This question got me thinking: any question tagged spells can also be tagged magic, and they seem to serve a similar purpose. What's the difference between the magic and spells tags, or are they similar enough for one to be synonymed into the other, or for them to be replaced with a new tag?
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3\$\begingroup\$ There's also spellcasting, currently suggested for a synonym of the spells tag. \$\endgroup\$– doppelgreenerNov 23, 2013 at 5:22
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4 Answers
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Speaking from a D&D point of view, the two things are pretty different. Spells is only one of the possible manifestations of magic along with spell-like abilities (most "spellcaster" monsters and prestige classes), supernatural abilities (most other sort of magical monsters and classes), invocations (dragonfire adepts and warlocks), powers (psions, but it might as well be a completely different thing than magic under different optional rules), mysteries (shadow magic), enchantments (items) and magic effects not replicable by anything in the rules.
So, spells is specific and magic is generic.
I'm perfectly aware this only apply to D&D 3.x, previous D&D editions and Next (D&D 4e has a different concept of spells that is more fluff-related but still has spells as a subset of magic), but a distinction it is.
In the question you linked, Detct Magic is a spell that can detect any form of magic.
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\$\begingroup\$ Re 3rd paragraph: in this regard 3.x is no different from earlier editions, 4e, or 5e: magic is the general metaphysics and spells are one possible kind of manifestation/technique. \$\endgroup\$ Nov 24, 2013 at 17:56
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3\$\begingroup\$ +1, as this is the correct answer. The terms are non-synonymous in a number of systems, as well as in the fiction those systems represent and draw on. While there is some overlap, they definitely reflect different areas of potential interest and expertise. \$\endgroup\$– GMJoeDec 2, 2013 at 6:24
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I'd say that "spells" are specific, codified, mechanical effects, and "magic" is the in-fiction structure that makes "spells" work.
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1\$\begingroup\$ And that is meaningful use of a tag why? \$\endgroup\$– mxyzplkNov 23, 2013 at 23:08
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2\$\begingroup\$ Yes. So "How much damage does my 7th-level wizard's magic missile do" is [dnd-5e][spells], while "What exactly is the Weave?" is [dnd-5e][magic]. (Making no claim about whether those would be good questions, though.) \$\endgroup\$ Mar 3, 2015 at 21:33
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Quite frankly it's sometimes a semantic issue. Magic is not always an active thing. In L5R there's something called Kiho which are magical effects, but ultimately these are not spells. There abilities that are channeled through things like Shadowlands Taint and The Nothing that are magical in nature (as in supernatural) but are not spells. What does count as spell use is the traditional magic forms used by shugenja that quite literally derive from written scrolls, spoken and sometimes performed in a specific fashion so that there is any result at all let alone the desired effect.
In essence, magic can exist in many passive forms, sometimes even active ones but a spell almost always between the systems I have personal experience with relates to something that requires exact and almost ritualistic execution.
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The difference is only meaningful within a game system, so I think we should synonym spells->magic. Who's an expert in "spells" and not "magic" within a game? No one...
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7\$\begingroup\$ Well... they're very different, in that not all magic is in the form of spells. As a result,
spellssays something different thanmagicabout the content of a question. (Still ambivalent towards the synonym, but it's still worth noting.) \$\endgroup\$– user8248Nov 23, 2013 at 7:54 -
1\$\begingroup\$ That might be true, but the opposite is not. Who's an expert in "magic" but not "spells"? \$\endgroup\$– ZachielNov 25, 2013 at 9:44