Magic Systems That Matter: From Core Idea to Thematic Resonance

Whether it’s the languages of Middle Earth or the warring factions of Westeros, worldbuilding is perhaps one of the most beloved components of the fantasy genre. Yet it is perhaps magic systems that cause writers and readers alike the most consternation. Building a magic system that resonates with your character’s arc, your story’s themes and the broader facets of the world is both art and science. I’m excited to share some of the tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way.

This will be a two part series. This month we’ll cover the basics of magic systems, their core ideas, limitations, and how they interact with broader story themes. Next month we’ll dive deep into how magic systems interact with character arc and development so check back soon!

The Seed Crystal Concept

When crafting The Legion of Pneumos, the initial spark was pneuma—a subtle, omnipresent energy connecting all things. Pneuma acts as the breath of life itself and yet is fueled by entropy, the tendency of all systems to trend toward disorder. I believe many magic systems start this way, as a spark of an idea, often without weight or bounds. C.R. Rowenson describes this as a seed crystal, the foundation from which a magic system can grow. In my series, pneuma served as the series’ core concept, from which every magical principle sprouted. Pneuma’s chaotic nature symbolized the perpetual dance between chaos and order, and was a fun nod to my background in medicine and love of science.

In the series, pneuma is harnessed through sound—usually whistles—requiring the wielder to match their energy’s frequency to their target’s. This detail, while grounded in scientific ideas of resonance and wave mechanics, adds an almost mystical layer to the magic. The fundamental idea that even chaos can be directed, though not controlled, became a central theme mirrored in Loren’s tumultuous political landscape.

Takeaway for Writers: Identify an intriguing, foundational concept for your magic and explore how it could manifest in various aspects of your world.

Questions to ask:

What fundamental concept can anchor my magic system and echo my story’s themes?
How can this concept be visualized or embodied in the world’s rules?
What real-world influences (e.g., scientific principles, cultural beliefs) can enrich the magic’s development?

Hard vs. Soft Magic

Brandon Sanderson’s division of hard and soft magic systems provides a useful lens through which to understand magic systems. The idea is that the clearly defined rules of hard magic systems allow for problem-solving within the story, while undefined aspects of soft systems maintain a sense of awe and wonder. C.R Rowenson expands on his idea and places these concepts on a dual axis spectrum while using elements like transference and reliability to adjust how predictable or enigmatic their magic appears

For example, in Patrick Rothfuss’s The Kingkiller Chronicles, his magic system based on naming and sympathy is both rational and mysterious, offering a blend of hard and soft magic. The system’s depth ties closely to the protagonist’s quest for knowledge and power, resonating with the story’s themes of ambition and loss.

In Legion of Pneumos, the mechanics of pneuma manipulation include hard, well-defined rules: cantors must resonate their pneuma to specific frequencies, while grounders anchor and stabilize magical effects. This framework clarifies what pneumonancers can achieve and what risks they face, like being “undone”—a fate where they lose their sense of self and their bodies become husk-like.

Yet, not all is defined. The world contains mysteries, such as Keira’s discovery of healing pneumonancy. This unexpected power adds a touch of soft magic, enhancing the series’ sense of wonder. It’s a delicate balance: too rigid a system would strip away the story’s intrigue, while too flexible a system risks diminishing stakes

Takeaway for Writers: When crafting magic systems, use detailed mechanics for problem-solving and strategic moments, and reserve more nebulous aspects for creating suspense and thematic weight.

Questions for Writers:

Do I need my magic system to solve problems (hard) or evoke awe (soft)?
Which rules should I establish clearly, and where can I allow for ambiguity?
How can the magic’s rules (or lack thereof) influence plot twists and character development?
How does the balance between structure and enigma support my story’s suspense and pacing?

Embracing Limitations

Crafting a compelling magic system is not just about power and grandeur but about defining its boundaries. These limitations are the silent drivers that make magic systems interesting, balanced, and resonant. They contribute to character growth, enhance narrative tension, and echo thematic elements. There’s a reason Brandon Sanderson’s second law of magic is that limitations are more important than powers. Without limitations there can be no stakes.

Whether based in resource restrictions, physical or mental costs, skill and mastery requirements, moral and ethical concerns, dependency on external factors, or the potential for backfires or loss of control, magical limitations are important vehicles for character development, plot progression, and thematic resonance.

In The Legion of Pneumos, Pneumonancy’s greatest strength lies in its inherent risks and restrictions. While cantors possess a far-reaching and potent pneuma, capable of manipulating objects and people from a distance, grounders have a pneuma that is intrinsically tied to their physical body and the earth, making them adept at anchoring themselves and providing stability during pneumonancy.

Without a grounder’s stabilizing influence, cantors risk being unmoored, resulting in dissociation or death. This limitation introduces an un important source of conflict and dependence between characters. Furthermore, pneumonancers of all types can overextend their pneuma, leading to physical and mental collapse, reinforcing the need for strategy and restraint during conflict.

These boundaries create narrative tension and mirror real-world challenges of managing power and responsibility. For Keira, mastering her abilities means understanding these risks intimately, embodying the struggle of imposing order on chaos—a metaphor for the civil war threatening to unravel Loren.

Takeaway for Writers: Ensure your magic system has meaningful costs. These limitations should not only serve as plot devices but reflect larger themes or character journeys to add resonance and depth to your story.

Questions for Writers:

What are the specific costs or dangers associated with my magic system?
How do these limitations push characters into uncomfortable growth?
What metaphors do these limitations offer for the story’s larger themes?
What tangible or intangible costs can I introduce to reinforce these themes?
Are there situations where magic could fail or backfire, adding to the tension?

Magic as a Thematic Mirror

Magic in fantasy stories is more than just a tool or a plot device—it’s an essential element that can mirror and amplify the central themes of a narrative. When well-integrated, it becomes a profound storytelling mechanism that deepens the story’s impact on readers.

In The Earthsea Cycle, Le Guin’s magic system is deeply tied to the theme of balance and true names, reflecting Taoist philosophy. Her exploration of power’s cost and the consequences of imbalance can serve as a model for thematic mirroring in magic systems.

In The Legion of Pneumos, magic isn’t just a tool; it’s a narrative mirror reflecting societal and personal conflicts. Pneumonancy’s central theme—order versus chaos—is woven throughout the series. The Legion itself symbolizes a bulwark against chaos, an institution fighting the inevitable decline mirrored in the civil unrest fracturing the kingdom–even when their methods seem questionable.

Keira’s journey embodies this conflict. Torn between controlling her power and embracing its chaotic nature, she reflects the series’ larger questions: Can true order ever be sustained? What sacrifices are justified to maintain it? These dilemmas play out through the magic’s consequences, where every act of binding pneuma tightens the tension between security and freedom.

Takeaway for Writers: Use your magic system as an extension of your story’s themes. When characters struggle with its use, they should also wrestle with the story’s deeper moral and philosophical questions.

Tips for Integrating Magic with Theme Effectively

Define the Thematic Core Early: When planning your story, decide on the core themes you wish to explore. Is your story about the balance between freedom and control, the pursuit of knowledge, or the cost of ambition? Make sure the magic system supports these themes. In The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, the pursuit of naming magic reflects Kvothe’s search for identity and truth, creating a resonance between the magic and his overarching quest.
Use Symbolism: Incorporate symbolic aspects into the magic system to subtly reinforce themes. In The Earthsea Cycle, Ged’s shadow represents the darker aspects of himself, which he must confront and understand to achieve balance. The magic system’s insistence on true names symbolizes the theme of knowing and embracing one’s true nature.
Create Costs that Reflect Theme: Ensure that the limitations and costs of using magic align with the thematic message. For example, if a story’s theme is the dangers of ambition, the magic might require a personal sacrifice that leaves the user changed or diminished each time it is used. Sanderson’s Mistborn series incorporates this by using metals as fuel, creating a physical resource limitation that reflects themes of power’s finite nature and the consequences of overreaching.
Show Progress Through Magic: As the protagonist evolves, their relationship with magic should change to reflect their growth. In The Cantor and Chaos Looming, Keira’s initial mistrust of relying on her grounder contrasts with her eventual understanding that true strength comes from unity. This progression aligns with the story’s larger theme of interdependence versus isolation.

Questions for Writers:

How does my magic system reflect the main themes of my story?
Are there key moments where magic use parallels a character’s internal conflict?
Does a character’s relationship with magic symbolize their personal growth or highlight their struggles?
Can conflicts around magic reflect larger social or ethical issues in my story’s world?
Are there symbolic elements in the magic that reinforce the story’s message?

Creating a magic system is as much about constraints as possibilities. With pneumonancy, I aimed to craft something that wasn’t just visually captivating but deeply tied to the narrative fabric of The Legion of Pneumos. Whether through C.R. Rowenson’s idea of seed crystals or Sanderson’s hard/soft magic principles, each aspect of your system should resonate with the story you’re telling. For me, that meant exploring chaos and control, both within characters and in the crumbling world they seek to protect.

Final Reflection Questions for Writers:

How does my magic system serve more than a functional purpose?
In what ways does the magic contribute to the emotional and thematic arcs of my story?
How does the protagonist’s mastery (or failure) of the magic signify broader narrative themes?

When crafted with intention, magic transforms from an entertaining gimmick to an integral thread in the fabric of your world, enriching both plot and character in meaningful ways.

So, what story will your magic tell? Share your thoughts below! And check back next month for Part 2 of the series, Magic Systems that Matter: Fueling Character Transformation.