You have to believe we are magic

[cyrano]

So, there's a project I'm working on, and I'm trying to develop or borrow or steal a coherent theory of how magic works and what it does, specifically (at first) relating to technomancy.
There was a book, 'Master of the Five Magics', by Lyndon Hardy, and I used to own it and the sequel. If anybody still does, and can tell me what the laws of magic are, I would greatly appreciate it. And hopefully will be able to use it. I immediately remember the Law of Alchemy, which is the Like Begets Like, but that's about it. There's a law about Proximity, and... at least three others. (:

(Alternately, if anybody wants to provide me with a set of laws and structures under which Technomancy functions, please feel free....)

Comments

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

Someone (I think it was Orson Card) said that one of the major defining attributes of your fantasy world is "What is the price of magic?" The theory being that if magic has no price, it will become so freely available that it's not a specialty item anymore - every house will have hot and cold running magic.

I think once you work out what the "price" is, the rest should fall in line. It also gives you leave to alter the system slightly, as time goes on, as long as the central premise stays put.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

This actually might be very helpful.

[gconnor.livejournal.com]

excellent!

Sometimes the price of magic will be painfully obvious, and sometimes it will be a closely guarded secret that not even the basic acoloytes know, but I would imagine anyone advancing beyond the 3rd Test will see it clearly. In some cases it may be possible to hide the true price of magic (or have npc's outright lie about it) and lead the characters to believe the price is measured in something else (or multiple ways to pay)... but sooner or later they will learn the true price :)