In order to create a magic system readers can buy into, you need to think of where the magic comes from. This in turn will make the world of your story more believable.
I can picture a scene of a wizard shooting lightning out of his staff, calling to his comrades in battle, “Hurry! My power is running low!”
But where did the wizard get that magic? And where is the magic stored? In his heart? In his brain? In a special kind of magic bladder? How much magic can he store? How much power does an ability “cost”?
In many stories, the answers to these questions are usually the same. The wizard has magic when the author needs the wizard to have magic. And the wizard runs out of power when the author needs the wizard to be weak. This makes for an unbelievable magic system.
One weakness of many magic systems is that the cost and/or limit of magic use isn’t explained. Or it comes from a vague energy supply like mana. While great stories have been written with these kinds of magic systems, they do come across as overdone. Also, mana is a vague source that authors tend to leave unexplained.
So what can authors do to strengthen their magic systems?
The Power of Limitations
One way you could create a compelling and believable magic system is by coming up with a unique source for magic. The power source magic users pull from.
For example, in Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn the magic system allomancy is based on metals. Certain people can “burn” certain metals, and that gives them special abilities. And of course, there are limits. The major one is you can’t use the magic if you don’t have access to that metal.
Not only is this unique, but it’s also something people can understand. In the real world, we get our power and energy from burning resources (i.e. oil). So it makes sense that magical power could come from burning/using a resource like metal.
Other limitations to consider are the limitations of the body. Let’s say there’s a magic system based on air and breathing. And let’s say a magic user can only use their abilities for as long as they can hold their breath. Readers would understand this kind of limit to magic because people understand what it’s like to hold one’s breath. So a reasonable (and understandable) limitation to put on magic would be the limitations found in the physical body.
There are many different ways you can go about this. The way you can create a believable and unique magic system is by using a unique source that makes sense–one that people can buy into. From there, you can create natural costs and limitations that also make sense.
What do the magic systems look like in your favorite stories? Please share in the comments below.