[Torg] The Ages of Magic (Magic Axiom, 3 of 9)

[Jones Jasyn]

The Ages of Magic

Though each magic system revolves around magic’s Fundamental Principle, not all of them work the same. Some forms of magic are precise and controllable, others obscure and imprecise, and some are mere superstitions. Magic is sometimes weak and unpredictable, and at other times is is powerful and exacting.  

These disparities make it seem as if devising an overarching scheme for magic is impossible. It isn’t, for behind all of these differences there is a discernible order to magic, a path to its development from something weak and difficult to control to something powerful and easy to control.

This path—which underlies the Magic axiom—can be broken up into five separate stages, the Ages of Magic.

The Age of Superstition

At low Axiom levels, magic is unknowable, uncontrollable, and unreliable. It manifests as good and bad luck, superstitions, good luck charms, omens, fortunetelling, and curses. Folklore and superstitions are the only source of magical knowledge.  

The Age of Mysticism

Mystic magic is obscure, ritualized, undependable, and limited in effect. It is difficult to discern the principles of mystical magics, and comprehensive, well-understood systems of magic are unknown. Magical learning is taught by tradition, as rituals handed down from person to person. New rituals may be unearthed from time to time, but this is a haphazard process of trial and error.

The Age of Arcana

Arcane magic is specialized, controllable, and exacting. The principles of magic are known and understood, allowing for a comprehensive body of magical knowledge. This body of knowledge allows spells to be created and used, but only with intense study. This limits spellcasting to specialists, variously referred to as sorcerers, wizards, magicians, mages, and so forth. Magic can be dramatic and powerful, and can have a great deal of impact on the daily lives of many.

The Age of Mastery

Magic is no longer an esoteric discipline, it is a ubiquitous tool that anyone can use. Common people can learn cantrips, minor spells of great utility, and mages can learn spell formulae, allowing them to surpass the rigid restrictions of spells. The fundamental essence of magic has been identified, and mages can use magic more flexibly than ever before. Innate magics, or talents, are possible, meaning some can work magic because it is a part of who they are.

The Age of Myth

Magic can be worked by the pure application of desire: magicians can wish for something and it happens. At the apotheosis of the axiom, anyone can use wish magic, and everyone does.

These five Ages form the backbone of the Magic axiom, and define the path it takes. Nearly all systems of magic, from fiction, the real world, or other games, can be placed into this progression somewhere.

Jasyn Jones
jasynj (at) gmail (dot) com

"To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
Ulysses, Alfred Lord Tennyson

Check out my Torg webpage, Storm Knights:

darleyconsulting.com/games/stormknights/