Does this magic system make sense? (Pure world building)

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Corvus 501
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Does this magic system make sense? (Pure world building)

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The setting in question is magical/magitec alternant Earth. There are a variaty of powers and abilities that have existed for in the human race (and related species, not to mention some that bear not any relationship to us) for as longer than we have existed. Some in near constant use (psi abilities) others, not so much. Magic, for instance, has seen near constant use, as those who use it tend to survive the collapse of their host civilizations, falling back to enclaves. Alchemy, however, only develops in civilizations who know chemistry well, and enclave dwelling magic users tend to hoard all information on it, meaning that alchemy has been rediscovered many times. As a reasault, it has many reagonal favors. There are several sapient species around, currently, their numbers including (but not limited to):
Neanderthals, highly intelligent hominoids who tend to be high level empaths, with a large number of active psychics. Capable of interbreeding with ordinary humans, they are barely noticed, and are regarded as just another race of humans, like Caucasians, Asians, Africans, or any other racial subtype.

Elves, similarly powerful, and with extreme longevity, they are also capable of interbreeding with humans. They tend to use magic and magi-tech almost exclusively, and are both technologically and magically advanced. They are semi nomadic, using a massive network of gates and ships to move around the galaxy as they wish. Genetic evidence suggests that they may have engineered Terran hominoids for magical abilities, though empathy is a natural ability in us, one that they tend to have trouble replicating. They have the ability to become extremely high functioning sociopaths at will, which is basically any time they get into a fight, or engage in negation. They are a bit allergic to iron, so iron and iron alloy weapons tend to be poisonous to them.

Powers:
Empathy- The ability to "read people". A non psi ability in of itself, caused by an abnormally high number of mirror neurons, and a higher than normal number of neural connections between the part of the brain housing them, and the analysis sections. Most mentalist have it, those who aren't psi. Most empaths have psi abilities as well.
Side effects: greater ability to learn languages than normal, high chances of unlocking psi abilities.
Telepathy: The ability to connect minds through the use of quantum entanglement. Incredibly useful, can be used for anything from FTL commucation to influencing minds. Psychics tend to be nice guys, as they are in the network, and most of them are empaths anyways. Pissing them off ill advised, as you can draw the collective ire of thousands if you push the wrong buttons. The last time that happened, (they stumbled on a death camp/medical testing facility) they leveled the capitol and most of the major cities of the nation responsible, and then hunted down every scientist responsible. Their powers include:
Telekineses- The ability to control atomic and molecular movement on both the micro and macro scale. Subtypes include:

Kinesis- standard macro scale molecular control, ranges from moving around feathers to throwing cars, and stopping bullets.

Pyrokineses- Macro scale molecular control, controlling the vibration, and gas control. Closely related to elemental alchemy, and can be vastly improved by the addition of an oxygen density control array, a CO2 control array, and oxygen cracker arrays, along with the training to use them.
Cryokinesis- same as pyro, but applied differently, and uses different arrays.
(Pure) Telepathic abilities-

Psi Network: information network made up of the psi community. Basically the psychic's version of the Internet.

Psi Illuson- Infiltrating a targets' brain to false implant sensory data and impressions. High level uses are like Genjitsu from Naruto, basic uses are the Unnoticeable effect, and distraction techniques, capable of letting the old "pebble trick" work far better than it should, or the "life of the party" effect.

Psi Battle techniques- Direct psionic influence. Includes techniques like "Knockout" (stunning), "Panic", "Inspire", or "Shutdown"(stops all higher brain functions, temporarily puts one into a coma, or sometimes kills the target)

Foresight: Seeing possible future events. Usually functions as extremely accurate hunches, though most psions can get flashes of possible future events when in deep mediation. Actual seers, on the other hand, see highly likely events in the more distant future.

Alchemy- The art and science of mugging Newton and Kepler to pay Mendeleev. Uses gravitational potential energy, electricity, and chemical potential energy to power chemical changes, using arrays to control the process. When psi abilities are added into the mix, the results are nothing short of magical. Speaking of which, mixing any reality effecting magic with ongoing alchemical processes is a rathe bad idea. Subtypes of alchemy include:

Bio Alchemy- Causing and controlling chemical changes to life forms, as well as controlling energy produced by them (heat and bio electricity, primarily) .This is what "healing magic" really is.

Elemental Alchemy- Standard chemical alchemy, tends to be the easiest form of alchemy to use.
Energy Alchemy- The hardest form to control, as energy tends to disperse, instead of do as it's told.
Alchemists tend to consider themselves to be scientists. As a result, they soon developed auto arrays, (arrays that don't need an alchemist to run, as they run off of electricity, or other forms of energy) allowing them to tell everyone else to "Quit bothering me, I'm working goddammit." Exceptions include military alchemists, who complain like any other soldier, and medical alchemist, who are, after all, doctors.

Magic- An mixture of most of the powers, with a few of it's own thrown in. Specialists in the ability to make illusions (temporarily) real. Types:

Spells- Mostly psi abilities channelled through a focusing device, using a precise formula to control it. It's highly versatile, but most magic users just rely on memorization.
Transfiguration- Illusions cast on the universe. As long as it's got power, and the "spell" doesn't wear off, it stays that way.

Conjugation- "Solid illusions" like in transfiguration, except that it is not cast on an object. Hardest to produce, shortest lasting. Alchemy tends to get better results for a similar amount of training, but enclave bound "magic snobs" tend to use it anyways. The only place where it outperforms alchemy is in producing shields and similar single use objects instantly. An alchemist can bring up a stone wall to block a fireball, or creat a layer of pressurized CO2 as a shield, but a magic user can snap a shield into existence, assumeing they have the power, will, and training.

Every other "magical" ability is just any of the above non magical powers wrapped in a veil of mysticism, and adapted to work with magic. Almost universally considered backwards, the enclaves where many magic users live are stuck in cultural stasis, convinced that the outside world does not know about them. They triditionalists are only tolerated because many leave or are thrown out of the traditionalist enclaves, and the fact that they do provide excellent training for the reality manipulation abilities they hold, leading to a large number of well trained magic users.

Power user types:
Empath- empathy users.
Psion- people who use psi abilities.
Alchemist- Those who use alchemy.
Wizard/Witch- Magic users.
Mage- psions trained in alchemy, usually energy alchemy with some elemental alchemy thrown in.
Healer- Empaths and/or psychics with extensive training in bio alchemy. Multi specialists, able to empathize with their patents far more closely than normal, coupled with the advantages granted by both the psi network and incredible information retention that empaths and psychic individuals share.
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Corvus 501
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Re: Does this magic system make sense? (Pure world building)

Post by Corvus 501 »

Clarification: The reason that conjuration is both harder and shorter lasting than transfiguration is that it's easier to focus on solid objects, imagining and forcing it to change, than to imagine a whole object, as transfiguration can be taken in steps, unlike conjuration. As a reasault, conjuration is usually used to make simple objects, like a pice of rock to block a spell, object, or other effect.
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