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[weenog]

Bah, this is Dwarf Fortress.  You don't get safe magma just because you want it and ask nicely.  You take precautions, or you get burned.  I don't see why a magical fire source should be any more merciful.

[CrzyMonkeyNinja]

Bah, this is Dwarf Fortress.  You don't get safe magma just because you want it and ask nicely.  You take precautions, or you get burned.  I don't see why a magical fire source should be any more merciful.

Agreed. I think having magic that is rather uncontrollable would be very !!FUN!!, and also would be more, well, I am loath to use the word "realistic" in the context of magic, but it would be more "realistic". In fantasy, you always have wizards who have suposedly studied for many years to harness the "wild and dangerous magic" but often, the magic doesn't really seem very wild or dangerous. It's just wands, staffs, glowey dust and "arbitrary magic". Now, I'm not against wands, staffs and glowey dust; I just prefer magic when it has some context or reason for existing. Perhaps the gods endow certain objects with magical powers, or maybe magical objects are all powered by gems found deep in the earth. There are tons of option for sources of migicalness.

[GreatWyrmGold]

If it didn't, it wouldn't be magic.

Magic at least needs to follow its own rules, and ideally not have arbitrary rules. "Magic items must protect you from their downsides" would be a terrible rule, as it's arbitrary and almost impossible to enforce.

I don't mind calling stuff about magic "realistic," as long as the quotes are there. Magic is a law or force of nature, it should act like one.

[Putnam]

That is only one version of magic, "magic A is magic A". There can be others.

[GreatWyrmGold]

In my (not-so-)humble opinion, MAiMA magic is the only kind that SHOULD exist. Even if the only rule is "Magic never acts predictably," that rule should be followed consistently every time magic comes up. No exceptions. Writers don't change how gravity works during the climax just to suit the plot better, do they? Why should magic be different? Why would you do that? Just write the magic to fit the plot and stick with it! Anything else is poor planning and/or bad writing.

[Putnam]

because magic is nothing but a plot point while gravity is a physical property of the universe we live in?

There are ways to use unpredictable magic badly, but there are good ways as well. And there are ways to make breaking every rule work well, as well.

[GreatWyrmGold]

because magic is nothing but a plot point while gravity is a physical property of the universe we live in?

Magic is a part of the world in that world as much as transistors or bears are in ours.

There are ways to use unpredictable magic badly, but there are good ways as well. And there are ways to make breaking every rule work well, as well.

Again, IMnsHO, you should stick to the rules you write out. Write unpredictability into the rules if you must, but don't then make it predictable.

[GoombaGeek]

This is the thread to debate magic philosophy and use contrived TVtropes acronyms, right??

why acronyms why 

[GreatWyrmGold]

Acronyms used in full a post or two previously.

Sorry. Ir happens. We're Bay12. Good luck getting us to stay on topic for more than a page.

Hey, look! A butterfly! Let's talk about that!

[PrivateNomad]

Monarchs are my favorite.

[Darkond2100]

Writers don't change how gravity works during the climax just to suit the plot better, do they? Why should magic be different? Why would you do that? Just write the magic to fit the plot and stick with it! Anything else is poor planning and/or bad writing.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Falling and forgetting to hit the ground, don't you dare think about gravity!

[Revanchist]

I think that this would be the game to have rules for magic. What doesn't this game have rules for?

I've never been a huge fan of butterflies, sorry. But they are awesome, quite tenacious, for the thing that comes from a caterpillar...

[Urist da dwarfy dwarf]

Good idea, I think it would be good if DF had a gem slotting mechanic, where you could create gems with certain properties (very hard and expensive to make)which could be added to weapons and armour to add an effect e.g. fire damage on a weapon or more armour strength on a shield.

[Putnam]

Good idea, I think it would be good if DF had a gem slotting mechanic, where you could create gems with certain properties (very hard and expensive to make)which could be added to weapons and armour to add an effect e.g. fire damage on a weapon or more armour strength on a shield.

Too gamey.

[GreatWyrmGold]

Writers don't change how gravity works during the climax just to suit the plot better, do they? Why should magic be different? Why would you do that? Just write the magic to fit the plot and stick with it! Anything else is poor planning and/or bad writing.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Falling and forgetting to hit the ground, don't you dare think about gravity!

Yes, because that bit was meant to be taken seriously. And because it isn't an isolated example. And because HGttG doesn't play fast and loose with all laws of physics.

Good idea, I think it would be good if DF had a gem slotting mechanic, where you could create gems with certain properties (very hard and expensive to make)which could be added to weapons and armour to add an effect e.g. fire damage on a weapon or more armour strength on a shield.

Too gamey.

Especially as DF doesn't have "damage" or "armor strength" per se.
Encrusting items with magical gems to enchant them makes sense, though.