I want to apply cool technical innovations to magic.
However, the more I apply engineering principles to magic, the magic system quickly stops being an analogy for real world technology and practically becomes the same thing as the real world equivalent.
For example, when I go down the road of treating magical energy like electricity, before long the magic effectively is electricity.
As far as the audience experience is concerned, there is no difference.
One of the main differences between common fantasy magic and technology is magic is usually exclusive, while technology invariably becomes mass-produced tools.
It’s like in the Incredibles, where the villain Syndrome is planning on mass-producing superhero equipment so everyone can be superheroes.
Magic ability tends to be personal in fantasy.
This is largely due to the magic ability being intrinsic.
In real life, technology is normally extrinsic.
Technology requires a degree of understanding to use, but it requires far less knowledge to use than it does to create.
| Activity | Required knowledge |
|---|---|
| Use | 1 |
| Maintain | 3 |
| Create | 5 |
That is the problem with most implementations of magic knowledge.
In most fantasy settings, only specialists can use magic.
The degree of specialization required to use magic is the degree of specialization which—in the real world—is only needed to invent and manufacture systems, not use them.