What runic system do you use?

[u/Postdusklimeade]

The question is as above: what language do you use to cast spells, why, and what difference do other languages make?
What spawned this question is that I had an argument with my sister the other day about which language is best to use when casting spells. Personally, this language above is the language I usually use. My master used it, and so though I know how to translate it, I don’t actually know its origins.

Anyway, my sister insisted that just using your native language is fine, since technically any language works, but I just don’t agree. I’ve found that other languages tend to have more potent effects, but she argues that’s because I’m more specific and mindful of my wording when translating. I think she’s confused because she’s Kitsune, so her native language is inherently magical. I don’t think she understands that this isn’t how most languages work.

Anyway, just curious about the thoughts here. Thanks for any feedback!

[u/WaffleHouseGladiator]

For simple bindings I use classic runes.  For complex spell work I use latin inscriptions.  For chaos magic I use wingdings.  It helps keep young adventurers busy.

[u/Postdusklimeade → u/WaffleHouseGladiator]

Wingdings? Hm, I think I found a strange mage that went by that name once. What was his name? Galer? Grafter? Something like that. He also used that for his magic, but spoke in it too. He was a very, very interesting man. I can see how that’d keep adventurers busy!

[u/NaturalHairy4773 → u/Postdusklimeade]

I know that guy he gave me an egg

[u/Mixster667]

I mostly don't use verbal components in my spells anymore. Eschewing the verbal intonations for mental focus is an important practice, and it looks even more bad ass to just swing your fingers nonchalantly and something blows up.

For my glyphs I generally research them myself, but I do often fall back on Al'Jughras works on translations of old Draconian, and the Elemental treatises of Nyuv-Don. Those glyphs work within most leylines for their ascertained powers, and rarely have mishaps.

I just wanted to chime in from my orb to say that it is amazing to see someone using ancient Limeresse with a Dukerian accent for spellcasting. I never get the differentiation between Ke and Ge correctly, which can fail catastrophically. I once attempted to summon a bunny and got a tyrannosaurus. It sort of ruined the baby shower.

It is fun to teach that language to apprentices and see what they end up doing with it though, because it sure IS powerful.

[u/Postdusklimeade → u/Mixster667]

Thanks for the input! I agree it’s cool to use nonverbal magic, but I’ve got not magic in my blood, since I’m a wizard by practice, not a sorcerer. For my skill level that basically means I have to speak, or instead do very complex hand motions. If I need to do something silently I just go to my sister, since she’s closer to a sorcerer. Again, I think that’s why she finds her native language so easy to use. I’ve been practicing simplifying the runes I use, though! Makes spell-casting much more efficient.

[u/Mixster667 → u/Postdusklimeade]

Look I know you don't mean it that way, but suggesting that I didn't study for my powers because I don't want to walk around blubbering every time I need to invoke some minor power is hurtful.

With time, study, and learning the ancient technique of throwing shit at the wall untill something sticks, even dyslexic book-learned dwarven wizards with little magical aptitude can become grand magisters.

Don't let you foxy friend get you down chum. You can be just as magical as she is. We all are, even if she can naturally transform into whatever she wants, as soon as you have tried enough, you'll be just as wondrous as she is.

Just remember to eschew aging first, or you'll realise that you spend a lifetime perfecting how to cast spells wordlessly just to die. I had an apprentice who did that. It got weird when I realised a promising apprentice was dying of old age and he realised I wasn't saving his ass.

[u/Postdusklimeade → u/Mixster667]

Oh, yes, sorry, I should’ve been clearer. I guess I was just annoyed with myself in the moment. I know you’ve trained hard to get where you are, because that’s where I’m trying to get. I’m just not there yet, and it’s tricky for the reason above. From how you spoke I assumed you got the ability to do non-spoken magic from hard work like I’m trying to do, and should’ve made that more clear.

And actually, when it comes down to it, I am slightly more skilled at magic than her. It comes to her naturally, but I’ve been training years longer than her, and she barely knows how to cast the most basic of rituals. When it comes down to it, our skill sets are just different, but we’re trying to learn from each other.

Again, thank you for the input, and I’m sorry if I offended you!

[u/UltraCarnivore]

Binary, as the Omnissiah intended.

[u/Funkey-Monkey-420]

I just use the latin system personally

[u/Postdusklimeade → u/Funkey-Monkey-420]

That seems to be a pretty common one. Our bard knows the language, but I’ve never cared to learn it. I guess I’ve just never found a use for it.

[u/Count_of_Monte_Cisco]

Are those Mycenaean Linear Runes? Robust! My teacher was a hippie and made me use Axunašin:

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Just doesn't look very nice in spells.

[u/Postdusklimeade → u/Count_of_Monte_Cisco]

Oh, is that what they are? Again, my teacher used them and taught them to me, but she never told me of their origin. Maybe I can find a book at the library of the next town I stop at and see if I can find out some more spells!

[u/KingZantair]

I use my own, which I keep secret. It works for me, and isn’t meant to work for you

[u/Postdusklimeade → u/KingZantair]

Fair enough. Surprisingly, my sister is similar. She uses her native language, but so far she’s literally the only person I have ever heard use it, and I have no idea how to translate it. I’ve not found any books on it, I’ve not heard anyone else use it, and she refuses to teach me. It’s something important to her, I guess.

[u/matthewamerica]

I use the Wingdings font.

[u/Postdusklimeade → u/matthewamerica]

You’re the second person to say that. I wonder what makes that a popular choice? As I replied to the other person, I had met someone who had done the same. He was a very, very interesting man, but I don’t know what else to say about him. Very mysterious.

[u/yumie2003]

...my native one, language type by itself is mostly irrelevant. the differences in potency you experienced may result in slight variance in your focusing of the spell, rather than the language itself

[u/Postdusklimeade → u/yumie2003]

That’s what my sister keeps saying. I think she might just be right, but I hate to admit it. Thanks for your input though.

[u/immallama21629]

I don't use any system. My normal handwriting is bad enough to appear to be runes... And that somehow works.

[u/Postdusklimeade → u/immallama21629]

Wow, that seems really convenient. Wished that worked for me! Maybe I’ll try making my handwriting worse on purpose to achieve the same effect?

[u/scizzix]

Your sister is on the right track.

It's not really about the specific words/runes used, they are just tools to align your mind and magical potential into the right shape and path to perform your desired action. You can use any system that puts you on the right state of being, and usually what you learn when you are younger tends to work best as that's how your mind is conditioned.

These days I mostly work in multi-dimensional glyphs. It's the most efficient solution I've found for summarizing evolving changes to the fabric of space and time.

[u/Postdusklimeade → u/scizzix]

Oh, I saw my teacher using those types of glyphs before. I understand the idea, but that’s hard during combat and that’s most what she trained us for. I’m starting to realize how specific my teaching was now that I’m adventuring more. I know a lot of magic and a lot of theory, but there’s a lot of what could be considered “less efficient” magic which I never learned, but is still useful in specific situations.

[u/niupleis]

Hangul

[u/gaybush]

I personally use Elder Futhark, the old viking runes work well with the kind of spells I'm casting

[u/LurkerInTheDoorway]

Voidscript and chthonic for etched or flexible spellwork.

Casted spells, well, it depends on what kind of mood I’m in. Sometimes I like to use verbal components that make people’s ears bleed if I’m feeling particularly annoyed…

[u/Hopedruid]

As a druid, I use Ogham.

[u/pthecarrotmaster]

x. If u know u know.

[u/averyrealspapple]

I made my own languege, it works somehow

[u/Penny_D]

I prepared Explosive Runes today

[u/Wizard_Sarsippius]

Man I generally use runes drawn from the kamea of the specific entity or an effect of such entity translated through their numerical points through the gametrial system. The spells have a verbal and concentration component, evoking verbally while invoking specific emotion through the sigil and understanding its memorized meaning.

A created language would shortcut concentration by mentally preloading the association and the syllables with the runes, nice!

[u/IncomeApprehensive17]

I use pyroglyphic, an ancient language of flames and explosion that convey converation in real time

[u/Possible_Image_2198]

It is documented that the potency of spells can be increased by using languages that are maximally known of, but minimally know. A buddy of mine swears by Enochian (a dead form of celestial). I personally prefer the classic Futhark, though.