World Building Magic Systems with Workbook
Imagine this: your protagonists go up against the villain, tensions are high and the reader is on the edge of their seats. Then your protagonists go to use their magic, except it’s in a way that either doesn’t make sense within the magic system or makes the reader feel like it was a copout to an epic battle. When characters use magic to solve a problem, the reader should be given a clear explanation of how that magic functions. It gives the audience no payoff, but it can be fixed with one simple thing: a well-defined magic system.
World building is essential for fantasy stories, especially when it comes to magic and magic systems. After all, that’s what sets a fantasy story apart from contemporary and historical fiction! Fret not, because this blog delves into the art of creating magic systems for your story.
Whether you’re an aspiring writer or a seasoned dungeon master, these tips will help you build a magic system that will awe your readers. So, download your workbook and let’s get started on creating a fantasy world for your story!
Rules of Building a Magic System
A well-crafted magic system is the cornerstone of many fantasy worlds. It not only adds a layer of intrigue and wonder but also serves as a crucial plot device and world building element.
The master at magic systems himself, Brandon Sanderson, actually wrote his own laws on the usage of magic within a story. Keep these laws in mind while creating your magic system:
Sanderson’s First Law: An author’s ability to solve conflict with magic is DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL to how well the reader understands said magic.
Magic needs to be explained before being used to solve problems in your world.
You should understand your magic system better than anyone else if you need to explain it to readers.
There are soft magic systems and hard magic systems, which I will break down in a subsequent blog.
Sanderson’s Second Law: Limitations > Power
Great magic systems create struggle. If the magic system is limited, it’ll make the writer and the character have to be more clever to get around their struggles.
Limitations will also create tension and can add to character depth.
There should also be weaknesses and costs to using magic.
Example: In A Queen’s Game, mages have to have a calm, clear mind to use magic. Also, the more magic they use at a time, the more likely their mind succumbs to it, allowing the magic to take control. These limitations mean that mages in that world must do things like meditate in order to grow their abilities. It also sets a limit for how much magic a character can use, preventing a power creep as the series continues.
Sanderson’s Third Law: Expand on what you have already, before you add something new.
It’s better to have a few in-depth abilities in your magic system than a plethora of unexplored ones.
Make the abilities you have work with one another instead of feeling disjointed. Focus on how they work with one another—or how they don’t.
Sanderson’s Zeroth Law: Err on the side of AWESOME.
Simply put, this is the rule of cool.
If you deem an idea as awesome or cool, the other rules can bend to said idea. As in, make the awesome idea work within your constraints or change the constraints to make the interesting idea work.
These laws are solely from the brain of Brandon Sanderson, as outlined in his free lectures available to watch online. If you have the time, I highly encourage you to watch them.
Now, on to the steps for building a robust and compelling magic system.
How to Build a Magic System
1. Establish Type of Magic
Magic systems can vary greatly, providing unique flavors and possibilities for your world. Understanding the different types of magic systems helps in crafting one that fits seamlessly into your story.
Here are a few types you could use:
Elemental Magic: involves the manipulation of natural elements, each with unique properties and associations.
Earth: Control over earth can involve manipulating soil, rock, and metal. Practitioners might cause earthquakes, grow plants instantly, or create stone constructs. Earth magic often symbolizes stability and strength.
Water: Water magic includes controlling bodies of water, creating ice, and purifying liquids. It can be used for healing, summoning rain, or creating tidal waves. Water magic often represents adaptability and fluidity.
Fire: Fire magic involves generating and controlling flames and heat. It can be destructive, used in combat to create fireballs or protective barriers, or constructive, such as forging magical weapons. Fire magic symbolizes passion and transformation.
Air: Air magic encompasses controlling winds, creating storms, and enhancing agility. It can be used for flight, sending messages over long distances, or suffocating foes. Air magic often represents freedom and intellect.
Arcane Magic: often depicted as a scholarly discipline that requires rigorous study and practice.
Ritual Magic: Involves elaborate ceremonies and the use of symbols, chants, and ingredients. These rituals can summon beings, protect areas, or curse enemies.
Spellcasting: Practitioners use specific incantations and gestures to cast spells. These can be offensive (like lightning bolts), defensive (like shields), or utility (like teleportation).
Runes and Glyphs: Magical symbols inscribed onto objects or surfaces to imbue them with magical properties. These can be used for enchantments, wards, or traps.
Divine Magic: granted by gods or other supernatural entities, often linked to the caster’s faith and moral conduct.
Healing: Divine magic can cure wounds, diseases, and poisons, and can even resurrect the dead in some cases.
Protection: Includes spells that create barriers, bless allies, and ward off evil spirits.
Judgment: Offensively, divine magic can smite enemies, exorcise demons, and deliver divine retribution.
Dark Magic: the use of malevolent forces, often at a great personal cost.
Necromancy: The manipulation of death and the undead. Practitioners can raise skeletons, communicate with spirits, and drain life energy.
Curses: Powerful spells that bring misfortune, suffering, or doom to the target. These can range from bad luck to physical or mental deterioration.
Blood Magic: Requires the use of blood (often the caster’s own) to fuel powerful and dangerous spells. This can include life force manipulation and pact-making with dark entities.
Wild Magic: unpredictable and chaotic, often with unexpected outcomes.
Chaos Spells: These spells have random effects that can range from beneficial to disastrous. Practitioners must be prepared for any outcome.
Nature Magic: Tied to the primal forces of nature, wild mages can control weather, summon animals, and influence plant growth, but with less precision than elemental magic.
2. Determine the Source of Magic
Magic needs a source, whether it’s derived from the environment (like ley lines or elemental forces), divine entities, artifacts, or an internal wellspring within individuals.
The source should be consistent and have a logical basis within the context of your world.
3. Define the Cost and Limitations
As stated in Sanderson’s Laws, every magic system should have limitations and costs to balance its power. This could be physical exhaustion, a finite amount of magical energy, moral or ethical consequences, or rare resources required to cast spells. This helps to prevent characters from becoming omnipotent and keeps the stakes high.
4. Create a Learning Curve
Magic should have a learning curve, with spells or abilities that are difficult to master. This adds depth to your characters’ development and can serve as a metaphor for personal growth and struggle.
5. Integrate Magic into Society
Consider how magic affects society, politics, economy, and daily life. Are there magical schools or guilds? How do common people perceive magic and those who wield it? Is magic regulated by the state or religious institutions? This integration adds realism and complexity to your world.
Think how does this magic affect the character’s lives? The setting? Every day life? Social norms? This ties back to the other sections in my worldbuilding temple. Magic can affect every single one of these aspects.
By following the guidelines and tips I’ve shared, you can avoid the pitfalls of inconsistent magic and elevate your storytelling to new heights.
Ready to dive deeper? Download the Magic System Workbook to get started on crafting a robust and captivating magic system for your fantasy world. With this tool, you’ll have all the resources you need to create magic that enchants your readers and keeps them coming back for more. Happy world building!