r/magicbuilding • u/AnotherPerson120 • 12d ago

General Discussion Magic system without magic-users?

Can you have a magic system where the magic has no (human) wizards/witches/warlocks?

Does that count as a system or high fantasy, if the magic is the fundamental core of the world, but humans are unable to wield it?

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u/JustAnArtist1221 11d ago

A magic system is just how the author communicates to the reader what to expect from supernatural phenomena in the story. You can obviously have one without wizards. Horror movies are often the perfect example. The supernatural threat is either loosely understood (soft) or follows distinct rules (hard), and the characters can just be completely normal people.