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The workings of Magic
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Mantyluoto



Joined: 21 Sep 2005
Posts: 573
Location: Somerset, UK

PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:52 pm    Post subject: The workings of Magic Reply with quote

James, when you designed the magic system for the world of Balaia did you design it fully before you started writing or did you make it up as you went along?
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James
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Joined: 26 Aug 2004
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Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

AS with most things, it was a bit of both. I had defined parameters... colleges with distinct lores and spell books, the use of stamina to limit the power of a mage, the time and risk of big spells etc. I also had plenty of spells worked out in terms of effect, difficulty, stamina drainage.

But by no means all. I developed heaps of new spells as the books and situations demanded them. The only key criterion was that no spell could suddenly turn up unannounced as a get-out for a deadly situation. Magic, as Ilkar points out more than once, can't do everything.

As for the whole dimensional magics thing, that appeared only in planning for the second trilogy and the full suite of spells was developed specifically for Demonstorm.
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Mantyluoto



Joined: 21 Sep 2005
Posts: 573
Location: Somerset, UK

PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So how many beers is it going to take to persuade you to publish it all?

cant blame a guy for asking
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DeathJunior



Joined: 20 Oct 2006
Posts: 177
Location: Louth, England

PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A spell book of Belaia spells? ooh
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Mantyluoto



Joined: 21 Sep 2005
Posts: 573
Location: Somerset, UK

PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

when i was reading the books i started recording the names of the spells but its the descriptions and the workings of the magic system that i want to explore. thats the Gamer in me coming out.
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Selik



Joined: 20 Jan 2005
Posts: 1524
Location: South Shields

PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wouldn't say no to a copy of that myself if it were ever to appear Razz
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James
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Joined: 26 Aug 2004
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Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well you know what they say.... never say never. And it would be a neat companion if it was joined with stuff about lore, the Baronial system, rules of trade combat etc...

I'll think about it.
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Mantyluoto



Joined: 21 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thats all i can ask.

Thank you
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Mantyluoto



Joined: 21 Sep 2005
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Location: Somerset, UK

PostPosted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 7:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

maps.... don't forget maps Very Happy
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Malop



Joined: 14 Aug 2005
Posts: 205
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was just wondering how much the magic system in the books compares to the system you used in the roleplaying games you played James?
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Mantyluoto



Joined: 21 Sep 2005
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Location: Somerset, UK

PostPosted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Malop wrote:
I was just wondering how much the magic system in the books compares to the system you used in the roleplaying games you played James?
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James
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not too far distant, malop. What I liked about the DragonQuest system was stamina depletion, the chance of it all going wrong and the idea that preparation length had a direct influence on potential result. As I've said before, I think magic needs to be flawed or it becomes too powerful a force. These are good flaws...
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Mantyluoto



Joined: 21 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can see sales of the Dragonquest game hitting an all time high now!
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Lizzy



Joined: 02 May 2005
Posts: 674
Location: the wilds of the West

PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

One of the things I have come to appreciate about your writing James, is the way you explain how the magic works in your books. Some fantasy books just seem to say 'he cast a spell and....' without fully developing the way the magic functions or is controlled etc.

It makes your books an all the more rich and real read. Cool
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James
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tragically it is no longer on sale. Bought by a competitor and killed, so far as I know.

Thanks Lizzy Very Happy
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