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The Arcane Blueprint: How to Build a Believable Magic System
The Bearded Nerd Podcast
14 minutes
2 months ago
The Arcane Blueprint: How to Build a Believable Magic System
In most fantasy worlds, magic is everywhere. But when it lacks rules, limits, or logic—it starts to feel like a cheat code.
In this episode of The Bearded Nerd Podcast, Brian reveals a 5-step method to help you design a believable, functional magic system that keeps your players invested and your world grounded. Whether you want magic to feel ancient, divine, dangerous, or scientific, this framework works with any genre or game system.
🎙️ Topics Covered:
The 5 Pillars of a compelling magic system (Source, Cost, Limitation, Learning Curve, Cultural Impact)
How to add mystery and mythology to your arcane lore
Making magic matter mechanically and narratively
Real examples you can steal for your worldbuilding today
🎁 Free Download:Get the Arcane Blueprint PDF, only on Patreon