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The Stoicist - Building a Magic / Ability System

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kingaling:
I've got a story in the works, I'm converting it from one of my old scripts. It's called "The Stoicist". Essentially there are these people who can take the pain they are given in combat and convert it into raw energy and powers based on the amount of ignorance they show to the pain. If they take on some kind of injury but don't immediately convert it into power it is reserved on their body in various forms. Some have scars, some have bruises, band aids, stitches etc. Some stoicists have different powers based on how they are most hurt. The majority of stoicists get their powers from physical injury, but there are those that are hurt emotionally or mentally that are forces to be reckoned with.

I'm wondering, A) Whether anyone finds this interesting and unique. and B) What various powers or abilities would form from such a sadistic source? I don't want "the force" or some kind of invisible wall of energy or something like that, but I can't seem to think of what there could be. All ideas are welcome.

Thanks!

OZ:
I think this has potential. In most serious fantasy there is a price for magic. I do have some questions about this system. Is it the pain or the actual damage that is converted to magical energy? Does it have to be received in combat? What about self inflicted wounds? What about those inflicted by friends ( a little S & M)? When the injuries are converted to magical energies are they healed or is the person still physically injured?

I think this idea has potential but, like most ideas, it is how you develop it that will determine how interesting it is.

Beefstew:
I like the idea, but I have some of the same questions that OZ has, the biggest being if it's physical pain, are the injuries immediately healed? 

As far as the abilities they can use, I would leave it a little bit open.  Maybe each one learns to develop it differently.  They could be strictly physical augmentations, like getting stronger or faster.  Or you could direct it more to the non physical, more of a magical type thing.  Or a little bit of both.  I think that would provide you with the most latitude for development, where some people learn to channel it into physical abilities, and others can throw fire or the like.

Rather then figure out what you want them to do with it, figure out what you DON'T want them to do.  Do you want them to be able to heal others with this ability? Fly?  Dance really well?  Can they only do one particular thing, or can they learn to channel it differently?  If you start figuring out the limitations and things you don't want them to have, what they can do will start to take shape and you'll be able to fill in the details from there.

Here's a couple more questions for you.  What prevents the enemy from simply not targeting these superpeople?  If they know that the more you hurt this person, the stronger they get, why not just order everyone to not hurt them?  What happens if you you have a one on one fight between two superpeople, does it just go on forever as they steadily get stronger?  How long can they store the energy, and how much can they store?  Could someone essentially do nothing but beat the crap out of themselves for years and eventually take on entire armies alone?

It's definitely a good idea, and could be pretty interesting if you do it right.  Keep us updated as you develop it.  I'm more then happy to ask lots and lots of questions.

LizW65:
Yeah, I too think this has potential, but could be tough to pull off if your characters constantly need to get the crap kicked out of them just to do any magic--it sounds as if they would actively have to seek out pain and injury in that case, and be incapacitated physically a lot of the time.
But I can envision some interesting flashbacks where your protagonist is, say, an abused child who unexpectedly goes apeshit on the abusive parent/guardian/whoever.  And the S&M angle could work, too, depending on your target audience.

BobForPresident:
I dig it.

Suggestion: different mages maybe use different kinds of pain (emotional, sexual, combative) to fuel different types of magic (elemental, battle, spiritual).

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