# Hard & soft magic systems

- Term: Literature term
- Date: 2007
- Canonical: https://www.lanternhall.org/lexicon/magic-system/

> A hard magic system follows explicit rules and costs that readers understand, so characters can solve problems with it; soft magic stays mysterious and wondrous, like Gandalf's. Games need hard systems, which is why every RPG turns magic into rules and resources.

A hard magic system follows explicit rules and costs that readers understand, so characters can solve problems with it; soft magic stays mysterious and wondrous, like Gandalf's. Games need hard systems, which is why every RPG turns magic into rules and resources.

**Origin:** Popularized by Brandon Sanderson's 2007 essay on what he called Sanderson's First Law of magic.

## Quick answers

**What does "Hard & soft magic systems" mean?**
A hard magic system follows explicit rules and costs that readers understand, so characters can solve problems with it; soft magic stays mysterious and wondrous, like Gandalf's. Games need hard systems, which is why every RPG turns magic into rules and resources.

**Where does the term "Hard & soft magic systems" come from?**
Popularized by Brandon Sanderson's 2007 essay on what he called Sanderson's First Law of magic.

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From The Lantern Hall (https://www.lanternhall.org/), a museum of fantasy literature and roleplaying games.