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@deeprun We might have technomagic that is astounding in its complexity (I can still barely believe printers exist), but it’s commonplace. The average Jo still can’t throw fire from her hands =P I think if something is beyond human capability, people will dream of it. We all want to be more than we are, right? That’s kind of a core part of the Christian worldview.

As for highly detailed magic in particular, I don’t have a perfect answer. I know that in Western culture, we lust after control, having none and being keenly aware of that state. Maybe feeling that we have a great understanding of a magic system because it’s analogous to our understanding of the real world is like using myths to rationalize an explanation for the natural world in a way we can understand.

Or maybe it’s just the popularity of fantasy games, traditional and video.

The litRPG subgenre of the gamerlit genre (if it’s not itself just a subgenre of the single joint scifi/fantasy genre some people firmly believe exists) takes “highly detailed” in a different direction, usually describing magic or ability in pure game terms, often even giving character sheets with stats and values at the end of each chapter. This genre, in which it’s not uncommon to see a character described as casting a spell for 10 energy, hitting, dealing 572 fire damage, and then gaining 16 experience points… all in prose.

This is, to my eternal depression, a hugely popular genre. I guess I don’t really have an answer which desire this sort of system fills.

@pookiemonster Are you worried about supernaturality for your own sake, or for your audience’s? Also, I’d love to be a beta reader for that story.

@sarah-inkdragon I wish I had something meaningful to add or ask =P You’ve got good stuff there.