The Campaign Builder's Guild

In my current setting I want to have special powers which are based upon physics (not perfectly straight physics).  I'm planning that different people will refer to the powers as a whole by different names, with most using things line "magic" or "spirit" out of convenience.  But for the scientific community they would want to steer away from anything that had a meaning that would give people the impression that these power might actually be "magic" or the like, so they need other words.  Problem is I can't really think of anything good.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Note: Anything put forward is good.  The point of asking is not to find just one word to describe it but to help me figure out how to come up with words the scientists might use.

"Spooky action at a distance"
'cause it was good enough for Einstein. :P

Scientists would argue semantics for EVER and would probably have specific names for specific phenomena or the causes of broader categories rather than names for a series of phenomena with diverse effects because they all look like magic. I probably stated that poorly.

But if all these phenomena are going to be lumped into the same field, I'd go with...

Applied (whatever) theory. So... applied string theory, applied m theory, applied weak nuclear theory... whatever works. Applied because magic is the study of *implementing* these things, more than the study of the things themselves, (whatever) cause that's what makes it work, theory because they still haven't hammered out the details (you can't really observe string/m/whatever theory in action... only its effects... gravity is only a theory, after all).

Just my 2cp.

Anything put forward is good.  The point of asking is not to find just one word to describe it but to help me figure out how to come up with words the scientists might use.

Additionally, I might ask what kind of science we're talking about... is it high end modern physics? Or is it fictional pseudoscience (like when people borrow outdated old-school scifi tropes such as "ectoplasm" and radiation that causes beneficial mutations instead of death, disease, infertility and the like... or electricity bringing back patchwork dead people)?

If you're less hung up on real physics and more ready to just play with it, I'd go with "applied metaphysics." It's a little bit sciency, with a nod to the paranormal nature of the stuff. Oooh... "paranormal studies" might be another good one too.

Hocatum.

M.

Quote from: beejazzAdditionally, I might ask what kind of science we're talking about... is it high end modern physics? Or is it fictional pseudoscience (like when people borrow outdated old-school scifi tropes such as "ectoplasm" and radiation that causes beneficial mutations instead of death, disease, infertility and the like... or electricity bringing back patchwork dead people)?

A bit of both.  Ectoplasm has too many occult and psionic connotations for me to allow it, but the other two are about what I'm looking for.

Really I'm trying to replace magic with equivalent science without falling in to the trap of "well if humans think this is what should happen then that's what has to happen".  Or something like that.

I actually liked your "applied theory" idea.  It sounds right for what I want while still having enough vagueness that it picks up the left-over mystical vibe. :D

- Periphery ("outer circle") - call it the "path of the left hand" for the more esoteric, periphery amongst scientists
- Physos (Greek physis, 'nature')
- Forcas (based on Formicarius, written to discuss witchcraft in the 14th century)

numenetics/numenology- study of arcane force
Arcanetics- (that ones easy)
Odic force- idea by Reichenbach about a mystical force
Etheric energy/etherology/etherologic/etherics (Aether too if you feel so inclined)
Freud and reich's Orgon, Orgonetics/Orgoneticism
Pranetics/Pranatic force (based on hindu Prana)
Seithetic/Seidetic (norse seid magic)
you could go with the Mantic schools too (Aeromancy/Aeretics, Necromancy/Necretics)

I also like the applied designator, makes it sound less pseudo-scientific (Applied Pranetics)

Those are interesting ways to try and name a scientific study of magic, but they sound very loaded with the kind of meaning I would think might confuse people if they were used.

You could use psychokinetics it's basically a category that lumps together various extraordinary mental powers.

Quote from: The All Knowing WikipediaPsychokinesis is the umbrella term for various related specialty abilities, which may include:

* Telekinesis; movement of matter (micro and macro; move, lift, agitate, vibrate, spin, bend, break, or impact)
* Speed up or slow down the naturally occurring vibrations of atoms in matter to alter temperature, possibly to the point of ignition if combustible (also known as pyrokinesis and cryokinesis respectively).
* Aerokinesis, the telekinetic subspecialty of being able to control the movement of air molecules specifically.
* Hydrokinesis, the telekinetic subspecialty of being able to control the movement of water molecules specifically
* Self levitation (rising in the air unsupported, flying).
* Object deformation (including metal softening and bending).
* Influencing events.
* Biological healing.
* Teleportation (disappearing and reappearing elsewhere).
* Phasing through matter.
* Transmutation of matter.
* Shape-shifting.
* Energy shield (force field).
* Control of magnetism.
* Control of photons (light waves/particles).
* Thoughtform projection (a physically perceived person, animal, creature, object, ghostly entity, etc., created in the mind and projected into three-dimensional space and observable by others).

Quote from: NomadicYou could use psychokinetics it's basically a category that lumps together various extraordinary mental powers.

Mental powers are not based upon physics.

Quote from: SilvercatMoonpaw'¦'¦'¦I want to have special powers which are based upon physics'¦'¦

Quote from: SilvercatMoonpaw

Quote from: NomadicYou could use psychokinetics it's basically a category that lumps together various extraordinary mental powers.

Mental powers are not based upon physics.

Quote from: SilvercatMoonpaw'¦'¦'¦I want to have special powers which are based upon physics'¦'¦

Not necessarily true. However then I am going to have to know how your 'magic' works. If not then there's nothing to go on for naming.

Quote from: NomadicNot necessarily true.

Please explain to me how mental powers have any basis in physics.

Quote from: NomadicHowever then I am going to have to know how your 'magic' works. If not then there's nothing to go on for naming.

Basically it works like that famous saying: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."  Only I substitute the words "weird physics" for "advanced technology".

Thaumaturgy.

Quote from: SilvercatMoonpawPlease explain to me how mental powers have any basis in physics.

In real physics no, but in alternate physics they can. An example would be my Aether system in which synaptic triggering can modify aether in proximity to the firing and thus effect change through it. Aether is just another type of energy, it can be turned into another form of energy or into matter. In fact it is the frequency and type of the electrical firing in the synapses that has an impact on the aether.