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

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Not necessarily.

You don't get to tell me how magic works in my campaign setting.

 

[Maxperson]

You don't get to tell me how magic works in my campaign setting.

Okay.

 

[Fenris-77]

You don't get to tell me how magic works in my campaign setting.

But I do! It's a matter of manipulating small change whist chanting the right words in Esperanto. Plus the moon needs to be in the right house.

 

[Maxperson]

But I do! It's a matter of manipulating small change whist chanting the right words in Esperanto. Plus the moon needs to be in the right house.

You could get my wife to do it. Let's see...

Into the moon lately? Check.
Willing to chant? Check.
Esperanto? Hmm. No. You might be able to get her to chant into an espresso, though.

 

[Minigiant]

Magic is merely sufficiently advanced technology.

If that were true D&D fans wouldn't be so hestitant about making 18th century or later science core aspects of the game as class features.

"I fire the LMG at the dracolich"

 

[Hussar]

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.

But can you actually define the difference?

 

[prabe]

But can you actually define the difference?

In practice "This is what I mean by magic, which is MAGIC" and "This is what I mean by supernatural, which is NOT MAGIC" will work, though working through the sorting will be a process.

 

[Fenris-77]

But can you actually define the difference?

I just did. Take that how you like I guess.

 

[Hussar]

I just did. Take that how you like I guess.

Sorry I’m a bit thick this morning. I see you said there’s a big difference but I’m not seeing where you actually say what the difference is.

Why is a ghost or a giant not magic, is my question.

 

[Oofta]

Since it's all unreal fantasy fiction does it really matter where we draw lines between magic and supernatural?

We care about how things like anti magic zones or dispel. Beyond that? Doesn't really matter.