What Makes a Great Magic System?

[Anders]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

Ability to be applied intelligently, logically, and innovatively. This probably, but not necessarily, encourages picking MtA-like or Realm Magic-like systems, as they're very flexible. And being flexible encourages intelligent and innovative applications of your ability, and usually requires doing logical extrapolations. It's the sort of magic where being able to separate H20 into 2H2 and O2 can be used both for creating a large boom as a diversion, and for breathing underwater, as long as one analyzes the risks of both.

I don't agree with this. First of all, it tends to make the mage master-of-all-situations, and so there's no need to have a party. Secondly, I think that it's the restrictions more than the flexibility of the system that channel intelligence and innovations. And your example points to this - a restricted ability (being able to split water) is used for two very different applications. In a very flexible system you can just improvise "Create Explosion" and "Breathe Underwater" spells.

But that's just me.