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There’s this need to acquire the best magic and knowledge is hoarded. Even in franchises I love like Full Metal Alchemist, the magic system is kept behind several walls of secrecy and exclusivity.
I always hated that part of secrets in the world that are accessible to the people at large.
In Harry Potter for example, I hated the idea that magical people could help with so many real-world problems. They just choose to stay exclusive. Magic knowledge is kept from people they deem unworthy, even if you have magical ability.
I can accept secrecy and such in super hero type fiction sometimes like in Sailor Moon. Nobody else can use those powers and fight against the villains on the same level.
Dragon Ball Z had an interesting concept when they had Gohan teach Videl about using ki. This is knowledge that could help a lot of people but they keep that knowledge and the reality of their global threats to themselves. It baffles me that no human outside current canon discovered how to use ki in the years since Dragon Ball started. There were androids and stuff, but nobody would stumble onto that information ever? To seek to get to the level of at least Yamcha?
In Harry Potter for example, I hated the idea that magical people could help with so many real-world problems. They just choose to stay exclusive.
Harry Potter is the absolute worst about this, because seemingly there’s no real limit on magic and it’s abilities. There’s no pool of magic energy to deplete, it’s not a scarce resource in anyway, the only reason they don’t share is because they just don’t feel like it.
I think FMA handles it pretty well actually. A lot of the information is available as long as you’re willing to study complicated chemistry and physics to be able to do it, and most of the actual secrecy is specific to the military. Atomic theory is public, blueprints for how to build an atom bomb are secret.
Reddit STEMlords love Brandon Sanderson style hard magic systems because they have no imagination and even magic has to make “logical” sense.
Give me magic that is weird and inexplicable and terrifying ty
Well so one big hang-up for me is the blurring of science/technology and magic, both sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic and its converse. But I am just being a nerd there so let’s skip that.
This is such a huge thing though. So many people today don’t want Magic to be Magic. They want a setting that is Magic-Punk. Magic as a technology, as a science, and as a resource.
What is the point of magic if not an exploration of a reality that is not our own? Why in the hell would mages be content to slave away under the shackles of capitalism? (speaking here of setting where mages are often just more efficient labors, in some settings replacing able-bodied people as the proletarian class entirely!) If these mages are so powerful and common they can constitute an entire working class, then at least be realistic an interesting; the cities would devolve into gang warfare and lawlessness almost immediately. the average worker has guns for hands!!
I tend to be into fae-wildy, Kind Of Other Dimensions But Incomprehensible To Us, Chaos Magick-y type stuff.
Disclaimer: Yes, I know the Force was originally more “magical” but that ship sailed as soon as midi-chlorians and “balance in the Force” enlightened centrism became a thing in the franchise.
There’s some interesting exploration of the Force being more than just a dark/light thing in SWTOR. There are mentions of how other cultures see their Force users as servants of their gods, completely absent of any dark or light distinction. Also, the Knights of Zakuul see the Force as a reward for serving justice. There are some really interesting ideas that I wish the mainstream part of the franchise explored more.
I love that I can find conversations like this here. I’m writing up my thoughts now and I’m interested in having a discussion :quokka-smile:
You make a valid point anthropology wise. Can you think of a time where magic being fundamentally unknowable like you said was narratively satifying?
See, when I was thinking of a soft magic plot I honestly first hit on like slipstream scifi. Moeibious kinda stuff. Where I can’t myself feel any magic about the world I can about the universe. Magic? Bullshit. Le Incal? A magic pyramid fought over by the technopriests with unknowable magic powers? Obviously plausable and emotionally relevant.
So there is a synthesis here. As star treck is that same science fantasy kidna setting.
