Magic Systems

Design and structure magic systems using OnlyWorlds elements, showing how different categories work together to create complex, believable magical worlds.

Core Concept

Magic systems aren’t just lists of spells - they’re interconnected webs of power sources, practitioners, limitations, and cultural impacts. OnlyWorlds excels at modeling these relationships by distributing magical concepts across multiple element categories.

Simple Example: Crystal Magic

Let’s create a basic magic system where practitioners channel energy through crystals.

The Power Source

Element: Phenomenon
Name: “Crystal Resonance”
Category: Energy magic that flows through crystalline structures

name: "Crystal Resonance"
category: "Phenomenon"
supertype: "Energy"
subtype: "Magical"
description: "Magical energy that flows through crystal formations, allowing trained individuals to channel elemental forces"
manifestation: "Visible as colored light within crystals"
strength: "Varies by crystal size and purity"

The Focus Objects

Element: Species
Name: “Resonance Crystals”
Category: The natural crystal formations that conduct magic

name: "Resonance Crystals"
category: "Species"
supertype: "Mineral"
subtype: "Magical"
description: "Naturally occurring crystals that conduct magical energy"
varieties:
  - "Fire Crystals (red)"
  - "Water Crystals (blue)"
  - "Earth Crystals (brown)"
  - "Air Crystals (white)"
habitat: "Deep caves and mountain peaks"
rarity: "Uncommon"

The Practitioners

Element: Title
Name: “Crystal Mage”
Category: People who can use crystal magic

name: "Crystal Mage"
category: "Title"
supertype: "Magical"
subtype: "Practitioner"
description: "A person trained to channel Crystal Resonance through focus crystals"
requirements:
  - "5+ years of training"
  - "Personal focus crystal"
  - "Mental discipline"
responsibilities:
  - "Protect crystal deposits"
  - "Maintain magical balance"
social_status: "Respected but rare"

The Core Ability

Element: Ability
Name: “Crystal Channeling”
Category: The fundamental magical skill

name: "Crystal Channeling"
category: "Ability"
supertype: "Magical"
subtype: "Elemental"
description: "The ability to direct Crystal Resonance energy through focus crystals"
requirements:
  - "Resonance Crystal focus"
  - "Magical training"
effects:
  - "Manipulate corresponding element"
  - "Create energy shields"
  - "Enhanced perception"
limitations:
  - "Requires physical crystal"
  - "Causes mental fatigue"
  - "Limited by crystal quality"

The Limitation

Element: Trait
Name: “Crystal Dependency”
Category: The downside of crystal magic

name: "Crystal Dependency"
category: "Trait"
supertype: "Magical"
subtype: "Affliction"
description: "Physical and mental reliance on crystal magic, causing withdrawal symptoms without access to crystals"
symptoms:
  - "Headaches without crystals"
  - "Reduced magical sensitivity"
  - "Anxiety and restlessness"
progression: "Worsens with years of use"
treatment: "Gradual crystal weaning"

The Regulatory Body

Element: Institution
Name: “Crystal Academy”
Category: The organization that trains and regulates crystal mages

name: "Crystal Academy"
category: "Institution"
supertype: "Educational"
subtype: "Magical"
description: "The primary institution for training Crystal Mages and regulating crystal use"
structure:
  - "Council of Master Mages"
  - "Training divisions by element"
  - "Research department"
location: "Crystal Mountain Sanctuary"
membership: "150+ active members"
purpose: "Safe magical education and regulation"

System Relationships

The Magic Flow 

Crystal Resonance (Phenomenon) 
    ↓
Resonance Crystals (Species)
    ↓
Crystal Channeling (Ability)
    ↓
Crystal Mage (Title)
    ↓
Crystal Academy (Institution)

The Limitation Chain 

Crystal Channeling (Ability)
    ↓
Crystal Dependency (Trait)
    ↓
Academy Regulation (Institution)

Visual Diagram 

    🔮 Crystal Resonance (Phenomenon)
         |
         | flows through
         ↓
    💎 Resonance Crystals (Species)
         |
         | enables
         ↓
    ✨ Crystal Channeling (Ability)
         |
         | creates
         ↓
    🧙 Crystal Mage (Title) ←→ 🏛️ Crystal Academy (Institution)
         |                         |
         | suffers from            | regulates
         ↓                         ↓
    😵 Crystal Dependency (Trait)  📜 Magic Laws (Law)

Element Overlap

Notice how elements serve multiple functions:

Resonance Crystals function as:

  • Species (the mineral type)
  • Objects (individual crystals)
  • Economic resources (valuable commodities)
  • Religious artifacts (sacred to mages)

Crystal Mages exist as:

  • Characters (individual practitioners)
  • Titles (social roles)
  • Collective members (Academy students)
  • Ability users (magical practitioners)

This overlap creates depth and realistic complexity.

Expanding Your System

Add Geographic Elements

Element: Location
Name: “Crystal Caverns”
Where crystals are found and mined

Element: Zone
Name: “Magically Dead Areas”
Regions where Crystal Resonance doesn’t work

Add Historical Context

Element: Event
Name: “The Great Crystal Shatter”
Historical disaster that shaped current regulations

Element: Narrative
Name: “The Mage Chronicles”
Cultural stories about crystal magic

Add Social Complexity

Element: Law
Name: “Crystal Mining Regulations”
Legal framework governing crystal extraction

Element: Collective
Name: “Anti-Magic Movement”
Group opposing crystal magic use

Design Principles

Start Simple

  1. One power source (Phenomenon)
  2. One focus method (Object/Species)
  3. One core ability (Ability)
  4. One limitation (Trait)
  5. One organizing body (Institution)

Build Outward

  • Add specialized abilities for variety
  • Create historical events for context
  • Include locations where magic happens
  • Design social reactions to magic

Maintain Balance

  • Every power needs limitations
  • Every benefit needs costs
  • Every practitioner needs training
  • Every system needs regulation

Common Pitfalls

Magic Too Powerful: Add meaningful limitations (Traits, Laws) Magic Too Isolated: Connect to society (Institutions, Events) Magic Too Simple: Add element overlap and relationships Magic Too Complex: Focus on core concepts first

Quick Start Template

For any magic system, consider these elements:

  1. Phenomenon - Your power source
  2. Ability - How it’s used
  3. Title - Who uses it
  4. Trait - What it costs
  5. Institution - Who regulates it

Build these five elements first, then expand with locations, objects, events, and cultural elements as needed.

Next Steps

  1. Define your core concept - What makes your magic unique?
  2. Create the five basic elements - Power, ability, user, cost, regulation
  3. Map the relationships - How do elements connect?
  4. Add cultural integration - How does magic affect society?
  5. Test the system - What happens when things go wrong?

Remember: great magic systems aren’t about the spells - they’re about the consequences, costs, and cultural changes that magic brings to your world.