Today I am going to practice coming up with ideas for magic systems following Sanderson's Laws:
Sanderson's First Law defines the difference between hard magic and soft magic. Hard magic has almost scientific restrictions and reasoning whereas soft magic has more loosely defined capabilities.
Sanderson's Second Law states that the restrictions placed upon a magic system inherently make it more interesting as we watch the character work around those restrictions.
Sanderson's Third Law involves limiting the number of abilities so that your characters are forced to learn to use what they have in smart news ways to overcome new situations. Don't just grant them more and more powers for everything that comes up. Put them in a bind and watch as they use their ability in a previously unforeseen way.
Right now, I have two magic systems in my book so far. The clockmaker has something in his cupboard that when people look at it, they turn into grandfather clocks. The younger brother has the second ability, being able to create waves of energy that fling things far away. My story concept is that everyone finds their own unique power, but I believe I can get away with this without breaking the three laws of magic.
Makos will never get another ability, but honestly, it's a great ability already. What does he do when someone tries to attack him? He swings a few waves toward them and they end up a mile away after a rough landing.
What are its limitations? He has to move his limbs to do it, so he can't if he is tied up. By putting him in a situation where he can't move, it will prove his weakness and make things more suspenseful. It can also force him to adapt by testing them capabilities of his power. What if, in a last ditch effort, he discovers that kicking works, too? What if he can cross waves together to create stronger effects?
How about a cost involved in using the power? Maybe he can only do it in the moonlight.
As for the clock transformations, I may want to use this magic more as a soft magic, where it merely puts pressure on the boys, but is never really explored other than finding a cure for it. With soft magic, as Brandon Sanderson suggests, it is better to not let the protagonists use it, at least not successfully. If they do tamper with the power, it should set things back, causing more trouble than its worth, otherwise, it must become a defined hard magic so as to not render the characters without challenges.
Time for a bit of writing practice using incorporating these laws:
The globe exploded into a thousand, multicolored shards of glass.
"Nab Daggit!" Surlon swore while dodging a rather large glass projectile. "Every single time!"
The apprentice scratched his head from the safety of the upper observatory. "Maybe you need to use more gunpowder." The voice crackled over the radio.
Surlon snorted. "More gunpowder? Are you telling me you included gunpowder to this batch?" He brushed bits of glass off his protective leather suit.
"Uh." The radio buzzed. "The recipe called for three hundred grains of GP. That stands for gunpowder, doesn't it?"
Surlon stared at the young man as he slipped off a thick glove, then slapped his forehead. "GP is the bio-alchemical denotation for gouda cheese."
"Cheese?" The apprentice responded. "'G' for gouda, then, but what does the 'P' stand for?"
"'P' stands for cheese." Surlon explained.
"Uh. That makes no sense, sir."
Surlon waved his hand around. "'C' was already taken."
"Ah." The young man replied. After a moment, he asked, "Then what's 'C' stand for?"
"Fish bones."
"I think I am starting to see a pattern here." The apprentice said.
"Good. That's what I am paying you for." Grumbled the old scientist. "I hate to say it, but I may never live to see the day alchemy becomes a practical source of anything useful. If you witness my failures now, you hopefully will not repeat them, saving more time to get closer to the solution."
I am going to have to pick this story back up later. Check back on Monday for a new post!
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