So, I've been doing some mulling over in my mind, and I was wondering: "What it is that allows certain people to use magic?"

I understand that the stars and the sun give off magic and that's where they get the Magic to use.

What I don't understand is... does Magical Talent come from your birthsign/race?


The Altmer are probably the most likely to have Magical Talent, and the Redguards are probably the least likely. Those born under the sign of the Mage, Apprentice, Ritual, and Atronach will almost definately be Magically talented (with the last three being Charges of the Mage, and all). But is that all there is to it? Race and Birthsign?

What I really want to know: Is are there special people who can use magic or does anybody have the ability to learn how to use magic?

Thank you for reading.

I'm sure talent can come similar to things in the real world, practice and learning from those with the talent.

So it's just one of those things that some people "get", some people can learn, and other have trouble understanding the principles of?

In TES universe everybody can learn how to use magic.
Some races are more adept to use of magic than other.
For every skill/occupation/trade you can find exceptional individuals who excel in it and have natural talent, same goes for magic.
Conclusion: combination of racial traits, favorable birth sign and talent are good foundation, but magic usage is a skill which must be practiced and learned.

Those exceptionally talented with proper education and practice will become powerful wizards and those of mediocre abilities can learn simple spells from guild or trainers. It is the same as with any other trade or skill.



edit:
Bleeeh, he was faster.

You cast spells by wiggling your fingers and saying words. That's how scrolls work. You don't need to remember all these words and actions when they're written down (though, I have no idea why they diappear). Magical talent simply comes from being able to remember what to do.

My speculated guess is that each school requires completely different sets of words. For example, Destruction spells would all have similar words, with slight differences for different spells, whereas Illusion spells would have a completely different set of words, with the same pattern. It's almost like speaking two different languages, hence why each school requires you to remember different words and movements.

Oh, and I don't believe all spells are a simple 5 word chant. The more powerful spells may require quite the essay. Perhaps speaking quicker plays a part, too, cconsidering you cast spells at the same speed? That may just be game mechanics, though.

"Saying" spells could be something interesting. It could make the selection of different spells something more tactical than just "this one does more damage", and it could make you say F*** YEAH when you cast some hard spells. But that would make our character to talk with a voice that probably won't fit him/her. Bethesda should make the voice of your character changeable.

Think of it as artistic talent in the real world. Can everyone theoretically draw? Yes. Can everyone draw well? Hell no. You can certainly learn to draw well if you don't have the predisposition, but its going to be harder. Likewise, you don't have to become an artist if you have the talent.

I'm really skeptical when it comes to race having anything to do with magical talent. The Altmer probably breed for it, so they will have more, but the other races don't particularly care either way. There might be a minor improvement in genetic factors based on ones family, but I don't think that looking a specific way makes you more able to use magic. The stats more likely represent the likelihood of someone of the race being a mage (Bretons have more magic users per capita than Redguards, for instance) combined with your characters likelyhood of being good in magic, rather than the intrinsic ability of a race to cast spells.

Art history is full of white dudes. Does that mean that I'm more likely to be an awesome artist because I'm white?

Well, about the speaking thing... The lore & books suggest it's more to do with a thought process and utilizing magicka to get what you want to happen. I made a big post about the thought processes needed a while ago, based on the "skill books" of various games. For instance, an illusionist woman mentioned that Illusion is really about changing the perception of a target without actually changing it at all, while a person who was skilled in Alteration who was teaching a student told him to basically believe the unbelievable to get it to work well.


Very good way of putting it! Thank you.

Also, I remember that Bretons have the particular trait of being very good abstract thinkers, which would explain why they'd be particularly able to use stuff like Restoration, Mysticism, Conjuration, and Alteration.

Well, I'd say Lady Nerevar hit the nail on the head.