I’m trying to write a story and have been stuck in the “as wide as the sea and as deep as a puddle” phase so I’ve decided to flesh out the mechanics first so i want your help making a magic system for it.

I’m trying to set a power level for it, making matter is way too OP energy wise and I’m trying to keep this a hard magic system so I’m not adding that. on the other hand lot’s of shows, novels and such use some form of glowing translucent matter or using magic as an applied force rather than item, that’s what I’m going for. so here is my question for this part. how powerful should it be?

i want it to be able to have a tangible influence otherwise it would be too dull, but i also want it grounded in some level of sense, making matter is way too energy intensive (except for light, otherwise it wouldn’t be visible at all.) so, what should i do? I’ve tried mathing it out to get a rough estimate and it’s finicky, it’s either too strong and they could blow up a city or it’s too weak and they can barely make a light breeze.

i like trying to get into the nitty gritty of the details so if anyone here has ideas or alternative completely please tell me I’m happy for any help.

  • FlihpFlorp@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    9 months ago

    I’m not story writer man by any means but I always find it interesting when characters have the super powerful abilities but it’s limited in either scale or control or has some drawback

    Code geass for example, the power to compel someone to do any command, drawback is he needs direct eye contact and can only use it once on a person

    Or the ability to read minds but unable to turn it off making crowded places completely unbearable

    Or the ability to make victims around you seem like time has stopped but it has a small area of effect, only changes the perception of time, and his heart stops when ever the ability is active

    Hopefully this is some use to you