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 user experience is concerned, there is no difference.
I want the magic systems to be right in the middle between familiar and foreign.
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.
In Ghostbusters, the main characters invent revolutionary ghost-capturing technology.
So what do they do? Start a service business where they are the only providers of that service in the world.
Never once is it suggested that they start a business to mass produce the technology.
There’s an implicit elitism in the scenario. The Ghostbusters can provide a service no one else in the world can.
In reality, people cannot invent such technology in a vacuum and remain ahead of the world for any significant period of time.
Reality is more competitive.
However, the Ghostbusters premise succeeds in part because it never gets near any of those questions.
Ghostbusters is a lighthearted, silly comedy. It succeeds in suspending disbelief about the business situation and then has fun with the exclusivity of the Ghostbusters’ role.