[ooc]By far the most common type of magic (relative to other kinds that is; in general magic is far from common) in my Savage Age is alchemy. It is based on manipulating the Elements that make up the physical reality. That's pretty standard fantasy fare, but I do not like the old 4/5-element systems that most published settings use. So I created my own system, with no less than 7 different Elements in it.[/ooc]
Everything in the world encompasses, to varying degrees, the seven basic Elements: Earth, Fire, Air, Water, Wood, Metal and Aether. Each Element is allied with two other Elements, opposed against two others, and neutral toward two others. The mutual alignments of the Elements can be represented as a heptagram:
[note]Together the Elements form a fundamental aspect of reality. From them spring the tangible qualities of existence: substance and force. However, in and of themselves they do not possess any structure or order - the intangible qualities of existence. For the Cosmos to be more than a mass of random matter, the Elements must be bound and controlled by the other fundamental aspect of reality: Pattern.[/note]
(http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8787/7elementszk9.png)
[table=The Seven Elements]
[tr][td]Element[/td][td]Allied[/td][td]Neutral[/td][td]Opposed[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Fire[/td][td]Metal, Aether[/td][td]Earth, Air[/td][td]Wood, Water[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Metal[/td][td]Earth, Fire[/td][td]Aether, Water[/td][td]Wood, Air[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Earth[/td][td]Water, Metal[/td][td]Wood, Fire[/td][td]Air, Aether[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Water[/td][td]Wood, Earth[/td][td]Air, Metal[/td][td]Fire, Aether[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Wood[/td][td]Air, Water[/td][td]Aether, Earth[/td][td]Fire, Metal[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Air[/td][td]Aether, Wood[/td][td]Water, Fire[/td][td]Earth, Metal[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Aether[/td][td]Fire, Air[/td][td]Metal, Wood[/td][td]Earth, Water[/td][/tr]
[/table]
In addition to being the building blocks of the physical world, the Elements also have more mystical qualities. They are associated with concepts and traits, which are used to explain many curious effects that alchemical reagents can have on living beings.
(http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/6771/firewz3.png) FIRE is a hungry, intense Element. It is associated with strength, emotion, and change.
(http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4816/metalyr2.png) METAL is a stark, vigorous Element. It is associated with focus, willpower and potential.
(http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4958/earthji5.png) EARTH is a static, monolithic Element. It is associated with endurance, determination and fertility.
(http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6375/watermw3.png) WATER is an enigmatic, amorphous Element. It is associated with flexibility, intellect and momentum.
(http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/4665/woodij2.png) WOOD is a steady, progressive Element. It is associated with vitality, patience and purity.
(http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/5121/airau8.png) AIR is an aloof, dynamic Element. It is associated with speed, creativity and confidence.
(http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/3368/aetherav4.png) AETHER is a radiant, energetic Element. It is associated with power, wisdom and clarity.
First off let me say, I love all the pictures! They're very flavorful and, well, cool! :)
I can't say much else but its definitely a cool system and I can't wait to read more!
Well, these symbols are very exciting. I like the incorporation of the faerie star (the heptagram) into the design, and the way the symbols look fresh, but still look as if they could be something ancient.
But I have a question/concern/whatever. Have you looked into historical alchemy? I ask because of the motion in alchemy towards something a bit closer in spirit to our modern periodic table (with the elements beind Salt, Sulfer, and the other one that I'm blanking on) I was wondering if you intended to reconcile some of these differences, or if you were building a new alchemy unrelated to that we know of in our world?
I basically looked into ideas about elements in different cultures and decided to combine the ones I liked. I'm not trying to use historical alchemy as a model, although I'm not adverse to drawing inspiration from it. As long as I end up with a system that fits the feel of the setting and has some twists to it, I'll be happy with it.
This kinda reminds me of the Chinese Elemental Zodiac. The visuals are fantastic, extremely good looking. I look forward to how this is going to develop. Now out of curiosity, is this going to purely fluff? Or will there be some crunch involved?
It's kind of too bad you aren't going to have a lot of spell-slinging mages in your setting (are you going to have any?) because I could definitely see those elemental symbols glowing around them when they cast.
Are there alchemical specialists? If so I would probably be a water type. Also it seems to me that each element is opposed to one thing it can easily beat and one thing that can easily beat it. ex. fire can burn wood, but is put out by water.
The only thing I'm not 100% thrilled with is your placement of aether as "just another element". Traditionally, aether (or void) act as elements outside the normal structure. I'm probably being a little hung up on tradition.
I do like your way of having related elements and opposing elements. It reminds me of the mana types in Magic.
And I too love the art. Are you a designer?
I won't be going very deep into alchemy in this thread, as this is simply about the Elements themselves.
My treatment of Aether is an intentional deviation. I thought about using a different name for this element, but Aether has a nice ring to it and a new take on an old concept can be refreshing.
I made the symbols in Inkscape. Most of them are based on real world decoration elements. For example, the wood symbol is a palmette, and the air symbol was inspired by celtic spiral designs.
Quote from: GhostmanI won't be going very deep into alchemy in this thread, as this is simply about the Elements themselves.
My treatment of Aether is an intentional deviation. I thought about using a different name for this element, but Aether has a nice ring to it and a new take on an old concept can be refreshing.
I made the symbols in Inkscape. Most of them are based on real world decoration elements. For example, the wood symbol is a palmette, and the air symbol was inspired by celtic spiral designs.
I noticed that about the symbols, particularly air. Wood also resembles the Egyptian lotus flower depictions I've seen. Aether looks like it COULD have been an ancient symbol. Or almost does, anyway. The exact shape of the flares along the outside throws me on that a bit, but it's not impossible, and in any case still looks to be
inspired by those kinds of designs.
Very nice. Like everyone else, I like the diagram; it's crisp.
I'm intrigued by your inclusion of Earth and Metal and Wood. I know Metal and Wood are the Chinese equivalent of "non-living" Earth and "living" Earth, but what is your take on their distinctions having included all three?
I, too, included Aether as an element in my current setting (Wake), but I have only 5 elements (Western 4 + Aether).
Gosh, maybe I should include my thoughts on my non-traditional elements here.
Wood in this system is a different thing from earth, though it grows out of it. Earth is not living although it is fertile: even a desert could turn into a garden with enough irrigation. Metal is a more pure, 'noble' element, unfertile but having more malleable and flexible aspects, as well as liquid (mercury).
I like this setup for the most part. The parallels to Magic: the Gathering's color wheel are promising but not confining. You could even go so far as to use personal elements like alignment or MtG color, reflecting one's ideals in a way that could matter for magical purposes.
Quote from: Gnomish CheetosAre there alchemical specialists? If so I would probably be a water type. Also it seems to me that each element is opposed to one thing it can easily beat and one thing that can easily beat it. ex. fire can burn wood, but is put out by water.
I agree, though I don't really like how metal seems to be the odd one out here, seemingly able to easily best both its opposing elements - or, if it can beat air, then air is an annoying odd one out in that it's "easier to beat" than the others.