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Posted By: Spiderkeg Aug 27, 2004 - 01:53 pm

I think this is a pretty decent question to ask. Does anyone associate certain kinds of magic with certain colors?

I am finding that my own attitude towards magic, or rather levels and powers of magic, instantly bring certain colors to mind. Does anyone else have ingrained expectations on how colors might reflect and fit into the world of magic.

Typically fire is red and ice is blue. It sure didn't help any with "Magic the Gathering" digging deep into the standard magic/color cliché.

How do you feel if you read a book where the healing magics correspond with green and give a green glow. How do you feel when someone who uses fire is shrouded in orange? Does this rub anyone the wrong way, or has the state of colors and expectations on the magics that link become a standard? Has anyone seen or thought different?

Anyone's thoughts?

Posted By: Axzazz De`Nyde Aug 27, 2004 - 08:25 pm

Compare and contrast the relative capabilities and limitations which would apply to a chartreuse sorceror and a fuschia wizard attempting to learn hot pink magic whilst wearing magenta clothing and cyan hats.

Posted By: Spiderkeg Aug 27, 2004 - 08:33 pm

Well, clothing dyes aside... I'm talking about the idea on the colors of magic, the power emitting, the classifications of colors to magic spheres, classes, and schools.

Talking about that level of color.

Posted By: Magus Aug 28, 2004 - 10:35 am

I like using white and blue for fire and flames, being the "hottest" colors of them, ie White hot. I like necromacy associated with a crimson red more then black and grey, although I do like to use those for phantoms, phantasms and ghosts.

Posted By: Spiderkeg Aug 28, 2004 - 12:20 pm

One of the problems I have with picking the associated colors to types of magic, at least in my own story, is the emotional connection to certain colors.

While I should be looking at this from a more scientific and unbiased model, it's difficult not to want stick red with the more combat types of magic because it may associate better with anger.

At the moment, healing magics in my story are defined by green. In many stories healing magics are usually depicted as being blue, white, or yellow.

Posted By: Magus Aug 28, 2004 - 04:46 pm

If you noticed in Lycoria Jacatour's magical swords are associated with silver/white. There's a little bit of gold, but hardly even worth its mention. It's almost entirely silver. I thought that this was a cool idea. I liked it, anyway.

The only real reason why I associate necromancy with crimson is because my first and most defined necromancer, Shabel-Grah, is associated with the color color crimson. Therefor all other necromancers in my mind follow his example, being the original construct.

Posted By: Spiderkeg Aug 28, 2004 - 04:59 pm

I'm not quite sure what "Lycoria" is?

Posted By: Magus Aug 28, 2004 - 05:04 pm

In Suggestions and Ideas. It's the collaberative story that Neurolanis started. It began in the section entitled The Jaded Wayfarer Inn. Then it moved to Lycoria-Adventure: The Tomb of Orceth and is simultaniously spanning in Lycoria-Adventure: To Orceth (Side Adventure).

It's really awsome and I recommend it to everyone to read or join in. But there you can see how I associate colors with certain characters. I like using very specific colors, ie crimson instead of red. I find it helps add to the overall feel of a story when you add details like that.

Posted By: Spiderkeg Aug 28, 2004 - 09:20 pm

Alright, so Magus you don't feel constricted or the need to adhere with the use of certain colors pertaining to certain magics?

Posted By: Dora Aug 29, 2004 - 01:29 am

I guess you could play with some colors and magic (like Magus did with white and blue for fire). A story though that uses green for fire magic and red for water magic would soon make me stop reading. In my opinion the writer was trying too hard to be “original” and some things just don’t need changing.
If fantasy writers listen to everything some people call cliché then fantasy would not be fantasy anymore. Some things are cliché...but a lot of things that also get called cliché are what I would call fantasy’s core.

Happy writing,

Dora

Posted By: Magus Aug 29, 2004 - 03:37 pm

Not really, Spiderkeg. I suppose I may in the future use some more commonly used color schemes. But for now they don't fit so much into what I'm working on. It's up to each author to deside for themselves what to do with their stories. I don't feel that I NEED to adhere to anything, really. But I do consider common practice and see if it fits into my stories. If it does, I do. If not, then I don't. Sometimes I think black fire is cool, so sometimes I use it.

I agree with Dora, on some points. Some authors do try and get to creative. Some things shouldn't be so "out there". But I also agree that some things considered cliche are more what fantasy is all about. It depends on the author and the story. DO what works, I say. If you want green fire, I say go for it. But only do it if it works. Don't do something just for the sake of doing it. Do it because it works, don't do it because it doesn't work. At least, that's just my opinion.

Posted By: Spiderkeg Aug 29, 2004 - 05:35 pm

Well, with the current magic system I have developed and the mechanics involved healing magics will have a green aura and fire magic would have a blue aura.

However, at this rate, a necromancer will have the color aura of either olive green or brown. I'll have no other choice in that situation.

I'm just polling to see what the thoughts are of other writers in regarding colors, magic, etc.

Posted By: ricke Aug 31, 2004 - 01:07 pm

I personally think it's overdone - color in magic, that is. lets try another sense - what sort of smells should magic have?

mmmmm...cookies... ZAP!

Posted By: Spiderkeg Aug 31, 2004 - 01:17 pm

Well, I'm sure when you're dealing with fire and lightning the resulting smell will be that of burning flesh. Probably not the most ideal reek to be associating magic with.

Posted By: Magus Aug 31, 2004 - 03:15 pm

Ricke... awsomely funny!

Posted By: Queen Ehlana Sep 05, 2004 - 03:29 pm

Hehehe... Yeah, that's great, ricke.

I think that colors with magic should have an explanation behind them... But I would never give magic colors unless there were an advantage in having color, that advantage being of the magician and not the writer.