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@kate Basically, everything goes back to the source. And when the source is a solid, theological view instead of science, one can take a magic system much further. (though, to be fair, Sanderson’s magic and religion makes much more sense when you realize he’s Mormon and study that to some degree, like @josiah said.)

@karthmin Sanderson wrote out a few articles/laws on magic which are fascinating. Ever read them? Anyway, he detailed out hard and soft magic. His definitions were a bit more like what @taylorclogston said – hard magic being more science while soft magic was mysterious, though the examples of Sanderson and Tolkien still stand. I think Sanderson’s is a better definition though, cause the same magic system might be background in one story and part of the plot in another. Their mystery and fantasy and ‘magicness’ has more to do with what kind of system it is than how much it is used in relation to the plot.

(Also, @taylorclogston. Side-note. No problem with disagreeing. XD That’s what the discussions are about, after all. I mean, so long as everyone is nice, which everyone is, so… 😉 )

I think what you are talking about, @karthmin has more, or at least as much, to do with the presentation of magic as it does with how the magic actually works (what you were trying to explain to me, Kate).

Magic systems are powerful when they have religious undergirding because of our ability to connect them to good and evil in this world (it ought to be carefully done, of course. Because there is evil power in this real world, as well as good power. Which is why I’m not a huge fan of some amoral force that people can use for either good or evil as they see fit).

Personally, I think a cross between hard and soft magic systems can bring in the best of both worlds. I love how Sanderson has the ‘checks and balences’ in his systems. Basically making sure all powers have weaknesses and flaws which makes things interesting, adds to worldbuilding, and keeps magic from solving the story’s problems (it’s the characters who need to solve the plot problems, be they using some sort of magic or not). At the same time, their foundation can have religious and theological underpinnings. Not to mention the actual presentation has a lot to do with it too because the acts will be much more mysterious to a hobbit or someone who hasn’t seen it before than it will be to someone who uses it. But, especially with the religious overtones, I think one can write someone who uses the powers or magic and still get a sense of mystery–perhaps through how they view it themselves.

*blinks at long, rambling paragraph* hopefully that makes some sense. A system that is part of how the world works, esp. when it comes to flaws and weaknesses, but that also carries a sense of mystery…an aspect I’m mulling over in regards to my own system. It’s founded in theology, but the ‘divine’ and mysterious could be better worked in, I think.