How to Design a Magic System?

Magic is used to Characterize

• Magic is an accessory.
• It is attached to objects you create.
• The color, the form, the Behavior of Magic characterizes the object.
• If the object is made to fly Magic displays its aerodynamic capabilities.
• Magic display the evolutionary state of every living being.
• It’s abilities to adapt to its environment.
• Magic becomes the core of every living & inert being.

Character

• How is Magic related to the Character’s goal?
• How does it help your character to evolve?
• Does she use it for her work?
• Does she use it for her entertainment or other’s?

• How does it display her behavior traits?
• Are her spells Powerful & Brutal?
  • Is she impatient?
• Are they Slow & Lingering?
  • Is she sly?
• Does she have any Destruction spells?
  • Is she altruistic?
• Does she practice Alchemy or any Creative craft?
  • Is she benevolent?

• Are spells Limited to her Bloodline?
• Are spells Limited to her ennemies/allies Bloodlines?
• Is she the only one able to use a Critical spell?
• Is the use of this Spell limited to 1 character?
  • The antagonist
  • An allies
  • A 3rd party character

• Color & Form of the spells reveal the nature of the Character.
• What’s the Color’s Meaning?
  • Red = ?
  • Green = ?
  • Blue = ?
  • Purple = ?
• What is the form of the spell?
  • Is it a ball?
  • A Ray
  • A Discus

• What are the body/face Shapes of the Character?
• How does magic affect the Character’s Body?
• Is there an aura around the character?
  • At all times?
  • When a certain emotion is displayed?
• Does she need to wear certain type of clothes?
• Of accessories?

• Dynamics & Flow
• What is the Rhythm of the spell?
• What’s its Speed?
• What is the Area of Effect?
  • Which Direction do they go?
  • What Volume do they fill?
• Are there any Trail, Particles or Effects once the spell is cast?
  • Are the spell’s effects instantaneous?
  • Do the effects stay?
  • For how long?
  • Do they diffuse/dissipate?

• How does the Character’s magic affects Atmosphere & Senses?
• Can she alter the Weather?
• Can she affect the Earth?
• The Water?
• How does her magic Stimulate her self?
• Others?
• What Senses are concerned by the spells?

• Rituals
• How are her spells casts?
  • Instantly?
  • With delay?
• Which Formula does she pronounce?
• Which Gestures does she make?
• Does she perform a dance?
• How long does it take?
• How many Participants are needed?

• Does the character use Catalysts?
• Does she use Scepter/Staff?
• Does she bear Magic Weapons?

Organizations & Settlements

• How is the City affected?
• How are the Cities built?
• Are there any magical Origins to the City?
• Are all the citizen Humans?
• How does magic affect Daily life?
  • Food
  • Sleep
  • Relationships

• How are the Resources produced?
• How are the Resources distributed?
• Is production dependent of the Magic flow?
• How much does it affect Consumers behavior?

• Institutions
• How many Academies & Schools are there?
• What type of Guilds & Corporations are there?
• Is the Police equipped against Magic use?
• What is the nature of the Authorities regulating the use?
• Are there Codexes & Charters?
• Are there Compacts?

• What’s forbidden?
• Are spells Limited to Guilds/Classes?
• What are the Internal Regulations regarding Magic?
• Are there Age-Limited spells?
• Are there Other Discriminations to spell use?

Environments & Landscapes

• What’s the difference between Civilized & Wild Magic?
• Magic has shaped the Landscapes.
• Magic has transformed all living beings.
• Animals & Vegetal interact because of Magic.
• Magic is Evolution, Change & Mutation.
• It is Diversity & Disparity.

• Color & Form
• What are the Colors of the World?
  • Plains
  • Mountains
  • Seas
  • Forests
• Will you keep the traditional colors?
• Swap for the opposite color?
• Add complementary colors?
• Which Unnatural Form & Shapes does Magic create?
• Are there animated objects that should be inert?
• How does Magic change the nature of Life?

• Dynamics & Flow
• Rhythm Speed
• Direction
• Area of Effect
• Volume
• How does magic affect the geological Dynamics?
• How does it create currents?
• Are there invisible Creatures controlling the World’s Flow?

• Atmosphere & Senses
• What living being influence the Weather?
• Are there animals/vegetals pushing the Earth?
• Are there creatures orienting Water’s flow?
• Stimulation
• How is Magic perceived by Wild Creatures?
• How does it affect their Senses?
• How do they react when a Day/Night Cycle has been perturbated?
• How Does Magic affect the Skies?
• How are there changed?
• Are there any Trails, any Particles, any Disruption in the Skies?
• What are the Effects of Civilized magic on the Environment?
• How sustainable is Wild magic compared to Civilized one?

• What’s the influence on Territories & Predation?
• Do some species have access to spell other don’t?
• What superiority does it create?
• Do certain animals/vegetals stop to act as a species once they acquired a certain spell?
• Do they develop individual/humanoid tendencies?

• How do Wild Rituals differ from Civilized ones?
• How long does the casting take?
  • Days?
  • Month?
  • Year?
• Imagine an entire Species casting a spell constantly to maintain the gravity of a planet?
• How are spells casts by Animals & Vegetals?
• Are there Formula & Gestures?
• Are there Screams & Body modifications?

Story

• What are the Impossible spells of your Story?
• What isn’t allowed by the Story?
• Not only by Regulations.
• Impossible.

• Which Magic is so ancient that it could never be retrieved?
• If Arcanes are retrieved, can they be Used?
• Are they so distant that none can understand them?
• Imagine Formulas that don’t even look like scriptures.

• Are there any Foreign Entity?
• One that cannot be reached by Characters?
• One evolving off of the Visible Story?
• Are there many of these?
• Are there all the same species?
• Do they Interact?
• How Vague & Distant are they from living beings?
• How Vague & Distant are they from each other?
• How Vague & Distant are they from themselves?

• Color & Form
• What is the Color of the 1st Scene?
• What is the Color of the Last Scene?
• What are the Dominant Forms of your Story?
• What are the Symbols of your Story?

• Dynamics & Flow
• How does magic affect the Tempo of your Story?
• How does it modify the rhythm of your Story?

• What is the Atmosphere like?
• What’s the Genre of the Story?
• What’s the Setting?
• If there are no Magic in this Settings how will you substitute?
• Do you choose to substitute?
• Will you integrate Magic in this system?