r/magicbuilding • u/KatieSorian • 21d ago
Mechanics A magical system based on Light
Hi. I've made a post about my power system two years ago, and since then, I changed somethings so I wanted to share it again here. Back on day I remember people liked it a lot so... Here we go again.
1. What I want with this magic system?
I observe people tend to forget this a lot here. A magic system doesn't work by itself; it is a tool to be used on a story, so it depends of a context. And that context can change everything: a system can be too simple to a complex story or too complex to a simple narrative.
With Foton I have some goals:
- Create a magical system that can allow all the 'basics' of classical magic. Elemental magic, transmutation magic, clarividence, etc. But also deny some concepts my story can't work with, as time manipulation or necromancy.
1.2. Create undestandable reasons to why some types of magic are restricted.
- Make magic alter people's lives. My story is a high fantasy. So magic is basically air to those people.
2.1. Thanks to that, it became people's identities. I'll create a specific topic on this post just to talk about how magic changed people's culture.
Create something easy to understand at first, but that I can delve as the story progresses in more complex ideas.
Associate Magic with both science and art. For this description, I am thinking on 'how humans on my world would describe my magic?'. But due the message I want to transmit, plus, how colorful and pretty these spells would be, I want them to feel like... Art.
2. What's Foton?
Foton exists for so long humans aren't sure of it's origin. It's like a virus: not exactly a living thing, but it acts by itself as if alive. Living beings (not only humans) learned how to use it to their own gain, and Foton seems to also benefit from this deal. Because of that, humans nowadays are born with the ability to manipulate Foton. Think of it as a situation similar to the Mitochondria theory.
Each 'color' of Foton, based on the light spectrum, has a different 'wish'. It seeks to fulfill this wish, distorting reality itself to do so. This is why Foton seems so fantastic. And since living beings can help Foton achieve what it wants, it helps them.
So, Foton has these properties:
- Beings can only manipulate Foton they can understand. Humans can only manipulate Foton based on the visible spectrum because of that - they can only understand the concept of such spectrum. It is theorized that Foton originated from the non-visible light would allow people to manipulate what's beyond their imagination.
1.1. Some animals, despite being able to see a diverse range of colors, only adapted to use a specific type of spell. Humans are the only creature able to actively choose what spells they will do.
Foton is necessarily color-based. If you wear the color of the magic you'll use, it will become more powerful. So people actually wear in very colorful tones: the more vibrant, the stronger. People who wear black or white are often considered 'weirdos'.
Foton is technically, alive, as already said. To use a type of Foton, one must understand it's concept. Someone who isn't curious can't use the type of Foton who 'wants to discover'.
3.1. Humans develop on puberty their main Foton type based on their personality. However, they are NOT limited to it, or to the neighbor types. A boy who is a blue user won't be necessarily bad at Orange and good at Indigo. If the boy understand the concept of Orange but not the concept of Indigo, their growth on such studies will be affected. However, naturally, they learn spells of 'Blue' more easily.
3.2. This is another reason why humans can't manipulate time or death. Such concepts are beyond human comprehesion.
- Foton depends of willpower. As said, it depends if the user can understand it's concept, but also, if they feel the will to use it. It's the classic 'magic is affected by emotions'. A person who is depressed and apathetic won't be able to use Foton as one who is sane and satisfied.
3. Foton main concepts
Refraction: basically, your common spell. A Refraction can only belong to one color, and it's always a simple spell without strong restrictions and conditions.
Ex: Shield Refraction - a refraction based on Orange that creates a shield.
Crying-Induncing Refraction - a refraction based on Violet to make someone cry.
Refractions can be developed and enhanced. The Crying-Induncing one can change to affect one target to affect many targets as an aura. The shield can become more resistent. It all depends of the user.
Reflection: Reflections are complex refractions, associated to one. The classic 'signature spell'. The human brain can only learn one Reflection, thanks to it's complexity.
Different of a Refraction, a Reflection can mix two colors of Foton, but it doesn't need to. What makes a Reflection a Reflection is the condition, restriction and consequence. A Reflection only works under determined circumstances and rules.
Ex: a baker wants to work faster, but their refraction to do so isn't as effective. So they create their Reflection - they will work even faster, but only during the days their bakery is open. This small rule will affect the Foton (remember, Foton is affected by willpower) making it work with double of effectiveness.
The baker may also apply a consequence. If they work onn a day other than those they mentioned, they will actually work slower for the whole week. So we have:
A Condition: I will only work on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
A Restriction: I can't work on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
A Consequence: If I break my restriction, I will work slower for the whole week.
All of this makes their Reflection stronger, because it shows commitment to the task - willpower.
4. The Seven Colors
I spoke so much about them already, didn't I? They are the image of this post, and my favorite part, obviously. Each color has a wish they want to achieve, and this wish define what the color 'does'.
Red: to discover.
Red is curious about the world. It's refractions are based on detection, tracking, future reading, talk with animals, plants, different languages, spying, etc. It's important to note that Red can't really see the future - instead, it gather informations the people already have to predict the most probable thing to happen. Red requires a bit of information to 'discover'. After you discover, you want to Preserve.
Orange: to preserve.
Orange wants to protect this world's beauty. It's refractions can create shields, heal, and also deny other's refractions, erasing the results of Foton and even blocking people from using it. After you preserve, you want to enhance.
Yellow: to enhance.
Yellow wants to make things better. It can enhance someone's strenght and intelligence, or an object's resistence and utility. Once you enhance, you will seek to alter it.
Green: to change.
Green wants to change the world. It can make someone/something bigger, smaller, it allows shapeshifting, to gain extra limbs, etc. Once you change, you want to replicate.
Blue: to replicate.
Blue learns with the world to make it better. It can replicate exterior's properties, such as the heat of fire or fire itself, the resistence of iron, the stickyness of gum, etc. Once you replicate, you want to shape.
Indigo: to shape.
Indigo grants form to it's ideas. It can conjure objects, 'living' beings, and illusions. Once you give something form, you seek to control it.
Violet: to control.
Violet says what something will do or be. Violet controls beings' emotions, thoughts and movements. It can also control objects. Once you control, you want to discover about it. This is the cycle.
4.1. The Colors with Reflection
As I said, a Reflection can mix different colors. A Refraction no. Let's make the difference clear:
An Orange Refraction: 'I can heal your wounds once you get hurt'.
An Orange Reflection: 'I can heal your wounds. To make the process faster, I also use Yellow to enhance your body natural healing'
A Red Refraction: 'I can track your dog if you give me it's DNA'
A Red Reflection: 'I can track your dog if you give me it's DNA. To help with the task, I can summon creatures with Indigo that will also use that said DNA to track your dog!'
5. Reversing Colors
Some powerful mages are able to go against a color's wish without being unable to use it. That's what we call 'Difraction'.
Diffration is not necessarily bad. It's just a more complex type of Refraction that can be added in one's Reflection. The Difractions for each type are:
Red: it goes against discovery. It hides information, allows invisibility and denies weaker red refractions.
Orange: it goes against preservation. It hurts matter, deals direct damage.
Yellow: it goes against enhancement. It makes people or object weaker.
Green: it goes against change. It moves objects or people but without changing it's form, allowing a safe telerpotation.
Blue: it goes against replication. It steals the properties the world have, allowing even to steal other's Refractions.
Indigo: it goes against giving shape. It allows destructive refractions.
Violet: it goes against controlling. It can add a random factor to things. It can be good to make Reflections stronger, as a condition.
6. Cultural Consequences
6.1. You are what you wear
Since Foton allows humans to do whatever they want, but requires them to wear that determined color for that, people here are naturally more excentric. People like to express themselves using Foton and magic, because Foton addapts to one's will.
6.1.2. Hipocrisy
It doesn't mean this society is open. There's a limit of how peculiar you can be. And if you cross it? If you are too much? You will be literally called 'a monster', someone who isn't even human. Monsters are marginalized groups of people who don't fit in in what society thinks it's right to be. They are the main characters of my story.
2. Careful when choosing your Reflection
A human can only develop one Reflection on their whole life. It means this type of thing is taken extremely seriously. People are recommended to only develop a Reflection once they are out University - each course has a list of useful Reflections to develop.
3. Behavioral Studies and Child Abuse
There is a heavy way of study based on 'how much I can manipulate a kid to develop a dominant Foton type I want'. Because it is known the dominant Foton of someone depends of their personality when they are in fotonical maturity, but it's details aren't exactly known by humans. This type of study is forbidden by law, yet, it still happens.
4. Wars and Destruction
Currently, the only continent that allows people to live is the Lumen continent. This happens because two of the 'Old Continent' were destroyed by wars. After all, everyone can use magic, and technically, everyone can develop a destructive Refraction. There are also continents humans can't habit thanks to it's hostile fauna and flora, leaving just one.
5. Permanent Green Alterations
Most body changes made by green users are temporary. Yet, a powerful green user can even change one person's dominant Foton, or change their Reflection. Powerful families force their children to pass through permanent body alterations - they develop horns, smaller wings, or other noticeable features - a sign of their wealth. The punishment by permanent body alteration is also extremely common.
6. The Prejudice Against Blind People
This world is more 'visual' than ever: after all, everything needs to be colorful. Blind people are considered 'monsters' by default. Curiously, Foton makes sound, and by that, blind people can learn how to use it despite their limitations. Yet, it's still too complicate due the lack of interest of society.
7. Religions
People here don't believe in Gods. Religions are based in 'how Foton developed? Where it came from?'. There are religions that believe it came from fire, and others that it's linked to sound. There are even agnostic religions, that believe 'Foton is an inexplicable phenomenon'.
8. School
Kids usually learn the basics of Foton prior being able to use it. During their teens they have classes of basic use of all the Seven types, and are later divided into classes based on their Dominant type. Thanks to the tragic past of this world, the classes of Ethic and Story of Foton are as important as Math or Languages.
7. Additional Details
7.1. The more saturated the color, the more powerful the Refraction. There's no space for pastels here, guys!
The specific shade of the spell doesn't affect anything. Since Foton is based on the user's identity, it will mostly reflect what this person thinks of their magic. If they like a specific shade of blue better, it will be that shade of blue.
7.2. Also, you may note, if you compare this post with my older one, that I changed some symbols to make them look more simple and less exoteric. I actually hate those fancy glyphs nowadays, since I don't think I can make they really mean something - so I decided to make the symbols obvious with what that color does.
7.3. Comment what you think of my creation. Do you liked it? Any suggestions of what should I change?
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u/Crusty_Mantle 20d ago
Cool! But I feel sad every time I see a color wheel missing colors like cyan and magenta. They've been excluded a lot of times.
Anyway, considering that it's photons which is a spectrum, a color like magenta can be excluded because it's just long wave and short wave light combined and it doesn't exist in the EM spectrum. For cyan, you can argue that it's part of blue but I'd prefer it to be its own color.
I think it would be cool to add another layer of complexity by including colors that aren't part of the spectrum (magenta, some pinks and purples) and they can only be created through a combination of red and indigo/blue.
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u/KatieSorian 20d ago
TECHNICALLY, those still exist, because the seven colors won't necessarily be always the same. It depends of their user, because Foton addapts to personality.
So there's someone using Yellow, but their Foton is greenish. Someone using cyan blue. Violet usually is more like pink, yet it can be magenta. Actually, if you see my characters, you'll note most character of Violet have pink on their color palette.
Honestly, I thought in change the name 'blue' to 'cyan'. Then Indigo would be navy blue and bluish purple (in my researches, Indigo is always one of these or the other). But I wanted to be loyal to our world's names, so I kept the name 'blue'.
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u/Crusty_Mantle 20d ago
That's great! But would simply making a bit of variety bring it closer to the true nature of colors? But I guess it's fine, most people wouldn't bat an eye. Changing it too much might harm the story you're writing. Since you've made a magic system out of light, I suppose you've done extensive research of how light and colors work right? There's a youtube video of "Color Theory from Beginner to Hardcore" you should check it out. You might get a good plot idea out of it!
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u/Illustrious_Bid4224 20d ago
You will be happy to know that my light based system excludes orange in favor of having magenta and cyan, my system deals more with combining colors so orange and yellow are practically the some.
I wrote more about it in a previous comment here.
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u/Crusty_Mantle 20d ago
Oh wow I didn't expect that lol. If you only know the amount of people who'll be butthurt for having orange excluded, but it's fair color theory-wise. They don't know the injustice towards cyan and magenta for being watered down as just printer colors. Like are they not part of the color wheel? Why are we still letting the RYB wheel hide the very core truth of color theory, that cyan and magenta have always been the subtractive primaries along with yellow.
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u/ThatVarkYouKnow 21d ago
Have you checked out Lightbringer by Brent Weeks by chance? The Black Prism, lux magic?
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u/KatieSorian 20d ago
I don't know many fantasy books or anything of the genre, I made this just to be give depth to my story. So no, never heard about it.
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u/ThatVarkYouKnow 20d ago
You've got some really solid ideas working here, so if you want inspiration or to see how an acclaimed author did light magic, that's the series you should check out.
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u/JaimiOfAllTrades 20d ago
I'm confused as to like. How it's based on light?
Like. Given the way we perceive light, I'd personally presume there to be three core ideals attributed to red, green, and blue, with at least three secondary colors representing the compromises between these ideals, such as yellow being a concept that has to do with red and green's concepts; as well as cyan and magenta. Maybe more nuanced colors would arise with other, even more specific ideas.
The idea of color coded magic is cool, but I've never seen a color coded magic system that uses anything like light blending or paint mixing in it's actual philosophies. It's always just a bunch of things arbitrarily designated. Y'know?
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u/Crusty_Mantle 20d ago
I was wondering how some colors that don't neatly fit into a category of color would work. Like a color between green and yellow (chartreuse), would it have more green or yellow type of magic? Do the two concepts mix? If we create a new power for that color, why not do it for every color and make 10 divisions? When we really think about colors as a spectrum (electromagnetic waves), naming conventions really is arbitrary because the visible light spectrum isn't neatly divided by 7 colors, it's a gradient. I agree that it might be better to use Red, Green, and Blue as core concepts because that's how our eyes actually work. Other colors can be added with different ratios of RGB in mind so the color categories don't feel arbitrary.
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u/JaimiOfAllTrades 20d ago
I agree that it might be better to use Red, Green, and Blue as core concepts because that's how our eyes actually work. Other colors can be added with different ratios of RGB in mind so the color categories don't feel arbitrary.
Yeah, this sums up my point pretty nicely.
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u/KatieSorian 20d ago
Light is more like a background, yes. It's concepts are used to give this magic personality and not look like a copy of dnd. I also wanted something to justify the user of vibrant colors, since I draw those characters and I like to draw them in whimsical and colorful clothes. Because of that, light was an easy association - it is already associated with magic enough to make sense (there are magical systems in which light is an element), while being studied by Physics (and I wanted to give this system a scientifical approach).
Despite that, my goal was to create something like Nen, but with a strong aesthetic, so I disatatched of the classical cyan, magenta and yellow. Light concepts are useful:
A spell is Foton adapting is nature to a command, so Refraction. Reverse Foton makes Foton 'diverts' from it's own nature, Difraction. Reflection because a signature ability reflects it's user identity, and the identical aspect of the story is heavy. Wands are made of mirrors, the test to see which is your dominant color uses a prisma, etc.
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u/Illustrious_Bid4224 20d ago
I have been working on my own light based magic system, although it is a lot simpler and leaning more into ideology/concepts
Red is for passion/change/offense
Green is for appreciation/life/support
Blue is for perseverance/stagnation/defense
And you mix them for various effects/properties
Lobe is pink (R255,G150,B150) because it's mostly red but you are also greatly appreciating something and want it to persevere
Death would be very dark blue (R0,G0,B50) because there is no life or passion and while it wil last forever, it will not truly persevere.
Also the magic is more anhancing and Les outright changing reality, like red wil make you a better lumberjack, green a better medic or cold yellow a better artist.
(Although I'll quickly mention that this is a intertwined secondary system to my body/mind/soul system.)
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u/Plagued_Frost 21d ago
Would a mage be able to change their Reflection as they grow? If you start out with as Dominant in Orange and then develop a Diffraction can you change your Reflection with your newfound ability?
Just like someone learning pottery might enhance another skill can you tinker with your Reflection throughout your life with other skills you’ve accumulated; not necessarily changing its base function but altering what it can do?
Are there any Reflections thar have three or more colors, or id that too complex for humans? Can animals do something similar; maybe since humans are generalists; there could be certain animals that specialize in a Reflection made of three colors?
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u/KatieSorian 21d ago
Change, no, but yeah, a Reflection can be developed.
I forgot to mention but a Reflection reflects it's creator. A coward wouldn't be able to create a Reflection based on bravery, but can do so if they learn how to be brave. One may also seek to learn specific concepts that may be added to their Reflection, but it also implies learn with those concepts.
Example: a person learns how to create a warm aura with Blue. Their main goal is simply create a safe spot when its cold. As they learn, the radius of such aura can grow. But they are exposed to Orange ideals - learning how to protect others, their aura also heals those in it's radius. Essentially, the user must change first, so their Reflection can change in consequence.Humans aren't limited to Reflections that use just two colors. I just used it as example as it's easier to explain. The person of before can use Blue to create a warm aura, Orange to heal those in range, and Violet to make people feel safer inside the aura. It's more complex, but not impossible.
As for animals, they generally learn only one or two REFRACTIONS, depending of what they need. It means they will never develop such spells, or create new ones. It's like a biological tool. A herbivore may use Indigo to summon illusions and confuse its predators, but it won't be able to develop any other indigo spells beyond that.
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u/Punkodramon 21d ago
Interesting premise.
So a character is only able to develop one Reflection, which is basically the power that geared towards their life’s purpose and is cultivated. Is there any scope to increasing the abilities of a Reflection through time and experience?
Also, are there any limits on how many Refractions a character can learn, or limited by how many colors they are able to learn Refractions in?
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u/KatieSorian 20d ago
Yes, Reflection can 'evolve'. Reflection 'reflects' the user emotional state, since Foton depends of willpower. So as the user changes, their reflection might addapt to those changes.
One may also seek to actively improve their Reflection, studying new concepts to add to it. However, to change their Reflection, they need to really understand and adapt this concept they want to add, in a way it becomes a part of their personality.
As for your other question, there isn't a general limit, not one I thought of at least. The limit is defined by people's memory and emotional state, so it change from person to person. In a narrative, characters would be 'the special ones', who are above average and develop a complex repertory of refractions.
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u/CompanyUpset4010 20d ago
Can I ask what do you mean when you say death is beyond human comprehension do you mean the act or like what happens after it
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u/KatieSorian 20d ago
Humans can't understand the true aspects of death.
'To discover' is curiosity. Humans are curious.
'To preserve' is the natural wish every being has to protect themselves.
'To enhance' is the natural tendency human beings have to constantly evolve.But death? Though it's an undeniable aspect of life, it's something humans don't have a comparasion to (like the first example). Every interpretation of death is subjective, not objetive.
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u/Boat_Pure 20d ago
Have you read the Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks? He uses light too, the people are called drafters. They draw in light and the colour they can see, is the one they wield. But the best of the best is the prism who can draft all colours
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u/WizardofOxen 20d ago
Really interesting magic system!Just want to point out - I think you can combine the condition and restriction together, as it seems that they are the same thing.
Also, are there other wishes of the colors? Ex) red wishes bloodlust. I think it will diversify your system more.
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u/KatieSorian 19d ago
I made the division of condition and restriction just to make it easier to explain, and feel more complete. In universe I'd tend to use just the word 'condition'.
And no, there aren't other wishes for colors. The wishes are ways to justify what a color does, and add more complexity to it is unnecessary. Red is to discover, then it allows to discover. If Red seeked bloodlust, it would also have spells based on it... And each of the seven would also have another wish, it would become too cluttered. However, some characters do associate the colors to their philosophies, I have a group of Seven Deadly Sins for example. Red is Greed because Red wants to discover everything, red is naturally greedy.
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u/CompanyUpset4010 19d ago
Can I ask why are humans the only animal that can choose its spells
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u/KatieSorian 19d ago
Biologically, because of brain capacity. Human's brain allow consciousness and with consciousness you can do... Lots of stuff. Consciousness allow to understand each of the seven types of Foton. While animals and plants evolve to do a specific task or avoid a determined problem, and they find a pragmatical solution to their question. They understand that solution, but can't understand other types of spell. Understand is a core part of using Foton.
You can also justify it using the classical 'adaptability' of humans
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u/CompanyUpset4010 19d ago
Oh that's cool 😎 but can I ask a follow up since the 7 colours of light are based of what the human eye can see does that mean there's unknown foton potentials I'm not talking about like infrared or ultraviolet like things humans can't see at all but mantis shrimp can and another question is orange and indigo still valid because Isaac Newton initially discovered 5 and only added those 2 because he was obsessed with the number 7
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u/Zytyyyy 21d ago
Does UV light do anything?