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Post by Lylyss on Apr 19, 2015 21:00:10 GMT
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Apr 19, 2015 21:22:41 GMT
Lylyss: I haven't heard of it, but it looks cool.
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on Apr 20, 2015 7:44:03 GMT
Lylyss: I had a look at it. I hadn't heard of it, but I agree with Leilani that it looks cool.
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Post by NightBlade on Apr 24, 2015 15:07:27 GMT
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Post by Merenwen Inglorion on May 16, 2015 20:39:40 GMT
Any tips on developing magic in world building? I have 2 (well, more than 2, but I'm focusing on only 2 of them right now) worlds that have a magic system, and they both work pretty much exactly like the Force does...it's bugging me. Any suggestions??
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Post by NightBlade on May 17, 2015 5:37:00 GMT
I gave a suggestion on the F.A. thread where your original question was Also, the seventh deadly sin of worldbuilding up there is handy to keep in mind (though it may be rather harshly worded)
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on May 18, 2015 5:38:35 GMT
Merenwen Inglorion: When I build magic systems in my worlds, I generally start with a theme. For example, the magic system in my current book is based around Time and Earth. The Force is a primarily mental power that includes telekinesis and telepathy. Another magic system, runecraft—my second-best one after the Time and Earth one—is built around light and shadow and is a mental power similar to the Force. After that, I develop the magic by using it in my story. I learn more about it by seeing where I want to go with the magic in the book. Once I have a better mental picture of the magic, I return to developing it. For example, the Telluric Mantle (the magic system about Time and Earth) is a protective power. It's a living force that must be used for protecting the people of Valdegurd, else it will either die for the user (in most cases) or reverse (a rare occurrence which I haven't developed much yet). Each Duty of the Telluric Mantle, the Duty of Time and the Duty of Earth, are composed of eight distinct powers—Eldreading is an example of a Time power, and Dustcloaking is an example of an Earth power. Writing characters using the magic really helps, I found. Some other things to consider: - Is this an enhancement magic or something else? The Force and the Telluric Mantle are both enhancement magics, as they enhance the wielder in some way. Other kinds of magic might be a de-enhancement magic, basically the opposite of an enhancement magic (and probably targeting other people) or a changing magic, such as transformation, healing or enhancing growth. I'm sure there are other kinds of magic, but I'm a bit limited on this one, because I've mainly worked with enhancement magic. - Who can use the magic? Is it genetic? Randomly given? Are specific people chosen to wield the power? - How do people get to use the magic? Are they born with it, or does it have to be awakened? How is it awakened, if the latter? In the Berinfell Prophecies, the Elven Lords gain their powers in adolescence, when they go through the Age of Reckoning. It's probably safer to not have babies throwing around lightning and such. - Is this an innate magic, where the person is magical, or is this an acquired magic, where the person uses something that makes them magical, such as a magical weapon? - How is the magic wielded? Is it a mental magic, controlled through thought? Does it require movement? Spoken spells? Specific items, such as required by a witch's brew? Is it fuelled by emotions? The best writer of magic I've found is Brandon Sanderson, especially his Mistborn series. Many of the rules I've listed here have been from my dissection of his magic systems. I took some ideas for the Telluric Mantle from the Superpower Wiki (powerlisting.wikia.com). Because—let's face it—no magic system you create is going to be entirely new. You might be able to think of a new twist on unoriginal magic systems, but it's very unlikely that you'll ever discover an entirely new magic system. I also recommend Storyworld First by Jill Williamson. It's a book about worldbuilding from a prolific worldbuilder, and Chapter 5 is devoted solely to getting you to think about your magic. The four important questions Jill asks are: - What is the magic? - Where does the magic come from? - What are the rules for how the magic works? - What are the limitations of the magic? And, as NightBlade pointed out, there's the seventh deadly sin of worldbuilding—introducing some magic system without fully accounting for how it will change society. It's not just the magic readers like to see, but also the ways the magic affects society. I'll conclude that building a magic system is not easy. It takes a lot of thought. I sat staring at the computer for hours when constructing the Telluric Mantle, and it still needs a lot of work with developing the practical side. Those are my thoughts on magic and building magic systems. I hope some of this helped.
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Post by Merenwen Inglorion on May 20, 2015 16:18:40 GMT
Dmitri Pendragon Pendragon: Thanks! I have another question: Does anyone have references to battle strategy and sword fighting they could share? Because a few of my characters are kind of paying for my lack of knowledge during fight scenes...
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on May 20, 2015 19:31:50 GMT
I don't have any references, but those are certainly resources I need as well . . .
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Post by Lērtāen Miklul on May 20, 2015 20:16:29 GMT
for the use of various weapons, especially swords, I'd recommend looking up Scholagladiatoria on youtube, and just experimenting with friends. (of course, the latter requires friends crazy enough to do such things, which I would imagine to be significantly harder for girls to find than guys...)
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Post by Pajamzee on May 20, 2015 21:15:40 GMT
Hey Lertaen, I dare you to say that to my cousin. XD She's awesome with a sword. I always dream I am... but I suck. XD
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Post by Dmitri Pendragon on May 21, 2015 4:25:05 GMT
Merenwen Inglorion: You're welcome. And the best advice I have for battle advice and strategy is to give the bad guys credit. Develop both sides, not just the heroes. Give the villains their own strengths and weaknesses. Also consider that if people fear the bad guys, the bad guys need to prove themselves worthy of fear.
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Post by Lērtāen Miklul on May 21, 2015 15:13:02 GMT
Hey Lertaen, I dare you to say that to my cousin. XD She's awesome with a sword. I always dream I am... but I suck. XD Oh, I never meant girls are bad with swords, I just said that less girls are crazy enough to duel someone.
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Post by Pajamzee on May 21, 2015 21:25:47 GMT
Aha, that makes a lot more sense.
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Post by Aviar Goldeneagle on May 21, 2015 21:26:28 GMT
Ahh, swordfighting... *happy sigh*
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Post by NightBlade on Jun 8, 2015 1:31:02 GMT
This has got to be one of the saddest scenes (for me) that I've ever wrote. It goes on the story I started on my thread. What made it so much more intense was that I was listening to this part of this song: youtu.be/hKgpPWdwOlI?t=105 Private Damir Teska parked his silver sedan near the end of the visitor’s lot and strode down the long, grey sidewalk to the long, grey West Wing of Dömitz Psychiatric Institution. He checked the gunmetal-grey watch on his left wrist. Weekend visiting hours lasted till 5, and he would probably end up using all of them again. Still dressed in his utility uniform, he walked through the drab lobby and past the visitor’s desk, picking up a plastic-sleeved card printed with his name. He crammed the card into a chest pocket and robotically maneuvered down the sprawling hallways…left, left, right, two more lefts, and another right. Twice he fished out the card from his pocket to swipe through locked doors, and on the other side of the second door an attendant followed him to 146B patient Jasna Teska’s room. Damir had recognized his sister’s screams as soon as the door had opened. As he stood in front of the narrow-windowed door and waited for the attendant to unlock it, a familiar numbness settled in over his mind. Like a pint of vodka to calm an ache—it was a defense mechanism. The attendant entered the room and approached Jasna cautiously as she crouched in the corner, head thrown back and screaming so violently that one might fear she would rupture her lungs. But her voice was hoarse, as though choked by sandpaper. The attendant put an arm on her shoulder and had to step back as the patient thrashed violently. Then Jasna’s crazed, unfocused eyes met Damir’s, and he had to look away. Presently the attendant managed to inject a syringe of sedative into Jasna’s arm, and for a moment she writhed on the floor, face first, unable to catch herself with her straightjacketed arms. Then slowly, her screams died away, her convulsions calmed, and she lay on her side on the floor. Staring up at her brother with her gorgeous dark eyes wide and vacant, and her trembling mouth repeating the same unintelligible words over and over in a whispering sob. The attendant left, and Damir stood there alone in his uniform, staring back at his sister with his face painfully taught as stone.
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Post by jliessa44 on Jun 17, 2015 14:15:08 GMT
Aw. Poor girl
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Post by lucythevaliant on Jun 28, 2015 4:59:34 GMT
That was beautifully sad. I wish I could read more of the story. Now I'm curious as to how things got like this. Hey, guys! I'm new here! *Smiles and waves timidly.*
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Post by Eruanna on Jun 28, 2015 5:12:31 GMT
Wow, Nightblade. That was intense.
Welcome, Luuuucy! Nice to meet you. I'm Eruanna, the sole remaining Australian Elf on 'ere.
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Post by Lylyss on Jun 28, 2015 13:05:50 GMT
Hi Lucy! I'm Lylyss, but most everybody calls me Ly. Pleased to meet you! Are you a writer too?
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Post by lucythevaliant on Jun 28, 2015 14:39:48 GMT
Yes, I looove writing! I especially love the fantasy genre!
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Post by lucythevaliant on Jun 28, 2015 14:49:53 GMT
Oh! And nice to meet you to! Thanks! XD
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Post by lucythevaliant on Jun 28, 2015 14:50:18 GMT
*too
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Post by Lērtāen Miklul on Jun 28, 2015 19:43:11 GMT
Welcome, lucy, and welcome to Whitehall, our refuge after the Underground was destroyed. I am Lērtāen Miklul, the moon wanderer, aka Fresterfur Togēnar. You won't see me around tons, but I'm always watching. :]
BTW you can edit using the little gear in the top right corner of your post
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Post by lucythevaliant on Jun 28, 2015 19:49:39 GMT
Oooooh... Thank you! Nice to meet you too! I like this place already. Really, this should be called the underground instead of the other one. When do I get my sun-basking time? And I've had writer's block for a while. Someone give me an idea!
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Post by Eruanna on Jun 28, 2015 22:47:30 GMT
Welcome, lucy, and welcome to Whitehall, our refuge after the Underground was destroyed. I am Lērtāen Miklul, the moon wanderer, aka Fresterfur Togēnar. You won't see me around tons, but I'm always watching. :] BTW you can edit using the little gear in the top right corner of your post This is why I fear for my life. People just always watchin'. ;-; You never know they're theeere.
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Post by Leilani Sunblade on Jun 29, 2015 10:57:22 GMT
Hello, Lucy! Welcome to Whitehall/The Underground. You can call it whichever; we know what you're talking about. xD I'm Leilani Sunblade, one of the Sentinels, but you can call me just about anything as long as you don't call me late for dinner. I'm also another of those stalkery people. Though I prefer to think of myself as a ninja lurking in the shadows.
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Post by lucythevaliant on Jun 29, 2015 15:36:13 GMT
It's nice to meet you too! Ninjas are kinda cool like that.
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Post by Idk323 on Jul 2, 2015 9:19:09 GMT
Sooo... I've gotten to the point where I basically hate everything I write, and I don't even know why. I was hoping it was just on my main series, so I briefly tried switching projects, but I couldn't even get past the first sentence on that one. I feel like I really need to write and create something, but it's just not working, and I've never had this problem before.... >.< Anyone have any ideas that might be able to help?
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Post by Starsinger on Jul 2, 2015 9:20:36 GMT
Hee hee... join pinterest
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