Aug 11 2011
Building a Magical System: A Questionnaire
This questionnaire will help you design a solid magic system which won’t have your readers asking questions of their own.
1. What can magic users do?
- Do they use tools, their body and/or sheer willpower?
- Are there subtypes or specialties?
- Is magic a born talent, a learned skill or both?
- If there are races, which ones are most adept at magic and why?
- Are there certain areas with high concentrations of magic? What happens in those areas, and how are people who inhabit those areas affected?
2. What costs and limits affect the use of magic?
- Are there personal costs like running out of energy or the possibility of physical/mental damage?
- Are there societal restrictions like actual laws affecting magic use? What is the main goal of these laws? What are some of the consequences like for disobeying these laws?
3. How do magic users learn to control their powers and obey the above laws?
- Are there schools, like in Harry Potter?
- Do they have one-on-one apprenticeships, like in Star Wars?
- Do they teach themselves?
4. Besides killing them, what countermeasures can those without magical abilities take to prevent magic users from performing? (For example, silver shackles or handcuffs are often used to restrain werewolves).
- If there are no countermeasures, why not?
- Are there any circumstances where magic cannot be used? (For example, perhaps there are dead zones where magic does not function or certain holy days where magic is forbidden and/or unavailable).
5. What is the relationship between magic, magic users, and non-magic users?
- Is there prejudice, or general acceptance?
- If there are more specific types of magic users, or races defaulting to magic use, how do magic users treat different magic users? Do they band together, have a friendly rivalry, or is there infighting?
- How do families with magical ability treat those born with no magical abilities? How do families with no magical ability treat those born able to manipulate magic?
- Is there a ranking and/or caste system for different kinds of magic users?
- Is there a specific form of address for magic users? (For example, knights and noblewomen would be addressed as Sir or Dame as a sign of their high status).
Jonie Legaspi is a perpetual scholar, aspiring novelist and middling-to-fair seamstress that enjoys studying the world, language and fiction of all sorts.
I’m not a fantasy writer, nor do I write about magic, but this is extremely helpful nonetheless! I need to link this to fantasy-writer friends of mine. It’s always good to know the limits of a magical universe, lol. Thank you!
That reminds me. I’ll have to work on my own magic system for psychics. All I have are three categorizes of powers, and almost nothing else. Actually, there is a society…
Got to work on that article too.
Me, I’m harnessing the power of Punnet squares among other things to figure out superpowered genetics, whether mutations can be recessive to normalcy, all sorts of fun stuff. Let’s hope I don’t bend genetics too much.
- Wings
I just starting reading the Mistborn Trilogy today. Brandon Sanderson is really creative with his invention of magic systems. I’m trying hard to make a unique one myself.
I can see this being easily adapted to super powers or other special powers as well.
I would add a few more questions:
If applicable, what are the origins of the powers (mutations, gods, spirits, etc)?
What are the limits on the kind of powers?
What are the limits on how powerful someone can be?
I love fantasy and i have an idea for story but i been trying to develop a unique and original system of magic to use, so this will definitely be a huge help to me. Thank you!
Wow! This is so cool! Thanks so much for putting it together.
One question I’d add to this list would be “is there an over-arching metaphor that can be used to conceptualize the magic?”
Because if there is, you can often use that to answer a bunch of the other questions in a way which yields a coherent, consistent feeling to the whole magic system.
For a lovely example of this, check out _Plain Kate_ by Erin Bow:
http://www.amazon.com/Plain-Kate-Erin-Bow/dp/B005CDTVGE/
In that story, the underlying metaphor is “magic as gift-giving.” It’s an interesting, unusual conception of magic, but one that makes a certain sense, and Bow has done a very nice job of working through the metaphor to answer questions about the costs and limits of the magic, the countermeasures, et cetera. It all adds up to a very believable portrayal of the magic within the world of the story.
Thank you all for your feedback! I honestly didn’t expect such a positive response.
Silvercat: If you would like to change it to be applicable towards superpowers, go ahead! However, I actually left out most questions about origins (save for the “Is magic a learned skill or a talent?” in #1) because most stories are only set when a magic system has been well established, not when magic is just beginning to manifest. So, it’s a nice piece of backstory to know for building cultures and such, but not really relevant to the present. As for limits, that’s covered in #2.
Jason Black: Actually, I made a point to leave out questions involving metaphors and themes. I find those questions blur the lines between technical writing and creative writing. This questionnaire was intended to build a reference, for consistency of a magic system within a work. While metaphors are nice, they are not exactly technical, and thus they’re more suited for the actual work.
Jonie: In regards to limits, I was thinking more of how powerful an individual can be. Like, can you get to Gandalf levels (who is functionally an angel) or closer to Harry Potter? (I realize they have very different feels)
I have a mental story where a set of mages have almost no limit, as long as they can think of something in terms of their theme. (Which is one of the reasons the story will never get written.)
The story I am writing, the powers are very limited, although I don’t really have any set limits. It’s mostly by feel. Superman wouldn’t fit. Many of the X-men wouldn’t either.
I think having a set limit helps prevent egregious power creep (like, say, Superman).
As far as origins, I meant sources as well. Is it mana and there’s only a certain amount? Is it from gods? Do they have to get power from somewhere (for example, in my mental story, the fire mage mostly uses body heat, life power, and sunlight, depending on the spell)? Sort of covered in #1, but not explicitly, and probably something to think about, depending on the flavor of magic.
Silvercat: The question is right there: “Are there personal costs like running out of energy or the possibility of physical/mental damage?” I was, however, intentionally vague to allow for a wide variety of ranges.
Also, I explained that knowing the source or origin of magic was NOT integral to the story’s consistency on a plot level (for example, “Character is specifically stated to be unable to do perform Action 1 without Requirement A, and in a later chapter does Action 1 without it”), which was why I did not explicitly include it.
Jonie: I think we’re talking past each other. And naturally, each story and writer is going to have different needs. ^.^
Should there only be one magic soure or system for the world that you create?
I think it’s okay if there’s more than one. However, the more there are, the less space you’ll probably have to get into the details.
I’m trying to create a system of magic for my comic book universe. But am caught on one hard to answer question. In regards to magic, how do you define such an indefinable force?
I know what I’d like to see in my universe, I’m just not sure how to get there. Does anyone have any tips for defining magic?
No rush guys, I’ve got it figured out. If anyone needs help of any kind, let me know. I’d like to help if I can.
1. The magic in my book is elemental. They just need will power and the ability to use magic. They have one primary element, which they are vastly better at using than any other. They are born with their magic.
2. It can be physically exhausting to use magic, especially for an extend period of time, or if it’s really difficult and not their element.
3. That really varies. Usually it is a one on one sort of teaching, with the parents teaching them, but there are some circumstances which lead some witches and wizards having to learn in other ways. Those tend to have a more difficult time, but they also tend to become the best.
4. Hmm… Well if they are deprived of their connections to water, or something then they would be weakened, but they’d still have their magic in other elements. Non magic people could always ask for assistance from other witches or wizards.
5. The views vary from kingdom to kingdom. There’s a few wounds that haven’t exactly healed, you could say. Some of them would put all the witches and wizards to death, but others would gladly have them at their side.
I was wondering if anybody had any ideas for a magic system using categories other than the usual elements, colors, etc.?
Mages use magic that comes from within themselves. A mage’s say, fireball would have a personilized color. Wizards use magic that is generated by items (such as staffs, or wands if you will). Wizards get…vibes from people that inform them of general moods. Sorcerers are basically necromancers and get their power from spirits.
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