From:	Martin Steffens <BDI05626@***.RHIJ.NL>
Subject:	Re: SR's Magic System!
Date:	Thu, 8 Jun 1995 15:37:49 +0100

The ways of WYTIWYG are long and mysterious :) To be honest I
invented the term a couple of months ago to explain the behaviour of
insect-spirits (bugger and I hate acronyms :) and since then the term
has, through Janni's excellent posts about it, become a bit of a
catch-all term.
I think that WYTIWYG does not cover the magic system of SR
completely, but it surely is an important part of it. On reading NAGA
(or NAGM) the feeling is only strenghtened. But underlaying the
WYTIWYG theory is a system of defined rules of what is possible and
what is not.
You could explain the magic-system as having a large set of
possibilities, but in which the individual user of magic is hampered
(or aided) by his or her views on magic. NAGA gives a few beautiful
examples like the guy who tought his powers came from God, and shaped
his whole use of magic to incorporate his religion. I thing you
should view WYTIWYG in this socio-psychological way, and not as the
underlaying law of magic.

BTW, I changed the header a bit, because I think SR's magic system is
very good, wether it's based on WYTIWYG, WYBITYG or whatever :)

Just my 2 stuivers :)

Martin
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Martin Steffens |"Don't touch me, or I'll wound your inner child
bdi05626@***.rhij.nl | ... and then I'll kick your ass" Beavis
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