D&D General What does "magic" mean? [Read carefully, you can't change your vote]

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Maybe the real magic was the friends we made along the way?

 

[Minigiant]

Magic" is a unique and special snowflake unconfined by these limits, let me explain why.

This one.

Magic is the standard or most common form of reality breaking.

Anything that doesn't use that subsystem but breaks the standard laws of reality isn't magic.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Magic is merely sufficiently advanced technology.

 

[Fenris-77]

I really appreciate the presence of 'Lemon Curry' as a poll option. Sadly lacking in this case.

 

[Maxperson]

Supernatural is just magic by another name and vice versa for me.

Some things like anti magic zone specifically counter what I would call constructed magic but not inherent magic. So spells and crafted magic items are constructed, dragons are not.

At one point I had areas of "dead" magic (no magic at all) and a giant walked in only to collapse as all his bones broke.

To me the supernatural and magic are different things, but with significant overlap. A ghost formed by a strong memory or desire left unfulfilled is supernatural, but not magical. It can go into an anti-magic zone just fine, even if some of its abilities cease working.

 

[Fenris-77]

Huh. I see a huge difference between magic, as spell casting and imbuing objects with spell like powers, and the fantasy physics necessary to let a giant as judges by the art in D&D books, walk around like a boss. Obviously everyone can do what they like in their own campaigns, but the above a really non-standard reading, as is the similar reading of undead like ghosts. Just my two cents of course.

 

[Maxperson]

Perhaps you would prefer the next poll-

What does "magic" NOT mean?

Tootsie Rolls. No magic there.

 

[Maxperson]

The square-cube law is the greatest killjoy of all the laws of physics. It's the first thing to go once I ascend to a higher level of existence.

When my son was 3 we were playing talk on the telephone. I had my cell phone and he had his toy phone. After a minute or two he told me he had to go. I asked him what he needed to do and he responded, "I have to go reset the universe now." I tried to explain to him that that job was filled and had a very low turnover rate. He promptly ignored me and went about his business.

 

[Fenris-77]

When my son was 3 we were playing talk on the telephone. I had my cell phone and he had his toy phone. After a minute or two he told me he had to go. I asked him what he needed to do and he responded, "I have to go reset the universe now." I tried to explain to him that that job was filled and had a very low turnover rate. He promptly ignored me and went about his business.

Toddlers reset the universe on a daily basis, it's one of their most endearing features.

 

[Maxperson]

Magic is merely sufficiently advanced technology.

Not necessarily.