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Unreliable Magic - Is it worth it?
Would a culture with magic consider it magic?Impact of my magic system on technological developmentHow to balance magic?Plausible way to explain magicIs my magic system unreliable enough to allow for technological advancement?How do I use weird bouncing magic to power my society?Going from Magic to TechnologyUnreliable magic and technologyTattoo barcodes: are they worth the hassle?Designing a constrained spell-crafting system for the modern world
$begingroup$
In my world, magic is unavoidably unreliable, for example:
You have a puncture. You cast a spell to mend it and with equal probability either it is mended or another tire is punctured.
You are trying to save an injured person. You cast a spell. Either they are saved or you kill them.
Question
It seems to me that such a magic is completely worthless. Can anyone prove me wrong by suggesting a case where both the intended result of a spell and its opposite would both be advantageous?
Note
There is no way to make magic more reliable. It is just a fact.
reality-check magic
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In my world, magic is unavoidably unreliable, for example:
You have a puncture. You cast a spell to mend it and with equal probability either it is mended or another tire is punctured.
You are trying to save an injured person. You cast a spell. Either they are saved or you kill them.
Question
It seems to me that such a magic is completely worthless. Can anyone prove me wrong by suggesting a case where both the intended result of a spell and its opposite would both be advantageous?
Note
There is no way to make magic more reliable. It is just a fact.
reality-check magic
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In my world, magic is unavoidably unreliable, for example:
You have a puncture. You cast a spell to mend it and with equal probability either it is mended or another tire is punctured.
You are trying to save an injured person. You cast a spell. Either they are saved or you kill them.
Question
It seems to me that such a magic is completely worthless. Can anyone prove me wrong by suggesting a case where both the intended result of a spell and its opposite would both be advantageous?
Note
There is no way to make magic more reliable. It is just a fact.
reality-check magic
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
$endgroup$
In my world, magic is unavoidably unreliable, for example:
You have a puncture. You cast a spell to mend it and with equal probability either it is mended or another tire is punctured.
You are trying to save an injured person. You cast a spell. Either they are saved or you kill them.
Question
It seems to me that such a magic is completely worthless. Can anyone prove me wrong by suggesting a case where both the intended result of a spell and its opposite would both be advantageous?
Note
There is no way to make magic more reliable. It is just a fact.
reality-check magic
reality-check magic
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
edited 1 hour ago
chasly from UK
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
18.7k779169
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Sure, it's worth it in many cases.
For instance, if your car is stranded in the middle of the wilderness due to a tire puncture, using magic to try and mend it would be reasonable. In this situation, the car having two punctured tires isn't any worst than if it only has one. You'll still have to make your way to civilisation on foot either way. On the other hand, in the best case scenario (50% chance, so it's not even unlikely) it'll be repaired and you can complete your journey within the comfort of your automobile.
Many similar examples can be thought of in the case of an injured person. Let's say one of your battle compatriots has been injured and you're about the be surrounded by the enemy who you know will show you no mercy. Well, then it makes perfect sense for you to attempt to cure him. Either he will recover and perhaps help your group stand a better chance against your foes, or he will die by magic instead of by the hacking and piercing of steel.
There are all sorts of times where a partly broken object or person is no more useful than a very broken object or person. It's times like these that magic comes in handy.
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,59652554
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
It's also the case that it hardly matters, think of all the millions of individuals and companies who have invested significant resources in IT 'time saving' devices and etc and then spent all the time they might have saved learning how to use it or fixing problems with it, when a type writer and filing system would have cost less...yet they persevered into bankruptcy.. Society benefits from those early adopters, but not necessarily the early adopters themselves. There's always plenty of people willing to try the shortcut or 'great leap forward'...or lottery ticket
$endgroup$
– Giu Piete
16 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Such a magic would be useful for those situations where you are not too concerned with the immediate outcome but rather the consequences of those actions.
Rough example. There is a war. You don't particulary care who wins but you want the ceaseless fighting and killing to end. So you cast your magic on one side to win. Either they win or they lose...but the war is over! (And if the magic did nothing...try again)
You have to trick the magic into giving you the real end result you want.
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Relevant username...
$endgroup$
– Scott Milner
20 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I suppose this depends if your 'opposite effect' is predictable. In combat you may, for example, try to fireball an enemy, or maybe throw them into the air; you may not necessarily be concerned if they end up frozen or pinned to the ground instead. But you may not want to risk casting the spells if other unpredictable outcomes are possible.
answered 19 mins ago
kamilkkamilk
1111
New contributor
kamilk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Sure, it's worth it in many cases.
For instance, if your car is stranded in the middle of the wilderness due to a tire puncture, using magic to try and mend it would be reasonable. In this situation, the car having two punctured tires isn't any worst than if it only has one. You'll still have to make your way to civilisation on foot either way. On the other hand, in the best case scenario (50% chance, so it's not even unlikely) it'll be repaired and you can complete your journey within the comfort of your automobile.
Many similar examples can be thought of in the case of an injured person. Let's say one of your battle compatriots has been injured and you're about the be surrounded by the enemy who you know will show you no mercy. Well, then it makes perfect sense for you to attempt to cure him. Either he will recover and perhaps help your group stand a better chance against your foes, or he will die by magic instead of by the hacking and piercing of steel.
There are all sorts of times where a partly broken object or person is no more useful than a very broken object or person. It's times like these that magic comes in handy.
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,59652554
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
It's also the case that it hardly matters, think of all the millions of individuals and companies who have invested significant resources in IT 'time saving' devices and etc and then spent all the time they might have saved learning how to use it or fixing problems with it, when a type writer and filing system would have cost less...yet they persevered into bankruptcy.. Society benefits from those early adopters, but not necessarily the early adopters themselves. There's always plenty of people willing to try the shortcut or 'great leap forward'...or lottery ticket
$endgroup$
– Giu Piete
16 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Sure, it's worth it in many cases.
For instance, if your car is stranded in the middle of the wilderness due to a tire puncture, using magic to try and mend it would be reasonable. In this situation, the car having two punctured tires isn't any worst than if it only has one. You'll still have to make your way to civilisation on foot either way. On the other hand, in the best case scenario (50% chance, so it's not even unlikely) it'll be repaired and you can complete your journey within the comfort of your automobile.
Many similar examples can be thought of in the case of an injured person. Let's say one of your battle compatriots has been injured and you're about the be surrounded by the enemy who you know will show you no mercy. Well, then it makes perfect sense for you to attempt to cure him. Either he will recover and perhaps help your group stand a better chance against your foes, or he will die by magic instead of by the hacking and piercing of steel.
There are all sorts of times where a partly broken object or person is no more useful than a very broken object or person. It's times like these that magic comes in handy.
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,59652554
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
It's also the case that it hardly matters, think of all the millions of individuals and companies who have invested significant resources in IT 'time saving' devices and etc and then spent all the time they might have saved learning how to use it or fixing problems with it, when a type writer and filing system would have cost less...yet they persevered into bankruptcy.. Society benefits from those early adopters, but not necessarily the early adopters themselves. There's always plenty of people willing to try the shortcut or 'great leap forward'...or lottery ticket
$endgroup$
– Giu Piete
16 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Sure, it's worth it in many cases.
For instance, if your car is stranded in the middle of the wilderness due to a tire puncture, using magic to try and mend it would be reasonable. In this situation, the car having two punctured tires isn't any worst than if it only has one. You'll still have to make your way to civilisation on foot either way. On the other hand, in the best case scenario (50% chance, so it's not even unlikely) it'll be repaired and you can complete your journey within the comfort of your automobile.
Many similar examples can be thought of in the case of an injured person. Let's say one of your battle compatriots has been injured and you're about the be surrounded by the enemy who you know will show you no mercy. Well, then it makes perfect sense for you to attempt to cure him. Either he will recover and perhaps help your group stand a better chance against your foes, or he will die by magic instead of by the hacking and piercing of steel.
There are all sorts of times where a partly broken object or person is no more useful than a very broken object or person. It's times like these that magic comes in handy.
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,59652554
$endgroup$
Sure, it's worth it in many cases.
For instance, if your car is stranded in the middle of the wilderness due to a tire puncture, using magic to try and mend it would be reasonable. In this situation, the car having two punctured tires isn't any worst than if it only has one. You'll still have to make your way to civilisation on foot either way. On the other hand, in the best case scenario (50% chance, so it's not even unlikely) it'll be repaired and you can complete your journey within the comfort of your automobile.
Many similar examples can be thought of in the case of an injured person. Let's say one of your battle compatriots has been injured and you're about the be surrounded by the enemy who you know will show you no mercy. Well, then it makes perfect sense for you to attempt to cure him. Either he will recover and perhaps help your group stand a better chance against your foes, or he will die by magic instead of by the hacking and piercing of steel.
There are all sorts of times where a partly broken object or person is no more useful than a very broken object or person. It's times like these that magic comes in handy.
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,59652554
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,59652554
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,59652554
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,59652554
6,59652554
1
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
It's also the case that it hardly matters, think of all the millions of individuals and companies who have invested significant resources in IT 'time saving' devices and etc and then spent all the time they might have saved learning how to use it or fixing problems with it, when a type writer and filing system would have cost less...yet they persevered into bankruptcy.. Society benefits from those early adopters, but not necessarily the early adopters themselves. There's always plenty of people willing to try the shortcut or 'great leap forward'...or lottery ticket
$endgroup$
– Giu Piete
16 mins ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
1 hour ago
1
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
It's also the case that it hardly matters, think of all the millions of individuals and companies who have invested significant resources in IT 'time saving' devices and etc and then spent all the time they might have saved learning how to use it or fixing problems with it, when a type writer and filing system would have cost less...yet they persevered into bankruptcy.. Society benefits from those early adopters, but not necessarily the early adopters themselves. There's always plenty of people willing to try the shortcut or 'great leap forward'...or lottery ticket
$endgroup$
– Giu Piete
16 mins ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
1 hour ago
1
1
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
It's also the case that it hardly matters, think of all the millions of individuals and companies who have invested significant resources in IT 'time saving' devices and etc and then spent all the time they might have saved learning how to use it or fixing problems with it, when a type writer and filing system would have cost less...yet they persevered into bankruptcy.. Society benefits from those early adopters, but not necessarily the early adopters themselves. There's always plenty of people willing to try the shortcut or 'great leap forward'...or lottery ticket
$endgroup$
– Giu Piete
16 mins ago
$begingroup$
It's also the case that it hardly matters, think of all the millions of individuals and companies who have invested significant resources in IT 'time saving' devices and etc and then spent all the time they might have saved learning how to use it or fixing problems with it, when a type writer and filing system would have cost less...yet they persevered into bankruptcy.. Society benefits from those early adopters, but not necessarily the early adopters themselves. There's always plenty of people willing to try the shortcut or 'great leap forward'...or lottery ticket
$endgroup$
– Giu Piete
16 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Such a magic would be useful for those situations where you are not too concerned with the immediate outcome but rather the consequences of those actions.
Rough example. There is a war. You don't particulary care who wins but you want the ceaseless fighting and killing to end. So you cast your magic on one side to win. Either they win or they lose...but the war is over! (And if the magic did nothing...try again)
You have to trick the magic into giving you the real end result you want.
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Relevant username...
$endgroup$
– Scott Milner
20 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Such a magic would be useful for those situations where you are not too concerned with the immediate outcome but rather the consequences of those actions.
Rough example. There is a war. You don't particulary care who wins but you want the ceaseless fighting and killing to end. So you cast your magic on one side to win. Either they win or they lose...but the war is over! (And if the magic did nothing...try again)
You have to trick the magic into giving you the real end result you want.
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Relevant username...
$endgroup$
– Scott Milner
20 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Such a magic would be useful for those situations where you are not too concerned with the immediate outcome but rather the consequences of those actions.
Rough example. There is a war. You don't particulary care who wins but you want the ceaseless fighting and killing to end. So you cast your magic on one side to win. Either they win or they lose...but the war is over! (And if the magic did nothing...try again)
You have to trick the magic into giving you the real end result you want.
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
$endgroup$
Such a magic would be useful for those situations where you are not too concerned with the immediate outcome but rather the consequences of those actions.
Rough example. There is a war. You don't particulary care who wins but you want the ceaseless fighting and killing to end. So you cast your magic on one side to win. Either they win or they lose...but the war is over! (And if the magic did nothing...try again)
You have to trick the magic into giving you the real end result you want.
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
7,43633083
$begingroup$
Relevant username...
$endgroup$
– Scott Milner
20 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Relevant username...
$endgroup$
– Scott Milner
20 mins ago
$begingroup$
Relevant username...
$endgroup$
– Scott Milner
20 mins ago
$begingroup$
Relevant username...
$endgroup$
– Scott Milner
20 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I suppose this depends if your 'opposite effect' is predictable. In combat you may, for example, try to fireball an enemy, or maybe throw them into the air; you may not necessarily be concerned if they end up frozen or pinned to the ground instead. But you may not want to risk casting the spells if other unpredictable outcomes are possible.
answered 19 mins ago
kamilkkamilk
1111
New contributor
kamilk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I suppose this depends if your 'opposite effect' is predictable. In combat you may, for example, try to fireball an enemy, or maybe throw them into the air; you may not necessarily be concerned if they end up frozen or pinned to the ground instead. But you may not want to risk casting the spells if other unpredictable outcomes are possible.
answered 19 mins ago
kamilkkamilk
1111
New contributor
kamilk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I suppose this depends if your 'opposite effect' is predictable. In combat you may, for example, try to fireball an enemy, or maybe throw them into the air; you may not necessarily be concerned if they end up frozen or pinned to the ground instead. But you may not want to risk casting the spells if other unpredictable outcomes are possible.
answered 19 mins ago
kamilkkamilk
1111
New contributor
kamilk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
I suppose this depends if your 'opposite effect' is predictable. In combat you may, for example, try to fireball an enemy, or maybe throw them into the air; you may not necessarily be concerned if they end up frozen or pinned to the ground instead. But you may not want to risk casting the spells if other unpredictable outcomes are possible.
answered 19 mins ago
kamilkkamilk
1111
New contributor
kamilk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 19 mins ago
kamilkkamilk
1111
New contributor
kamilk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 19 mins ago
kamilkkamilk
1111
answered 19 mins ago
kamilkkamilk
1111
1111
New contributor
kamilk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
kamilk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
kamilk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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