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Benjamin
Benjamin
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It sounds to me like there are two concepts at play in your magic system.

  1. How each type of magic works.
  2. What each type of magic can do.

For example, you've defined a difference between Sorcerers and Witches:

Sorcerers are people whose magic is genetic. A Witch/warlock is a human who learned the art.

This is a difference in (1). How does the magic work (where does the power come from?) However, it is not a difference in (2). You haven't indicated any difference in what the two can do. Witches can fly, and so can Sorcerers.

 

I believe that I know yourYour problem. You've is that you've introduced a lot of types of magic that are extremely similar to each other, but you want them to all be totally unique.

To solve this problem, you'll need to provide strict limits to what each type of magic can do. A common trope of time is the four elements. For example, In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Benders can manipulate air, or water, or earth, or fire, but not more than one. The powers of each type of Bender are clearly delineated.

Or consider Sanderson's Mistborn series. In that series, one type of "caster""allomancer" can temporarily improve his physical strength. Another can enhance his senses. Another can dampen others' emotions. And so on. Each type of "caster" has very specific abilities that the other casters do not have.

It sounds to me like there are two concepts at play in your magic system.

  1. How each type of magic works.
  2. What each type of magic can do.

For example, you've defined a difference between Sorcerers and Witches:

Sorcerers are people whose magic is genetic. A Witch/warlock is a human who learned the art.

This is a difference in (1). How does the magic work (where does the power come from?) However, it is not a difference in (2). You haven't indicated any difference in what the two can do. Witches can fly, and so can Sorcerers.

 

I believe that I know your problem. You've introduced a lot of types of magic that are extremely similar to each other, but you want them to all be totally unique.

To solve this problem, you'll need to provide strict limits to what each type of magic can do. A common trope of time is the four elements. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Benders can manipulate air, or water, or earth, or fire, but not more than one. The powers of each type of Bender are clearly delineated.

Or consider Sanderson's Mistborn series. In that series, one type of "caster" can temporarily improve his physical strength. Another can enhance his senses. Another can dampen others' emotions. And so on. Each type of "caster" has very specific abilities that the other casters do not have.

It sounds to me like there are two concepts at play in your magic system.

  1. How each type of magic works.
  2. What each type of magic can do.

For example, you've defined a difference between Sorcerers and Witches:

Sorcerers are people whose magic is genetic. A Witch/warlock is a human who learned the art.

This is a difference in (1). How does the magic work (where does the power come from?) However, it is not a difference in (2). You haven't indicated any difference in what the two can do. Witches can fly, and so can Sorcerers.

Your problem is that you've introduced a lot of types of magic that are extremely similar to each other, but you want them to all be totally unique.

To solve this problem, you'll need to provide strict limits to what each type of magic can do. A common trope is the four elements. For example, In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Benders can manipulate air, or water, or earth, or fire, but not more than one. The powers of each type of Bender are clearly delineated.

Or consider Sanderson's Mistborn series. In that series, one type of "allomancer" can temporarily improve his physical strength. Another can enhance his senses. Another can dampen others' emotions. And so on. Each type of "caster" has very specific abilities that the other casters do not have.

Source Link
Benjamin
Benjamin
  • 221
  • 1
  • 4

It sounds to me like there are two concepts at play in your magic system.

  1. How each type of magic works.
  2. What each type of magic can do.

For example, you've defined a difference between Sorcerers and Witches:

Sorcerers are people whose magic is genetic. A Witch/warlock is a human who learned the art.

This is a difference in (1). How does the magic work (where does the power come from?) However, it is not a difference in (2). You haven't indicated any difference in what the two can do. Witches can fly, and so can Sorcerers.

I believe that I know your problem. You've introduced a lot of types of magic that are extremely similar to each other, but you want them to all be totally unique.

To solve this problem, you'll need to provide strict limits to what each type of magic can do. A common trope of time is the four elements. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Benders can manipulate air, or water, or earth, or fire, but not more than one. The powers of each type of Bender are clearly delineated.

Or consider Sanderson's Mistborn series. In that series, one type of "caster" can temporarily improve his physical strength. Another can enhance his senses. Another can dampen others' emotions. And so on. Each type of "caster" has very specific abilities that the other casters do not have.