D&D General What Is Magic, Even?

[Arnwolf666]

So, in real-like fe, magic is a label applied to certain beliefs and practices to mark them in contrast to more socially acceptable beliefs and practices. Originally, it was defined in contrast to Christianity, and nowadays it is generally defined in contrast to science. As someone said earlier, Magic is what the other tribe’s priests do. I think it would be really interesting to see a D&D setting where this is the case. Cultures view the spells their religious leaders cast as “divine” and the spells cast by other cultures’ religious leaders as “arcane.” Non-religious magic users view their own spells as natural phenomena that they can reliably reproduce with the appropriate formula, no more magical than a simple chemical reaction, while common folk see the miraculous things they can do and call it magic.

I disagree that cultures call what other people do magic. They may be the case for Christianity, but there were and are societies that embraced magic.

 

[Arnwolf666]

Yes, we've all read enough science fiction to know what "psychic energy" is supposed to be in broad strokes. But we've also all read enough fantasy to know what "magic" is supposed to be in broad strokes. And yet here we are.

Would it help if I rephrased it as psionic energy.

 

[Charlaquin]

I disagree that cultures call what other people do magic. They may be the case for Christianity, but there were and are societies that embraced magic.

Generally magic hasn’t been the term they’ve used for it.

 

[Rob Kuntz]

D&D is a game allowing us to imagine imaginary characters doing imaginary things in imaginary settings utilizing imaginary implements, such as magic, to do so. Imagine that!

 

[CydKnight]

"Magic" is actually technology being used by aliens . To us primitive humans it seems like magic.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

That's not what I said.

Are you sure?

Not even wizards truly understand what it is. If they did, they would hardly need to memorize formulaic spells, after all.

I’m never going to give a damn about nitpicking word choice. I responded quite directly to this. Your conclusion doesn’t follow from the premise.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

Are you sure?


I’m never going to give a damn about nitpicking word choice. I responded quite directly to this. Your conclusion doesn’t follow from the premise.

Okay, seriously, dude, what is your problem? You're hounding me over this one sentence like I said something deeply offensive, and when I tell you point blank that you misread it, you try to tell me that you understand what I wrote better than I do. Take a step back and think about what you're doing and why.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

Would it help if I rephrased it as psionic energy.

Why would that help? What is changing the terminology you use supposed to add to our understanding of the concept? We can ask "What is psionic energy, even?" just as easily.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Okay, seriously, dude, what is your problem? You're hounding me over this one sentence like I said something deeply offensive, and when I tell you point blank that you misread it, you try to tell me that you understand what I wrote better than I do. Take a step back and think about what you're doing and why.

What are you flipping out about? You said a thing. I disagreed. It’s not that serious.

At no point did I tell you any such thing.

 

[Rob Kuntz]

Well this may not be either magic or magical.

magic |ˈmajik|
noun
the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces : do you believe in magic? | suddenly, as if by magic, the doors start to open.
• mysterious tricks, such as making things disappear and appear again, performed as entertainment.
• a quality that makes something seem removed from everyday life, esp. in a way that gives delight : the magic of the theater.
• informal something that has such a quality : their seaside town is pure magic.

Call it what you will, define it how you want, but codifying it has already been done. The word magic is as telling as the word power. They both beg elucidation which seemingly many lexicographers gave up doing years ago.