people come to use it in such a way? Or was it a natural occurrence to people just like walking or talking?
Does magic differ across species/ethnicities/other?
Are there more than one branch or type of magic in the area? Are there more than one magic system present? How does this affect magic? Do people get along? Do people not get along?
I’m not sure if you’re taking reqs on the world building stuff 💪 as well as I can’t tell if you’ve done this it’s. Late at night and I skimmed it briefly but would it be possible to do something with a magic system?
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I hope your day/week is going good!
Of course!
I've thought several times about doing a piece on magic systems, but I haven't done one yet because magic systems are the one thing I've never been confident of.
(I tend to overcomplicate them and make them only something I can decipher)(it works, I love it, and I'll never trade it out of my main story, but still)
I'll be sure to do an advice page, and a worldbuilding questions page, and when I'm done I'll put the links on here too
But I might as well as give some little pointers as I answer this
Decide whether soft or hard magic systems is for your world (it's just like the difference between soft and hard worldbuilding)
I believe you're likely looking or thinking of a hard magic system, and my advice there don't just think about what magic is capable of but what the magic ISN'T capable
Think about how magic is viewed in the world, especially it's rarity. I see a lot of stories where magic is supposed to be everywhere in life, but magic is still treated as if a secrecy thing, so remember consistency
The limits! Always remember the limits! Think about why characters can't cast crazy spells, or do insane stunts with their magic. And rarely ever introduce something that removes the limits, or give a character a limitless ability. Trust me it opens a fiery can of worms
And how do people develop or learn about magic?
Get creative do anything! Get inspired from anything in life
Here's also some great youtube videos about magic system
Great magic systems have limitations, whether it’s soft or hard worldbuilding, but hard worldbuilding is more likely have hardset rules.
Most turned to and often fun to play with limitation is repercussions to using magic.
I personally love complicated magic systems, but simple magic systems have their charm and popularity for a reason.
Advice and Ideas
Think about the possible story at hand, and how the repercussions would affect it
Would the repercussions completely change the image in your mind, and are you okay with that? If not think of something else, and keep working on it.
Try to make sure the repercussions apply to (mostly) everyone who uses the magic, so it is truly seen as a limitation and real threat to that world
Think about how the magic is summoned? Does it pass through the body, appear before them, go through a weapon? And solve the repercussions from there.
Always ask yourself what could stop this character from using magic. Especially if there is a sort of energy system in place such as mana, chi, and other stuff.
Magic corruption is another common repercussion trope, being the more usage the worse the caster becomes.
I personally use a combination of repercussions depending on how prevalent magic is to societies in my worldbuilding.
My world were everyone uses magic, and magic is present in everyplace imaginable, there are hundreds of magical repercussions including medical disorders, energy mishaps, and backfires.
Think about the world the magic is being used in while designed the magic system, and the repercussions that can come with
A society brimming with magic should look nothing like or vary from our own. Like would normal everyday wood be used to built the houses of a tribe of fire powered people? How do they not burn their houses down?!
Certain inventions wouldn't be if there was magic that did the same thing.
People innovate anything and everything, and magic is a part of that
People have destructive or potentially harmful magic? There is a society of them? How are there not criminals or individuals exploiting their dangerous magic?
New jobs would pop up utilizing magic
Old jobs would be very different because of magic
Don't get me started about military and government
What material are fire people's clothes made of, and why is everyone else not using as protection against them
