Getting Started With Magic

Having multiple sources can result in a wide variety of consequences. In some instances, it could simply offer aesthetic flavour. In others, it may allow for different Methods to be used to conjure the final Result and Effect. There may also be a price to using one over the other and, in turn, may provide a stronger or weaker power. Some sources may only be available to certain people, entities, or creatures.

Is the source always available? Is it only available in certain locations or at certain times? Is there a physical manifestation of the source such as mana powder, or a shard of aether? The varying presence, or lack thereof, for a source would have a significant impact on its use.

While a source may always be available, that does not mean that it will always provide the same amount, or even type, of power. For example, magic drawn from a celestial object such as the moon may wax and wane with the lunar cycle. Alternatively, magic drawn from nature may allow for unique abilities during different seasons.

The potency of one source can vary from that of another. It is very common in fiction to have a dichotomy where one source provides incredible power, at a dire cost, while the other lacks strength, but can be used more freely. There can be more degrees of power, however, and playing with ease of access vs. potency of a source can have extremely interesting carry on effects in your world and story.

When an individual conjures a magical effect, they can do so in a variety of manners. Some specific labels will be discussed below, however, there are some broader considerations to make. Are these methods fixed? Were spells created long ago by ancient gods, and all mortals can do is discover the different methods of performing a spell? Or, through experimentation, or sheer force of will, can new methods be developed?

Often overlooked is the magical effects which can be produced by a natural phenomenon. Does your world contain arcane storms, which can ravage a landscape? Are there natural springs which produce a healing elixir. During certain events, such as an eclipse, or a celestial alignment, can random, sporadic magical effects simply produce themselves out of thin air.

Adding constraints to your Methods can introduce space for both interesting worldbuilding, as well as plot points. Below are descriptions for a few examples of such restrictions.

• Individuals: Can only certain people cast magical spells? Or, can anyone access magic, but there is a limit to the number of mages in the world at any given time?
• Locations: Are there only specific sites in the world where magic can be performed? It may also be the case that spells performed at the temple of a god may yield a greater than normal effect.
• Times: Can magic only be performed during working hours? Or only under a full moon? Is there a cooldown on how long after performing a spell, that you can perform another. Playing with horological limitations for magic can provide a character with a clock for their goals, or result in massive festivals centred around times where great magics can be achieved.

The below is a list of terminology I have personally developed which I have found useful in classifying different categories of Methods. These terms are not what I always use as in-world terminology, however having a consistent set of terms to use across all of your projects while you work on them can be immensely helpful.

• Incantations are most often produced via a triggering phrase. They can, however, sometimes be produced simply through thought alone.
• Rituals involve a specified set of required actions. A common example would be to draw a symbol on the floor, then burn ingredients in a bowl at the centre of the symbol, possibly chanting a special phrase. Rituals can often appear to be a combination of other methods.
• Kinesthetic modes revolve around physical movements to produce magical effects. This may look like simple hand movements, or full bodies martial arts.
• Sigils use drawn or traced symbols to bring about their desired effects. They may fizzle out, immediately after being drawn and producing their result, or last to maintain an ongoing effect.
• Representative magic takes the smaller, more limited representation of the desired effect to produce the much greater counterpart. For example, striking a match to set a building across the street ablaze.
• Ceremonial magic revolves around a precise procession of events, often involving multiple casters, working in unison. These ceremonial spells often require specific facilities, ingredients or even clothing. You can view ceremonial magic simply as a subset of Ritual magic, happening at a grander scale, however there are some more nuanced details which I feel sets them apart.
• Passive magic occurs when the natural or constructed state of an object, place or being is such that a magical effect occurs without active intention.

The Result of a spell can broadly be broken down into discrete, sustained and delayed. Where discrete results last for a predetermined amount of time, often just a fraction of a second, sustained results continuously draw in magical energies to produce an ongoing effect and delayed results produce their effect sometime after the actual action has take place to produce it. This is not to be confused, however, with the Effect that the spell produced. For example, the Result of a spell may be discrete, while the Effect of the spell is a fireball appearing in front of the caster, and hurtling towards a target.

In most systems, the Effects that are achievable are relatively open ended, and thus don't typically require heavy scrutiny at this stage. However, many systems strictly limit the kinds of Results achievable. For example, one system may only allow for effects to be achieved via the imbibing of a potion, while others can only produce instantaneous, discrete effects.

The following are some terms I have developed which I find tend to cover my bases in terms of being able to categorize pretty much any spell. As with the terms I proposed for Methods these are not necessarily the terms I use in-world, but simply allow for me to discuss the mechanics of different projects using a common vernacular.

• Charm: A discrete effect, lasting for a predetermined amount of time, often instantaneously.
• Enchantment: A sustained magical effect which is self-sustaining. It has, built into itself, a method of drawing on the magical source to maintain its effect indefinitely.
• Hex: A sustained magical effect which requires an external power source. That source can be an individual or a powerful object. This is where the items like hex bags comes into play.
• Potion: A potion stores an effect to be conferred at a later time by consuming it in some form or another. Consumption can look different in different instances, such a drinking or eating the potion, rubbing it on skin, simply smashing the containing vial or splashing it on the ground.