Source of Magic : The Elder Scrolls Series Discussion

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:22 am

Kinda like smart phones these days.

I do have a feeling we're only a whisker away from Apple claiming their products contain legitimate magic.

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:47 am

I do have a feeling we're only a whisker away from Apple claiming their products contain legitimate magic.

I truly believe my iPhone is enchanted - or cursed, depending on the day.

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 1:03 am

I do have a feeling we're only a whisker away from Apple claiming their products contain legitimate magic.

Huh. I guess I'll have to remember to pick up a few soul gems if I ever get an iPhone so I can upgrade it. *nods*

» Tue Mar 08, 2011 2:13 pm

It seems that not all magic is the same; notice how the Sigil Stones are seemingly the opposite of Welkynd Stones.

Yes, being too available does somewhat lessen the mystery. Though I think it comes down to shoddy world building. In that respect a low magic setting restricts the possibilities more, thus automatically forcing thoughts about more creative alternatives. But if it's done properly though I don't think it should matter at all.

Has there ever been such a place as a low-magic area in TES? As far as I know, most magic seems to work the same in every plane.

» Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:00 pm

I truly believe my iPhone is enchanted - or cursed, depending on the day.

The first day of the new year always seem to be trouble some. Alarms not working and such.

Has there ever been such a place as a low-magic area in TES? As far as I know, most magic seems to work the same in every plane.

It's a vaguely defined world building concept, not something you actually find in it.

» Tue Mar 08, 2011 11:49 pm

Has there ever been such a place as a low-magic area in TES? As far as I know, most magic seems to work the same in every plane.

It would be interesting to see how Hammerfell treats it; magic would still work the same, but I understand it's seen almost universally as witchcraft there. Should make for an interesting area to be in if you were a sanctioned mage of some kind, avoiding the stake.

» Tue Mar 08, 2011 2:02 pm

There is no magic in the Dawn.

» Tue Mar 08, 2011 4:05 pm

There is no magic in the Dawn.

Equivocation makes nobody look smart.

For the average Tamrielic citizen I bet the world is one of low magic. Most people don't seem too skilled in magic or even really concerned about it. It's only us as high powered adventurers who go exploring every nook of the world that find it such abundance.

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 3:25 am

Magic seems to be inextricably linked with light in the ES world; there is the whole Magnus/Aetherius thing, and when you think of it, Welkynd stones and other random crystals in Ayelied ruins are always light-giving objects.

And the idea of magic being widespread is actually rather subjective. We see Tamriel as the player character, whom is naturally given access to magicka or a high percentage of enchanted items because of gameplay. But that's not to say everyone and their dog can whip out a fireball on command. Why would they need a Mages Guild if this was the case? My view was that magic items are fairly availalble - especially if you have money - but actual innate magical ability is not quite so common as we, the PC, are lead to believe. After all, from a purely gameplay standpoint, how many random NPCs have spells in their arsenal? Not many.

Exactly!
I always say this to people who object to levitation because 'lore does not support everyone whizzing about everywhere.'
(Or other things the player easily does but not NPC's.)
I try to say that the people we play in the games are not common citizens by a long shot.

Isnt there even an NPC who comments on this?
Something along the lines of: 'Its ok for you adventurers, you can just go loot a dungeon. I have no such skills.'"

» Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:20 pm

Equivocation makes nobody look smart.

There is no magic in the Dawn.

Magic is ubiquitous, with the exception being (the Dawn) places under ward - the Temple of the One - and the Numidia field. The knowledge to channel magic through spells is not.

» Wed Mar 09, 2011 1:35 am

Exactly!
I always say this to people who object to levitation because 'lore does not support everyone whizzing about everywhere.'
(Or other things the player easily does but not NPC's.)
I try to say that the people we play in the games are not common citizens by a long shot.

Isnt there even an NPC who comments on this?
Something along the lines of: 'Its ok for you adventurers, you can just go loot a dungeon. I have no such skills.'"

It isn't only the number of people who have trained to use magic, it's the fact that magical items aren't uncommon, that it seems to be a skill that only needs to be learned rather than a natural inclination shared by rare individuals, and the fact that magic and the fantastical in general is so widely accepted and viewed without superstition by the populace.

Certainly not everyone can cast high level destruction spells, but it seems fairly common for at least the upper classes to have spent some time learning minor enchantments or acquiring magic items.

There's nothing wrong with it, and it fits the setting perfectly. I don't think it would work particularly well at all to suddenly decide that the populace would burn people for witchcraft unless they were a sanctioned imperial wizard, and that any magic user was at constant risk of insanity or mutation just for casting a spell. I'd love a game set up like that, just not a TES game set up like that.