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How is the Wizard vs Warrior Balance Problem Handled in Fantasy Literature?
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<blockquote data-quote="kenjib" data-source="post: 5484612" data-attributes="member: 530"><p>I think that magic people in literature can sometimes create destruction on a far larger scale: going so far as bringing ruin to entire cities (or more!) in a short amount of time. It all depends on what the story needs to have happen. A roundhouse kick, however, can only do so much before it seems kind of silly (paging Chuck Norris!)...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>In my original post I was pointing out that "defeat[ing] any foe" is precisely the kind of D&D focus that is not as key to literature - and even when it happens the motive/goal behind it is usually what's really important. In that literary context, any ability does not have almost limitless consequences. There is a wall of suspension of disbelief that eventually you will hit if you push this. Can Conan's sword-arm alone allow him to travel 1,000 miles instantly? Will it allow him to raise a castle from the earth by himself overnight? Will it bring his dead friend back to life?</p><p></p><p>Magic, however, by it's very nature does not have this wall. If desired, anything Conan can do could be handwaved away using some kind of magical ability. The reverse is definitely not true.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>That may be true in D&D but it's not a problem at all in literature - this difference is exactly what I'm talking about. The fact that literature does not have to define magic gives it a very different role. People just do magical things and the potential is limited only by what the needs of the narrative demand. If limits exist, they are imposed by the author in order to further the story - often to heighten the risk in conflict and increase tension or to avoid the risk of deprotagonizing the hero.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="kenjib, post: 5484612, member: 530"] I think that magic people in literature can sometimes create destruction on a far larger scale: going so far as bringing ruin to entire cities (or more!) in a short amount of time. It all depends on what the story needs to have happen. A roundhouse kick, however, can only do so much before it seems kind of silly (paging Chuck Norris!)... In my original post I was pointing out that "defeat[ing] any foe" is precisely the kind of D&D focus that is not as key to literature - and even when it happens the motive/goal behind it is usually what's really important. In that literary context, any ability does not have almost limitless consequences. There is a wall of suspension of disbelief that eventually you will hit if you push this. Can Conan's sword-arm alone allow him to travel 1,000 miles instantly? Will it allow him to raise a castle from the earth by himself overnight? Will it bring his dead friend back to life? Magic, however, by it's very nature does not have this wall. If desired, anything Conan can do could be handwaved away using some kind of magical ability. The reverse is definitely not true. That may be true in D&D but it's not a problem at all in literature - this difference is exactly what I'm talking about. The fact that literature does not have to define magic gives it a very different role. People just do magical things and the potential is limited only by what the needs of the narrative demand. If limits exist, they are imposed by the author in order to further the story - often to heighten the risk in conflict and increase tension or to avoid the risk of deprotagonizing the hero. [/QUOTE]
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