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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Psion" data-source="post: 2370804" data-attributes="member: 172">I was going to do a quick type up on my rationale behind magic, but its sort of made to answer different questions than your, including some campaign specific ones (see the *)The basic concept: Magic is, in its passive form, an untapped energy that flows all around the world. In some places these flows become rivers, or "ley lines" which visibly glow. But in most places, this passive magic, or the flow remains invisible and undetected.1) Why do spellcasters cast spells? Why don't magical effects just happen?By default, the strength of the flow is too weak and undirected to really accomplish anything. When unidrected, the flow doesn't really do anything. It's just untapped potential.When spellcasters cast spells, they have gathered the flow energy and -- more importantly -- shaped it to acheive the effect that they desire. Sort of like if a team of horses simply put out to pasture don't do acheive much, but harnessed and put into a team, they can pull a plow or a wagon.2) Why do wizards prepare spells and sorcerers simply cast any spell that they know? Why do sorcerers know so few spells.Both wizards and sorcerers must gather energy to use it. This is a major component of the rest period and preparation time.But wizards are not inhernently magical creatures. The flow is a slippery energy, and if the wizard does not shape the spell when preparing it, it can accoplish nothing. But in some cases, a wizard can leave an alotment of gathered flow energy unshaped and shape it later. The shaping of these spells is a formulaic thing, so they can easily learn whatever spells their mind will bear.Sorcerers, on the other hand, are inherently magical creatures. They cannot deliberately shape spells; shaping the magic that naturally flows through them in an instinctual thing. When a sorcerer casts a spell, however, they can shape the energy as they cast is, as a reflex. Of course, reflexes take deliberate training. Mere memorization of formulas and principles is not enough.3) Okay, why do clerics cast spells? Why do they prepare them?Much like sorcerers and magical creature, gods are magical creatures, perhaps moreso than either of the prior. Immense magical power wells up in divinities.But divinities are, by nature, aloof from the world, almost operating by different rules of reality than other creatures. Mortals consider philosophy and ethics; gods are in some way actual expressions of these thoughts and concepts.It is possible for a cleric to tap into this immense power, but it takes deliberate communion with the divine beings. Spells are not simply miracles; they are fragments of the flow energy that the cleric is granted from their deity. Though gods can perform miracles directly, this is almost contrary to their nature, so it is rare.4) What about psions and other psychic creatures? Why DON'T they cast spells.In most ways, psions and psionic creatures are similar to sorcerers and magical creatures. They have an innate connection to the flow. However, whereas sorcerers and magical creatures pull flow energy into themselves and then shape it into spells reflexively, psions and psychic creatures reach out to the flow, and shape it as a force of will.5) Why are sorcerers different from creatures with spell like abilities?A sorcerer is to a magical creature a bit like a learned monk is to animals that they strive to emulate in the wilderness. An animal has claws, fangs, possibly venom sacks. Similarly magical creatures have organs and glands that do specific jobs. However, like a monk learns to shape his hand into a fang like shape for a strike, or learn the weaving motions of a mongoose, a sorcerer has flexibility and discipline allowing them to shape their magical selves to perform feats similar to magical creatures, similar to the way a monk emulates animals.6*) Why do ley lines glow? Why do wild surges occur near ley lines. (* this pertains to setting specific stuff in my game)Normally, when a spell is cast, the flow is so weak and undirected, it is merely pushed aside by the passing spell.However, when an area becomes saturated in the flow, the little random pertubations of magic begin to express themselves. This is normally simply the soft glow of a ley line. Usually little else occurs, as the flow of ley lines don't naturally allow the flow to accumulate to the level that creates effects much more potent than this (ley line nexuses are a different story.)However, when you intoduce an active spell to the area, it becomes super-saturated and the flow is often to intense for there to be no magical manifestation. The spell is beat around like an eddy in the current which is often enough to cause the spell to unravel. And when it does, the little magical "directions" that make up the spell interact with the surrounding flow energy in ways that produce unpredictable results.</blockquote>

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