Magician
When thinking about adding magic to your world building, these are some questions to ask:
- Who has it?
- Who can use it?
- Where does it come from?
- What does it go through?
- Is it active? Passive? Both?
- Is it tangible? Visible?
- Can magic people sense magic?
- Can non-magic people sense magic?
- Can non-humans be or have magic?
- Can objects be or have magic?
- Can it be used by accident?
- What are the consequences of using magic? Of not using it?
- Do some things (eg causing injury, death, etc.) have greater consequences?
- Does level/degree of use correlate to degree of consequences?
- Does magic require a bargain (eg service to a god)?
- Can someone lose their magic?
- Can someone gain magic?
- Can magic be transferred or stolen?
- Is magic something to be turned on and off or is it always there?
- Does a person have a limited amount of magic? Can it be replenished?
- Does everyone’s magic manifest the same way?
- Does everyone call upon their magic the same way?
- Does magic require physical aids? Meditation?
- Is strength innate or based on training? Can it change?
- How is strength indicated?
- Are there physical indicators of magic use?
- Is there some sort of test to be allowed to use magic?
- To show competency?
- To show mastery?
- To certify teaching?
- Is magic tied to or antithetical to religion?
- Must magic obey scientific principles?
- Does magic operate the same way everywhere?
- Does magic operate the same way on everyone/everything?
- Is healing possible? Is it telekinetic? Time-based? Done by switching physical health?
- Does magic require a sacrifice? Before or after? User’s or others’?
- Is magic something a person is? Does? Uses?
- How is magic conceptualized? Is that correct?
- What can someone do with magic?
- What can’t someone do with magic? Why?
- What are ethical/moral lines that have been drawn regarding magic? How are they enforced?
- Is belief necessary?
- Can magic only be done at certain times or in certain places?
- How do powerful magic users face consequences from the law?
- Is magic something that people want to be?
