So we've established it can be done though it's rare. I'm sure there are upsides and downsides to it, which I'm curious on as well.

Obvious Downside, is once you have one created, it's kinda hard to change or redo. So it has to be perfect the first time. Granted, it'd be pretty hard to disarm someone whose got a spell work of a blasting rod on their arm instead of on a foci.

So, next bit of questioning comes down to speculation. How do you get it done? Does it have to be done by someone else? Does that person have to have the talent to put it in? Can someone else ink you and then you put power into it? Does it have to be a special kind of ink? Surely with tattoos being as old as they are, there has to be a reason that so far we've only seen one or two people do it at all.

What advantages could there be besides the obvious, what drawbacks? And what problems about how to go about it? I'm hoping for full theory here.

I apologize if this has already been asked, but I wonder about the usage of tattoos for magical (wizarding foci) purposes in the Dresden-Verse.

Evidence that this may in fact be possible.

1. Magical Theory within the Dresden Files leads to that in a pinch, a heavy duty spell that normally requires expensive jewels, could be done by a practiced wizard with a few rocks and a circle.

2. It is based on confidence, so that if you believe your Tattoo can hold spellwork, it has a chance to work.

3. Signs and sigils can be made on just about anything or everything but often focus are made on things like Blasting Rods and Staffs, and other enchanted items.

4. We have seen tattoos used in the Brotherhood with Susan to control her half vampire nature.


So, with this established, would it be theoretically possible for someone skilled enough with magic, instead of carrying a blasting rod, or staff, instead have intricate tattoos up and down their body to act as magical foci to the same effect? And if so, why haven't we possibly seen it yet?