D&D General What Is Magic, Even?

[Umbran]

Magic is a type of supernatural power over natural forces.

So, what's the difference between natural, and supernatural forces, then?

I mean, in the normal D&D metaphysics, magical forces are a normal part of the multiverse. They just happen... well, naturally. So, the supernatural is itself, natural. A modern day physicist would say that there is no such thing as forces not of nature.

The very word - "supernatural" literally means "above nature", and in the Latin root, conveys the idea that the power comes from a deity or some other force humans are not born with.

So, then, we might say that in D&D - the supernatural is that which a D&D commoner (or a collection of commoners) cannot do.

 

[FrogReaver]

So, what's the difference between natural, and supernatural forces, then?

A natural force is a force that occurs naturally (surely I don't need to define naturally for you)?

A supernatural force is a force that does not occur naturally

I mean, in the normal D&D metaphysics, magical forces are a normal part of the multiverse. They just happen... well, naturally. So, the supernatural is itself, natural. A modern day physicist would say that there is no such thing as forces not of nature.

Not one that believed in God.

The very word - "supernatural" literally means "above nature", and in the Latin root, conveys the idea that the power comes from a deity or some other force humans are not born with.

I think that's a bit narrow no? Surely a human born with a supernatural ability would still have it classified as a supernatural ability.

So, then, we might say that in D&D - the supernatural is that which a D&D commoner (or a collection of commoners) cannot do.

And this is also too narrow as it would make world class athletes into supernatural athletes

 

[Arnwolf666]

Supernatural is that which ignorant and superstitious people place outside their narrow view of nature.

 

[Bohandas]

A natural force is a force that occurs naturally (surely I don't need to define naturally for you)?

In D&D you kind of do because its kind of ambiguous. Fey and dragons and elementals and magical beasts are natural.

Additionally some undead also arise naturally but are nevertheless considered to be unnatural

Not one that believed in God.

This is incorrect. This proposition merely hides the issue or possibly renders it inaccessible, it does not make it not exist.

Let us imagine a world of sentient beings that exists within a highly advanced computer simulation. Some events in the simulation are controlled by a random number generator. Additionally, sometimes the programmer comes in and makes manual changes.

These events are all explainable and could even be rigorously described, even though that description may be inaccessible or unprovable to those within the program

 

[TheCosmicKid]

Supernatural is that which ignorant and superstitious people place outside their narrow view of nature.

Ignorant and superstitious people are by definition those who place the supernatural within their view of nature.

Definition of superstition
1a: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation
b: an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition

 

[TheCosmicKid]

So, then, we might say that in D&D - the supernatural is that which a D&D commoner (or a collection of commoners) cannot do.

And this is also too narrow as it would make world class athletes into supernatural athletes

I might suggest a refinement: the supernatural is that which a D&D commoner does not understand how to do.

 

[Arnwolf666]

Heck to me Elon musk is a wizard or sorcerer.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

Supernatural is a metagame term here: it what can't happen in our universe. It is the same reason an owlbear, a creature with no actual supernatural abilities, is a monstrosity instead of a beast.

 

[Umbran]

Not one that believed in God.

In my professional experience, yes, even them. I am willing to discuss the typical physicists religious views with you by PM, if you wish, but real-world religion isn't an allowed topic.

Surely a human born with a supernatural ability would still have it classified as a supernatural ability.

And this is also too narrow as it would make world class athletes into supernatural athletes

Well, you'd probably not model either of those with a Commoner. Commoners are, in concept, bog-standard humans. Commoners don't have the skills to be world-class at anything, and if you want them to have special abilities, you typically model that as something other than a Commoner.

If your argument is, "What about this non-typical thing that isn't common, that I want to call a Commoner because it is convenient for my argument?" then you are missing the point by way of bait-and-switch on the term.

 

[Doug McCrae]

3e D&D distinguishes between spell-like, supernatural, extraordinary, and natural abilities. The first two are considered magical and the second two are not. Extraordinary abilities can break the laws of physics. It doesn't specify which universe's laws, presumably our own rather than those of D&D world. This excerpt is from the 3.5 PHB.