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This week we are going to be getting into some more magical mechanics in my worldbuilding. Namely, the nitty gritty of how people interact with magic and cast spells.There’s really no one way to cast a spell in the fantasy genre. But there are a few ways that set the standard. It could be through words or it could be silent. It might be through elaborate actions or simple ones. Perhaps you don’t need an action at all. Maybe it’s all about the ingredients, the physical things you put together to create a magical reaction. It’s not even uncommon for it to be a combination of all three! Or any combination really.

Using magic, or spellcasting, has been around for all of recorded history in WIPworld but only now are they discovering what that actually means. If our setting is the magical equivalent of the industrial revolution then we are in an era of growth in spellcasting.

So, how do you actually cast a spell? I had to start thinking about a mental process that would represent this connection to magic. Basically, I determined that in order to cast a spell, you must have to be able to conjure that effect in your mind’s eye. Then that mental picture could be manifested by magical energy in reality. So, you think it into existence. I also think it’s definitely possible for more than one person to participate in casting a single spell. As in, you could help or join in. I think, given everything we’ve just spoken about, there’d be great cultural implications to spellcasting.

For the interactive part, visit haydenrodgers.net/killmydarlings. Find the blog for the episode you just listened to. Read the summary if you forgot what you just listened to. Help me clarify my ideas with your feedback in the comments section. I’ll try and respond to everything - it’ll be great for procrastinating the actual writing. Join a cute community of like-minded fantasy adventure-loving nerds by following all the accounts and things.

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