How do you like your magic? There are many different kinds of magic, from todays DnD induced 'blast them to ashes with a bolt of lightning' magic, to oldschool 'make a circle of blood. Sprinkle five different powders around the outside. Something happens'(Fill in the blank yourself, I'm too tired.), or the Tolkienish(Most notably with gandalf) wizardry, consisting primarily of (Forgive my slang) Buffs and debuffs.

So, how do you like your magic? Post about different kinds of magic you've seen here or there, heard from your uncles cousins dentist who is currently reading the most fascinating* book, yatta yatta yatta... And no Tlovid, this isn't about MtG. Although you may use that as an example.

_{*I just realized that I type better when half conscious. Weird.}

I want it ALL, baby. Magic is Magic to me, it's all in the effect you want.

You want something big and flashy for impressiveness, go with the DnD style stuff, but if your crafty and want more 'covert' magic, the Tolkien is good for that. The Druidic magic is fun for using in stories, as it seems more 'authentic' then most, and there's many others from all around the world, from the indian shamanistic magic of the north Americas to the voodoo magic of the Negro slaves of Africa.

magic is everywhere, you just need to look for it.

If your speaking of fiction, the magics to incorporated would best be determined by the flavor and theme of the story.
DnD style "push button" magic is good for action/adventure stories, Ceremonial/high magic is good for horror/suspence, historic fiction, its best to study what was common for the time and location your writing about.

If your talking meta-physics mysticism/occult, then my personal belief is that magic is energy focused on an intent, then released. Whether in the form of a charged candle, elaborate ritual, prayer, or even just wishing really hard, to me its all magic.
But thats just one neopagan's opinion. There are as many different beliefs as there are people on the planet.

I like a system that isn't defined or explained.

Mostly because the more they explain it, the harder it is for me to suspend my disbelief. I mean, I have a lot of trouble with Harry Potter. Come on, a curse that kills painlessly is Unforgivable? Is that the best they've got? I mean, we have to work with chemistry and physics and we have thousands of ways of killing and maiming and torturing but all wizards can accomplish is a curse that kills you and one that hurts you?

It doesn't even do any damage to the body! What's so unforgivable about that?

Yeah, I stopped playing.

There is Harry Potter magic where they use a mix between Latin and all Latin based languages to produce the spell from the wand. But that magic requires a good memory!

Personally I still consider that "push button" magic. You cast the spell, instantaneous reaction.

I personally prefer Tolkienish magic, what with illusions, and big spells.

me too. Magic that only requires thinking and with or without one object (such as staff)

Erm... No. I was thinking Tolkienish magic, as in what it does. Not how it is implemented. (Though implementation is fairly important too.)

I always liked stories in which a bard would implement his/her magic via song. Dunno why.

Have you ever read sea of trolls? That is exactly how magic is implemented most of the time. It's a bit of a kids book, but it's good.

that reminds me of wind waker for some reason. XD

that game was so gay. It had Wind magic to control where you sail.
You also had to sail for half the game



Also. Potion magic (Alchemy) Is pretty cool. You could spur up anything, having it's limits though.

Also The Soprano Sorceress, by Modesitt, implements music as magic.

magic possessed in an item are cool too.

Magic derived from the order/chaos balance is the best. So there.

I'll have to if I can find those. I love a good book. (And Grym, if they're well written You don't really outgrow children's books, you just learn to appreciate them differently.)

Pick up The Magic of Recluce also by Modesitt.

The magic system in The Warriors Tale (can't remember the auther off the top of my head) was good too.

"You could turn into bird?"
"A bird? Why not a flock of birds?"
"Maybe it is time for magic to be passed on to the young?"

Aye. And this book is very well written (The sequel isn't quite so good.)

Might and Magic magic is cool

The best system I like is the system of Holds and Warrens found in Malazan Books of the Fallen.

It's good because all of the gods are simply some being (not necessarily human, not necessarily all that sentient) becomes powerful enough and they basically just step up into the House they're strongest in. Then, they can be staff or fight to be the bossman.

For me, it's all about the druids. Nature itself turns against you and it's all over but the crying.

I never really understood that idea.

I mean, it seems so shortlived. If you take your view vast, metal is natural, cities are natural (human habitats), predators are natural.

But no, they're all people who only use wood and live in the forest talking to beavers or whatever.

I've always thought that high magic is cool, but only for something really important. If you want a dragon or want those troublesome mountains moved, high magic. If you want to be able to go somewhere without lugging great set of tomes and needing half an hour to set up your mystic circle... then you need some good old fashioned arcane/frost magic.

Just my two cents.

You'd be surprised. Beavers are excellent conversationalists.
Y'know what'd be sweet? Technomancy, some form of controlling technology through magic... Through magic of course. Not through programming. Like using arcanity to make a robot to smash a building. Or something along those lines.

That would be how golems are made. The Simic and Izzet guilds of Ravnica are experts of it.

huh?

Technomancy is how you make a golem, the Simic are biotech engineers, and the Izzet are just straight up technomancers.

Cool. So golems are a form of biotechnology? That sounds a bit more like a druidic/technomancer crossover.
Y'know, I bet you could be some form of microbiology could be used for the animation of earth.

It depends on what the golem's made of, the Simic specialize in mutation more than the reanimation of dead flesh.

Aye, that's why I said earth. I meant, as in soft loam. And I was speaking of here, on our planet. Nought a drop of magic.

No way to animate the earth, it's made up of natural minerals, no cells to bring to life.

That's...
I...
You...
I don't believe you fully understood my point.

I understand perfectly, you're trying to animate the microscopic components that make up the earth. It's not going to work because in our world to animate something that thing must be comprised of cells.

No, I meant introducing a different microscopic agent into the earth.

How would you accomplish that? You would need something that could withstand the core in order to animate it.

Core?
I... I'm confused. I meant earth as in dirt. Separate. Not the planet. Is that what you meant? I think we should move to a different line of conversation, I'm having trouble making myself clear....

Yeah, go post in scifi before you hurt someone.

Actually, there is a physical law (Of physics) that states quite clearly that I cannot harm humans. I'm that bad at it.

But, fine. I will.

I prefer the other kind.

You mean the physical laws(Of chemistry)?

No, no, I'm referring to the Physical Laws (of Monkeys).

I believe our dear grym is talking talking about animating a small patch of earth to create a golem of earth, not animating the entire planet as TLD is saying.

What he said.

An entire planet wide golem.... Wow, the sort of crap you could do with that

Probably not a lot.

Where would you put it?

On another planet, out of orbit to destroy other planets? Fit it with propulsion systems and grant it sentience enough to be able to decide what to do.

I have thought about this WAY too much

We're not bringing it. It's not gonna fit in the truck.

I am mostly interested in the idea that magic has a cost. Fighting obviously has the cost that you get tired and incur pain and things. But most magic seems to be free, nothing happens to you, you just shoot them with a massive bolt of lightning and thats the end of it.

I prefer the idea that you get "aftersickness" or at least some punishment for using your abilitites. That way you get more warrior types in games and not so many "I R MAGE, U BE DIED" tard ass "mages" who simply blow stuff up to win...

...Even if that is cool sometimes...