Alright, here we go!

(secretely hoping for Captain Nofun to come over)

also, I think >>27280395 has made an actually working repeater without abstractions that could just be negated by semantics.

My thoughts:
Damn this looks cool, but I think it's better suited as background fluff than an actual game mechanic. I see what you do in a game to be more important than how you do it. The game could have certain predefined spells which the players can find in the book and the drawing system being used for players to create their own spells.

As for limiting this so people don't break the system with basic geometry, literacy and logic it could be made so that certain runes simply do not exist. No death rune, no universe rune, etc.

>>27280449
Well working till its out of voodoo juice

>>27280476
naturally.

Listen, this is the most fun Ive had on /tg/ all year, so I just gotta say: This is awesome guys, I gotta go, I hope therell be another thread bout it the next few days

>>27280498
No kidding.

Creating that fireball circle was the most fun I've had in days.

>>27280469
An easier way to limit things would have mana cost by *effect*, not by the individual runes. If you made a rune to stop yourself from dying, then your mana would drain nigh-instantly.

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>>27280402
Probably a more efficient version. Needs a way of stopping it though.

>>27280511
Just think, you finally get to the point where you have created a spell that does everything exactly as you want it, sit back, and look in awe at the art you have composed.

Then go graffiti that shit everywhere like hobo signs and talk to others using runes. We secret society now.

>>27280536
Create a nullifying rune to slap over it like a cover when you want to stop.

>>27280541
I actually might, you know.

>>27280541

I like the idea of a guy figuring out something with a bunch of really obscure runes, then using them to make a circle over all sorts of shit, but not complete the circle, waiting for someone else to make the mistake of coming along and completing it.

We need a rune for contact. As in touching. That way we can cause runes to only effect things they touch. Or just make area of affect so small it barely extends past the rune itself.

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>>27280590
Heh make a puzzle in a dungeon. The puzzle is actually an explosive charged rune.

It activates when the puzzle is completed.

I can see how an incomplete rune with a secondary plate above it set into a pressure plate above it can be made into land mines very easily...

Hmm, for such a rule based magic, people seem to be expecting it to do a lot of the work for them.

Take people making spells that cause "project" to "target". How does the circle know what the target is? Let alone the vague way "self" is being used. This isn't praying to your god to achieve your aims, it's SCIENCE!

A fireball spell would surely need some sort of sub-spell like: "target" AT (nearest WITH person) to automatically fire at the closest person.

...which thinking about it would be the wizard. So maybe something more than that.

Of course, if we had some ground rules about how physical runes work it could be simpler. Say the rune "up" means perpendicular above the circle's surface. Then you could have a spell that fires "up" inscribed on a plate, and just point it at people.

I don't know *what* the fuck you guys are talking about, but I know I want to be a part of it. Do ya have a beginner's guide?

>>27280641
Hell, fucking projectile weapons. Vehicles. Flying barges.

>>27280643
It is still more like a simple language system that makes imperative sentences than a programming language currently.

We are going to need ways to manipulate variables and conditional statements.

>>27280661
http://imgur.com/a/iIWfw

We just need a collection of runes to go with this

>>27280643
There are two routes we can go about this:

A) Runic magic is slightly higher level in terms of programming, and is able to recognise the intent of the caster in the case of variables such as target, delay and distance.

B) Use a fuckton of subscript within the circles to define targeting parameters.

>>27280661
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/27276154/

>>27280554
And it only copying the fireball and not it's own copying part so that it doesn't grow exponentially and not every version needing to be destroyed to stop the fireballs is only a good thing
that said, if you copy a rune, where does it end up?

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You guys should read Brandon Sanderson's YA novel "The Rithmatist".

It has a magic system based around drawing geometric structures with chalk to win duels.

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>>27280661

>>27280711
Thank you

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>>27280694
The runes should be more simple in my opinion, so they can be easier to read.

>>27280686

Not necessarily; magic doesn't have to be able to do everything.

Once it has too many capabilities you won't need wizards anymore, just complex circles that do anything you need. Which I personally feel to be a bit sad. I like wizards figuring cool shit out without having to use a computer.

>>27280643
the target modifier give power to the caster
the person activating the rune gets to decide what the target is

Gotta say, this is really awesome. I'm a indie game developer, this fits nicely into a project I was talking to my team about a few months back. Mind if we take/borrow major parts of this concept for the project should it get started in earnest?

>>27280734
It's not our idea. The original idea guy is asleep.

Wait for him.

>>27280721
>>27280694
OP said that he was going to post his dictionary, and he was adding some runes from the thread.

Let's wait for him to do that before we waste time. We can help expand it afterwards.

>>27280734
The creator is asleep ATM. We have been expanding a bit.

>>27280734
Guy who made it is asleep, and he came up with the basics. We just took it and ran.

If you want to ask permission/give credit, you'll need to wait for OP to get back I'm afraid.

What about writing spell "generator" with svg output?

>>27280732

My point was that I didn't like that.

If parts of the spell are just defined in the caster's head, why does he need modifiers? The small rune serves no purpose if he can just define what sort of fire he wants to create.

I mean, both viewpoints are valid. I just find mine more fun.

This should probably get a 1d4chan page as well.

Grab all the circles that have been created so far and throw them up in the image section.

>>27280781
Because he can only define variables in his head, not the structure of the spell.

So how big do these circles have to be?
when I look at >>27280536 I picture a very large room or platform

I just feel this system is a trapmakers dream. No real materials required. Also if we where to link aagic nullifying rune into a targeting rune with an area of effect, we would basically be able to cast a spell that makes magic useless in said area.

Yeah that would suck to fight.

>>27280772

We don't have solid enough rules yet.

Hell, most of the examples posted so far have the syntax hilariously wrong just from the little we already know. Runes being executed in the wrong order, ambiguity, runes being modified by runes they should be modifying...

>>27280705
the OP said the system is inspired by Full Metal Alchemist

>>27280781
To me it's creating a button in a computer program, you need to have a special code for it but it allows the program to react to outside input, in this case a psychic link

>>27280797
So many explosions. Its like mage guild had a baby with alchemists guild...

>>27280781
Variables like "target" may be declared by the wizard while casting the spell, I guess. Otherwise we will have to write shit like "first living object in the way of a straight line from the center of the circle", which is absurdly complex.

>>27280793
Basically any size from what I can tell. As long as the circle isn't marred.

Hmm, what if a rune's size defines the strength of its effect? So the larger a "swiftly" rune is, the faster it happens, or the larger a "small" rune is, the lesser the effect.

But you need a baseline. I was thinking they could be scaled from the most interior rune, but that doesn't work if it needs a scale of its own.

How about being scaled from the outermost binding circle?

when OP comes back to post his dictionary I hope there aren't runes for opposites
being able to create darkness and destroy light as separate things would be weird

>>27280793
Any size.

The bigger the circle, the larger the area it has to draw mana from. More mana = Faster spell completion.

>>27280851
Unless using a power source.

>>27280854
True, though that has it's own drawback of innefficiency and fragility.

>>27280827

Maybe it should be complex. That way knowing more complex runes is valuable (once you know the rune for kettle you don't have to go Heat "iron vessel containing water within circle" every time) and it stops the magic from being too powerful.

Plus, overly complex circles could be made into fucking cool ornate patterns, and necessitate a skilled wizard to achieve anything overly complex.

>>27280877

God I just wrote "complex" four times in one post

>>27280877
Nah, because that just leads to complete abstraction, at which point you just get sorcerers.

I think modifier runes should just have variable values.

>>27280877

Going to be honest here; I might just want diagrams like >>27276311 to be valid spells

>>27280898
I agree with this guy. Sure you can make paint draw a line but sometimes point and click works just as good if not better.

>>27280877
we want projectiles to be writable on a gauntlet I guess
also, having a bit of interactivity on your runes is not bad as long as you keep it within reason

>>27280877
The grammar of the system is too basic to do anything too complex though. We can't even do prepositions properly.

I do agree that just declaring anything as a target in your head is rather overpowered. Declaring targets through things like a "contract" rune will be more simple and serve as balancing.

>>27280915
They can be.

Just because a fireball is easy to create doesn't mean you can't make something infinitely more complex.

>>27280809

...so? I just thought people might like the novel.

So, I was in the previous thread for the first, like, 100 comments, and can't be arsed to read the rest. Any chance of a summary of what you guys got so far? Power source, cool designs, etc.?

>>27280721
Noun runes start with a long vertical slash, verb runes with a long horizontal slash. Adjectives with a slash, and adverbs with a cross? Then a few "root" words or concepts, upon which other runes follow; like energy being the root for both fire and lightning

>>27280932
Directional Rune. Effect goes in a straight line (unless modified) from circle in in direction specified.

>>27280958
Adjectives with a *diagonal slash

Idea: half stamped runes, one half on one plate, another on one next to it. Load them into a cannonball or a javelin. Launch at target.

>repeating fireball rune please

Hah, I just spent about five minutes thinking about how to describe directions with runes, "east is too specific, what if you need to shoot a fireball in another direction? But forwards is too vague because the spell doesn't know what way you're facing" because I'm an idiot.

Have a directional rune that is literally an arrow. It means => "this way". You can have one for up and one for down too.

Hell, if necessary you could have a rune like =>|+ where the height of the horizontal describes the vertical angle.

>>27280958
I kinda like runes which can belong to multiple lexical categories. Like a "Death" rune can means "Kill", "Dead", "Deadly". Maybe some kind of rune morphology?

>>27281033
And a rune without a target location or rune that allows you to select the target fires straight out of the rune itself.

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Objective: Creates and sustains a dome of water that excludes living fire (i.e. elementals) from entering.

Did I do it right?

Since runes need to be obtained I think scaling power to rarity wouldn't be such a bad idea, here is a suggestion
list of availability (from common to rare):
platonic modifiers (swift, small, big)
elemental foci (fire, water, air)
arcane affections (contain, release)
arcane modifiers (target, self)
arcane foci (luck, mana, bliss)
platonic affections (imbue, project)
elemental modifiers (made of steel, made of earth)
platonic foci (circle, order, chaos)
elemental affections (create, destroy, displace)

I put creation at the end because runes often manipulate and have invisible influences

>>27280898
Actually, other than perhaps precise scaling (eg, just how small is "small"), I don't think variables like "target" are necessarily required as long as you're willing to have the effect be either contact or ray-based, rather than D&D-style "hits just where you want every time".

It wouldn't even need that difficult of syntax.
>Spell to create a substance directly on top of the rune
Primary clause of the magic circle is "create <substance>". Much like the campfire spell the original OP used as the example.
>Spell to modify the thing it's inscribed on
Primary clause is something like "imbue <quality>" or "alter <quality>", with additional modifiers on the "alter" rune to specify how the quality is being altered.
>Spell to affect something placed on top of the rune
Spell's innermost rune is a noun describing the intended sort of target (which must be placed atop the circle), with the verbal clause being a modifier on that rune. A general-purpose rune like "object" could be used to make the circle affect whatever is on top of it regardless of what it is.
>Spell to affect a distant target
Spell's outermost rune is "project", affecting the whole rest of the spell, causing a beam of magic to be projected perpendicular to the plane of the circle to affect the first suitable thing to cross its path. Modifiers on "project" could specify a minimum or maximum range. Otherwise functions as any other rune.

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>>27281074
Targeting three directions?

>>27281101
if it's already a ball of water then fire elementals wouldn't be able to enter anyway

>>27281017
The idea being that upon striking the target, the rune is completed and fires as normal.

>>27281101
Create should be in a square, but yes.

What if the runes drew energy from the caster and fucking them up could kill the caster?

>>27281101
>>27281137
That and, as a matter of clarity, it would probably be better to have the "dome" rune larger and more centralized. More peripheral circles affecting more central ones is one piece of syntax that kind of gets lost if you don't have a clearly centermost circle. Granted, in this case the fact that the "living fire" composite rune is excluded using a double circle makes this particular spell comprehensible in spite of that, but it would still be better to have it shifted to the side so the primary focus of the spell (the dome) is clearly central.

>>27280590
Well I meant using incomplete runes to send messages to other mages. Like (party(surprise)) @ (target:house(Steve's))

>>27281105
>"Create", the most commonly used rune, is rare
Could be cool. Making fire will require "Heating" up available fuel (such as hydrogen in the air), while making water require "Combining" oxygen and hydrogen. It can balance out magic a lot.

>>27281204
Well so far the idea is they run off
1.ambient mana
2. A precharged power sink
3. A sacrifice of some sort be it blood or other.

This may very well be one of /tg/'s greatest works.

You guys rock.

Now for making a spell portable, im thinking a projection circle where the target of said projection is onto w.e surface you want like paper or a glove etc. then the projection circle will interact with the spell circle you made to be projected onto w.e it is you want

>>27281248
It is, for the most part, not our work at all.
It's just the work of one precocious anon, doing god's work.

>>27281286
How can I help? What kind of things are trying to be fluffed, or is everyone just busy coming up with spells?

>>27281282
Make seperate layers that sit apart by half a centimeter. Align them up in a glass. Shine light through for shadow puppet runes...

>>27281282
that being said, maybe a circle where you place the glove or paper in the center of projection circle

>>27281204
Well, the original OP had specifically indicated that this form of magic should not particularly involve the caster outside of the creation of the rune itself. As >>27281247 says, we've been working on the idea of external power sources.

Doesn't mean a fucked up spell wouldn't still fuck you up. These spells are roughly analogous to programming language that operates on the fabric of reality; a bug in your code could mean some seriously fucked up shit.

...Oh man, imagine a campaign where the BBEG is just some bumbling king who overestimates his grasp of magic and decides to make some ridiculously huge spell -- nothing bad, but he didn't bother to quality check it, and he refuses offers from wizards to debug it because he considers it an insult to his royal brainymeats. The wizard's guild has investigated and found that this continent-spanning magic circle intended to provide free ice cream to every boy and girl is riddled with so many bugs that, given its scale, it could BSOD all of creation if it goes off.

>>27281306
We're just discussing things and making spells. The handy thing about making spells like this while it's still in development is that if you really need a rune, you can make it.

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>>27281248
it has some similarities with mosaic, a setting /tg/ already made

http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Setting:Mosaic

>>27281233
I think that the more abstraction that you can put into a circle spell, the more efficient the power conversion becomes.

Creating fire out of nothing and throwing it is reasonable, but if you used the same amount of mana to heat up an available fuel, compress the resulting explosion and then direct it, you'd get more bang for your buck.

>>27281366
Which is great. But sometimes you just want to make a fireball. While your way may ( or probably will) get more fireballs for your spent mana usage my quick dirty fireball is simpler and has less chance of blowing up in my face when drawing it.

>>27281366
That'd be less abstraction

>>27281392

Why draw it? Just carry around a fireball stamp in your holster.

Tonight on Magicians Inked we tale you into the newest prefix that just might have you rethinking all your old spells.

[(rune.create.projection)(metal.containngwater.)]

This could be the process for making a rune for a kettle aka metal containing water

>>27281415
True. I guess it would just allow for a magician to steadily improve his spells over time. Start out and finesse as you go.

How about the casting of a spell destroys the circle, and using the sustain rune makes it last for, I dunno, a few minutes?

Maybe the duration depends on the material. Something scratched in dirt or drawn with chalk lasts for twenty seconds sustained, while something patterned in precious metals can last for vastly longer.

Oh, for scarcity, what about whatever is used to draw or create the circles? But then that takes away the fun of making city sized spells out of the city itself

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I might have had an evil idea. And by evil I mean lovely, oh so lovely.

>>27281415
It'd be pretty small, meaning that the spell completion would either take a few minutes or it'd be a really weak-ass fireball.

>>27281484
>No outer circle to contain the complete spell
Congratulations, enjoy your reality bugs.

>>27281460
>How about the casting of a spell destroys the circle

With a glow or a quick burn or something, maybe a sound effect. That way you can tell when someone is doing magic.

Plus it's cool.

>>27281484
that line looks more like its going into lightning then the main circle, it could blow up in your face

>>27281484
Interesting idea, but the Switch, Active and Inactive runes don't really fit.

I suggest replacing that section with a circle to specify the dimensions and exclude the hilt of the thing. Maybe [Shape], [Rod] or [Blade].

And it'd be a temporary thing. I don't think enchanted items are a thing.

>>27281515
also
>create energy
create energy is breaking laws of physics
its more like gathering fire from nearby source, or creating it from the nether/void or some shit

>>27281484
>>27281515
On top of that, the project/compress circle doesn't make much sense to me. Is project affecting compress, or vice versa, or both at once? What does that mean, and how does it affect your central energy rune? Perhaps just two separate runes for both "project" and "compress", with "small" modifier on each would be better.

I also question the validity of "switch" as a rune. If you were making a device to employ this spell, you could implement a switch that mechanically turns it on and off by breaking/completing the circle, but as a spell in itself being able to turn it off and on during a sustained duration seems like the sort of thing that would require much more complicated coding.

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>>27281504
Semantics. Corrected.
>>27281515
I wanted each energy element to have a part of the control matrix coming off of it's intersection with the primary rune, I found it aesthetically pleasing.

Obviously the handle of the runesaber will need it's own rune spell, to keep it from conducting into the wielder's hands mainly.

>>27281563
Converting mana into energy is a basic thing.

>>27281563
>create energy is breaking laws of physics
Check your name, check the OP, check the other posts in these threads, then come back and tell me how much laws of physics should really apply here.

>>27281563
Well, we can create light/fire via runes already, this is simply creating an energy with properties of fire, lightning and raw light. Closest I could figure to a laser without complex physics and huge rune chains.

>>27281484
>no ordering via corners
You get sustained creation of light, fire and lighting everywhere, while energy at the circle itself get compressed into... is that a verb affecting another verb? Compressing projects, or projecting compress?

And the switch wouldn't work, since no functions yet. You will need two other spells to turn it on and off.

>>27281591
this is science magic, im willing to bend the rules through interpretive dance but the physics god must be soothed

Here's a big thing, particularly for use in games:

Who wins in competition?

If Wizard A shoots a fireball, and Wizard B sets up a fireproof shield, what happens?

Does the faster wizard win? The better drawer? The bigger circle? The wiser wizard? Or just a stalemate if Wizard B makes it in time?

Let's say WizB's shield protects him; but in that time WizA has fired again, but this time he's changed it up to ball lightning. WizB says "fuck guessing elements" and makes a sustained barrier that just blocks everything entering.

Can WizA hit the barrier lots to break it? Call in six mates and have them all drop lighting on it; any effect? Does he have to wait till WizB somehow runs out of "mana" or whatever is powering the spell? What if he draws a spell that has "penetrate(barrier)"?

And is WizB running out of air in a pitch black hemisphere while this goes on?

>>27281656
Well, I'm afraid the physics god is going to have to suck it up for this one, because we've been creating shit from nothing since literally the very first post on this topic.

>>27281623
I didn't realize you had to have a Pedantry rune to be in this thread, I guess I'll leave.

This is sweet as all hell.

Personally I agree that magic doesn't need to be able to do everything, for example target spells. Maybe the runes are more like sentences that convey properties to whatever they are inscribed upon, like "exclude small water" on a tarp makes it rain resistant, yet you can still soak it in a lake to wash it.

A big plot point could be discovering new runes - ones like "universe" or "knowledge" could be so complicated that they are almost impossible to learn, yet the BBEG is well on his way.

>>27281674
I prefer to think of it as converting mana from surrounding area or from the "nether" into various elements.

But can do their own interpretation

>>27281576
you also don't have an order of progression, you use angled shapes for that
it would be smarter to put the projected compression (or the compressed projection see I don't know wich one it is) in an outer layer to make it easier
the switch would be affecting the 'creation' affect, since it probably meant to decide wether or not the energy is flaring up

>>27281706
That's all fine and dandy, but I'm still confused as to why you called out the "create energy" construction but not all the "create fire" that's been flying around since post 1.

>>27281673
it should be possible to create a circle that blocks 'everything' but that would take more mana and run out quicker
on top of that more powerful runes would be harder to come by

>>27281673
>sustained barrier that just blocks everything entering
>What if he draws a spell that has "penetrate(barrier)"?

"What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?"

I personally believes it causes a paradoxical implosion and tears a hole in reality.

>>27281687
It's programming. Pedantry is practically a pastime.

>>27281738
Create fire is just moving energy not making energy from nothing.

>>27281820
create energy is just turning mana into electricity

>>27281738
I just dont like the phrase "Create Energy" and also his spell had some problems, i imagine Create Fire as turn transfer energy into fire.
Though I suppose create energy might be possible, but it would be like reverse engineering the "Nether" by taking fire,lightning etc. and transforming it into energy.

>>27281836
Ah then you want create lightning

>>27281846
That being said, I might be willing to accept a rune for Mana instead of a rune for Energy

>>27281877
Well earlier we discussed a rune that is basically just a battery charger. It moves absorbed mana into a target. With a little effort I can see how you can make a rune that simply stores mana for later use then projects it in a ray of specified length and width. Like a light saber.

>>27281105
honestly, what should be more common?
A rune circle on the ground for throwing fireballs?
And inscription on the hilt of a sword to make it lighter and easier to wield?
Or a charm on the door of an inn that grants good luck?

>>27281877
The whole point up there is to make a magic lightsaber. A lightsaber blade is made of a form of (what is colloquially referred to as) energy that resembles but doesn't exactly line up with fire, light, and electricity. Technically speaking, it'd probably be plasma, but that's maybe a leeetle too advanced a concept for your typical magic-using setting. Just because it's science-magic doesn't mean it's necessarily going to have access to all of our modern-day scientific understanding. I'm seeing this as a magic system for a 19th-century or perhaps, at latest, WWI-era sort of milieu, before the term "plasma" was even coined let alone in common usage.

At any rate, the only real issue I could see being leveled against this would be that "energy" is too vague as something to be created, but the fact that he used lightning, fire, and light to describe what sort of energy-substance this is makes that objection moot.

>>27281980
All three. Basically you could make a rune to do whatever you need done if you new the right runes. Its all in how you build the spell.

What if an incredibly complex spell is created (Like Wish, or Create Life) by using some sort of fractal rune? I'm talking a rune whose lines are comprised of other, smaller runes. Like, for instance, Create Life:

>[organize][elements[hydrogen][carbon][nitrogen][oxygen][phosphorus]]
>[create][aminoacids[guanine][adenine][thymine][cytosine][uracil][fuckton of other aminoacids]]
>[organize aminoacids[create proteins][create dna][create rna][create mitochondrion][etc]]
>[organize subcelular structures[create cell[create euchariote cell[create mammal cell]]]]
>[organize cells[nervous tissue]]
>[sort tissues [create organ[brain]]]
>[place organ [brain[cranium]]
>[create consciousness]
>[imbue brain [consciousness]]

And so on

>>27281691
>Maybe the runes are more like sentences that convey properties to whatever they are inscribed upon, like "exclude small water" on a tarp makes it rain resistant, yet you can still soak it in a lake to wash it.
I like this idea so much.

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>>27281484
How about this modification?

It starts by creating the light/fire/lighting energy then sustaining it, before compressing it into a point. It then projects the compressed energy out a short distance. The ability to switch it on and off are separated into two other spells, to be casted on the sword.

I'm going to be keeping an eye on this for my next Fate game.

>>27282008
>[sort tissues [create organ[brain]]]
>[create consciousness]

These by themselves would be immensely complex runes if we're playing it that way. Even if you have the neurons made separately, the way you need to organize them to get a functioning brain is ludicrously complex.

And consciousness...figuring the details of that one out is one of the biggest philosophical conundrums of all time.

>>27282000
A well thought out argument anon and i appreciate it.

Im thinking more a modern science magic world where people have developed a wealth of science magic knowledge and plasma would be possible , just highly unstable for anything short of a high caliber alchemist/magician what-have-you.

Also if he hadnt used lightning,fire, and light to describe it he would have been left with "Energy" and i didnt like that.

Can you use runes to modify the runic language?

Could someone design a circle that will strip all magical meaning from a rune, rendering it powerless forever?

>>27282071
Better off using a rune circle to

((Bind(soul))-> (target))-[sustained]

>>27282055
target isn't a focus, that would be overpowered
instead it's a modifier that gives you control over the relevant focus, what you want is sort of the same except a different type of control
maybe the switch should be a modifier to create
or maybe there should be one other rune that blocks the mana flow to this one that you can break and remake quickly with a moving part

>>27281798
>>27281673

So at a certain "Master" level, duels become a lot more about mana management, and ingenuity rather than what runes you know.

>>27282127
I like that. Honestly it makes more sense that it should work like that to me.

>>27281656

>bend the rules through interpretive dance.

Best. Bard. Ever.

A practical consideration: How are these things drawn, to ensure that a half-drawn spell isn't complete enough to activate?

>>27281798

I would suspect they just cancel each other out.

>>27280643
I haven't been a part of this project, but this thread caught my eye because it looks remarkably similar to a system of spellcasting I've been working on.

In my system, there are two components to a spell, the runes and the words. Words are "drawn" in the air in front of the caster while the words are spoken elements. Many simple runes require no spoken elements at all, but those that do operate on a "truename" system. Knowing a thing's truename is incredibly useful for a spellcaster because it means they can target their spells specifically at that thing. But even if you don't know the true name of a specific bear (just for example) you might know the truename for the creature type "bear". So for a "towards" rune you might speak "ursa" (or whatever) and your spell-object would move towards the nearest bear. Similarly you could have the rune target "mammal" or "vertebrate" or "animal" as well, each grouping having its own truename (though in these cases the caster himself would likely qualify as the closest matching subject)

>>27282127
Or maybe they can use stupidly complex spells to trip up their opponent.

"I make this barrier that blocks everything and nullifies all modifiers of anything trying to penetrate it, and if the targets have the ability to nullify any change to their modifiers it will redefine the term "modifier" into "attributes" and attempt to nullify all attributes and...."

>>27282201
It wouldn't be fair to the barrier though, since the spell will succeeded its objective of "destroying" the barrier. Paradoxes like these are not easy to resolve.

Better to just create an explosion in reality and kill/remove magic from both casters.

>>27282275
The point is that such a spell would take a great deal more Mana than a simpler one. You CAN do that, it just wouldn't last long in a duel. That approach works better for "magical engineers" than "magical warriors".

>Captcha: 5831 2289962
YES CAPTCHA- PURE INFORMATION

>>27282192
Unless the mage decides when they fire, I suppose that we'd first have to quantify just what is the treshold beyond which lines qualify as sufficiently different from the background to fire.

For example, let's say that I draw an array in black on black. Does it fire?
The surface is black basalt, and I draw in basalt dust. Does it fire?
I use a pencil. Still black on black, and rock on rock. Does it fire?
Et cetera.

I expect that a lot of mages meet premature ends trying to find out the boundaries for such things.

Also, what about natural arrays? I.e. can runes formed by a freak accident without any will or intent behind them fire?

It could make things very dangerous, given that they're bound to be countless possible runes. Who's to say that the wind currents above your circle won't form a rune and bug your array to hell?

Another reason to test the limits.

>>27282318
Or the blast causes damage to the shield which is shown by a large dip in mana. Multiple hits can cause it to fail.

Now say he has his shield up, what happens if you now cause a stone spear to erupt under his feet? Would it work?

>>27282342
Eh, I always thought wizards as neckbeards who take immerse pride in their own intellect and ingenuity. Doing things in stupidly complex ways just seems more "wizardly" then just slinging fireballs.

>>27282192
Scribes that hoard magical knowledge (usually in the employ/apprenticeship of a patron Mage) use a syntactical script like we do. That or draw out everything but don't use the runes, use -insert English equivalent language here- or even a cipher to keep the knowledge safe.

Personally I like the idea of a syntactical script, as that allows the mage to produce theoretical spells even if he doesn't know the actual runes for such.

>>27282192
Well, if we go by the rule that a spell must contain at minimum two circles, one enclosing the innermost rune signifying the primary object of the spell and one enclosing the spell as a whole, it's not too hard. Your first rune does nothing by itself -- it's just one circle, not a complete spell. From there you add your modifying terms, each of which is a rune or compound rune connected to the central rune. For a basic spell like that, you shouldn't have to worry at all until you draw the final circle circumscribing the whole thing.

It gets a little trickier if you're using nested circles, but not too bad -- just gotta make sure to draw a line out to a modifier before you close your middle circle.

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>>27282394
I don't remember if this was ever decided officially, but the general populace has some capacity to utilize magic.

>>27282357
>natural arrays
>mfw
It would probably be limited by the amount of ambient mana in the area, but still that's horrifying.

>>27282457
Basically its dangerous as fuck so wizards do programming and tech support

>>27282457
>ambient mana in the area

Leylines. Actually, it could be really cool if, say, different types of leylines actually stimulated the natural emergence of runes in things like the rock and soil and wind. A volcano lies along the leyline of magma because the leyline of magma creates magma runes along its path.

>>27282386
But, didn't the spell has the specific ability to penetrate the barrier?

As for the stone spear, that depends on how magic work in that setting. If it works by direct interaction (like forces in real life), such as sending "magic waves" to the stone to create the stone spear, it will fail. If it doesn't give a shit about physics the slightest, it can succeed, I guess.

>>27281484
...is that a lightbulb?

Would it be possible to create a magic rune which purpose is to create new runes at random by giving it some sort of rune library/database and imbuing it with a syntax system?

>>27282542
As he has it? Pretty much, yes. It's a lightbulb.

>>27282501
It did penetrate it to an extent. That's why I don't like that so called paradox. In reality something that cuts anything hitting something uncutable would probably just result in it still cutting but not cutting very well. Like knocking it you could still erode the shield.

Unless you specifically make it a paradox in which case an explosion with knock back and backlash hits everyone in the area.

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>>27282479
So then we get into a Class system that defines what role you play in the party?

>Wizards: brainy as fuck, they have bonuses against backlash
>Warriors: brawny as fuck, they have bonuses to mana
>Engineers: ingenious as fuck, they have bonuses to spell inscription

What else?

>>>27282496
That idea is cool as hell. Reminds me of >>27282008 this anon's idea.

>yfw when gods of this setting are impossibly complex meta-runescripts

>>27282547
In theory, yes, but the array required would be unimaginably complex and would probably eat mana like peanuts.

>>27282547
Is it possible for a program to write new programs at random? I guess so, but it can take ages to get a useful one and has a chance of fucking up everything.

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So, am i doing this stuff correctly?
captcha vassals strais

>>27282641
Yes. You won't produce anything of use though.

>>27282641
In this case literally fucking up everything. I have no want to experience a blue screen crash from inside the computer.

>>27282662
>The magic rune creates a rune that causes reality to BSOD.

>>27282650
This shit is getting too complex for me.

>>27282650
Some of your circles are touching and overlapping other circles.

I don't want to find out what that does.

>>27282698
And we haven't gotten to the point of making REALLY complex spells yet.

>>27282650
You are missing an earth/stone rune

and there may be some conflicting movement/command runes

>>27282708
I have a feeling it would act like a short circuit where the mana jumps into the next section before the previous one has completed. Boom.

>>27282650
I don't see any shapes; that might be important. not sure, just speaking at a glance.

>>27282698
Plebian.

That being said, >>27282650
I don't think Im understanding why you have a 'not-levitation' section in there, or the most outside circle. You also aren't giving it any 'life' or 'intelligence', it would basically be a humanoid lump of earth that... does something... How would it obey the creator exactly?

So. It's been a little less than nine hours since OP first posted this idea.
In that time, /tg/ has turned it into a freaking science. Jesus, you people amaze me sometimes.

>>27282650
Let's see. Looks good to me, except for some of the circles being a bit cluttered. It's hard to tell if [shape{humanoid}] is connected to [sustain] or that other circle. Is that [exclude:levitate] rune to keep the golem from floating away? And what's the [levitate{area}] rune for?

...We're all total dorks, aren't we?

>>27282318

Well, the blast wouldn't go THROUGH the barrier, just break it. If you say "penetrate", then it would break a hole relative to its size through the barrier and continue on. This just causes both of them to cease to be.

>>27282764
I guess it would create a humanoid shaped lump that can't lift off the ground, would obey its master, but lacks any ability to move.

so he done fucked up

>>27282650
I don't quite know what you're doing with all these exclusions, but the basic theory is mostly right. However, this would essentially give you a constantly sustained spell which would burn out. If you want to create something permenant you'd need to put in a life rune, probably with an eternal tag in there. Upfront cost would be higher but you'd end up with a minion that could travel.

>>27282764
ya, i probably should've left some space between circles, but they look so empty when theres free soace
>>27282757
I made the not-levitation because i lift the area its casted in out of the ground before to shape it there
>>27282755
It should be shape(human)
>>27282797
I thought that im excluding it from being dispelled, by anyone but the caster

>>27282650
Lemme try interpreting it.

Compress a targeted area of stone.
Levitate everything in an area around the targeted area.
Shape it into humanoid form.
Sustain it.
Stop levitation.
Make it obey master. (danger: can mean making the master obey it instead)
And the last part: Not release from those not the master? I dunno.

You will need some way to give it life and sentience though. All you get is a human-shaped rock.

>>27282797
Would still eat fuckloads of mana though.

>>27282641
Actually, I was thinking of a kind of self-researching rune for lazy wizards.

Make the rune run inside an anti-magic zone at an established speed, let's say 1 rune/hour. The rune creates a new "formula", but, due to the AMZ around it, it has no effect. Then, the wizard copies it, studies it and decides if it's worth keeping, and, if so, what changes/corrections can be made to make it useful.

Of course, it would be ideal if, as time passes, new runes, words and functions could be added to the circle. I'd try to draw it, but I'm on mobile.

>>27282782
Maybe there should be a circle for each part of the golem, and the head has the rune for [intelligence], [control{limbs}] (or something, I don't know), and [obey={caster}].

>>27282836
Would be a good idea to make the spell then be able to activate it from outside the amz for product testing

>>27282836
>Wizard Applied Physicist
>Oh god Magical Big Bang Theory
>Oh god Magical Sheldon
>There is no god

>>27282836
So, kinda like a machine that invents things and learn over time right?

Oh god, we are going to end up with runic-coded magical Artificial Intelligence aren't we.

>>27282887
What are gods anon?

>>27282887
See what >>27282580 said about gods

>>27282887
It's the skeleton computer all over again!

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>>27282877
>Magical TBBT

>>27282894
>>27282904
>The true form of gods are galaxy-sized runic arrays

>>27282930
I'd love to fit 'celestial' magic into this somehow.

How would Divination work in this setting, /tg/?

>>27282930
Physics manifesting space rune god creates the universe

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>>27282887
>Deep Rot is nothing but a bloody huge runic circle in some underground facility
>The RAM never ends

>>27282887
Pic related

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>>27280402
God it's already onto a second thread. I can only make this one post before work since I can't acess 4chan at work.

People seem to have two problems from the previous thread.

1. It's suppose to be finnicky and take time. You're making fucking magic. Realistically you would. I don't expect a party of 4 mages. Just murderhobos knowing a few spells.

2. Energy activates it. Any energy. Kinetic, electric, light, heat. And how much energy you put it, depends on how well it goes and how long it lasts if you have the sustain rune.

Sorry I haven't had the chance to read this thread, I'll be back in six hours.

You guys amaze me.

You'd ease a lot of "phenomenal cosmic power" problems by making mana costs more prominent. More complex effects (runes describing complicated phenomena, or even just many interrelated spell circles) would cost more mana than simpler ones.

Another factor would be sustained spells only working until all available mana was gone. I'm imagining a clever but weak wizard outsmarting the evil sorcerer BBEG with a simple "create light" infinite loop that just burns away all his mana reserves, leaving him vulnerable to the fighter.

Also, do circles stick around after casting? Or do they burn up? You could probably solve most problems of game time with magic scrolls. Think a circle inscribed on paper, everything's ready to go except the final circle hasn't been closed yet. That COULD lead to players having hundreds of spells just lying around, though. There'd have to be a way to limit that somehow.

>>27282930
No

The galaxies *are* runic arrays.

>>27283000
That was the idea the whole time. Omniscience.exe takes up a near infinite amount of mana (And thus, time) to complete, whereas Create Campfire is simple and takes a couple seconds.

>>27283010
I thought that's what he meant.

>>27282997
no
you are MY nigga
for you have brought something amazing to us through your hard work and creativity. We just ran with it

>>27283000
Circles should vanish after completing.

Also, yeah, the wizard could have hundreds of spells lying around, but when you've burned all the ambient mana you have hundreds of useless pieces of paper lying around.

Mana crystals should be expensive and fragile and only suited for things which aren't critically important.

>>27282997
>any energy
Nigga we had solved that problem already and then you went and messed it up.

>>27282997
If this doesn't jump to thread 3 and get a doc compiling the rules by the time you're back, i'll be surprised and wholly disappointed

>>27282997
Any energy?

So if I write a rune circle on a rock, and drop the rock from a great height...

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>>27283042
Ran with it as a black man with a bike...

>>27283098
That is an excellent analogy and I shall be using it from now on

>>27283056
You mean expensive and fragile and only suited for things which ARE critically important?

Like protecting cities for example. Although I would imagine that you'd want to establish cities/castles etc ON leylines.

>>27283056
Paper circles maybe. Carved circles and painted ones on stone should be fine.

>>27282997
The spell uses external energy sources instead of some sort of mana? Could be a cool setting.

>Carving ignition spells onto gauntlets and activating them by punching

>>27283056
I don't know. I feel like it would be easy to inbue magic into items, just only certain things can hold it. Hell absorb mana then inbue target with mana is a super simple circle. Make this the apprentices job.

>>27283121
Im pretty sure i remarked on using projection rune to move an enite spell onto paper or a glove w.e surface etc.

>>27282887
even better, A rune that creates a golem that draws a rune in the ground, creating a golem, repeat.

the golems are also programed to make their function (draw runes) as master, and they are made to protect master. ergo, if you try to stop them, they protect their function.

by killing you.

>>27282650
Here is a bit I did in the last thread. here >>27277742 to just give life to a body and get it under control, if that helps. Because yours is a bit of a mess.

>>27283148
An ideal setting for a Muscle Wizard

>>27283056
I think to get a Circle drawn some kind of ritual has to be conducted, and to activate it, so to speak, you slap it out or complete it with a pen or whatever. I just think you should have a finite amount of spells you can prepare each day, for RPing reasons.

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>>27283156
>Magic version of Grey Goo

>>27282997
>2. Energy activates it. Any energy. Kinetic, electric, light, heat. And how much energy you put it, depends on how well it goes and how long it lasts if you have the sustain rune.


I prefer ambient mana. Thanks though.

>>27283056
If circles vanish after completing, how do you stop an ongoing effect?
>make a circle that converts touching matter into gravity
>rage to the grave

There should probably be a rule added that basically acts as an energy input area

Or if the entire circle is the energy input, then there should be some way to prime it.

Conceivably, the latter can be done by just making circles in pieces and then pressing them together.

>>27283148
>punches into fire
How about kinetic energy=>light? Carve that shit on the side of a castle wall and laugh at weapons.

>>27283194
This shit needs its own 1d4page

>>27283180
Makes sense to me. You could also draw one on the spot but it would require int rolls. And the DM would have to check it.

Heh I can see a spell for opening target door being used to eviscerate someone. Heh.

>>27282819
>It should be shape(human)
he means shapes with edges, I assume. To see what influences what.

What actually /happens/ when you fuck up?

Could you weaponize fucked up spells via remote triggering?

>>27282997

I really think mana works better. Harder to get ahold of, so it limits PCs from just using solar power to flood a dungeon with fire or some other broken infinite loop

>>27283216
when you fuck up?

Gandalf the grey or some other level 10+ wizard appears, slaps you, and calls you out on being a non-magical pleb.

you then get poked to death by red arrows because you forgot a closing circle.

>>27283194
>>27282096
>>27282000
>>27281877
>>27281846
>>27281738
>>27281706
>>27281674
>>27281656

This "Eneryg or Mana" argument was already more or lesss fleshed out.

>>27283216
Different things screw up differently. Make a spell to move rocks? Where do you move them? If not stated rocks fly randomly all over.

Don't have your gravity spell targeted right? Oops gravity well sploched blood death all over.

Reality warps etc.

>>27283245
yeah. It was fleshed out in the last thread.

>>27283203
> If circles vanish after completing, how do you stop an ongoing effect?
Presumably, if the effect is ongoing, the circle isn't done. So you either wait until mana runs out, or you try to counter the spell effect. Or just, like, destroy the physical circle somehow (setting paper on fire, using an earthquake to rupture stone, etc)

>>27283284
He was referencing the anon who said circles should dissapear after use

>>27283216
Given the nature of what we are discussing, in which magic depends on a very specific set of sequential instructions, it would depend on what you screwed up. Didn't close the large circle? It won't work. Forgot a rune? You will have to interpret the formula, and, from there, work out what's going to happen. Inscribed the wrong rune? You're probably in for a world of pain. Miscarved a rune, forgetting some small detail? Ditto.

>>27283284
There was reference to a rune of counter or dispelling that would be placed over the entire circle(s) that would destroy/break the circuit

>>27283216
If you make an error programming, normally the compiler will refuse to compile, or if it does, the program will crash or just stops and takes up memory.

So I guess the magic will just fizzle or starts draining mana till it is out. Unless you performed the magic equivalence of division by zero...

I wonder if you could write a computer program to translate between diagrams and syntax shorthand. Since we're using it as a programming language anyway, computers would be better at revealing bugs than people.

>>27283216
Well, if you just fuck up on the interpretation the spell runs as normal, but you don't get the effect you wanted.

Try to use a broken circle and it just fizzles out.

But if you try to activate a circle that doesn't make any sense, then the magic starts to form but doesn't know what the fuck to do, so you get memory leaks and overflow errors manifesting as mental backlash and explosions.

>>27283422
Memory leak = mental backlash

Lol pun heh

>>27283367
Are magic rune circles compiled? Is there even some kind of error catching, or does it just happily run along until it hits an malformed command, at which point if you're lucky it fizzles out and if you're unlucky its behavior becomes undefined, which usually means it's doing something catastrophically awful.

Also, it's important to distinguish syntax errors from logic errors. If you write a spell that tries to do something impossible it crashes but you might fuck up in a way that still creates a well-formed spell, just one that doesn't do what you intended.

>>27283329
In hopes of establishing some ground rules for Mana id like to see what is pupular

For sources of Mana im thinking a few things

1.Ambient Mana in the surrounding environment

2. All mana comes from a "Nether" which is then transferred into various elements and so forth through the runes

3. A power source(disregarding Nether); Regents, mana potions, Lay-lines throughout the planet, the mana inside yourself

4. Other feel free to input

>>27280422
you,
i like you.

>>27283470
Mana from leylines and blood.

>>27283470

I don't see the difference between 1 and 2, but that's my favourite.

>>27283148
You may now, mechanically, cast Fist.

Enjoy.

>>27283194
Why not both?

Ambient mana powers the spell, but ACTIVATING it requires the input of a certain threshold of energy. The spell doesn't automatically activate when the circle is finished, but rather when it's triggered by the application of energy. Smack it, expose it to bright light, shout at it, heat it up.

Heck, you could maybe even have the circle designed in such a way that only certain energy types set it off. For example, a "create water" rune set off by heat, for automated fire extinguishing as a simpler alternative to a sustained "exclude fire" spell.

>>27283470
I like ambient mana that floats around a bit. With the option of making mana sinks for items or emergency situations. Plus you can substitute mana for sacrifices.

>>27283465
Pretty much.

The array runs from the inside out until it hits a breaking point or finds a nonsense rune structure, at which point bad things happen. If you were trying to do one thing and accidentally do something else, it still works, but you don't get what you want.

>>27283470
Lifespan. Doesn't have to be the caster's.

So, what system/game is going to use this?

After getting a proper copendium(sp?) of runes, we could use a mana cost per/of rune/combination, mana per level, mana regen etc

This could become a very fun duel-esque game on it's own.

>>27283499
That sounds good.

>>27283504
Yeah, I like the idea of most mana being ambient in the air and coming from ley lines, but having blood also be a source of mana which can be released and used in a circle.

>>27283536
Which basically equates to powering the spell on an entropy battery. It gets what would have equated to how ever many years worth of life the sacrifice was cut short of.

>>27283524
Mana per rune, depending on the rune, and complexity as well as size of the rune/circle intertwining the circles can lead to more efficient or less efficient mana consumption

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my second attempt at making a circle. something easy, no new grounds will be broken here, sorry. I just hope it works

>>27283524
If this is to be a system, everyone should be a magic user to make use of the custom spell system. The warrior will be a magic knight, etc. The world itself will be filled with all sort of magictech running on rune-scipts, and mana is extracted from ley lines and is running out.

>>27283593
FIRE FIST

>>27283470
I like Ley-lines that give off ambient mana over a certain area. This can be crystalized into mana-batteries which are expensive depending on size (bigger crystal, more mana).

>>27283567
>Per Rune
>Per Operation
>Per Meta-level (Number of circles?)

>>27283367
>>27283422
>>27283438

It's very hard to get a memory leak from when you try to run a nonsensical program, since nonsensical programs don't compile. Memory leaks happen when you think you're properly deallocating all the memory you allocate, but you fucked up and you're not. This doesn't necessarily mean the program will gobble up all the available memory unless the leak is in a section of code that gets called repeatedly, but since those are the places where it's easiest to fuck up that's usually the case.

So if the spell uses the caster's attention or concentration as its memory, a memory leak is pretty horrifying, and a "oh shit this program is using all of my memory" style leak is seriously bad news.

>>27283499
I like it. I like it a bunch. Activate it with energy, draining mana. This way we still can create energy with a spell, which is one of the most important ideas

Ok ive think ive got a general consensus.

Rune will be powered by Ambient Mana that leaks from leylines.

Leylines being the source of magic they are will either be dominated by cities, ominous places such as volcanoes etc.

BBEG will that dont have domination of leylines will have access to runes allowing the use of blood/mass sacrifice as a source of mana OR a rune of nether that allows access and power from the "Nether"

Any major objections?

How do I make a rune forkbomb?
Is it possible?

>>27283603
well, energy, but yeah, thats what I was going for. Any problems arising here? It seems awfully simple, but I think it works.

>>27283624
no. Just add to that that small amounts of that mana can be incased in crystals so we have things like potions. Thats for RP crunch mostly.

>>27283607
I am learning SO MUCH about computers in this thread.

In this context Memory=Mana? Rune-scripts use up Mana and if you can cause a Mana-leak if you try to use faulty logic? Or is it the syntax?

>>27283624
As long as the activate with energy bit is kept in, sure.

I didn't consider the possibilities of other dimensions.

Imagine a rune so complex it has to spread the load of its calculations across multiple dimensions.

>>27283624
We're not here to discuss the setting, we're here to talk about the mechanics of this magic system.

>>27283633
whats a forkbomb?

>>27281101
I know this is old, but sustained should be a subcircle to dome.

>>27283624
Regents; Crystalized mana, mana potions, storing in a person/body

Feel free to say another storing method

>>27283593
It does.

hey now, wait a minute. I'm currently making a system of woldwide leyline networks, and a unit of mana p/sec. don't make all my work in vein.

>>27283634
None that I can see. But we don't know much about the system yet cause OP is still away.

>>27283668
Again, you're starting to talk about 'gods'.

>>27283669
Why not both?

>>27283624
What is it with you and the nether

I haven't seen a single other person mention it thus far.

>>27283669
Im just to set a base so everyone doesnt build pillars of salt

So how are the spells activated? also, depending on what order the runes are drawn, could it backfire if activated prematurely by accident?

>>27283669
>every thread can only have one thing discussed at a time. Image boards dont facilitate simultanious discussion

I dont even want to greentext because its rude and I wanna be friendly in this awesome thread, but greentexting is so darn efficient.

not that guy btw

>>27283624
>>27283704
Yeah, I really don't think that's necessary.

We've got mana, ambiently present in the world, flowing through ley lines.

We've got blood sacrifices as an alternative to environmental mana.

The whole "nether" thing is needless.

>>27283686
>>27283698

I will fistpump then.


WITH ENERGY FIIIIIST!

>>27283710
Im thinking spells are activated upon completion of runes, ubt that brings up another mechanic

How does the spell know when its done?

>>27283711
I'm just saying, this should be discussed as a mechanic and not as a setting so as to not limit it.

>>27283682
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork_bomb
A program that replicates itself.

>>27283604

number of nested circles could be an effect thing. like, runes in the third circle cost +1 or x2 mana each, fourth circle are +2 or x3, etc.

>>27283633
A rune that draws a sustained rune without an endpoint on the target? Maybe it can replicate itself side way across the target's skin as well to drain mana faster.

>>27283704
let him. He can have some input too.

>>27283728
At this point i dont intend it as a common source of mana.

I was just giving it as a option for BBEG

Does anyone have a catalog of all the different "runes" that we've come up with?

>>27283740
it runs through its circle and then burns up/explodes.

>>27283740
The spell doesn't know anything at all.

The circle just works from the inside out until it comes to a command which stops it or it crashes.

>>27283744
there was some discussion about that earlier anon

i dont think im gonna touch on that just yet

>>27283758
That's what blood sacrifice is for. Is that not enough?

>>27283758
>>27283742
This isn't really a setting being discussed so much as an overlying magic system.

>>27283744
Lol make a spell that enscribes a rune onto target which keeps replicating on their skin and draining their life with each new copy.

Love this idea

>>27283699
I didn't know gods were verboten.

>>27283665
Well memory=mana is a trickier analogy since mana is also the stuff that powers our spells, while software uses memory but doesn't run on it.

Which is to say, every spell technically leaks mana since it uses mana (allocates memory) for some effect rather than returning it to the environment.

If we're using the more colloquial "oh shit this program is eating all my memory" definition of memory leak, though, then a mana leak would be any spell that rapidly drains mana from the environment until there's nothing left (like what I imagine >>27283633 wants to do with their forkbomb).

Larry Niven actually wrote a really neat story that featured a spell exactly like this called The Magic Goes Away, where one of the characters proves that magic is a finite and non-renewable resource by inventing a 'mana leak' spell that rapidly exhausts all the mana in the local area.

>>27283767
Well think of what may hapen when you draw a fire rune in a circle at the center and it expands out because there arent any other runes besides the fire rune

>>27283710
>>27283740
The syntax itself tells you when a spell is done -- once you have a "complete sentence", so to speak. Your two circles, innermost being the primary thing the spell is acting on, the outermost circumscribing the whole shebang. See >>27282429.

However, since OOP chimed in with the bit about nonmana energy being involved, there seems to be a growing consensus behind the idea that a completed spell doesn't activate immediately, but rather stays dormant until triggered by the application of sufficient activation energy, possibly restricted to a certain type of energy by the spell itself.

>>27283800
actually ignore this

i need some food and a break

>>27283796
>Zombie plague
>Zombies are gaunt tattooed corpses.

>>27283800

if there's nothing to command it, a lone fire rune would probably just spark and that's it

>>27283800
That's what we call a logic error.

The spell fizzles.

>>27283796
Indeed.

Though your average wizard would probably have a low-mana counter for that.

>>27283799
That makes sense. Clever BBEGs create magical dead-zones before raids.

>>27283797
They aren't. I just wanted to point out the similarity, that's all. If you want to design a god, you're more than welcome. You'd probably want to write out the syntax first.

tattooing spells to yourself would be potentially risky; if you ever ran out of mana crystals and the atmosphere was dry, you could potentially whither away pretty fast

nice way to kill the fighter enchanted to be invulnerable.

>>27283855
True it wouldn't be super hard to counter. Unless you put it on a peasant and have it spread by touch and send all mana drained to your mana receptical. Now you have black plague as a sacrificial altar.

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>>27283864
>That makes sense. Clever BBEGs create magical dead-zones before raids.

just hide a few repeating Goalpost-mover runes all over the place that slowly drain the mana, then attack.

>>27283875
Runic tattoos would be reserved for extremely powerful wizards or suicide troops/highly expendable people.

Living bombs, walking fires, "supermen" that burn out after one or two activations, etc.

Fuck, even servants or magically lobotomized slaves. Humans acting as keys and whatnot.

>>27283799
>>27283665
The equivalency to memory in this system is the surface into which the spell is carved. And since, as of now, spells don't have any reason to store variables (i.e. carve some new stuff on their own), there's zero chance of a memory leak happening during execution.

>>27283799
>>27283864
The issue is that the size of the circle dictates the size of the area in which it draw mana from.

So in order to create a significant mana leak zone, the circle would need to be fucking huge. It's okay if you just want to do it to say, a single room or a small building, but anything larger and you just run into issues with broken circles and terrain getting in the way.

I mean, if you want to plan for 50 years and then unleash a mana drain rune over the capital city, that's all well and good, but eventually some asshat is going to scuff your rune and the spell is going to be broken.

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>>27283499
>Shout at it
>Be hotblooded wizard
>Make giant voice controlled golem
>Shout the names of attacks at a selection of preprepared runes
>We Super Robot Now