The Dresden Files > DFRPG
The First Law of Magic In-Play: Semi-Official Advice
Mrmdubois:
No the Laws of Magic aren't Laws in the physics sense at all. You shall not kill is a commandment, it's a restriction on behavior created by the Council, the working of magic in itself has no prohibition against it being used to kill. So there is definitely a distinction that you're not getting.
Tedronai:
The commandments and prohibitions of the Laws are creations of the Council. The Truth of the Laws exists independently of any mortal agency.
Phrased as their metaphysical Truths, the Laws might appear as 'Will not [these results] by magic, lest you be tainted in your soul'.
Or, without the judgement that such tainting is a thing to avoid, 'Will [these results] by magic and be tainted in your soul'.
(this phrasing obviously doesn't cover the 7th law, but that is a special case among special cases)
Mrmdubois:
Yeah that's what I've said this entire time, so thanks for reinforcing my point.
I mean, maybe I wasn't clarifying enough, I don't know.
The only thing I'd add to that is that there are many behaviors including some uses of magic not addresses by the Council's Laws which can corrupt the individual. Since those corrupting behaviors aren't addressed by the Council's Laws, despite the metaphysical law or truth that they do corrupt, the Laws of the Council cannot be considered to be wholly or even mostly concerned with the corruption of the soul.
Tedronai:
--- Quote from: Mrmdubois on May 16, 2013, 11:26:56 PM ---The only thing I'd add to that is that there are many behaviors including some uses of magic not addresses by the Council's Laws which can corrupt the individual.
--- End quote ---
Source for this corruption being anything on par with that addressed by the Laws?
Or happening at all in any meaningful way?
More than just personal theorycrafting, here, please, as I've already seen that on this (and related) thread(s) with regards to this subject.
Mrmdubois:
No, corruption is a synonym for change, although with connotations for the worse. Any behavior or use of magic that is repeatable is capable of changing or corrupting that individual to varying degrees.
As for whether or not this is a personal theory, well my evidence for my arguments come straight from the books. For instance, Harry's anger problems which Murphy confronts him about. Ok, sure he was influenced with mind mojo to start making his anger more of a problem, but he also realized that it was a problem he had and it was affecting his use of magic and whether or not he used that magic appropriately. A small corruption, but if it hadn't been some kind of corruption it wouldn't have been worthwhile to Lasciel, and it was self maintaining, and could become worse without further influence on her part once she started the ball rolling. Another instance, without mind mojo possibly confusing matters, Harry's fear of losing his fire magic, if he failed to use it once it would become harder to use in the future and slowly become impossible altogether.
An example Harry has noted about wizards in general, if you have magic you tend to start trying to solve problems with magic. It's behavioral reinforcement. Using magic is a behavior. Using magic for destructive ends creates reinforcement for that sort of destructive behavior. Which is just like saying that killing someone with magic is going to reinforce the behavior of killing with magic.
--- Quote ---Or, without the judgement that such tainting is a thing to avoid, 'Will [these results] by magic and be tainted in your soul'.
--- End quote ---
. This quote applies to -any- repeatable action. That applies in game or out, it's simply a matter of degrees and whether or not "taint" is the right word.
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