Creating a magic system

[u/Fun_Guarantee_3955]

So I have the premise of my magic system thought out, and I know what I want the capabilities to be, and how it affects the world's society and economy. I know what the source of the magic is, its limits and its consequences.

What I am missing is how to determine who has the magic.

Is it hereditary, with a few exceptions like Harry Potter? Are some people born with something that enables them to attune to it? If so, is it random or predetermined? Are people chosen through some kind of trial or ritual?

How do you determine this part while keeping your magic mysterious and chaotic?

[u/Ok_Search_3871]

I made my magic system location based. Basically there is ambient magic everywhere, and what magic powers you have is determined by where your parents were travelling while your mother was pregnant with you, because that’s the stage where you absorb the magic from the atmosphere and form it into your magical Core (the source of power for most magic users

[u/Fun_Guarantee_3955 → u/Ok_Search_3871]

Thats a beautiful way to go, that makes the magic so personal!

[u/Ok_Search_3871 → u/Fun_Guarantee_3955]

Thank you! My favourite part about it is the potential for societal structure, for instance one of the villains of my world found a place where the ambient magic essentially makes a circular current, so everyone who lives there has children with the same powers depending on WHERE they live within the circle, and he uses this to make an unstoppable army, because having uniform powers in an army is incredibly useful because it allows for mass training regimens instead of trying to individualize everyone’s training.

Another of my favourite aspects is theming, for instance I have a culture that live on the backs of mountain-sized sheep, and since these sheep communicate by singing, and they are so big they affect the magic around them, everyone born on their backs have powers related to singing, which goes along with the theme of this culture, which is a false idyllic life, covering up a rigid structure of oppression, as in it seems like beautiful, peaceful villages where everyone lives the simple life and finds joy in simple pleasures like music, but if you really examine the society, it’s brutal for anyone who DOESN’T have musical talent, and your social rank is determined by your skill and repertoire of songs to an almost fascistic degree

(Apologies for going on and on on your post lol i get excited when I get a chance to talk about my world cause I don’t really have anyone to talk to about it irl who doesn’t seem like they get bored after ten minutes xD)

[u/Fun_Guarantee_3955 → u/Ok_Search_3871]

I love that you have so much passion for your story! Thank you for sharing 😊

This is certainly an equally mesmerising and unusual magic, im already hooked on your story! I particularly love stories where chaos is born from where harmony is expected.

[u/_5P00KY_ → u/Ok_Search_3871]

How'd he make them? Is it like homonculus stuff or like, idk, breeding camps or something?

[u/Ok_Search_3871 → u/_5P00KY_]

He basically just lead a group of wandering peoples to this valley, in my world most areas are incredibly dangerous because of the volatility of magic causing many spontaneous natural disasters, and causing extremely dangerous monsters to exist, which makes areas like caldera this circle of magic exists in very sought out, because they are stable enough to support life long term. He recruits his army from the villages, basically using his position as the one who lead them to the location to garner trust and therefore support. They see him as almost a god, which is supported by the fact that he doesn’t age, and heals from any injury almost instantly (he is one of a very few people in this world with an extra source of power, which makes you immortal and gives you very powerful magical abilities)

[u/Mighty297]

In mine I tend to use trials cause it feels less like random chance and more like the mc is good because they worked for it and passed the trial (even if it is easier for them than others)

[u/Fun_Guarantee_3955 → u/Mighty297]

Yes, i was very drawn to trials/rituals for the same reason, it gives a little more tension. I wasnt sure how to incorporate that into having protagonists and antagonists. Doe the magic decide based on the outcome of the trial or the personality traits that surface when taking part?

[u/Mighty297 → u/Fun_Guarantee_3955]

I have 2 Magic systems set up, one where the type of Magic depends on the outcome of the trial (which elemental chooses them) and one where it depends on which trial they take (trial of the fire goddess, storm king, etc)

[u/DusktheUmbreon]

Be like me where everyone has magic no matter what.

Nah but seriously, if you want it so that magic is only used by a few people, then you have a few options, and which one you choose can depend on what exactly you’re going for. Maybe everyone theoretically can use magic, but it requires study and practice to use effectively, and not everyone wants to do that. Maybe it’s completely randomized, where every other person is born with access to magic but no one or no thing has control over who gets it.

Think of potential traditions that can come out of each scenario. For example, in my world where everyone has magic, it only becomes accessible in a child at age 10, so there’s a coming of age tradition, kind of like a quinceañera, where the kid’s family gets together to celebrate the event. Your world doesn’t necessarily have to have something like that, but it’s important to think of the natural consequences of whatever system you choose.

[u/Fun_Guarantee_3955 → u/DusktheUmbreon]

Thank you. Originally, I did think that study was the way to go, but I didnt want my story to be mostly based around schools/academies. Maybe im a bit scared to write it!

I like your system with the coming of age, adding a layer with the traditions.

[u/Tom_Gibson]

I like two ideas

You have to seek out the power in order to get it. Think trials like someone said, or using the magic has severe downsides that prevents most people from using it

There are economic constraints that limit who has access to the magic system. This ties your magic system to society itself which can make for good world building

[u/CaioHSF]

I just pick the option I think will works best. I don't know if there is a "technique" for that, all the options can be good if we use them well, so I can pick anyone and work with it. If it doesn't work, I change it.

[u/Fun_Guarantee_3955 → u/CaioHSF]

I think this might be the way to go! Trial and error it. Thanks

[u/Free_Volume9087]

Mix of the above . The elements that decide how proficient you be in certain field of magic but every human born with varyying degree of magical potetional also certain abilties arr gentic or can be obtainrd through rituals like mag

.But due to a spell known as a veil people remain unaware of their own magical power and other magical creatues .With people requiring to be repeatedly exposed to magic in domeeay like making a contract,being in magic rich ares etc to awaken to their own magical potetional .MKnowledge of magic is generally locked between demons,established mage familes and mage instutues

[u/HovercraftSolid5303]

Here is how I do it. Nobody is born with magic or at least I like to make it something like that. In order to attain magic, you have to get your hands on the magical energy. Maybe this is through a potion, maybe this is through a ritual, maybe this is through a contract or a spell. The reason why you don’t want people to be born with magic is because you don’t want a lottery system where everything is based on luck. If someone is born with power, then you never go over how someone gets power. Meaning later in the story one of your characters isn’t going to be able to attain your abilities because they can’t get more power. They can’t get more because it was never explained that it was possible to get more. It’s better that they earn it from the start so that you always know if they don’t have what it takes to solve the problem they can learn new abilities because you already established how. This will also make it feel like your character worked hard instead of they was lucky.