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Z. Charles Dziura 2025-06-06 17:31:49 -04:00
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src/essays/2025/06/on-magic-in-a-dnd-setting.md
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title: Magic in a D&D Setting
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---
I'm listening to a recent [Eldritch Lorecast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL_xFqAmhDk&t=1220s) episode where they are talking about Wizards of the Coast's latest attempt at the [Psion Class](https://media.dndbeyond.com/compendium-images/ua/the-psion/mXCPWlh2yy5tBKqP/UA2025-ThePsion.pdf), and I'm left with some thoughts on how D&D structures magic within its system. Specifically, I think they funnel too many ideas about what magic is (or should be) into too broad a system, and any attempts to add "distinguishing flavor" to that system fail (or at least come up short).
To expand on this, I think the Fantasy genre can/should support only up to three types of magic: Arcanism, Faith, and Psionics.
To expand on this, I think the D&D genre can/should support only up to three types of magic: Arcanism, Faith, and Psionics.
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## Arcanism
Arcanism is the study of magic as a science, in the way contemporary people would think of it. Arcanist magic comes from some source&mdash;in D&amp;D, this source is the Weave&mdash;and it affects the world in predictable-ish ways; that is, it's not exactly known what the limits of Arcanist magic are, but there is a detailed body of knowledge that can explain quite a bit of its known capabilities. Just as in contemporary science, there are frontiers that are being continuously pushed and new discoveries are being made all the time. This explains D&amp;D's spells that make use of their creator's names, like Tasha's Hideous Laughter! But fundamentally, Arcanism embodies magic as a "real thing".
## Faith
Faith comes from the Divine and is channeled by Their mortal priests. Those priests act as conduits for their chosen God and enact their will. So long as they remain pious and true to their God's will, they can ask and receive Their miracles. The trick is denying access to certain types of spells based on the Gods' "portfolio": perhaps a god of peace won't provide offensive spells, or maybe a god of justice won't allow Their priests to target the innocent. Faith magic is all about the Divine and the limits They place upon them. It's up to the mortal conduits to use magic within those limitations.
## Psionics
Psionics is the most tricky of the types of magic to place. It's typically portrayed as coming from the person's mind influencing the world directly, often in the form of telepathy or telekinesis. It's usually more common to see Psionics used in a science fiction/space futurism setting, though you also see Psionics appear in superhero comics. Fundamentally, Psionics is all about the practitioner channeling that magic directly; the source is themself and how far they can push their power. It's a common trope for someone channeling Psionics to have a nosebleed or faint if they use too much of their power.

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