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Sanderson's First Law on Magic
- Sanderson's First Law states magic's problem-solving must be clear to the reader for it to feel legitimate.
- Magic without understood rules feels like cheating and undermines story tension.
Worldcon Magic Rules Debate
- Brandon Sanderson shared at Worldcon that he assumed magic always had rules but others disagreed.
- This sparked a lively debate on whether magic needs rules or if mysterious magic works better.
Benefits of Mysterious Magic
- Magic without clear rules adds mystery and a sense of wonder, fitting stories where the hero doesn't rely on magic.
- Tolkien's approach highlights ordinary people facing abnormal situations with magic left unexplained.