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<blockquote data-quote="Tony Vargas" data-source="post: 5942611" data-attributes="member: 996">I think a fundamental question about magic that D&amp;D has answered differently (or declined to answer) in different versions of the game is:&nbsp; What /is/ magic?For instance, Divine magic is very clearly has the power of a Deity behind it (but where do Deities get their power?), Psionics is trained&nbsp; (or trainable or enhanceable) psychic phenomena.&nbsp; In AD&amp;D, magic-users siphoned formless energy from some other plane, projecting their material components or even breath into that plane to maintain some sort of balance - a very scientific, conservation of math/energy take.&nbsp; In 3e and 4e, arcane magic is left undefined - how it is done is related, but what it actually is, not so much.If magic is simply arbitrary, than there's no reason not to balance it by putting equally arbitrary limits on what it can accomplished or how dependably it can be accesses.&nbsp; If there is a reason behind magic, then bounds and limits may suggest themselves.&nbsp; For instance, the power of a deity might or might not be limitless and the expression of that power through mortal vessels might depend upon the faith or strength of the mortal, while what might be accomplished with divine power could be bounded by the Deity's portfolio (Domains).Thus, whatever magic is, it probably shouldn't be able to literally 'do anything.'&nbsp; If magic is undefinable, it can be slaved to game balance, since there's nothing to simulate or model.&nbsp; If magic is defined and explained, then limits would be implied that could be worked with to create magic that works within the game in a balanced and playable way.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Tony Vargas, post: 5942611, member: 996"] I think a fundamental question about magic that D&D has answered differently (or declined to answer) in different versions of the game is: What /is/ magic? For instance, Divine magic is very clearly has the power of a Deity behind it (but where do Deities get their power?), Psionics is trained (or trainable or enhanceable) psychic phenomena. In AD&D, magic-users siphoned formless energy from some other plane, projecting their material components or even breath into that plane to maintain some sort of balance - a very scientific, conservation of math/energy take. In 3e and 4e, arcane magic is left undefined - how it is done is related, but what it actually is, not so much. If magic is simply arbitrary, than there's no reason not to balance it by putting equally arbitrary limits on what it can accomplished or how dependably it can be accesses. If there is a reason behind magic, then bounds and limits may suggest themselves. For instance, the power of a deity might or might not be limitless and the expression of that power through mortal vessels might depend upon the faith or strength of the mortal, while what might be accomplished with divine power could be bounded by the Deity's portfolio (Domains). Thus, whatever magic is, it probably shouldn't be able to literally 'do anything.' If magic is undefinable, it can be slaved to game balance, since there's nothing to simulate or model. If magic is defined and explained, then limits would be implied that could be worked with to create magic that works within the game in a balanced and playable way. [/QUOTE]

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