Lunarhade

When I first read the first three systems I got a strong sense of ley lines, location-based magic which used preexisting paths. So I more interpreted the ability to "read" an object as the ability to see lines connecting that object to other things instead of concepts it is associated to in the manner of Shadesmar from Stormlight. This would make for a great detective tool, for example, a weapon as you described could link to a stain of blood in another room, or if its ceremonial, it could lead to another part of the regalia its part of (the scabbard) or even the family's house. In the same manner, a forgetter and transformer can alter these links, erase, or create new ones. In the same style as Emperor's Soul, the less probable the link is the harder the transformation. I guess I'm saying the essence of things could extend beyond them in these lines to places and things (even people) connected to other things.

Hi all, So I have a question I'm curious to know different perspectives on. How do you Brainstorm? I'm a prose writer so I don't know how different it would be for other mediums, but I imagine every creative person has to brainstorm in some way. If not brainstorming, then where do you garner inspiration. I'm talking about something other than the basics like music and other works. When you're trying to create something new is there any place (website, physical location, ect.) you go to in order to get new ideas. Originality does not exist in a conventional sense right, its mixing and reinventing, but where do you get your foundation?

Hey, so this was posted a while ago and I figure you've made changes since then, but I'm new around here and I've been looking around and stumble across this. I'm very much invested (no pun intended) in the exercise of creating magic systems. I'm also trying to build a number of magic systems for different projects and I've struggled to get any single one to be fully fleshed out like I wanted it to. I bring this up because one of the things I struggle with most is trying to avoid things seeming arbitrary; however, my first thoughts while reading your pdf was that although I don't know the basis for the magic or the world context around it, there were certain abilities that really worked together to create a cohesion that easily allowed me to suspend disbelief. I am specifically talking about Pathfinders, Gatekeeper, Locksmith. The theme of doorways, location, and paths is a very strong one. I'd say those are the standouts. I was a little confused on what exactly where the Four Pillars. In my brain I started to group things together, which I've found is a great way to avoid arbitrariness. I started to think of the three systems formally mentioned as the Location Pillar, meanwhile Scavanger, Thief, and Manipulator where Energy (dealing with the powers and energy of other things), then Peerer, Seer, Perciever, Weakeners, and Forgetters all had to do with sight and perception of things. Then we had actually changing items with magic. You do a good job of grouping the systems in these internal subgroups, but I don't yet see an umbrella that pulls all the different abilities together. At first, I thought about location being the lynchpin. This works really well for the first three systems but doesn't include the powers dealing with other people's powers and energy. Some of the perception ones do align with the location lynchpin but also are able to alter people and things. Same deal with Transformation. Overall, my thoughts are that you have the right pieces, you just need to organize them differently. Perhaps even create more limitations surrounding a shared property, which all the magic interact with, or maybe just groups of them. Think Stormlight, the lynchpin for all the systems are (mostly) natural forces. But you can also pull a Mistborn and have multiple lynchpins in the organization (internal, external) and a series of categories. I think perhaps you're leaning more towards the Mistborn route but I think it could work both ways. You could even completely separate magic systems so there is less pressure to make certain powers work in cohesion with others.

First of all, thank you very much for taking the time to respond, This is kind of what I was worried about, energy is too intangible to treat the way I want to treat it with the magitech. I wanted to stray away from manipulating forces as not to stride too close to Stormlight, but I recognize Brandon chose them for a reason. I imagine things would be easier if I changed the scope of the nanotech to manipulate forces directly, but perhaps not. As I understand it you are saying it is not the combination of potential and kinetic that makes things fall, those are just the properties we label things being acted upon forces that do make things fall. For the thought experiment (assuming we ignore the weirdness of a force being transformed into light) could I justifiable say the force of gravity on the system is being siphoned away, thus weightlessness? What you said about matter requiring energy. With this system, I imagined also that I could transform light into kinetic energy. For example, a gun which works by transferring absorbed light from a ring on the outside of the gun into the base of the bullet made of the same magical material, thus allowing for it to be propelled? If true, then this could potentially be the solution to levitation, as the thing that counters gravity like drag does on planes. PS For context magitech's source stems from an interdimensional species who for all intents and purposes are gods. The people of this universe stole and then forgot much of what that species could do. So basically a lot of the time they are hijacking technology they don't understand and that's how I balance the fact it is God-like. PSS Thank you again, I have been starved for people willing to have conversations like these, its why I finally took the plunge and joined on here.

Hi, very new, not sure at all if I'm doing this right, but reading through some of the questions and responses on here I realized these are the kind of conversations I've been craving but lack science people in my life. So @Glamdring804 I have a question I would love to get a physics perspective on if it's not too much trouble. In one of my stories, there is a kind of magical nanotechnology capable of synthesizing any one kind of energy from light and also the inverse (produce light by siphoning any one kind of energy). This material is so efficient that for all intents and purposes it breaks the laws of thermodynamics (very slow entropy). One of the chief aims of this magitech is to allow for suspension. On cursory inspection, it makes sense to me that potential gravitational energy being converted almost instantly into light before it can become kinetic energy could create suspension. I want to know, does that make enough sense that it wouldn't nag at you? Does your brain do what my brain did and realize that potential gravitational energy is not as tangible let's say heat, which as I understand it is a result of particles bumping into one another. The problem arises when I see potential gravitational energy, in essense, as no different than the earth creating kinetic energy through gravity. And I want to have ships capable of flight with this magitech, which raises the question: if the kinetic energy (from the planet's gravity) of the system is being turned into light, then it would stand to reason that any other source of kinetic energy (engines, wind) would also be absorbed by the material before it can result in movement. A flying ship that can't move forward is a problem. Is there a loophole in physics? A different way to think of energy that could allow me to justify a suspended object's gravitational potential being canceled out but still being able to be propelled around?

Hello all, I recently joined the forum and very recently began skulking around here as I hear this is the place where the writing gets done. I thought since I'm painfully new at this, that I should introduce myself as I try to fully engage with this crazy world of internet community. As this seems the place for more general discussion I figured I would put this here. Hi! I'm Lunarhade (I pronounce it like the ade part of Gatorade with an h sound. I can't tell you how or why that name happened) I'm a senior in college, live in the U.S, and have been a fan of Brandon's work for about four years now. The reason I took the plunge and created an account on here (aside from the fact you all seem super friendly) even though I've never done anything like this was that ever since I read Mistborn (my first Sanderson experience) I've been redefining what I want to write. As a result, whenever I attempted to get advice or have something workshopped, I often have to explain the foundation of what I enjoyed reading because I don't know anyone who reads Epic Fantasy, let alone Sanderson. I'm hoping that here, with a common foundation, I can share and learn with and from you undoubtedly talented people, and hopefully return the favour in kind. Cheers, P.S Apologies if this is was awkward. I'm bad at initially picking up social more.

Archer, that's the hope, My favourite book has to be either Mistborn because it was my first, or Oathbringer because Stormlight keeps getting better with age. Faceless Mist-Wraith, good question. I have read pretty much everything in the Cosmere except I haven't finished White Sand. Brandon's work taught me the kind of writing I want to strive for which means for research purposes I've read as much as I could. I've also read some of his non-Cosmere work, like Reckoners series Also, to all of you, thank you for a warm welcome.

Hi ElephantEarwax, I would love to be inducted cult style "My life to yours, my Breath become yours." (I always knew I'd sell my soul for a cookie). As for my favourite character. I don't know if I can say an overall character in all the Cosmere. There is a soft spot in my heart for Breeze so I'll go with that.

Hi all, I wanted to introduce myself as that seems to be the decorum. I'm a nerd, gamer, reader, and writer, so precisely the 17th Shard's demographic. I apologize in advance if I come across... let's say clunky. As the Title suggests, I am a true beginner at basically anything resembling this. I've never used the internet to connect with people (one of its proclaimed most popular applications). I find most corners of the internet disagreeable. However, I have been a big fan of the Cosmere for a few years now and I thought if I were to dip my toe into somewhere, it would be here: with people who hopefully share my interests. I hope to share and discuss with fellow fans on here. I'm particularly interested in talking about writing. I often find myself having to explain to people what I'm going for when I write epic fantasy (even more specifically when I tell them about Hard Magic systems), so I'm hoping it'll be a breath of fresh air to have discussions with a shared foundation such as Brandon's work. Anyway, I ramble. Greetings to all, Lunarhade