Mages & Magic Q&A session

[KaiAdin]

With Virmir's blessing I'm posting up a Q&A session on the magic system here! Yay! 

Facty things in Bold

(2009.05.09 - 13:37:33) Virmir: I'm going to go into the magic system a bit more, but it probably won't be for a while.
(2009.05.09 - 13:37:39) Virmir: So I can comment on it a bit.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:37:48) KaiAdin: Yay!
(2009.05.09 - 13:38:10) Virmir: Magic extends from the individual.  It doesn't come from an external source.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:38:50) KaiAdin: Oh! I see (so not like TOTQ then )
(2009.05.09 - 13:39:19) DCL: Ah! So then, okay that makes sense. Would you say there types that can leech or draw from an unwilling target?
(2009.05.09 - 13:39:21) Virmir: Actually there is a technicality where you can draw it from external sources, but for simplicity's sake, we'll say it comes from the individual.
(2009.05.09 - 13:39:39) DCL: heh, are you reading minds?
(2009.05.09 - 13:39:50) Virmir: He he he
(2009.05.09 - 13:40:13) Virmir: The technicality I was thinking about was enchanted objects.
(2009.05.09 - 13:40:27) DCL: Ah, nothing like blood magic then
(2009.05.09 - 13:40:32) Virmir: Basically magic extends from something they call a "life force"
 (2009.05.09 - 13:40:38) KaiAdin thinks this should be forum posted later
(2009.05.09 - 13:40:40) Virmir: Every living thing has this.
(2009.05.09 - 13:40:54) Virmir: Also some non-living things have this too.
(2009.05.09 - 13:41:07) DCL: What you would call a golem, or homoculus?
(2009.05.09 - 13:41:07) Virmir: And these can be used as magical artifacts.
(2009.05.09 - 13:41:18) Virmir: Not neccessarily.
(2009.05.09 - 13:41:30) Virmir: Much simpler things have life forces too.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:41:38) KaiAdin: Like?
(2009.05.09 - 13:41:45) Virmir: For example, there are crystals they can use as sort of batteries.
(2009.05.09 - 13:41:54) Virmir: This is essential for their airships.
(2009.05.09 - 13:41:59) Virmir: Also, enchanted weapons.
(2009.05.09 - 13:42:13) DCL: Do they have to be refined, or are they infused in the raw state?
(2009.05.09 - 13:42:36) Virmir: Depends on the situation.
(2009.05.09 - 13:42:54) Virmir: Some have elements associated with them, some don't.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:42:56) KaiAdin: What do you guys mean by that? refined/raw?
(2009.05.09 - 13:43:24) Virmir: Raw would be just generic energy, as opposed to "fire energy" or "electric energy"
(2009.05.09 - 13:43:30) DCL: I wonder, as it somewhat sounds like the ebberon setting in a techical standpoint, with binding magic to an item, from elemental ships and a keystone, or the air barges that are guided by beacons.
(2009.05.09 - 13:43:57) Virmir: Ah, cool. Never heard of that.
(2009.05.09 - 13:44:17) DCL: Think steampunk, but magic as a replacement for science roughly
(2009.05.09 - 13:44:20) Virmir: This is usually minor though compared to the life force of a Reyn.
(2009.05.09 - 13:44:25) Virmir nods.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:44:26) KaiAdin: Oh Cool
(2009.05.09 - 13:44:48) Virmir: All Reyn have life forces, so all can use magic technically.
(2009.05.09 - 13:44:57) Virmir: But not many are "good" at it.
(2009.05.09 - 13:45:09) Virmir: Only those with talent/desire become mages.
(2009.05.09 - 13:45:26) DCL: However, focus, training, and the drive to, such as athletes here only make it to that point?
(2009.05.09 - 13:45:38) Virmir: Yep.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:45:56) KaiAdin: So can a common person with no desire to be a mage use spells still?
 (2009.05.09 - 13:46:04) KaiAdin: small one? or whatever?
(2009.05.09 - 13:46:22) DCL: Desperation, or in time of dire need with emotions fueling it?
(2009.05.09 - 13:46:42) Virmir: A common person might be able to cast a simple spell as well as a non artist with no experience be able to draw a fox.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:47:06) KaiAdin: Ah, right
(2009.05.09 - 13:47:07) Virmir: It's a skill, like drawing, writing, music, etc.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:47:45) KaiAdin: is there any basic magic education in Carreyn?
 (2009.05.09 - 13:47:56) KaiAdin: or for that matter, education itself?
(2009.05.09 - 13:48:09) DCL: With an artifict, can only certain kinds of folks make them? And if so, or not, what kind of bargains must be made from outside sources in the making of them, as it was noted, that the king was willing to send troops in over a cache of them.
(2009.05.09 - 13:48:37) DCL: mages, when i say folk
(2009.05.09 - 13:49:03) Virmir: Kai:  Yes.  All the mages are under training.
(2009.05.09 - 13:49:52) Virmir: Certain people trained in making artifacts can make them, much like a blacksmith makes swords, etc.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:50:03) KaiAdin: ah I meant like a farmer or some servant, would they get some basic mage training, or only those who desire to be mages
(2009.05.09 - 13:50:17) Virmir: Oh no.  Just those with the desire.
(2009.05.09 - 13:50:41) Virmir: I'll be touching more on the Mages of Caerreyn in the future and how they work.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:50:49) KaiAdin: Kind of like, how everyone is taught to read and write, but other skills are 'optional'
(2009.05.09 - 13:50:58) Virmir: Yes.
(2009.05.09 - 13:51:17) DCL: Is being born a mage a stigma, or a boon in the society?
(2009.05.09 - 13:51:27) DCL: or reaching that standingf
 (2009.05.09 - 13:51:28) KaiAdin: ah, so Magic isnt a 'reading/writing' level of importance
(2009.05.09 - 13:51:44) Virmir: Boon, definitely.
(2009.05.09 - 13:51:54) Virmir: And yeah, you'd have to reach it.
(2009.05.09 - 13:52:09) Virmir: It is definitely much easier for some than others.
(2009.05.09 - 13:52:15) Virmir: Kai: Nope.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:52:29) KaiAdin: Look at lucian... despite the semi-racism being a level 3 overcame impressed the city cuards
 (2009.05.09 - 13:52:34) KaiAdin: guards*
(2009.05.09 - 13:52:39) Virmir: Yep.
(2009.05.09 - 13:52:41) DCL: Are magi split among noble/commoner?
(2009.05.09 - 13:53:05) Virmir: Mages are independent of class.
(2009.05.09 - 13:53:25) Virmir: Though nobles are more likely to get in to the training, because they have more money/influence.
(2009.05.09 - 13:53:43) Virmir: And a commoner is less likely to discover he's good at magic.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:53:53) KaiAdin: Oh, that 'green' magic from todays comic, is that some element?
(2009.05.09 - 13:54:27) Virmir: Ha ha, was just going for a different color there.  Don't think into it too much.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:54:35) KaiAdin: Awww
(2009.05.09 - 13:54:44) Virmir: But yeah, it's not fire.
(2009.05.09 - 13:55:25) DCL: What happens to a mage that misuses the powers they have learned?
(2009.05.09 - 13:55:39) DCL: Can magic be sealed, or kept chained?
(2009.05.09 - 13:55:41) Virmir: We're gonna find out.
(2009.05.09 - 13:55:45) DCL: heh!
(2009.05.09 - 13:55:56) Virmir: Same to the second question.
 (2009.05.09 - 13:55:56) KaiAdin:

Edit: Fixed a typo, and removed a personal message

[LoCk]

thats great stuff!

Thanks for posting the logs for those of use who don't read them every day.

[KaiAdin]

Hehehe Yup, I figured everyone else would be interested in this stuff .

[Lopez]

*poke poke* Does the internal magic system apply to everything? Like...is it neo-platonic in that Reyn are different because they have both a body and a soul(magic capacity)?

I mean this in terms of other animals. Can animals become magically adept? How about rocks? Trees?

You state that every living being has the "life force," but what about the ability to utilize it?

[Virmir]

Yes.

That it is called a "life force" should also give a hint of what it's primary purpose is.  That right there is "using" it.

[Geary]

Vely intervesting, but... um... well... It's actually very similar to most every other magic system I've seen.

[KaiAdin]

Ah Mind you Zai, this was taken ageees ago on the chat, Vir didn't want to 'give everything away' at that point.

I'm sure the interesting and unusual nuances of the Universes magic system will become apparent as the comic progresses!  

[Geary]

I know that! D: