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Posted By: Xaris Apr 16, 2003 - 09:56 am

I'v designed a magic system which uses elemental magic. In wich flows of the elements are combined to create an effect. The magic comes partly from within and partly from the surroundings, but it's origins are divine, so I call it channeling magic. the combination of flows is called a weaving. And there comes my problem from. This sounds a lot like the magic system from The Wheel of Time. Now the rest of my system is completly different and it's much more complex then I explained here. But the are certain points that match the magic sytem of WOT.
- Magic is uses by channeling
- 5 elements
- weaving them with flows

On the other hand I based my magic system on Wicca wich uses 5 elements. The word Channeling I found in different magic systems. And weaving a spell is also an expression that I ran into in other places then WOT.

My question is, should I use this system or re-think the basics of my system.? I must say that that would be very unfortunatly, because this system really fit's the best in my world, but I don't want to commit plagiarism


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I'm not a english native speaker, so please don't take any offence, but if you see mistakes I like to hear them

Posted By: Spiderkeg Apr 17, 2003 - 01:49 pm

Don't feel bad if you're using "weaving" and you feel it's been used in other places, because I too am using that term and a few other terms regarding sewing and spindling

In my universe, reality is veiwed as being a "Tapestry" in that it has two sides (which is what a tapestry is, two-sided)

One side has a design that represents space, and space being all energy (and matter which is energy) and distance and depth and all that

The other side is time, which induces entropy and creation and progress and all the things that space would require in order to propell further oppose to being still

Now when reality is typically altered, or affected, it's called "weaving"

Heh, also should be noted that time travel and manipulation is also possible, since the side which is space is composed a great deal of the strands from time, just follow the strand

It's hard to come up with original notions, since you've got 200+ years of creativity beating down your door to contend with

Posted By: Eleika Apr 19, 2003 - 06:47 pm

Xaris, if you need any help with the Wiccan side of things, I can be of service.

Posted By: SirJill Apr 20, 2003 - 09:01 am

Not that I'm spurning you, or you knowledge, Eleika, but I've also seen a book about pagaism, I picked it up and wished I had more time to study it. I believe it was called, Paganism; something something. You might look for it. Sorry that's all the help I can give, actually, now that I think about it, you'd better ask Eleika...

Posted By: Eleika Apr 20, 2003 - 12:25 pm

No prob. I'm just offering help because I *am* a Witch. There are a million books on Wicca and Paganism out there ... and to be honest, a lot of them are hokey. It depends on what you're looking for, though. Avoid "spell" books and books that advertise on their front or back covers things like "gain money, friends, love and power". Those are the ones that seem put together just to make a buck.

Posted By: Phantomrhyter Apr 20, 2003 - 04:44 pm

Xaris,

I hope you do not mind the intrusion, but I have been writing speculative fiction for a LONG time now, and likeyou, concerns over plagerising other material has always been a great concern of mine, especially since H.P. Lovecraft and I seem to track on similiar themes (LOL!)

The wise Israelite King Solomon once wrote in the Book of Ecclesiastes that 'there is nothing new under the sun'. These are wise words indeed that every writer should take into consideration. Writers, as you all well know, tell tales, and us 'modern' writers have always based out tales on pre-existing mythologies. We do this because the territory is somewhat familiar and the human experience, in general, is actually so common that consistent themes keep cropping up anyway (LOL!)

So do not worry so much that there may be similarities between the magic system you have designed for your stories. Where it is similiar to other systems (such as the Wheels of Time that you mentioned) it will help you (if you take advantage of it and do it creatively) to draw your readers in because you are LEADING them into thinking that it is the 'SAME' sort of 'territory'--but THEN you surprise them with the facets of your system that are different and unique from the WOT or any other thing out there in print. You do this and you WILL be remembered, and no, nothing about it is plagerising unless you copy a whole complete system outright. Since you are offering new thoughts and approaches, i certainly encourage you to continue without fear.

Chills,
Phantomrhyter

Posted By: thegreentick Sep 26, 2003 - 10:02 am

Yeah, I have to admit it DOES sound like a direct rip off of the wheel of time magic system. I would need specific info in order to be sure though. Then again, almost every magic system I read about could be accused of copying just because there are thirty billion fantasy books. It is almost impossible to have a completely original system.

I think my magic system is quite original though. There are a bunch of aspects that have been seen before but the way they are put together I have not read anywhere. I bet if I told you about it though, you would say "that sounds like the system so-and-so uses."

My advice is this: don't worry about being too much like anyone else. Just make sure that there are some differences. If your writing is good enough, people will overlook any similarities.

Posted By: Aldan Sep 26, 2003 - 10:08 am

"It's not the size of it that matters... it's what you DO with it."
*grins*

Posted By: thegreentick Sep 26, 2003 - 11:07 am

Actually, size CAN matter. Only when it comes to extremes. ie. extremely small vs. extremely big.

*grins*

Posted By: Tobias Apr 17, 2004 - 05:23 am

It can seem plagiarised from Wheel of Time easily, however, if you use the system a bit differently and couple it with some good writing, along with, perhaps different spell combinations, it shouldn't be any trouble.

Posted By: Sorcha Apr 18, 2004 - 04:37 am

As long as you don't use the term Aes Seday(spelling?) for your magic users and you don't put in something simelar to the Aes Seday/Warder combination, you should be fine.
And if your story is different as well from WOT the simularities won't be that obvious, I think.

Good luck with your writing!

Posted By: els Apr 20, 2004 - 10:27 am

I'm still trying to figure out where Jordan got Aes Sedai from. It sounds very familiar to me as a word. His Asha'man are, of course Shaman.

Write what works for your book, don't worry over much about names and such until it is time to revise, then make that judgment call.

As a Christian, my "magic" is completely God based or demon based in my worlds. My "good" characters tend to perform miracles of healing, though there are more mundane uses for their gift when it is used to further their missions. They can lose their abilities if they are misused often enough. I use the term Weaving as well, on occasion, but usually it is Singing.

Posted By: els Apr 20, 2004 - 10:34 am

Sorry, i had kids yelling in the background and got distracted- I also meant to add that RJ has drawn so many elements into the WoT books that it woudl be hard NOT to touch on something he has written about.

Posted By: Aldan Apr 20, 2004 - 12:35 pm

This is true about almost anything to be written. "There is nothing new under the sun."