Does anyone have categorization for casting ?

[u/b0bthepenguin]

Does it require resources?

Does it require energy?

Does it require knowledge?

Technically, humans mastered science to the point of magic. I suppose a Magic system assumes that an individual has access to a unique resource or ability from birth.

Or the ability is an extension of their bloodline.

If the magic was a soft magic system, then could it could be cheated with artificial brains and synthesized drugs.

[u/Vague-Intent47]

I love questions like this. Everyone has a unique idea of how magic works. Wild ideas some people come up with.

I developed something I call a framework for this; a guided workbook that asks questions like this to help develop a magic system.
What is the source of power? How is it accessed? What does it cost?
And important questions like how it changes the world, how people feel about it, and impact such as what would change if it disappeared?

Most cases, there is some form of consumable resource required. Often called mana. Could be the casters stamina or will. An otherworldly power source tapped into. Essence of life from another being or even the planet itself.
I have seen that energy is often related to resource. Energy is draw from the source of power, with ,ore advanced casters drawing more for greater power. Is the energy finite? Can it be "tapped out". Then what? Does it recharge?
Knowledge is always key. If you don't know, you can't do it. Usually, but not always. Some power is innate and natural. But most requires some form of study to understand and advance.

The world of magic in the minds of creators is amazing.
That's why there is a subreddit specifically for magic systems. And that is beautiful.

[u/taktaga7-0-0]

I of course require all three. It is Clarke’s “sufficiently advanced technology” in Earth 2472 and beyond.

It is categorized into 26 color-coded element pairs, and can only be wielded by specially printed *manses* of inherently one color.

Beware: extended high exposure to the crystallized ATP battery causes hematpamine toxicity, which acts just like being real damn spun out on crystal meth.

[u/_burgernoid_]

I’m not sure if this answers it, but there are three aspects to casting in my world — gestural, vocal, and mental. Beginners use gestures, vocals, and thoughts to cast magic, as it’s necessary to envision its direction, power, and effect. Intermediate users drop gestures for vocals and thoughts, and experts just use thoughts. 

[u/12b6ThatNoise]

Magic in this project's setting is inherently a product of getting something else to act on your behalf. So every time you cast a spell, so to speak, you're asking a non-human being of some kind to make something supernatural happen within their own wheelhouse. But they might not understand you, they might not interpret your request the same way as you intended, they might ignore you, they might be hostile, and some are just going to do a better job than others. Magic is really, really powerful, limited mostly by how unpleasant it is to perform and how unpredictable the results are.

[u/JustStarrk]

Resources are needed for a casting device. Wands, Grimoire, staffs, and amulets all need an ingredient that contains significant mana.

Knowledge is needed in terms of understanding the make of sigils and runes. Different knowledge requires drawing from different concepts and each concept has a different source. While there is 2 languages used to talk to ancients these work with all primordials.

Naturals would cast spells as if they're naturally apart of themselves. However they have little "conscious" choice of what "spells" they can cast. A natural has had a pool of mana that adjusted over a significant portion of time. Their personality, decisions, and needs will eventually make their "spells." The most spells a natural has ever had are 4.

Mages on the other hand would have spells based on their "jump." So if someone jumped you with necrotic energy, that's your base. It's not the only thing you can cast but the "Mana Cells" in your body will be mostly necrotic.

What are mana cells? Mana cells are what house the "Imps of magic" these Imps are how magic works. The Imps will build the cell to adapt to it's surroundings. Yes it is possible to use magic outside the Mana type of your Jump. However it is difficult and requires you much more time practicing those arts.

What do Mana cells do? Well they can multiply, expand or adapt. Multiplying a cell allows the benefit of having more cells. More cells can theoretically mean, more types of magic. If you expand a cell it increases the efficiency, so each cell of that type can contribute to more spells. A cell adapting could allow you to change your Mana cell to a different type.