A working of Magic.

[Das Platyvark]

I recently thought of an interesting way to justify the working of magic in a (urban) fantasy setting. It works thusly:
Essentially, it consists of calculating equations centered around the physical universe that are so perfect they temporarily force the universe to adhere to their result. You'd probably sketch them out on something, and the universe is twisted into following whatever falsehood you can mathematically prove is going to happen.

[factotum]

Pretty sure Jack Chalker used that idea in his "River of Dancing Gods" series--a wizard used a computer to produce more complex magic than anyone could on their own!

[Liffguard]

Also sounds a bit like how gnostic sorcery works in The Second Apocalypse books. Gnostic sorcerers basically make logical arguments using "the voice of god" that cause the universe to act according to the abstract principles they describe. Both equations and geometry are described as playing a heavy part in how the magic works.

[Phishfood]

Pretty sure Jack Chalker used that idea in his "River of Dancing Gods" series--a wizard used a computer to produce more complex magic than anyone could on their own!

did he have to type


@=g3,8d\&fbb=-q/hk%fg DELETE
?

[Gaius Marius]

So wait, you use arcane mathematical calculations to alter reality to your whims?

Isn't that the fundamentals of a Bistromatic Drive?

[The Succubus]

I whole-heartedly support this new venture. Mathematicians will become as gods and pi will both be infinite and delicious.