How
to Start Building a Mystical Magic System
By Joan McNulty-Pulver
So you are writing
a fantasy novel, and it needs mystical magic. Have
you decided on the rules? Why does magic have to
have rules? Just think about today’s technology.
When you want to turn on your computer, you have to
push the Power button. If you don’t, it won’t turn
on. That is a rule of technology.
Magic works the
same way. If you want a spell to work, it must be
said in a precise way or it may backfire or fizzle
out. If a character is scrying, they need something
to scry into, i.e. water, fire, a mirror, etc. Rules
of magic have to work consistently throughout your
world.
I am a big fan of
the Dragon Lance Series by fantasy authors Margaret
Weis and Tracy Hickman. In one of the early books,
Raistlin owns a magical time travel device – it
always finds it way back to its owner. Many books
and two wars later, Fizban, also know as the God
Paladine, gives one of the devices to Tas to travel
back in time and speak at Caramon’s funeral. Tas
gets arrested and the device confiscated. While on
his way to be incarcerated, he reaches into his
pouch to find the device restored to his possession.
Magic works when fantasy writers stick to the same
rules even when applied to scenes and circumstances
many books apart.
How to Start
First decide what
type of magic system your fantasy world will have.
Will it be simple or very complex? The more complex
your system, the more rules will apply. Rules for
one gadget or tool may not be the same for another.
Although the time travel device always returned to
its owner that does not mean all magical devices
have to go back to the character who owns them. An
enchanted stone could be stolen and never returned
or a talisman could be lost and become the object of
the quest in your book. For magic that works and
makes sense to the reader, stay consistent
throughout your book, trilogy, or series.
Simple and Complex Magic Systems
An example of a
simple magic system is one that has a minimal amount
of magic, such as scrying, a few spells, herbal
remedies, and maybe a few curses, etc. Simple
magical realms need the least amount of rules not
only to figure out but also to remember as the story
expands. More complex magic systems, such as in the
Dragon Lance series or Harry Potter need more rules.
The following list
of things to consider when creating magical systems
for a fantasy world is not complete, but intended to
generate a basic set of rules:
 |
When your
characters use magic, what kind of effects should
be available and how easily? |
|
Do you want magic
users to dominate the world? Or can only certain
types of persons perform magic on a limited scale.
|
|
Is your goal a
simple or many-layered/complex system? |
|
Where does the
power to perform magic come from? |
|
Who can use the
power? (In the book I am currently writing
everyone can mindspeak but not everyone can
perform magic.) |
|
Will you use the
terms Wizards, Sorcerers, Witches, Sorceresses,
Magicians, etc? If so, will there be a difference
or unique twist to their abilities in your book?
|
|
Will your fantasy
world have mythical creatures? Will they be able
to perform magic or will that power be wielded
only by humanoids? |
|
How much power
will they have or are there different levels? Can
your fantasy character work to achieve a higher
level? |
