Any thoughts on mage's duels? I'll have to write one sooner or later, and the prospect is daunting, to say the least.
I mean, spell effects are hard enough to describe individually. But how would you translate a sequence like this into prose?
Mage A: Contingency fired - Stoneskin
Mage A: Contingency fired - Minor spell turning
Mage B: Breach
Mage B: Pierce shield
Mage A: Disintegrate
Mage B: Save v. spell
etcetera...
Fight scenes
Started by
Guest_SisterVigilante_*
, Jul 30 2005 01:21 PM
11 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_Clight_*
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Posted 31 July 2005 - 06:15 PM
I prefer to describe spells primarily as if from the point of view of someone who doesn't know them, or, if from the mage's point of view (not that I can remember any particular example where I've applied this), then as if they were explaining it to someone who doesn't know the basics, and avoiding anything related to game rules. With your example, I'd probably leave some of it unexplained, just showing how it would look like for an outsider who could barely follow what was going on and had little knowledge of spells; or, from the point of view of what one or both mages are trying to do and vaguely how they are trying to do it but not specifically, and how it works or doesn't and why.
#3
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Posted 01 August 2005 - 09:15 AM
Never wrote about mage duels, but maybe I could help. Here are some points:
1. Be quite minimalistic - Don't describe the spells too much. To write: "(Name) concentrated hard and then let out a nullfying mind blast that threw his/her oppponents..." is somewhere along the line
2. Don't be technical in the spells - There are some spells that have special names, ie Melf's Minute Meteors, Tenser's Transformation, and the like. One advice is to "reword" them in a non-technical manner. Something like: "(Name)'s hands burned with a ghastly aura of unholy energy. (Opponent) recognized it as a very potent variant of a drain spell..." Take note however, that some spells are accepted in their "tech" names, ie: Fireball, Haste, etc
Hope I was able to help!
1. Be quite minimalistic - Don't describe the spells too much. To write: "(Name) concentrated hard and then let out a nullfying mind blast that threw his/her oppponents..." is somewhere along the line
2. Don't be technical in the spells - There are some spells that have special names, ie Melf's Minute Meteors, Tenser's Transformation, and the like. One advice is to "reword" them in a non-technical manner. Something like: "(Name)'s hands burned with a ghastly aura of unholy energy. (Opponent) recognized it as a very potent variant of a drain spell..." Take note however, that some spells are accepted in their "tech" names, ie: Fireball, Haste, etc
Hope I was able to help!
#4
Guest_Serena_*
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Posted 02 August 2005 - 03:40 AM
I tend to describe a spell once, and then make a note that it was used again. If you're writing from the mages PoV, I tend to focus more on the thought processes, if otherwise, write from the physical details of the spell. Remember that spell aren't always visual, there's the smells, sounds, and impressions that a spell creates as well, and I find those details really add to writing a mage's duel.
#5
Guest_Shadowhawke_*
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Posted 14 August 2005 - 03:38 AM
I agree with the others. 
. I prefer using a description, not the actual spell name (although I do use that sometimes). Take stoneskin for example.
Lithmus smiled as his skin smoothed to grey marble and he turned around slightly to face his opponent.
And by the way, Hi! I'm new here.
. I prefer using a description, not the actual spell name (although I do use that sometimes). Take stoneskin for example.Lithmus smiled as his skin smoothed to grey marble and he turned around slightly to face his opponent.
And by the way, Hi! I'm new here.
#6
Guest_Theodur_*
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Posted 23 August 2005 - 08:28 PM
And by the way, Hi! I'm new here.
And a belated Hi! to you Shadowhawke! I remember you from the old Forgotten Wars Fan Fic boards - glad you found your way to this place.
Oh, and the fact that nobody has replied to your first post for some time, doesn't mean that we would not welcome you, quite the contrary - you just posted that post in a rarely frequented forum.
So once again, Welcome!
#8
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Posted 03 November 2005 - 06:45 PM
A professor, giving a creative writing class, once said to me: "write with all your senses." Perhaps this can be adapted to mage's duels too? What does it feel like, when they work theyr spells? Do they feel the heat of their magic fire? Does the air smell a little when they use shield charms? Can they feel the electricity of a lightning? What does a stone skin feel like?
#9
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Posted 03 November 2005 - 08:51 PM
A professor, giving a creative writing class, once said to me: "write with all your senses." Perhaps this can be adapted to mage's duels too? What does it feel like, when they work theyr spells? Do they feel the heat of their magic fire? Does the air smell a little when they use shield charms? Can they feel the electricity of a lightning? What does a stone skin feel like?
I try sometimes to play with that . . . it is interesting.
The only problem I then find is not bogging my combat scenes down in description. *grumble*
#10
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Posted 04 November 2005 - 05:57 AM
"... Skar felt the a cold ripple running up his spine, accompanied by the pressure suddenly engulfing his body. It seemed hard to breathe for a second, but this was small price for being protected..."
I think you could try to have most of it in the person's head. But then I am rather describtive myself when it comes to fights.
I think you could try to have most of it in the person's head. But then I am rather describtive myself when it comes to fights.
#11
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Posted 04 November 2005 - 09:22 AM
I think it may make for a signifigant change in how magic is perceived, or in perspective otherwise, whether you describe the sensations of spellcasting "from the inside" or from the perspective of someone who's not themselves casting them. So you might not want to describe everything you can.
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