My Favorite Magic Systems
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ค. 2022
- For 16 free meals with HelloFresh across 7 boxes AND 3 free gifts, use code MERPHY16 at bit.ly/3csPVuo !
My last Magic Systems Video: • My Favorite Magic Systems
My second channel: / @merphynapierreviews
WHERE TO FIND ME:
► My Patreon: / merphynapier
► Reading Spreadsheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
► Instagram: / merphynapier
► E-mail: merphynapier@gmail.com - บันเทิง
For 16 free meals with HelloFresh across 7 boxes AND 3 free gifts, use code MERPHY16 at bit.ly/3csPVuo !
This is the best Hello Fresh ad I've ever seen. They should use it as a regular commercial.
Im pretty sure that you would absolutely adore Naruto
You might like childed of the whale, its floating islands ok in a weird landscape.
Mermaid saga fom legendary takahashi who, its dark mermaids and the horror elements with romance?! Good. And immortality
Children of the seal you will likely like, its about the mysteries of the sea, nature, aw, magic?!
The magus bride has gaelic nature magic and spirits, its not the ocean, but nature.
@@marocat4749 She read Mermaid Saga a couple of months ago. I only know of one of your suggestions, but they all sound intriguing. I also love The Ancient Magus' Bride :)
I'm a bit late to comment but if you're looking magic systems that are less structured and more in tune with nature then you should check out the Earthsea series, I think you'd really like it. Its an older series which really shows in the prose which seem sometimes more like a fairytale or a poem. The story never gets bogged down, to the point it sometimes moves so fast I found it a bit jarring at first as I'm so used to modern fantasy.
Sailing is a major part of the series (the world is a series of islands) and for the time it was written it was unique in fantasy that the main characters weren't white (few are in that world at first though it does get expanded on).
I found the series a really unique read and have always thought it would click well with you.
Also fun fact that Studio Ghibli made a film, directed by Goro Miyazaki, inspired by combining a bunch of the series plots but Ursula K. Le Guin sees it as a totally different story while Hayao Miyazaki criticized his sons debut film saying ' He's not an adult yet' (Yikes).
Impressive, she didn't forgot that bungee gum has the properties of both rubber and gum!
Hard to remember but I got there 😆
@@merphynapier42 When you said that..I just had to comment that hahaha
Wait…wait…wait…so let me get this straight, rubber and gum?
Yummy. Rubber and gum. What a delicious combination over here!
Nen system: Absurdly intricate, making it possible to create unique abilities with no limits on creativity.
Main character: I'll use it to punch really really hard.
Why go around problems and obstacles when you can just break through them. ~Gon probably
@@benign_oracle8875 Saitama in a nuttshell.
Taking lessons from Goku I see.
@@s3studios597 didn't Goku have techniques?
That's just enhancers, specialists are the ones that get the most intricate
My favorite part of Avatar's magic system is how deeply ingrained it is in the world. The different elements give each region a specific culture, a specific dress, specific advantages/disadvantages down to being able to deliver mail quickly to being able to build anywhere because you can literally fly.
thats why worldbuilding is such an important aspect and how semi realistic it is.
plus different areas in the world have different types of bending styles.
You'll love Mushishi. Every episode is about exploring the magic system and its world in a scientific way but at the same time its most mysterious and every next adventure could be anything.
Yeah I’ve thought about that a lot. That show is the perfect combination of soft and hard magic systems, and it’s done beautifully.
I wish I watched that when it was on Netflix. Now I can’t find it anywhere and manga is sold out too 😞
@@Morfeusm Manga is great but it really comes to life in anime with vibrant colors and haunting music
I'd also recommend anyone who likes Mushishi to check out Mononoke. Not Princess Mononoke, a show titled just "Mononoke" very similar vibes to mushishi but leaning more into the horror side of things and more akin to ghost stories but just as captivating, with a stunning rather avant garde art style on top of it.
One of the best and more pure representations of Shinto and Animism there is! I love Mushishi
Sometimes I wish I could wipe my memory of some of these series so I could get to experience the world and magic systems all over again
*I LOVE THE MAGIC IN THE NASUVERSE, IT IS INFINITELY FASCINATING💯*
I comment here because otherwise nobody will see it :'v
I feel like that with HxH
How do you know you didn't already do that?
No cap
Nen truly is a fantastic system. Togashi has a great mind.
Considering he's also the guy who gave us Yu Yu Hakusho, I'm not surprised. (Although Yu Yu's magic system is nowhere near as complicated... I think.)
@@costelinha1867 yep, nen is way more complex and the fights with it can at times be conducted like a chess game so to speak.
Shattered my screen clicking on this video so fast
My top 5 list:
1. Alchemy from Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
2. Nen from Hunter x Hunter
3. Bending from Avatar The Last Airbender
4. Allomancy from Mistborn
5. Chakra from Naruto
And I love BioChroma from Warbreaker
And I also like Cursed Energy and techniques from Jujutsu Kaisen
there are so many its so difficult to put them in a top 5 list
try one piece
@@xandex69One Piece with their diverse power systems of Devil Fruits, Sword Mastery, Martials Arts, and Haki takes the cake
It amplifies it's theme of freedom for there is more than one way to fight to achieve your goals.
@@jankyyard5610 yeh
Chakra is the concept of indian mythology
@@VitaminProtein-ip9vy ok
This video is so awesome, the music the way you're describing the systems, the thumbnail, the ad, the transition to the ad, did I miss anything 🤣🤣 thanks for all you do merphy, and how awesome you are,hope you and the family are well.
Oh wow that’s so kind of you!! Thank you so much Jake!
@@merphynapier42 you're very welcome
@@merphynapier42 Hard Magic Systems are the Best.
If anyone has Quesitons about Nen: Just ask me.
@@slevinchannel7589 There are pros and cons to both soft and hard magic. Hard is not the best. As Merph brings several times in this video, soft magic has a long and venerable history making readers feel wonder.
Nen is sooo good and it feels soo grounded like its an actual real thing that can exist to the point that I placed a leaf on a gLass and wondered what my nen would be lmao.
Hahahahahha really
I feel like hunter definitely has one of the best systems, the hexagon of power, the system is so creative it is simply limited by the imagination of the wielder, for instance conjurers have to be very creative since most of the things you would want to conjure you can just go out and buy so most have to invoke restrictions
Merphy "2 years ago Merphy didn't know anything"
Me "How dare you insult Merphy ... Merphy?!"
The two Avatar Kyoshi novels expand the magic system even more, i highly recommend them ^^
And the Dawn of Yangchen expands the world and politics.
The Yangchen book came out 10 days ago.
@@amandanorris8 didn't know it! Thanks! :D
Those are not canon.
@@sjajsjsja4523 where did you see that? I figured with the creation of avatar studios, they may create a new “expanded universe” but I haven’t seen anything other than a tweet from the studio that said the comics/books were “mostly canon”
I love powers that have the properties of both rubber AND gum. It’s such an amazing and unheard of concept.
That's great. But did you know that Hisoka's power is bungee gum.
And more importantly Bungee gum posseses the properties of both rubber and gum
@@zerodlaw9622 Wow. I did not know that Bungee Gum has the properties of both rubber AND gum! I am now adding to my knowledge that Bungee Gum has the properties of both rubber and gum. Thank you!
Nen is one of my all time favorite system, and I think Togashi created it so brilliant and very complex..
Since a lot of my favorites are already mentioned here, I like the magic in Chainsaw Man. Devils being made from the fears of humans and being able to make contracts with these beings to take power from them. The magic system isn’t that complex, but it allows for some gut-wrenching scenes.
Edit: Stands from JoJo’s are great and should be mentioned here.
Both Stands and Hamon are great magic systems.
For me personally, Nen and Jojo stands + Hamon are about one thing on such a list, since it seems Nen might've potentially been largely inspired by Jojo's stands. They'd probably therefore stand (heh) on the same place in a ranking is what I mean.
My favorite power systems are nen, stands from jojo, and curse energy from jujutsu kaisen, they all have so many unique abilities and are used in so many creative ways, they also dont break the established limits of the power system.
I honestly have such massive respect for a well crafted magic/ability/power system in any form of writing/media.
When I do my own writing, the thing I struggle with the most by far is coming up with an ability system that is interesting without being overly complex. It's really hard to strike that perfect balance without things either feeling incredibly vague and uninspired or being overly complex and hard to grasp to the point of seeming convoluted and working however it needs to work. Stuff like HxH that can strike that perfect middle ground is so fantastic to look at and see how creatively it can be used while still making sense without going over your head.
Emperor's Soul has my favourite magic system of all time. I love how Sanderson uses it as the driving force for the novella instead of it just being an accessory.
I really like the magic system of Witch Hat Atelier. It has both misery to it and some rules. And the magic itself leads the plot so that's cool too.
Song of the Sea is just a 90 minute movie, but the entire journey is woven around the magic of the ocean. It's such a beautiful experience, and I also love how it explores Gaelic Folklore, my culture that is so often overlooked (I'm 50% Irish).
The greatness of magic systems is based on the execution of the author. It can be soft or hard, doesn’t matter
Aka, a magical write. ;)
My favorite magic system that lives rent free in my head is the "silvertongue" magic system from the Inkheart series, in which characters can either take someone or something out of a book, or enter a book world itself. I don't think it reached its full potential though.
Nen happened before hard magic was cool and I’ve always loved that. Fullmetal Alchemist had a pretty cool magic system too.
Excellent choice of ambient background music.
I've always considered myself a sci-fi person.... But I've had a growing appreciation for certain types of fantasy and magic
I'm just so inspired by what must be your incredible work ethic and time management skills Merphy. You somehow manage to put out so many videos in a week while still continuing to read and consume so many new books. It inspires me to get my own work done keeping up with my reading.
Honestly I credit Merphy and Daniel for getting me back into reading again. I started reading Sanderson last summer because of y'all and now have read over 25 new books since then.
My favorite magic system has to be from Ascendance of a bookworm, and just the worldbuilding in general. It’s world-class and a modern classic.
I just loved the way you describe the magic of Lord Of The Rings, and it makes me love the world and characters even more.
My favorite magic that I've read recently is in Sarah Lin's Weirkey Chronicles. Magic users build houses within their souls, using different magical materials to enhance themselves and allow them to use different techniques. It's so evocative and also it reflects the characters in such a visceral way.
Ultimately magic systems are about storytelling and the whole idea of soulhomes always her to show, not just tell, in such a clever and interesting way.
5:26 "...or having the properties of both rubber and gum"
Hearing you say it made me so happy :')
Also, different comment bc I just now realized it fit... one of my favorite magic systems is from this (I feel) quite unknown series by Garth Nix, The Seventh Tower. It follows a boy who lives in a world where there's no natural light because a veil covers the sun, and people have magic stones that they can use to focus light and color based magic to do all sorts of things, and can travel to another world where they capture monsters that then take the place of their shadows in the real world and become their "familiars".
That ad spot transition! 👏👏🤣💖🤍💜
Yes i love the consistent Nen system absolutely the best
Regarding the first magic system. You should really check out mushishi. It’s a magic system based on magical micro biology, it’s connection with nature, and the humans that have to navigate it. It’s a beautiful series.
I love how you talk about these topics. It just really works and flows well, I love listening! Thank you!
That description of the nen system made me want to actually try reading HunterxHunter. I had no idea it was so intricate. I just finished Spellbreaker, and I thought that magic system was refreshing. People basically buy their magic power from the big schools of magic, and everyone has a finite amount of latent ability that can cap out once they've learned enough. And some people are born with the ability to detect and break the spells of others. It feels like a hard system cause there are rules, but I think it's still soft cause we don't know all of the rules.
Nen is wildly regarded as the best magic system in all of anime. Literally every anime fans agreed on this lol.
@@starandeath4735 exactly. people who believe that Nen is bad because it is complicated are simply not truly adults mentally. sorry not sorry.
In LOTR I never thought of it that way with the magic being so interconnected with nature. Makes the message of our responsibility to nature in the story that much more poignant. Excellent observation!
Another great and comprehensive analysis.
THANK YOU for your love for soft magic systems! I agree - I tend to like those more than the hard science-based systems.
Love these kinds of videos-Thank you so much for making it a [periodically ]regular thing! ^-^
One of my favorite magic systems is from a certain magical index/a certain scientific railgun because its two separate power systems based on magical and scientific theory and they clash in wonderful ways I do recommend a read of the light novels.
I’ve just started Malazan and even though it’s a tough book to read I’m still left wanting to read more because I want to learn more about the world and magic system. I think magic systems that leave you wanting more are ones that stick with you the most and make you want to live in them. Finding out about the world and magic is like going out and exploring. Or even begin sucked into a world. I love it
Hello Merphy.
I never really liked to read because of school, I always though it was very boring. A few years ago whenever I went to grab a cup of coffee, I started to read the sports newspaper every single day until today. Right now I read other newspapers besides the sports one.
This is basically to say that when I was at home doing nothing during the pandemic, I thought about reading but I didn't know what to read, I couldn't go out to buy the newspaper.
I fell in love with your channel and your videos helped me a lot to buying books, enjoy reading them and thinking about books in general, so for that, thank you!
Merphy's commercials are always a must-watch.
I really like Mendenbar's magic in searching for dragons. He was the king of the enchanted forest and would pull the magic strings to do different magics and stuff. Great series of books
I love the magic of Pale & Pact: you get power based on contracts, some of which are necessary to even begin to access magic in the first place (i.e. telling the truth, giving up the protections of not knowing magic, etc), with these contracts and various patterns enforced by spirits.
I completely feel you on the elemental magic, and on nautical stories, in general!!!💜
Every time you mention stories at sea though, I am just getting this increasingly deep deep longing lately to get back into Justin Somper's Vampirates books again! I am so sad that I never finished reading them, because they weren't all published yet at the time when I was reading them, among other life things that happened in the interim between books-I really really need to fix that; it was one of my favorite series(because it merged my love for sea/pirate stories with my love for fantasy/supernatural/vampires which the type of thing that almost never ever actually happens)!! 😊😊
Powers systems have always been my favourite thing to discover when reading new stories. i appreciate when authors take time to build coherent and unique power system. my favourite one is from a chinese novel, Lord of the Mysteries. it has so much potential and it also works in different eras and settings.
Love Lord of the Mysteries! Heard a lot of complaints about the start being kinda slow, but I enjoyed it from the beginning. The author's worldbuilding is intense. Also, one of the pathways is heavily nautical (Sailor pathway).
I love how the MC has a special power that's unique and interesting, but really well balanced. It's powerful with potential for growth without being completely overpowered.
It's one of the few things I've read which has made me cry about tragedies without pissing me off, although I'm glad in their follow-up Embers Ad Infinitum they seem to have become a bit more merciful.
I love your videos, I like your way of explaining yourself, I'm working in my comic series, and I use a lot of everyone's critiques and analysis to improve my writting. Thank you so much.
HelloFresh is my favorite magic system too, that's crazy
I'd love a video of you listing all of your favourite nautical themed books/series! I also love sea/water themes and would love to find some more!!
I love Lord of the Rings too. The magic system and the world building are phenomenal.
Really? Tell me more about this "Lord of the Rings". I've never heard of it.
@@sjajsjsja4523 I feel like this take or joke comes up whenever someone talks about what they like about Lotr. Lots of people like it so of course people will want to talk about what they like about it. Just because a thing is popular doesn’t mean it can’t be discussed anymore.
NEN!!! Is the most explain and most complex aura bases system...
Love your talk at 4 minutes about soft magic. This is how I'm writing my books: Magic is the harnessing of natural forces that different animals do knowingly or unknowingly, and intelligent beings are able to craft it into powerful weapons or useful tools. But they know much less than they think they do. Of course, my mortals have scienced it up and lost their understanding of what it's truly capable of...
Being older myself some of my favorite magic systems are also from older books: Lyndon Hardy's "Master of Five Magics", "Earthsea" and particularly De Camp and Pratt's "Enchanter" stories in which the protagonists use a system of symbolic logic to move into worlds of literature in which magic works. The magic in Reaves' "The Shattered World" is pretty cool too.
Another soft magic system I love comes from the series Baccano!. A short series set in the 1608s - 1934 Americas with Alchemists, gangstars & immortals travelling the landscape. The manga is great, but the Anime compacts the story into a satisfying 16-episode mind-bending journey. Highly underrated and highly recommended.
edit - Must be watched in Dub as the voice actors took extra effort to give time accurate accents.
Bending, Nen, Hamon, Stands, Shamanism, are so much fun
You explained the Nen magic system pretty good 😊
this video is so well done!! The music, inclusion of paintings and the Hello Fresh ad are great :) The Nen and the Avatar magic system are one of my favourites, too. I also really like the magic system of The name of the wind, because it feels so mystical and so many things are undiscovered and I just need to know more and (as far as I remember) the magic is tied to nature. I am a sucker for that 😅
Locke Lamora’s ability to hide multiple decks of cards on his person during a body search is pretty overpowered. 😛
The magic system in The Owl House is my latest favourite magic system for how basic it is. It’s connection with the land, Luz’s workaround to learning to use magic as a non-magic user is pretty cool and the Emperor’s Coven system limiting the magic types that people can use is all really interesting. Any time the series gives magic lore is a good time for me. XD
For Locke Lakota alone u get an upvote
Favourite video of the month. Love it! Also that thumbnail 🤣
Every time I hear you discuss these lists I hope that you will get to the Paksenarrion books in your TBR stack. The magic systems alone really contrast how different people, and races, interact "magically" with the world. Where clearly some magic is soft and undefined and others are strict limits.
Okay that ad segue was so good
Lol that ad transition though. Merphy is the best 😂. Haha and the ad itself was awesome.
Well, I’ve suggested this series before in relation to similarities to Lord of the Rings but it’s magic system makes it an easy recommend again. Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams!! The magic of the world is a marvelous example of what makes a good soft magic system, never cheapening stakes, always enriching and deepening the mystery and wonder of the world.
I don't know if I've ever seen someone talk so sincerely and passionately about magic. this was such a refreshing video
Murphy: "ALSO ALSO AND AND"
Me: _Now_ things are getting serious.
Knights of Dark Renown by David Gemmell is a heroic fantasy novel, it has an interesting magic system. its world is a balance of colors where magicians can see and use these colors to do magic, e.g. a magician who uses the green color can heel people or a magician who uses the blue color can craft magical stuff. by the way, the story is great and filled with Suspense.
It is 4.55 am here in Australia on Saturday morning and I am really excited about watching this video as I no it will be amazing and fantastic please stay safe and enjoy your reading love your family friend John from Australia xxxxx prayers and thoughts for you and your family ❤️❤️❤️
One of my all-time favourite magic systems is the rune magic in Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman's Death Gate Cycle. It is a very unusual system as it is both hard (when used by the Patryns) and soft-ish (when used by the Sartans). Also one of my all-time favourite fantasy series. Also, in the first four novels, humans, elves and dwarves are all a little different than in the previous book.
Nautical magic is such an interesting thing because despite a central theme it can be so varied.
Is it like waterbending? Is it weather manipulation? Is it a type of clairvoyance based around the ocean? Is it all of the above and more? You can make it into any number of things that have different implications on the story
Love the content! Better than TV!!!
Love the increased affection for metaphysical magics.
Saw it mentioned a few times already, just thought I’d add to it: Mushishi is amazing and not only is the magic system beautiful, the soundtrack is utterly gorgeous. One of the best anime I’ve seen.
Wonderful ad!!!!
16:23: I feel you, girl. I've played Subnautica an unhealthy amount of time and I'm waiting for the next Avatar movie like a kid waiting for Christmas. The ocean is terrifyingly awesome.
Since you have started reading more Manga , I recommend the Witch Hat Atelier series. It uses a unique, hard Script/Component system I think you'd appreciate. Also the art is gorgeous
Black Clover has such a simple but awesome magic system, very underrated
Oh crap, I completely forgot. My absolute favorite type of power system ever is weapon spirits. I just love the idea of the weapon also being its own character. Stuff like Laundry Detergent, Soul Eater, Tsugumomo. That stuff is just great.
You fully tricked me with that ad transition. Heck yeah that was so good
Love This concept too!!
Hard Magic Systems are the Best.
If anyone has Quesitons about Nen or feel like not understanding much
about a specific Type: Just ask me.
Ok so I’ve had friends try to get me into HunterxHunter but it’s never worked but the way you described the magic system sounded awesome and now I wanna start it immediately
U won’t be disappointed. Your friends are smart people
I feel like you would enjoy the darker shades of magic trilogy, it's magic system is very similar to avatar with its own twists to it, and I find the world very intriguing as well.
I really loved hearing you talk about the Lord of the Rings. It really expressed what I loved about it. The Dark Souls series gave me some of the same feeling but maybe more vague and surreal.
Now THIS is the best ad insert...ever.
I was a big fan of Merphy two years ago, but I think she would have been blown away by how insanely professional your videos are looking nowadays! It must take ages to do, but it makes watching them totally gripping.
1:06 the moving books in the background 😆
If you haven't read them I highly recommend the Dresden Files. The way your understanding of the magic within it grows and evolves as Harry's understanding of the world grows is really special. The way the characters and the scope of the narrative grow and evolve throughout is also really incredible.
Best advertisement ever! 😂😂
The Wave Walkers by Kai Meyers is a brilliant Nautical Fantasy with a magical system tied to the sea. Theres only 3 books and they are super short but it was one of my favorites growing up.
I sort of have a water based magic system recommendation for you Merphy!
I know you don't read much romance, but if you ever find yourself in the mood for a relatively simple, not too long romance book, you might like The Siren by Kiera Cass! It's mostly a romance but there's a very soft magic system involved with the main character who's a siren (duh lol). I don't think the romance is anything too revolutionary to be honest, but making it about a siren who can't make any vocalizations around her love interest because then he'll compulsively try to drown himself is kind of fun! And you get to know the Ocean as its own character, which I always find intriguing! The prose was just my type, too. Not flowery, but still descriptive enough to fill my mind with interesting, beautiful visuals of the ocean!
Solid list! Wish I read more recent works, 'cause I can't think of any other serious contenders for top spots.
17:50 This story not always ties to the sea but i feel like Merphy would love "Pet Shop of Horrors" by Matsuri Akino. A manga about magical , mythical creatures sold in a shady pet shop with a contract whose terms must not be broken. There are many sea creatures in the story so i guess this one count ?
I think this manga is underappreciated by many manga fan.
I never thought that the magic of the 'Lord of the Rings' is tied up to the earth. Yes, there are trees and hourns like Treebeard that become humanoid bec the elves had waken them up and taught them how to speak. Now I thought that the Ea and Arda were created through the music of Ainur(archangels). That must be their most powerful magic. Now I realized that Tom Bombadil must have been created through the music of Ainur when Melkor didnt yet make discord thru his music and that made Tom Bombadil almost perfect. The magic of Gandalf is easily identified bec he is an angel disguised as wizard. Gandalf magic is his life spiritual force.
That was a goated ad segway
My favorite magic system is from the Mystwick School of Musicraft series. In that universe, music is magic and you don’t cast a spell, you play a spell with an instrument.
A really good nautical magic series is the Midships Wizard books. Each user interacts with magic differently but they must protect naval vessels.
Besides Nen some of my favorite power system's are Stands from JoJo's, Trion from World Trigger, Magic in Black Clover, Rukh in Magi and Chakra from Naruto
I've said this elsewhere, but the best part of Nen is that the way people choose to manifest their powers & the conditions they place on them provides a great opportunity for characterization unlike any other system I've seen