in my series/world I have one book with magic users in it. It's the only time magic shows up in my world, but it's the main element of the book/story. I portray magic as 'evil/bad' in my story. Partially why it only shows up in one book.

I finally got around to thinking about how/what kind of magic they would use. This is the idea I came up with (I actually think I got it from a dream I had, but that's beside the point........)

Magic (it may have a different name in my world, still working on that) was 'discovered' by a man/Ashtain named Teynon. At least he thought he discovered it, magic had really been 'revealed' to him by Natorii (one of the fallen E'shawnti) in another attempt to wipe the Ashtains (my main race) from the world.

*history that's not really relevant*

They use magic by drawing a 'spell' in the air and collecting, aiming, and sending it at the enemy. They draw with their pointer and ring fingers crossing over each other. The ring finger is the actual 'tip' they draw with.
There many ways to draw a spell and get the same result. Newer magicians have to spell out the spell more clearly to make it do what they want, where as older/more experienced magicians can write the same spell with much fewer words/symbols.
When a magician draws a spell it remains in the air. (like an echo from staring at lights at night) That way they can see what they've already written.
As far as collecting, aiming and sending goes; think of Ironman(2) the movie when he's in his lab in the basement and the computer is projecting all the pretty images. Collecting a spell is like grabbing the projected images and crushing them into a ball. This is how the spell is 'mixed' or 'made'. Aiming and sending are almost the same thing, after the magician collects the spell he chooses the enemy to attack and 'throws' the spell at him.
As far as what they can do with magic, anything from physically wounding someone to creating explosions to distracting a person with a image of someone they love.

Right now the only factor I have limiting their magic is how fast they can write and throw their magic. Any ideas of how I can limit them otherwise? I don't really want to have it depend on their energy (it seems everyone is doing that ) or any comments on how I refine their magic?

Where does the magic come from? Is it spirit driven, or stemming directly from "Satan" figure? that would maybe help a little more in understanding it.

I'm picturing a glow left in the air before them where they draw with their fingers, as though they were drawing or writing with light. If this is what you're trying to have the reader envision, I think it's pretty cool.

Is this magic something that can be seen when it is thrown?

The only thing I could think of that would limit your magic (other than energy drain) is that they have a limited supply of images. They have to constantly collect them, thus it isn't something they can just pull out of a hat. It would also cause this magic to be more of a "use when necessary" type of thing. That was one thing that really bothered me about the elves in LotR. They had endless arrows! They never had to replenish them! I was kind of thinking of this that way. Just a thought.

I see it as the magic coming from Natorii (the 'Satan' figure) He gave/gives some of his power to Teynon and his magicians.
Maybe I could have their power limited by Natorii. They can only use what he sees fit and maybe a bit of endurance mixed in (i.e. how much they can handle). Example: say Teynon is using magic to attack someone, but Natorii feels he could 'do without' and refuses to give Teynon the power for the magic to work. Example2: say Teynon is attacking another person/people and Natorii feels he should use magic to defeat them, but the person/people are able to escape the magic and Teynon is slowly growing tired from writing (Oh-no! writing cramp! ) or something like that. But Natorii still wants him to use magic. So Natorii continues to give him power to use magic and (somehow ) forces him to keep writing spells until Teynon finally faints from the effort.

Yes the magic can be seen coming (a ball of light flying at you). Thus you can dodge it, but it may hit the person behind you (oops!)


@strings: yes! that's exactly what I was thinking

Yaaay! I guessed right! Lol! All in all, I think it's a very cool idea, and to be honest I'm kicking myself for not thinking of that myself. The evil magic in my game is a little generic and simple really. The power is given by Xandrous (the evil devil guy in my story) but his priests have to learn to use it and control it on their own. It is described as ancient dark arts, and they will have to chant or work some kind of spell somehow. The priests of Xandrous are in a sense becoming sorcerers. Any "magic" given to the good guys however, is actually a result of their prayer or a gift from the One God so their magic is actually a miracle. They will however be able do specific things with the miracles, as in, they can call for fire and it will be given to them.... maybe.