Types of Magic

[Thaumaturge02]

I just wanted to bounce a list of the types of magic I wanted to utilize in my story and how I define them:

1. Ritual: Rites, Ceremonies, e.t.c.  Specifice words, names, items utilized to perform a spell.

2. Evocation/Summoning: Bringing forth creatures from the Spirit World.  But also summoning of such things as fire, lightning, e.t.c.

3. Thaumaturgy: Utilizing a piece of something to effect the whole.  Tracking spells, voodoo dolls, communication directly into the subjects mind, e.t.c.

4. Necromancy: Using magic to tinker with corpses, ghosts, the dead.

5. Illusion: Using magic to manipulate the five senses of another creature.  An example being veils.

6. Protection: In short, magic used to protect things.  I.E. wards, barriers, e.t.c.


That's all I have so far. 

[arcanist]

I'd be careful with some terminology. Not saying its plagiarism, but just in case.

[OZ]

Some of those things might overlap. For instance if you use a ceremony to cloud someone's senses is it Ritual magic, Illusion, or both? If you Summon something to help you tinker with a corpse? If you use Thaumaturgy for Protection?

I don't think it's a problem that things can be more than one type of magic. Just make sure that you have it straight in your mind how you want things classified whether by the magic's source (Ritual, Evocation, Thaumaturgy) or by its use (Necromancy, Illusion, Protection).

[RodimusGT]

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http://pymfanasywriter.blogspot.com/2008/10/magic-rules-part-1-types-of-magic.html

[Bottom The Weaver]

I always wanted to see someone tackle chronomancy. (Magic time travel and manipulation) I'm sure there are books where it's used but I haven't read any. And it's illegal in the Dresdenverse, but still might be fun to examine.

[Nickeris86]

I always wanted to see someone tackle chronomancy. (Magic time travel and manipulation) I'm sure there are books where it's used but I haven't read any. And it's illegal in the Dresdenverse, but still might be fun to examine.

the best example of Chronomancy would be Prince of Persia. the problem with it is that its just so overly powerful, oh this guy wants to kill me, well i'll just go back in time and snap his neck when he's five. there are also the butterfly effect, step on a butterfly in the past and change everything in the future. not saying its impossible to do but i would find the task very daunting to say the least.

[arcanist]

time travels a difficult theme when it comes to writing. Look at how David Eddings uses it. dreamers last book

(click to show/hide)

he basicly changes time to before whatshisnames wifes death so they can live happily ever after and avoid beng invaded by outsiders.

. Limited minipulation of time is fine if its not too powerful though.

[meg_evonne]

I found this site very useful for your post. Check it out if you haven't seen it already

http://pymfanasywriter.blogspot.com/2008/10/magic-rules-part-1-types-of-magic.html

  May I say that I am very impressed?  thank you for sharing!

[Quantus]

Tossing out a 0.02

Like OZ said, the question of Classification By Energy/Source vs Classification by Effect is an important one if you are planning to include several different types.  Especially with Ritual Magic, as advanced techniques of most any of the others (but especially thaumaturgy, summoning, and necormancy) could potentially cross into ritual areas.  It raises the question Is a ritual about the about the structure (ie symbols, words etc) or is it tapping some specific (or maybe just universal) power or being?

Other Questions to ask:

-What are magic objects/artifacts considered?

-Is there magical healing/medical of any kind?

-Does Blood Magic make an appearance, or is blood used in other types (ritual, necro, evocation). Blood magic is one of the few magic types that seems to show up in every world, to one degree or another.

-Is Sacrifice (human or otherwise) part of any types (ritual, necro, summoning via trade, etc)

-Are illusions purely sensory? would mental control count, or would it be Thaumaturgy

-What are the limits? What, if anything, is considered impossible across all types?  (ie resurrection, time travel, transmutation, teleportation, etc)

-Can you travel to the Spirit World, or does everything come one way?  Do things fromt eh spirit world have bodies, or make them?

-Is evocation for base elements still tapping another location/plane?  ie fireball via Elemental plane of Fire or a portal to a volcano/star.

[The Corvidian]

I'd be careful with some terminology. Not saying its plagiarism, but just in case.

It wouldn't be plagarism unless he does it exactly the same way as Jim does it.

[Nickeris86]

It wouldn't be plagarism unless he does it exactly the same way as Jim does it.

Its not plagerisum because Jim mostly uses types of magic that were practiced in the real world histories and are thus public domain, any one can use the term Thaumaturgy and describe it as Jim does because that is what thaumaturgy is.

[Snowleopard]

I just wanted to bounce a list of the types of magic I wanted to utilize in my story and how I define them:

1. Ritual: Rites, Ceremonies, e.t.c.  Specifice words, names, items utilized to perform a spell.

2. Evocation/Summoning: Bringing forth creatures from the Spirit World.  But also summoning of such things as fire, lightning, e.t.c.

3. Thaumaturgy: Utilizing a piece of something to effect the whole.  Tracking spells, voodoo dolls, communication directly into the subjects mind, e.t.c.

4. Necromancy: Using magic to tinker with corpses, ghosts, the dead.

5. Illusion: Using magic to manipulate the five senses of another creature.  An example being veils.

6. Protection: In short, magic used to protect things.  I.E. wards, barriers, e.t.c.


That's all I have so far. 

Though it might be part of one of the six you have - I don't see Transformation anywhere.  Like the Alpha's becoming wolves.  That was their own internalized spell.  The hexen wolves needed the belts and the Loup Garou was under a curse.  A curse could conceivably fall under Transformation.

[Thaumaturge02]

Though it might be part of one of the six you have - I don't see Transformation anywhere.  Like the Alpha's becoming wolves.  That was their own internalized spell.  The hexen wolves needed the belts and the Loup Garou was under a curse.  A curse could conceivably fall under Transformation.

Thing with Curses, I guess some curses can fall under Transformation, like turning someone into a toad.  But then you've got something like the entropy curse where tht would fall under the "God you are totally f*cked" category.

But thank you for mentioning transformations.

[Sean 'Bjørn' Blackstone]

type of magic doesn't necessarily have to be a given, I'd be more detailed on the source the of magic it is. In the Dv, Its source is from mental and physical endurance and strength. In the Inheritance Cycle, its based on Physical capacity. In the Harry Potter series, Its Focus. the Jedi use the Force, and other more dark forces use Blood. Priests use divine power and prayer. Where the magic comes from is a little more important than what its classified as in use, to me anyways.