Your favourite kind of magic?

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

Magic that I really love, well, I've recently been interested in stuff like Blazblue's Ragna the Bloodedge with his dark aura that he can concentrate


On a similar note, there is Sho Minazuki's Persona/ dark abilities (yeah I really do like these dark aura abilities)


For something that is not a generic "dark aura" I am a fan of electric magic as I know that I can manipulate atomic behavior with it and create various effects: strong enough control could eventually allow me to ignore conventional repulsion distances and make a black hole by compressing atoms into a finite space. Furthermore, manipulation of brain activity is possible as is a sensery field and ability to control indirectly other elements such as earth, fire, water and the like as well as increase or decrease temperature by controlling atomic motion. Combined with the ability to manipulate conventional weaponry such as bullets and creating electric strikes strong enough to even burn through insulators(while the electricity is stopped, the material is still heated and i could just burn through it)

plus, while this isn't magic, i can do this


a much bigger version


Edit: I am also a fan of Magic technology. Hell, Blazblue contextualizes it's magic by making it a fusion of science and magic into the ars magus, devices that combine magic with the repeatbility of science to create anything from chains that can latch on to spacetime and pull you in to weapons made of solid ice that can freeze anything in a range to a system that drains the soul.

Yeah, i think i'm a bit obsessed with Blazblue

Alternatively, magic that is rooted in religious stories, folktales, and legends like Toaru Majutsu no Index

 

[Drake the Dragonheart]

Evocation. I really like the flashy, damage dealing fire and lightning brand of magic. So elemental magic. control the elements, control energy. Pyrokinesis, Electrokinesis (never have to pay an electric bill ever again, in fact sell excess power back to the electric companies) Cryokinesis.

Then again there is something to be said for the subtle magick of Mage: The Ascention. When I make a mage in that system, I tend to favor life and mind spheres. Forces is just too easy to blow yourself up with if you don't know what you're doing. Entropy is fun. Warp the laws of probability.

But yeah when my choice of spells is limited, the one's that dish out damage usually get first preference.

 

[ccggenius12]

Prestidigitation. You don't need to be powerful, you just need to convince others you are. For my first demonstration, I'll pull a rabbit out of this hat. The twist is I'm doing it for real. It's surprisingly complicated.

 

[bossfight1]

I think I like necromancy in games; not necessarily for evil purposes, but I like the idea of making someone I'd killed serve me in undeath.

 

[bliebblob]

Oh man I've never been able to make my mind up about this once and for all, I love them all. Especially after the last airbender. It's no coincidence my guild wars 2 elementalist is one of my favourite rpg characters ever. (For those unaware: elementalists are guild wars' take on the classic glass cannon mage. The twist is they don't really have to pick one element but rather switch between fire, water, earth and air on the fly.)

My current obsession however, is anti-magic. Silence spells, mana drains,... Basically: spells designed to directly counter all other mages. Like what the templars in dragon age do, or the spellbreakers in warcraft 3. Anti-mage in dota and mesmers in guild wars 1 also match this trope I'm told, but I never played either.

 

[Little Woodsman]

Well I wish I had more time and/or was less tired, I probably won't express this very well...
But I really like the subtler forms of magic, magic that expresses itself in events or outcomes that seem to flow naturally from the circumstances but are in fact connected to some deeper causality.

These are impossible to do in games, and even writing rarely gets them right.
There is however, a certain program that shall not be named for the flamings it might incite, but it involves a group of quadrapeds, each of whom holds a talisman relating to a certain element, but more importantly each character holds the quality of that element as part of her persona. Sometimes this show *really* gets it right (other times not so much) but the greatest example is when one of the quadrapeds converts an enemy in to a friend--not by shooting him with a pink, butterfly-shaped beam, but by consistently acting towards him with the element she embodies. True magic.

 

[Liam Briggs]

I would have to go with Enchantment Magic; the ability to control other people's actions and thoughts. I would love to have this much control over people without them being any the wiser. Bonus points if I can have something like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5jxs3g9y7M&feature=youtu.be&t=1m36s

 

[Trollhoffer]

I personally prefer "scientific" magic, aka. magic that doesn't just work because "a wizard did it" but through actually explained, detailed metaphysics that tweak the actual physical world instead of creating matter out of thin air.

This summarises exactly how far this thread goes in missing the point.

When you can break magic down into clear types, with absolute and consistent results according to methodology, it ceases to be magic. We live in a world where, religious or not, we put great faith in the scientific method. We grow up believing that in correctly controlled conditions, the application of a method with the right components will produce a predictable result.

This contrasts excruciatingly with actual folk and religious beliefs concerning magic, where magic isn't based on a correct method, but a correct meaning. Unlike D&D, video games and whatnot, these beliefs don't allow you to sink a universal magical resource and a correct method into a fantasy reconstruction of science. What's nearly universally important is the symbolism in one's actions. For instance, say that you have a vendetta against someone, and you want to hurt them in a way that doesn't involve violence or other literally injurious methods. What you might do is take a wilted rose and leave it under their bed, rendering them infertile after they sleep on it.

That method makes absolutely no objective sense, but it makes a lot of "gut sense". Roses symbolise fertility, and a wilted rose is a potent symbol of decay. A bed is a place of rest, primarily, but also carries sexual connotations. Historically speaking, many children will have been conceived and delivered upon the same bed, so all these elements relate to one another and relate to the intent of the person laying the curse. The belief that the symbolism in one's actions will produce a practical result is the essence of magic, and it's a primary element that separates the likes of Middle Earth and the Earthsea chronicles from much of contemporary fantasy.

What makes more traditional magic so good is that, because it's based on the meanings behind actions, it's inherently a potent storytelling tool rather than a mechanical tool. In a video game, casting a fireball spell to destroy an enemy is close to meaningless, but magic isn't used that way in more developed stories. There are even mechanical systems that aim to make magic feel much more magical by imposing risk; Warhammer Fantasy has a system where you can miscast and have your spellcaster sucked into the aether, attract the attention of demons, straight up explode and more.

In essence, magic is about filling the holes left by ignorance with meanings we construct. When everything can be plotted out and neatly arranged, there's no lack of knowledge to fill, no unpredictability and, most importantly, no meaning to actually express. Magic is most certainly not about raining fire upon one's enemies, summoning the dead, creating matter out of nothing or anything of the sort. Those are just superficial acts of spectacle, not the actual stuff of magic.

 

[Therumancer]

I speak of the fantasy kind of course, not the sawing people in half kind.

There is an uncountable amount of different types of magics! Frost and fire, nature, shadow, light! Magic to damage and magic to heal! Magic to conjure and magic to manipulate! Great illusions and terrible wonders!

So many! Yes. But, which kind is your favourite?

Personally I go for frost magic.

Spoiler

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

The power to form ice to make great weapons of destruction, to freeze and maim your enemies without even touching them a single time.

The power to make great pointy shards of ice shoot up the arse of the unweary challenger! There is no beating the frost mage.

Indeed, ice and frost is the best. Though you may claim otherwise. SO! What is your favourite kind of magic?

Well I kind of like traditional "good" wizardry. I've never been into black magic, necromancy, demon summoning, and other kinds of things, but like the image of the traditional badarse wizard who manages to kick butt and stop people who use those kinds of things without resorting to them himself and not being any weaker for it.

It's hard to be more thematic than that, because the thing about being a wizard is versatility and being able to use knowledge to play around with reality. Controlling the elements, illusions, etc... are all facets that make a wizard. While the existence of specialists and such are kind of cool in some concepts of magic (Pyromancers, dedicated frost wizards, etc...) I tend to wind up preferring a generalist and see more or less mastering everything as kind of the point of being a wizard... who putters around and experiements with a little of this, a little of that, combining things, and pretty much picking up every trick and piece of lore he can find, as well as making his own tricks.

Merlin, Elminster, Dumbledore, Cabe Bedlam, Harry Dresden... you get the idea.

 

[Chungus]

Cronomancy. Absolute power over time. It would be like turning godmode on. Slow the flow of time for your enemies down to a crawl, or better yet, age them to dust. Or reverse time to turn them into infants. Don't like something that happened? Reverse time entirely and do it over until the outcome of an event is something you like. No need for beauty products, you can just keep yourself youthful forever. And best of all, exist in every moment at once. So in the unlikely event that you end up being murderised, it won't even make a difference.

Hell yeah.

 

[Zepherus14]

Well, a friend of mine just directed me to this little thread, and to be honest, I am disheartened that no one has stated the best form of magic of them all.

Chocolate magic!

And to think I trusted you Escapist with such easy tasks, for shame. XD

 

[Cerebrawl]

Divination for me. If any important questions come up, like "Where did I leave my keys?", "What will happen if I take this job?", "Which company should I invest in?", "Is the guy who cut me off a jerk or just having a bad day?", etc. I'd just divine the answer.

Entropy(manipulating probability) is just plain better.

"I'll find my keys in the next place I look.", "This is the winning lottery ticket.", "The robber's gun is going to stovepipe and he's going to slip and break his neck when he tries to pursue me."

 

[MHR]

An affliction-based magic or any magic like a curse that will kill an enemy over time or debuff/debilitate them significantly, even perhaps afflicting the mind and causing them to frenzy, killing allies. Usually this involves some sort of knowledge in dark arts from perhaps a warlock or necromancer, but there's potential for any odd hedge-wizard to come up with unique and interesting afflictions. If, for example, a druid could infect someone with flesh-eating fungal spores that spread, that's just as fun!

You know, interesting and cruel ways to screw people over. Any idiot can figure out that fire burns or that people fall over when you use fist magic, I prefer to get creating when possible.

Oh, and magics that involve sacrificing an enemy for a benefit like blood magic or offerings to summon demons. Hey, that's just using all your resources to get ahead! Wringing out your enemy for all they're worth; It's really just the logical next step from looting a corpse clean.

Ha, I must sound like a terrible person! I'm actually quite nice and helpful IRL. In games I play more than my fair share of healers and the medic in Team Fortress 2.

It's just... you know, it's like Medic says: "Ze healing is not as rewarding as ze hurting!"

 

[octafish]

I prefer the magic of shadows, lock picks, a knife and a high Dex. I have played a very interesting AD&D campaign as a stage magician/thief, that was good. Otherwise whatever gets you through the night. Mind you I do like Ignus, and Ignus wishes to BURN!

 

[Guffe]

If I game, then healing magic is the one I go for if I can't use a character with physical damage as a main weapon.

For more offensive magic I think I have to go with something more Druidlike, transformations and runes and stuff...

 

[DANEgerous]

Potion making form of alchemy. It is SUPER CHEMISTRY! With enough talent you can do anything with no talent well you just exploded yourself. GG bro.

 

[Autumnflame]

I like when magic is done though force of will and not complicated spells.

like The will and the word for the belgarid. certain characters from magician.

The idea of replying on will rather than just words is appealing to me

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

The flashy, 'Blow up in someone's face and giggle maniacally as their eyeballs melt down their shirt' type.
If it's pretty, explosive and kills a lot of people, I'm all over it!

 

[Plasmadamage]

There is a depressing lack of Warrens being mentioned here! Omtose Phellack (ice, stability, stagnation and stasis) and High Rashan (Darkness)are my faves, although I am partial to Telas as well.

(Anyone assuming that i've just gone mad, you need to read the Malazan Book of the Fallen. Assuming that you've got a spare year to dedicate to comprehending it, of course)

 

[sanquin]

Necromancy. Summoning minions to fight for you while casting life-draining or necrotic spells from the back, and turning any enemy that has fallen to fight his own allies. <3 Especially since said minions can even become something like giants or dragons if you get strong enough. (and depending on the world you're in. Not all worlds have said creatures.)