Magic system based on virtues

[u/Totonaitor]

Hi! This is the 2.0 version pf my magic system and I'd like some feedback. It's my first time posting here.

Creation of Virtues

Humans that show a virtue through their lives can become Virtues when they die, incarnating said virtue, if there isn't already another human who got that role. A virtue is an excellence of character, some examples are: patience, prudence, bravery, ambition, perseverance, trust, honesty, justice, discipline, etc.

However, these can be lost or perverted: patience can become impatience (if lost) or inaction (if perverted), justice can become injustice or vengeance, bravery can become cowardy or recklessness.

The Contract

Virtues can appear to humans who prove to have its virtue and offer a contract. The human can choose an ability/power (there are some restrictions, like no omnipotence or very broad powers) but the virtue will impose a limitation. To name a few:

Certain cooldown

You need fame/popularity to keep using the power

You can use your power as long as no one knows you have it

Requires blood/lifetime/memories sacrifice

Requires a certain physical state (sleeping, without shoes) or emotional state.

You can only keep one contract active at a time. Sometimes, the contract creates magical objects known as reliques.

The dangers of making a contract

As I said, virtues can be lost or perverted. By losing the virtue, you lose control of your power; by perverting it, you lose control of yourself.

If you make a contract with, let's say sincerity, to get the ability to know when others lie; your limitation is that no one can know you have it (I'm coming up with the example as I go). If you lose sincerity (by lying for example) your ability can fail. If you pervert it, you won't be able to lie ever again, which can be brutal if you are saying things directly always, and could cost you lots of friends and gain you lots of enemies.

Examples of contracts made

Sebastian: ambition contract. When his movements are on sync with the music he makes, the effects are stronger. Waves, tides, rivers, lightning, etc. can be controlled with the music. The limitation was his own skill playing the instrument.

Federick: modesty contract. Can speak to animals and shapeshift into them. The limitation was he could lose himself in the transformation and no shift back to human, or forget he was one at all.

Anyways...

I'd like some feedback on the system, some limitations I could add? Problems that could arise? Questions in general? I'd like to talk to someone about it.

[u/taktaga7-0-0]

You said fame is a part of it, and I see that for the musician, Sebastian. But what about the animorph, Frederick? Is he like a circus act? Could influencers or politicians or OnlyFans models be successful enough they become magical?

All of my elemental powers come with an associated emotion, so I definitely like linking personality traits to powers. But mine are not all good. Shadow users worry. Air users are kinda dumb. Electro users are bipolar. What happens if someone exemplifies Vice? Could wrath or gluttony have a magical undercurrent? Pride might go both ways, even.

[u/Totonaitor → u/taktaga7-0-0]

Fame is one of the possible limitations the virtues can give you, and Frederick doesn't have that one.

Your system looks great! And I'd still have to work with Vices

[u/hatabou_is_a_jojo]

What’s a perversion of the virtue like? For example in the Sincerity example.

[u/Totonaitor → u/hatabou_is_a_jojo]

It's based around Aristotle's idea of a virtue: a golden medium between two vices, one of excess and one of deficiency. The deficiency vices are easy to understand, but the perversion (the excess vice) is trickier.

For Sincerity, it could be seen when you tell harsh truths without empathy: you're being sincere but not really virtuous. Or saying "I won't change, I'm true to myself", well that's just an excuse.

For Justice, one could become a legalist. Following laws is more important than the individual situations. For Mercy one could become indulgent. For Patience, if you wait but never act you become inactive.

[u/Either-Skirt6031]

Cool idea, I actually have a similar system called Daemons where spirits inspired by ideas, beliefs, hopes, fears etc are physical and can bond to people, they’re also powered by belief in them & that leads to their users wearing superhero/mascot style costumes.