Patrica C. Wrede's Worldbuilder Questions

Magic and Magicians

• Are the laws of nature and physics actually different in this world (to accommodate magic) or are they the same as in real life? If the same, how does magic fit in? How do magical beasts fit in?
• If there is no specific point of divergence, what are the differences between this world and ours? If magic exists but history is the same, how is this justified? How do organized religions react to magic?
• If there are imaginary animals (dragons, unicorns, etc) how do they fit into the ecology? What do they eat? How much and what kind of habitat do they require? Are they intelligent and/or capable of working spells, talking, etc.?
• Where did civilization begin? What directions did it spread? How was its development affected by the presence of magic? The presence of non-human races, if any?
• Which peoples/races/cultures/countries are most technologically and/or magically advanced? Least advanced? Why?
• Is magic legal? Any magic, or only some types? Do laws vary widely from country to country, or is the attitude generally similar?
• What wild animals, actual or imaginary, live in this area? Are any of them potentially useful--e.g., for fur, whale oil, hides, magical ingredients, etc. Are there magical beasts, like dragons and unicorns? If so, which ones? How many? Are they common, or are some endangered species? Have any been domesticated?
• Are there magical artifacts (rings, swords, etc)? If so, who makes them? How? Are they permanent, or does the magic wear off after a while?
• What effect has magic had on laws? Art? Technology? Entertainment? etc.
• Where is scientific and/or magical research done--universities, private labs, under the auspices of the king/government, etc.?
• Given the magical/technological level of this society, what is an appropriate ratio of farmers or food producers to urban residents? If this is based on the presence of magic, how many urban residents are going to starve if the spells supporting farming fail suddenly?
• Are magicians a force in politics, or are they above it? Are there national politics that revolve around magic/wizards (i.e., trying to outlaw or promote certain kinds of magic, trying to draft all wizards into the king's army, licensing of magicians, etc.)?
• How much as the presence of magic affected military strategy and tactics in general?
• Is healing usually a magical process? If so, how does the magical healing talent/spell work (i.e., speeding up the body's natural healing mechanism vs. doing instant repairs from outside)? Does a magical healer have to consciously direct the healing process (meaning that lots of knowledge of anatomy, etc. would be required), or does magical healing simply speed up the normal, unconscious healing process in the patient? Is there more than one kind of magical healer (as there are surgeons, eye doctors, orthopedic doctors, etc.)? Are there both magical and non-magical healers, and if so, are they rivals or simply different specialties?
• What level is medicine at? Who are the healers? Do you have to have a talent to heal? Who trains healers, herbalists, apothecaries, surgeons, magical vs. nonmagical healers, etc?
• Is forensic magic possible? Commonly used? Used only to investigate certain types of crimes (if so, which?)? Are the results of forensic spells admissible in court as evidence?
• Are there separate civil and criminal courts? Is there a separate court or procedure for magical crimes? Are judges and other court officers required/forbidden to know magic?
• Can magic be used in the arts, and if so, how -- paint that glows, pictures that move, flutes that play themselves, etc. ? How do "normal" artists feel about this?

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