Qhich does quantamn physics better?

[Bastoche]

But what is magic? Magic is nothing but the means to cause physical effects in an alternate universe.

Within the perspective of that universe, the study of physical properties -- to include magic is -- wait for it -- science.

Magic:

1 a : the use of means (as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces b : magic rites or incantations
2 a : an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source b : something that seems to cast a spell : ENCHANTMENT
3 : the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand

Supernatural forces. Magic is an effect that cannot be explained by scientific investigation. IRL, magic is also something that cannot be observed.

I kinda agree with you in the sense that in a D&D world, magic could/can be the object of science. But it replace real-world physics. In such universe, nature behaves differently than in our own. I would conclude there's no quantum mechanics in such a world.

In any case, it doesn't matter because in each of these magical universe, event in a renaissance technology level, nobody has (yet) the means to understands physics at such a point that one would discover QM. There's no doubt that the scholarly nature of wizards (and we're not talking about arcane magic at all, only the bookworm wizard) is closest to fundamental scientific research. But in such a setting, even they don't have the scientific approach. Think of the alchemists of old. They were not scientists. They were cooks with strange (and often dangerous) ingredients. They were mostly randomly trying "things". They did not had a systematic approach. And they did not really had the goal to understand the universe.

Magic is not technology, it's magic. If you create a world in which magic is a natural proprety (as opposed to supernatural), then spells are technology.

In any case, the 3.X magic system is so abstract that there's no point in plugging QM mumbo-jumbo in it just for the heck of it. IMHO of course.

 

[Impeesa]

Only one thing to say here:

God does not play dice with the universe.

--Impeesa--

 

[Yair]

As a Ph.D. student in physics (superconductivity and magnetism) I do not want to see your system. I think it does not fit with psion nor arcane magic and even less divine. It's science, it's not magic!

Now that I "know better" about these things, I can't stand sci-fi anymore. Too lousy. Except star wars, thanks to the (magic) force!

As an Ms.C student in physics (QM thermodynamics and open systems) I do not have any problem applying physique mambo-jambo as fluff. In fact, I enjoy it
Perosnally, I find it amazing that according to the Many Worlds Interpertation magic works... in some worlds; or that according to the Copenhagen Interpertation the mind is outside the world... and I find such ideas interesting fluff for explainign magic, or even just fantasy.

Regarding the Aspect Experiment: Never let facts get in your way. Also, the truth is more intricate (as in most cases) - the experiment disproved hidden variables under certain assumptions, and "hidden-variable" theories not fulfilling these assumptions are possible (and indeed exist). My favorite are imaginary or negative probabilities - just trying to imagine it sends my head to the Far Realms... truly incomprehensible things

 

[Chris Tavares]

Only one thing to say here:

God does not play dice with the universe.

--Impeesa--

"Albert, stop telling God what to do."

 

[Umbran]

Supernatural forces. Magic is an effect that cannot be explained by scientific investigation. IRL, magic is also something that cannot be observed.

"Supernatural force" is an oxymoron. Nature is comprised of all things that exist. There is nothing outside or beyond nature, so there is nothing that is "supernatural".

Magic is an effect that has not yet been explained by scientific investigation. It is impossible, in a practical sense, to prove a negative, so one cannot claim it cannot be explained.

 

[Li Shenron]

Only thing that comes to my mind is perhaps the chance to apply the Maxwell-Boltmann statistics to the usage of spell slots at different spell levels - this works for psions or spontaneous spellcasters using some spell-point system instead of the simple vancian system.

When the encounters get "hot", the tendence of the caster is to use spell points for higher level spells, while when it's "cold" he would use low-level spells more often.

We always have mornings like this...

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

By the way, the wizards of Terry Pratchetts Discworld seem slowly to be arriving at the point where they get a Quantumphysics interpretation of magic - they already discovered the "thaum" ...

 

[countgray]

On the Realms List archive site there was a guy that posted several ideas theorizing elementary magic particles that he called "thurms". Working magic increased the reality level of these particles and could cause magical effects to materialize (or manifest a very high degree of reality).

This strikes a chord with me. In imagining a magical system that would map to a quantum mechanical science I like to think that maybe magic would increase the probability levels of certain states/positions within wave functions in such a way that casting a spell would collapse those wave functions into a desired outcome.

This might work like the infinite probability drive in Douglas Adams' Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy books. Or like in Marvel Comics where the Scarlet Witch's magical powers are explained away as a mutant ability to increase the probability of certain outcomes.