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Unreliable Magic - Is it worth it?
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$begingroup$
In my world, magic is unavoidably unreliable, for example:
You have a puncture. You cast a spell to mend it and with equal probability either it is mended or another tire is punctured.
You are trying to save an injured person. You cast a spell. Either they are saved or you kill them.
Question
It seems to me that such a magic is completely worthless. Can anyone prove me wrong by suggesting a case where both the intended result of a spell and its opposite would both be advantageous?
Note
There is no way to make magic more reliable. It is just a fact.
reality-check magic
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In my world, magic is unavoidably unreliable, for example:
You have a puncture. You cast a spell to mend it and with equal probability either it is mended or another tire is punctured.
You are trying to save an injured person. You cast a spell. Either they are saved or you kill them.
Question
It seems to me that such a magic is completely worthless. Can anyone prove me wrong by suggesting a case where both the intended result of a spell and its opposite would both be advantageous?
Note
There is no way to make magic more reliable. It is just a fact.
reality-check magic
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In my world, magic is unavoidably unreliable, for example:
You have a puncture. You cast a spell to mend it and with equal probability either it is mended or another tire is punctured.
You are trying to save an injured person. You cast a spell. Either they are saved or you kill them.
Question
It seems to me that such a magic is completely worthless. Can anyone prove me wrong by suggesting a case where both the intended result of a spell and its opposite would both be advantageous?
Note
There is no way to make magic more reliable. It is just a fact.
reality-check magic
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
$endgroup$
In my world, magic is unavoidably unreliable, for example:
You have a puncture. You cast a spell to mend it and with equal probability either it is mended or another tire is punctured.
You are trying to save an injured person. You cast a spell. Either they are saved or you kill them.
Question
It seems to me that such a magic is completely worthless. Can anyone prove me wrong by suggesting a case where both the intended result of a spell and its opposite would both be advantageous?
Note
There is no way to make magic more reliable. It is just a fact.
reality-check magic
reality-check magic
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
edited 1 hour ago
chasly from UK
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
asked 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
18.7k779169
18.7k779169
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Sure, it's worth it in many cases.
For instance, if your car is stranded in the middle of the wilderness due to a tire puncture, using magic to try and mend it would be reasonable. In this situation, the car having two punctured tires isn't any worst than if it only has one. You'll still have to make your way to civilisation on foot either way. On the other hand, in the best case scenario (50% chance, so it's not even unlikely) it'll be repaired and you can complete your journey within the comfort of your automobile.
Many similar examples can be thought of in the case of an injured person. Let's say one of your battle compatriots has been injured and you're about the be surrounded by the enemy who you know will show you no mercy. Well, then it makes perfect sense for you to attempt to cure him. Either he will recover and perhaps help your group stand a better chance against your foes, or he will die by magic instead of by the hacking and piercing of steel.
There are all sorts of times where a partly broken object or person is no more useful than a very broken object or person. It's times like these that magic comes in handy.
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,57652553
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
59 mins ago
1
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
57 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Such a magic would be useful for those situations where you are not too concerned with the immediate outcome but rather the consequences of those actions.
Rough example. There is a war. You don't particulary care who wins but you want the ceaseless fighting and killing to end. So you cast your magic on one side to win. Either they win or they lose...but the war is over! (And if the magic did nothing...try again)
You have to trick the magic into giving you the real end result you want.
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
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active
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$begingroup$
Sure, it's worth it in many cases.
For instance, if your car is stranded in the middle of the wilderness due to a tire puncture, using magic to try and mend it would be reasonable. In this situation, the car having two punctured tires isn't any worst than if it only has one. You'll still have to make your way to civilisation on foot either way. On the other hand, in the best case scenario (50% chance, so it's not even unlikely) it'll be repaired and you can complete your journey within the comfort of your automobile.
Many similar examples can be thought of in the case of an injured person. Let's say one of your battle compatriots has been injured and you're about the be surrounded by the enemy who you know will show you no mercy. Well, then it makes perfect sense for you to attempt to cure him. Either he will recover and perhaps help your group stand a better chance against your foes, or he will die by magic instead of by the hacking and piercing of steel.
There are all sorts of times where a partly broken object or person is no more useful than a very broken object or person. It's times like these that magic comes in handy.
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,57652553
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
59 mins ago
1
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
57 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Sure, it's worth it in many cases.
For instance, if your car is stranded in the middle of the wilderness due to a tire puncture, using magic to try and mend it would be reasonable. In this situation, the car having two punctured tires isn't any worst than if it only has one. You'll still have to make your way to civilisation on foot either way. On the other hand, in the best case scenario (50% chance, so it's not even unlikely) it'll be repaired and you can complete your journey within the comfort of your automobile.
Many similar examples can be thought of in the case of an injured person. Let's say one of your battle compatriots has been injured and you're about the be surrounded by the enemy who you know will show you no mercy. Well, then it makes perfect sense for you to attempt to cure him. Either he will recover and perhaps help your group stand a better chance against your foes, or he will die by magic instead of by the hacking and piercing of steel.
There are all sorts of times where a partly broken object or person is no more useful than a very broken object or person. It's times like these that magic comes in handy.
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,57652553
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
59 mins ago
1
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
57 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Sure, it's worth it in many cases.
For instance, if your car is stranded in the middle of the wilderness due to a tire puncture, using magic to try and mend it would be reasonable. In this situation, the car having two punctured tires isn't any worst than if it only has one. You'll still have to make your way to civilisation on foot either way. On the other hand, in the best case scenario (50% chance, so it's not even unlikely) it'll be repaired and you can complete your journey within the comfort of your automobile.
Many similar examples can be thought of in the case of an injured person. Let's say one of your battle compatriots has been injured and you're about the be surrounded by the enemy who you know will show you no mercy. Well, then it makes perfect sense for you to attempt to cure him. Either he will recover and perhaps help your group stand a better chance against your foes, or he will die by magic instead of by the hacking and piercing of steel.
There are all sorts of times where a partly broken object or person is no more useful than a very broken object or person. It's times like these that magic comes in handy.
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,57652553
$endgroup$
Sure, it's worth it in many cases.
For instance, if your car is stranded in the middle of the wilderness due to a tire puncture, using magic to try and mend it would be reasonable. In this situation, the car having two punctured tires isn't any worst than if it only has one. You'll still have to make your way to civilisation on foot either way. On the other hand, in the best case scenario (50% chance, so it's not even unlikely) it'll be repaired and you can complete your journey within the comfort of your automobile.
Many similar examples can be thought of in the case of an injured person. Let's say one of your battle compatriots has been injured and you're about the be surrounded by the enemy who you know will show you no mercy. Well, then it makes perfect sense for you to attempt to cure him. Either he will recover and perhaps help your group stand a better chance against your foes, or he will die by magic instead of by the hacking and piercing of steel.
There are all sorts of times where a partly broken object or person is no more useful than a very broken object or person. It's times like these that magic comes in handy.
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,57652553
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,57652553
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,57652553
answered 1 hour ago
AngelPrayAngelPray
6,57652553
6,57652553
1
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
59 mins ago
1
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
57 mins ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
59 mins ago
1
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
57 mins ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
59 mins ago
$begingroup$
Beat me to it by a minute or so ;)
$endgroup$
– cegfault
59 mins ago
1
1
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
57 mins ago
$begingroup$
And me as well. Ah, well. Great minds think alike? (nervous grin)
$endgroup$
– MacA
57 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Such a magic would be useful for those situations where you are not too concerned with the immediate outcome but rather the consequences of those actions.
Rough example. There is a war. You don't particulary care who wins but you want the ceaseless fighting and killing to end. So you cast your magic on one side to win. Either they win or they lose...but the war is over! (And if the magic did nothing...try again)
You have to trick the magic into giving you the real end result you want.
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Such a magic would be useful for those situations where you are not too concerned with the immediate outcome but rather the consequences of those actions.
Rough example. There is a war. You don't particulary care who wins but you want the ceaseless fighting and killing to end. So you cast your magic on one side to win. Either they win or they lose...but the war is over! (And if the magic did nothing...try again)
You have to trick the magic into giving you the real end result you want.
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Such a magic would be useful for those situations where you are not too concerned with the immediate outcome but rather the consequences of those actions.
Rough example. There is a war. You don't particulary care who wins but you want the ceaseless fighting and killing to end. So you cast your magic on one side to win. Either they win or they lose...but the war is over! (And if the magic did nothing...try again)
You have to trick the magic into giving you the real end result you want.
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
$endgroup$
Such a magic would be useful for those situations where you are not too concerned with the immediate outcome but rather the consequences of those actions.
Rough example. There is a war. You don't particulary care who wins but you want the ceaseless fighting and killing to end. So you cast your magic on one side to win. Either they win or they lose...but the war is over! (And if the magic did nothing...try again)
You have to trick the magic into giving you the real end result you want.
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
answered 1 hour ago
EveryBitHelpsEveryBitHelps
7,43633083
7,43633083
add a comment |
add a comment |
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