I’m usually very skeptical when people try to overhaul existing things, especially something I hold as close and dear as Harry Potter - but god damn, I think you nailed it. I love it!
I think another interesting idea, is that along with the 4 magical specialisations, there's also the dark arts, which is sort of an overpowered combination of them all, and that's what the death eaters and Voldemort practice, but there's some grand evil sacrifice you must take to practice it, and it's still more interesting than just "Avada kadabra" everywhere.
This sounds really interesting and would be fun to explore in a rewrite or an original AU type world, but for the existing world I can see some problems: How would the magic system work for other schools that don't have houses? Why learn the spells of other houses if you can't use them; wouldn't you just end up dividing the houses further by splitting them into house specific classes since the other houses can't use certain spells? Do tell if you thought of these questions (Or if I've completely misunderstood you). Otherwise I think the non-logical things you mentioned are often explainable: Apparition is difficult and uncomfortable so owls are the next best thing because the magical kind is rather behind the muggle inventions (in emergencies they have been known to use floopowder like a phone call), the truth serum may be somehow unusable in court since it has an antidote (similar to lie detectors), The trace...I got nothing, it's just a bad element, but it speaks to some classism against muggleborns who would be the only ones affected while wizarding families are just expected to keep their kids in check (which is totally not happening in pureblood families). Also there are points in the series where they try to push unity among the houses but it doesn't take since Harry is so against the Slytherins (A better execution of this is in "What if Harry was in Slytherin" by SuperCarlinBrothers) I think I might be too used to the illogical things in the series, if nothing else they're a part of the whimsy.
Thank you for your comment, it's really well put 👏 First, I'd like to mention that this was done as a quick what if thought experiment that I thought might make a cool video, so I'm obviously going to miss stuff. That being said, I'll address some of your questions here: When it comes to the other schools, they would still have the same groups of magic users, they would just be called differently. As for the joint classes for the houses, I thought they could be meant for people to practice working together. For example, in a Defence against the dark arts class, the Gryffindors would practice their attack spells, the Hufflepuffs would practice their defence spells, and they would all practice working together. I didn't specifically mention how classes would work in the video, but my idea for the magic system was to give different houses powers that would complement each other, so they would have a reason to work together. And they would practice that in the classes. And when it comes to explaining the other "plot holes", you are right, they can be explained. But I don't like the idea of introducing something, then explaining it away so that the story goes the way the author intended. But I'm also kinda too harsh with my comments. Harry Potter is a story for children. The whole vibe of a magic that let's you do anything and a cool world are more important, so it doesn't really matter if some minor "plot holes" come up. Once again, thank you for your thoughtful comment!
You don't need to go that far becouse this will feel more like different HP. But they can be just greater focus on specialization. For example if I remember correctly in HP 6 students choose their specializations so it could be that from the begining that houses are more focused on special lessons. For example Slytherin is the best in terms of Elixirs Gryfindor in terms of dark arts Ravenclaw Transmutation, Hufflepuf Magic Animals etc. But obviously could be a exception that someone is the best in two or more areas.
Specialization in general is not a thing in the HP universe. All witches are able to do a bit of everything. There are no fighters or smiths of enchanted artifacts and so no.
It's true that the new magic system would make the series feel like a completely different HP, but that was kind of my goal for the video. Still, I think you are right that specialization would make the series more interesting.
I also think Harry is fairly lazy because his upbringing would have discouraged him from learning. Vernon Dursley didn't appreciate a swatty kid and school was a lesson in survival until he reached Hogwarts, which would have given him an amazing amount of freedom despite its strict rules. Apart from that, he's just an ordinary kid who'd rather play quidditch than do his homework. Your division of magical access is interesting but flawed because it presupposes that one's house characteristics one's only characteristic. Houses, though clearly divisive, represent a prominent characteristic, not the only one. We are all made up of various traits; we are far more complex than Rowling's writing suggests. I'd abolish the houses completely if I could reorganise Hogwarts. Love the Voldemort solution, though. That is really interesting.
I too have problems with the grouping of people in just four houses, based on a dominant trait. But in this video I was trying to make just one small change to the magic, that would help improve some of the things I have issues with, while keeping most of the story and world the same. I am working on an idea for a full on Harry Potter make-over, with lots of changes. It will probably end up being a completely different story, and it will take me a while to make that video. Thanks for your comment.
I’m usually very skeptical when people try to overhaul existing things, especially something I hold as close and dear as Harry Potter - but god damn, I think you nailed it. I love it!
Glad you like it! The Harry Potter world is really cool, and I had fun making this video.
I think another interesting idea, is that along with the 4 magical specialisations, there's also the dark arts, which is sort of an overpowered combination of them all, and that's what the death eaters and Voldemort practice, but there's some grand evil sacrifice you must take to practice it, and it's still more interesting than just "Avada kadabra" everywhere.
I like that, having to sacrifice something to gain greater powers sounds like a great cost for a magic system.
I love Harry Potter ! Cool video
Thanks, glad you like it!
Man, I really like the Voldemort part. I was just thinking about that as I saw the video and it would definitely make Voldemort a bigger threat.
That might be my favorite part of this concept, I think it would work really well. Glad you liked it!
This sounds really interesting and would be fun to explore in a rewrite or an original AU type world, but for the existing world I can see some problems: How would the magic system work for other schools that don't have houses? Why learn the spells of other houses if you can't use them; wouldn't you just end up dividing the houses further by splitting them into house specific classes since the other houses can't use certain spells?
Do tell if you thought of these questions (Or if I've completely misunderstood you).
Otherwise I think the non-logical things you mentioned are often explainable: Apparition is difficult and uncomfortable so owls are the next best thing because the magical kind is rather behind the muggle inventions (in emergencies they have been known to use floopowder like a phone call), the truth serum may be somehow unusable in court since it has an antidote (similar to lie detectors), The trace...I got nothing, it's just a bad element, but it speaks to some classism against muggleborns who would be the only ones affected while wizarding families are just expected to keep their kids in check (which is totally not happening in pureblood families).
Also there are points in the series where they try to push unity among the houses but it doesn't take since Harry is so against the Slytherins (A better execution of this is in "What if Harry was in Slytherin" by SuperCarlinBrothers)
I think I might be too used to the illogical things in the series, if nothing else they're a part of the whimsy.
Thank you for your comment, it's really well put 👏
First, I'd like to mention that this was done as a quick what if thought experiment that I thought might make a cool video, so I'm obviously going to miss stuff.
That being said, I'll address some of your questions here:
When it comes to the other schools, they would still have the same groups of magic users, they would just be called differently.
As for the joint classes for the houses, I thought they could be meant for people to practice working together. For example, in a Defence against the dark arts class, the Gryffindors would practice their attack spells, the Hufflepuffs would practice their defence spells, and they would all practice working together. I didn't specifically mention how classes would work in the video, but my idea for the magic system was to give different houses powers that would complement each other, so they would have a reason to work together. And they would practice that in the classes.
And when it comes to explaining the other "plot holes", you are right, they can be explained. But I don't like the idea of introducing something, then explaining it away so that the story goes the way the author intended.
But I'm also kinda too harsh with my comments. Harry Potter is a story for children. The whole vibe of a magic that let's you do anything and a cool world are more important, so it doesn't really matter if some minor "plot holes" come up.
Once again, thank you for your thoughtful comment!
You don't need to go that far becouse this will feel more like different HP. But they can be just greater focus on specialization. For example if I remember correctly in HP 6 students choose their specializations so it could be that from the begining that houses are more focused on special lessons. For example Slytherin is the best in terms of Elixirs Gryfindor in terms of dark arts Ravenclaw Transmutation, Hufflepuf Magic Animals etc. But obviously could be a exception that someone is the best in two or more areas.
Specialization in general is not a thing in the HP universe. All witches are able to do a bit of everything. There are no fighters or smiths of enchanted artifacts and so no.
It's true that the new magic system would make the series feel like a completely different HP, but that was kind of my goal for the video. Still, I think you are right that specialization would make the series more interesting.
You should read Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality!
Sounds cool, I'll check it out!
I also think Harry is fairly lazy because his upbringing would have discouraged him from learning. Vernon Dursley didn't appreciate a swatty kid and school was a lesson in survival until he reached Hogwarts, which would have given him an amazing amount of freedom despite its strict rules. Apart from that, he's just an ordinary kid who'd rather play quidditch than do his homework.
Your division of magical access is interesting but flawed because it presupposes that one's house characteristics one's only characteristic. Houses, though clearly divisive, represent a prominent characteristic, not the only one. We are all made up of various traits; we are far more complex than Rowling's writing suggests. I'd abolish the houses completely if I could reorganise Hogwarts.
Love the Voldemort solution, though. That is really interesting.
I too have problems with the grouping of people in just four houses, based on a dominant trait. But in this video I was trying to make just one small change to the magic, that would help improve some of the things I have issues with, while keeping most of the story and world the same.
I am working on an idea for a full on Harry Potter make-over, with lots of changes. It will probably end up being a completely different story, and it will take me a while to make that video.
Thanks for your comment.