-
-
Show this thread
-
9/ Did Gandalf's light spell have rules? Is the magic in Conan or Dying Earth self-consistent? The more rules and consistency you have, the less magic and the more engineering it is. ...which is the entire point I'm making.https://twitter.com/tr0g/status/1251590816210059265 …
Show this thread -
10/ The absolute worst kind of "fantasy" is where the inside of castle or dungeon rooms are lit by crystals embedded with light spells cast on them. Fluorescent lights. Magical phlogistan instead of UV emitting arcs impinging on phosphor...but fluorescent lights all the same
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
FWIW I like a lot of books that have hard, spergy magic systems but they're not really fantasy, they're magic-world SF (just like Star Wars isn't really SF, it's space fantasy)
-
This Tweet is unavailable.
- Show replies
New conversation -
-
-
This Tweet is unavailable.
-
yes that's the thesis that I just explicated
End of conversation
-
-
-
I think another issue is in a lot of the foundational classics of fantasy like the works of Tolkien, Howard, and so on- magic is 1. fairly rare, and 2. mostly only used by either antagonists or enigmatic supporting characters. In that context, there's little need for a "system"
-
and magic can be pretty much anything the plot demands. Whereas if magic is relatively commonplace, you need a clearer idea of what it specifically can and can't do for the worldbuilding to make sense; and if main characters are regularly using it, it needs to have defined limits
- Show replies
New conversation -
-
-
I'd say it's a fine line and depends on the foundational narrative focus. It shouldn't devolve into like splergy manacounts and super-hard cooldown mechanics, but there should be some general situational rules so magic doesn't just become a spammy easy-out asspull.
-
/2 Like I could see a good corruption 'mechanic' being not a "you hit 1000 dark points so you turn into a demon" thing, but going more a 'using this easy way too much leads to moral failings like sloth or abuse of your power for avarice'
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.