Magic: Innate or Learned?
- Thread starter Tinker Gnome
- Start date
Fallen Seraph
First Post
Both and neither. Some people learn magic, others have it as something their born with. Others have it thrust on them. Others may have it as innate but must learn to harness it.
Silvercat Moonpaw
Adventurer
For me the only important thing to establish is that magic is Impersonal, Unintelligent, and Natural.
Impersonal: There's something I hate about magic when it operates according to the worldview of people. I'd rather have it work its own way and people have to figure out it, they way they have to approach science.
Unintelligent: I don't like there being an intelligent force behind or controlling magic. This applies both to gods and the "minds/souls" of people, and even to the idea that magic understands "words". Magic should be a natural force, and like all natural forces it doesn't have an intelligence. There is no Will inherent in the universe, no ultimate cosmic element that has any kind of mind whatsoever.
Natural: None of this "magic is separate/comes from another dimension" stuff. Or the "magic is unnatural" stuff.
Beyond that how you get it to work isn't important.
Impersonal: There's something I hate about magic when it operates according to the worldview of people. I'd rather have it work its own way and people have to figure out it, they way they have to approach science.
Unintelligent: I don't like there being an intelligent force behind or controlling magic. This applies both to gods and the "minds/souls" of people, and even to the idea that magic understands "words". Magic should be a natural force, and like all natural forces it doesn't have an intelligence. There is no Will inherent in the universe, no ultimate cosmic element that has any kind of mind whatsoever.
Natural: None of this "magic is separate/comes from another dimension" stuff. Or the "magic is unnatural" stuff.
Beyond that how you get it to work isn't important.
Aus_Snow
First Post
Some of each, regardless of system. And so far, regardless of setting. The type of magic dictates how it is acquired / absorbed / assimilated / understood / mastered, etc.
For psionics (or psychic faculties), it's a matter of nearly universal 'untapped potential'
, with discipline, meditation and the like playing a large part along the road to power / enlightenment / adepthood, etc.
For psionics (or psychic faculties), it's a matter of nearly universal 'untapped potential'
, with discipline, meditation and the like playing a large part along the road to power / enlightenment / adepthood, etc.Hexmage-EN
Legend
I prefer the idea that access to magic is dependent on both learning and innate ability. For example, say that you have two wizards of equal ability, one young and one old. The young one has more innate ability to use magic, and the old one is dedicated to improving the ability he does have. Anyone can learn magic, but unless they are dedicated a person with little innate ability will only be capable of learning a few simple spells.
