A "good" system can enhance the otherness of the world or characters.
Jacob Send a noteboard - 02/11/2009 08:34:02 PM
I think that I'd qualify "good" in this case as magic/powers that are well written and well integrated into the story and fabric of the created world.
A recent great example would be Brandon Sanderson's Allomancy from his Mistborn series. That system was interesting, well used, and fit with the overall story and style.
A good magic system can enhance a story, but it is rarely ever a primary factor in whether a story is good or not. A badly explained or poorly written system can certainly be a detriment.
Speaking of Sanderson, his magic system in Warbreaker certainly was different. As unique and interesting as it was, especially by the end of the novel, it was difficult to picture at the beginning of the story.
A recent great example would be Brandon Sanderson's Allomancy from his Mistborn series. That system was interesting, well used, and fit with the overall story and style.
A good magic system can enhance a story, but it is rarely ever a primary factor in whether a story is good or not. A badly explained or poorly written system can certainly be a detriment.
Speaking of Sanderson, his magic system in Warbreaker certainly was different. As unique and interesting as it was, especially by the end of the novel, it was difficult to picture at the beginning of the story.
What is the purpose of a "good" magic system in fantasy?
- 02/11/2009 05:15:29 PM
887 Views
A "good" system can enhance the otherness of the world or characters.
- 02/11/2009 08:34:02 PM
552 Views
Warbreaker felt like it had a lot of untapped potential
- 03/11/2009 05:55:23 AM
476 Views
A part of that is planned, and another part is due to a growing author.
- 03/11/2009 03:11:58 PM
613 Views
I think it takes a couple of things to make a good magic system
- 02/11/2009 09:25:42 PM
456 Views
Concequence is certainly interesting.
- 03/11/2009 04:02:58 PM
500 Views
Indeed.
- 03/11/2009 04:16:41 PM
509 Views
Have you described this here or at Wotmania before?
- 04/11/2009 09:25:01 AM
534 Views
I wrote a little about it at wotmania when Danu was having her last big writing contest.
- 04/11/2009 02:34:51 PM
441 Views
I really don't care as long as it is not horribly inconsistent.
- 03/11/2009 07:47:48 AM
498 Views
The problem with heroes is they are just making it up as the go along
- 03/11/2009 06:49:25 PM
478 Views
That is not without a whole lot of precident in comics. *NM*
- 03/11/2009 08:04:48 PM
197 Views
It doesn't really make a for an internally consisnt magic system OR plot, though. 
*NM*
- 03/11/2009 08:14:59 PM
239 Views
*NM*
- 03/11/2009 08:14:59 PM
239 Views