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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lanefan" data-source="post: 9407999" data-attributes="member: 29398">Glad you asked. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />In the real world there's four underlying forces of physics: gravity, strong nuclear, weak nuclear, and electromagnetic.The way I have it, there's a fifth underlying force: magic.  This force isn't present everywhere and is suppressed by the presence of uranium (even at the most trace levels) in an environment.  But where this force is present, which is most of the universe* other than a few small pockets, it sustains the lives of creatures we would consider fantastic and allows what we know as magic to function.Further, some creatures can learn to manipulate this force in order to generate certain usually-repeatable effects (i.e. they can gather its energy, shape it, and release it as spells) or harness this force to specific purposes (i.e. bind some of it to an item or place etc.).  Similarly, some creatures can learn (or are simply born able) to dissipate or neutralize this energy e.g. a Beholder's anti-magic zone or a Disenchanter's unweaving of magic in an item.Wild magic surges are the sometimes-result if-when this energy is released in a manner unintended, e.g. a spell is interrupted or a magic item is broken, and the energy doesn't just dissipate harmlessly.I'm not physicist enough to do a deep dive into the nuts and bolts of exactly how this force works, but I'm sure someone who is physicist enough would be able to.What this does for me, in the end, is provide a framework on which I can:--- build a coherent and consistent magic system--- explain how and why it breaks down if-when it does--- explain null, anti, and wild magic and their causes--- explain what's actually happening when a character casts a spell--- allow for non-magical worlds such as Earth to exist in the fantasy realm* - by universe I mean everywhere - all the planes, worlds, etc.</blockquote>

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