Build-A-Magic

[Herzinth]

Exactly what is says on the tin.

I want help creating a magic system for a world. This world I plan on using for several stories and such. In fact, I already have written a few, but I've made sure to be very, very, vague about magic because as of yet I have almost nothing.

Now, what I do have is a very basic idea. That there is a substance (I don't if I want it to be like a crystal [which could be crushed into a powder], or a liquid) that once digested, gives the person magical powers. Because magic comes from such a source, it would be almost completely controlled by the rich and powerful. But besides that, I don't have much. Would the magic be permanent once you've eaten it? Temporary? How would more of the substance be created*? What does the substance look/feel/taste/etc like? What kind of limitations are there on this magic? Can the substance be forged or messed with like that? If so, what happens when combined with certain things?

*One idea I had was that by using the magic, you send the substance out of your body in a sort of ethereal form, where it then slowly coalesces with itself (and other nearby ethereal forms of the substance) and eventually hardens/liquifies. So, for example, if there was a battle in which lots of magic was used, soon you'd find yourself faced with a liberal goldmine of magical potential.

BTW, the world has a current working title of Adentine.

[Hellis]

All the magic shapes are that of a giant phallus. There. Spam can provide you with meaningful input now that a penis is mentioned already.

[Kill Bones]

Effects being temporary could add an addict-esque aspect to it, if that appeals to you.

[Herzinth]

All the magic shapes are that of a giant phallus. There. Spam can provide you with meaningful input now that a penis is mentioned already.

Thank you.
This also prevents the curse of Members Lounge.

- - - Updated - - -

Effects being temporary could add an addict-esque aspect to it, if that appeals to you.

Good point. Though just to clarify: when I say temporary, I mean it goes away when you use it. It would fade on it's own.
That would still get the addict thing going, but just to make sure there isn't any confusion.
(And yes, addict-esque mentality does appeal to me)

[NatsumeHack]

Could it be possible to when a liquid to have paper absorb it, and gain it's powers for quick use.

Say the magic heals, now you got a healing patch.

[Kill Bones]

Good point. Though just to clarify: when I say temporary, I mean it goes away when you use it. It would fade on it's own.
That would still get the addict thing going, but just to make sure there isn't any confusion.

There wasn't, but now there is. I'm desperately trying to figure out what other way someone could interpret that.

[Herzinth]

There wasn't, but now there is. I'm desperately trying to figure out what other way someone could interpret that.

Someone could have interpreted it as: You eat the stuff, gain magic, and then it slowly goes away whether you use it or not.
When I was more thinking it would only go away when you actually do stuff with it.

[Walker of Darkness]

The substance would come in two forms, a liquid would be the 'pure' form, something that can happen(albeit very rarely) in nature and is powerful but not so much as the crystal form. The crystal forms are naturally occurring and almost impossible to manufacture even by use of the the liquid form. This substance is a physical manifestation of the natural magical energies of the world, and through it, the ingester(or just holder for less potent magics) would gain a moderate control of these natural forces. Things such as razing large amounts of ground with a massive fire in minutes instead of hours and snuffing the flames just as quickly, calling great storms and causing the lightning to strike where you will it, freezing over a battleground and forming a wall of ice to shield your own or calling up great gust of wind to deflect a rain of arrows. now these are more extreme examples of the higher magic, but you get the picture.

Now the power would not be permanent, one would have to ingest more of the crystal/liquid in order to regain power or it will simply fade from them as they use it. This also comes with an addiction risk, as with anything that grants power in limited quantities. The more powerhungry are driven to insanity by the nature of the substance and only the strong willed can abstain from it's influence.

As for the "Natural concentration of magic" part, this mean yes, after a massive magical battle, it may form into pools of this liquid substance.

KB beat me to the addict idea, damn you KB!

[Kill Bones]

What can I say, addictive substances are my specialty.

[Rose Swan]

Make it into a pill. Say if you want to be a wizard, Harry, take twice daily for the rest of your life. If you stop the pills, your magic will fade and you can never do it again.