Magic System Creation Issues

[Danthemystic he/him]

Recently, I have decided that I want to start my rough draft for a book I want to write. It exists in an epic fantasy setting similar to a D&D setting. I want to create one or multiple magic systems for this story that I want to be unique but at the same time reflect my love of Dungeons & Dragons with their magic system (arcane and divine). I want to make sure it is simple to understand but I want to make sure there are limitations, costs, and weaknesses to how it operates and can be accessed. I've read over Sanderson's Laws of Magic and I think they have helped me create some guidelines for myself but I still don't know where to start. I don't know how much I should add to it before I expand on it more and more. I feel like I'm in the dark on this one. 

[+Invocation]

PM me if you want. Magics are my favorite part of world creation and I'm happy to help you work out a similar-to-DnD system.

[Danthemystic he/him]

5 hours ago, Invocation said:

PM me if you want. Magics are my favorite part of world creation and I'm happy to help you work out a similar-to-DnD system.

Thank you. I’ll do that in a second. 

[Karger he/him]

You should IMO start with "the basics" how many people have magic, how they get it, what having or not having magic indicates and how it effects society at large.

[Ataraxian Wist she/her]

I am totally willing to help with this. Like Invocation, magic is my favorite aspect of worldbuilding, and I LOVE to bounce ideas on it. Feel free to PM me if you still want help!

[Frustration]

I love magic as well, my personal strength in this is on exploits I can usually find ways magic can be cheated for ridiculous gains. My recommendation for a starting point though is moments of inspiration, or just grab ideas and let that evolve into a workable version, or use it for food for thought.

[Xardan Ta'Caran he/him]

I'll chime in here and say that creating a good magic system with proper checks and balances is difficult to say the least.It took my co author and I close to 10 years to finally come up with a magic system that we thought was workable enough to publish. Once you have your magic system in place (even as a rough draft), let me know. I'm not so great at helping design from the ground up, but once there is a design, my specialty is in enhancing what's already there and finding the "plot holes" that typically come along with a rough draft. I'd be happy to help, but definitely go to the other guys while it's still in the design phase.

Edited April 6, 2020 by Xardan Ta'Caran
Couple of typoes. Stupid keyboard.