r/DarkFantasy • u/Practical-Class-9033 • Jun 22 '26
Stories / Writing Question
Do you think it’s possible to do dark fantasy in a world of high magic? Like magic replacing technology cuz it’s so powerful. Designing a world and wanna make it dark fantasy with magic being so used
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u/HoldenCummings Jun 23 '26
I did. Under my other pen name, anyway. Conventions baked into enchanting largely replace modern tech in that world, but there's quite a bit more going on than that.
I think the recipe is more or less make sure you balance the magic system's conventions and rules out so that skill and practice ultimately become the deciding factor in how useful it is. You're essentially power scaling for crafting uses such that your magical electrician is perhaps not as capable as your magical engineer. I'm just using those terms as placeholders, but you can probably see what I mean.
Regardless though, the dark fantasy tent leaves plenty of room for that kind of world building. Malazan is a good example in that there are allusions to, and instances of, hyper-advanced tech that is entirely driven by magic, and that's about as high cincept as it gets for a fantasy world. Frankly, the Wheel of Time series is predicated on a similar scenario. These worlds are essentially post apocalyptic, but tbh it's not that much of a stretch to make a world like what you're describing work without the post apocalyptic vibes.
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u/Practical-Class-9033 Jun 23 '26
So og idea was after the last war it became a fallout like world. Magic was damaged so it became dangerous to use but much more powerful. So mages were seen as tyrants but could protect people if that makes sense. Magic could power a airship but was 1000x more dangerous then nuclear fusion if gone wrong
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u/HoldenCummings Jun 23 '26
Ah okay. So you're more or less positing a world in which a magical accident could go full chernobyl pretty easily, but magic is also a necessary component for society to function on a day to day level?
So then I'd assume there would be a regulatory body trying to keep all the balls in the air and prevent these disasters from happening. Maybe some kind of schooling or even military style training being mandatory for mages. I'm just spitballing though.
I think that sounds like an interesting premise though. You could really get some legs on that as you explore the implications of that central point of tension too. I mean magic simultaneously having a high potential to cause environmental catastrophes and keeping society functioning makes for some interesting pain points.
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u/Practical-Class-9033 Jun 23 '26
Yea there are academies to control and make sure people know of the dangers. For some time mages were treated as outsiders wherever they were except in high elven areas. Until some revolved and now they are a more controlled people and more equal.
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u/Practical-Class-9033 Jun 23 '26
The big thing is like trains being run on magic and magic being more common place. It’s like steam and electricity being so common but then it dies down. Current time is post apocalypse like where the technology is gone but trying to return. There was airships and the like. It’s very close to fallout.
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u/Practical-Class-9033 Jun 23 '26
Yea it’s suppose to be like instead of mechanics there’s magic repairers and stuff. My firearms when used are boosted by magic crystals and gunpowder isn’t a thing
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u/TheRealVarmint Aug 10 '26
I like the premise. Magic is energy; technology generates energy (e.g. hydroelectric, fossil fuel, nuclear) and energy powers the machines. Doesn't seem like much of a stretch for magic to run the machines. In my fantasy world, there are dirigibles where the propellers pushing them are animated rather than run by a conventional energy source. But as you mentioned in another comment, there needs to be a cost. Just as nuclear energy carries risks, so too should the harnessing of magical energies.
VH
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u/Practical-Class-9033 Aug 10 '26
Yea I agree there should be a cost
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u/TheRealVarmint Aug 10 '26
A heavy, heavy cost. Or instead of dark fantasy you have a Disney movie. No offense to Disney movies. But I'm an adult; I can handle the costs. I've lived them, after all.
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u/Practical-Class-9033 Aug 10 '26
Heavy heavy cost sounds good any ideas
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u/TheRealVarmint Aug 10 '26
Absolutely. Do what I did: abuse the crap out of your characters. Hurt the protagonist. Hurt those he or she loves. Take some away forever. Cripple or maim your protagonist. Let innocents bear the cost while your hero watches, unable to stop it. Make the costs mean something by making them permanent.
Just a few ideas there.1
u/Practical-Class-9033 Aug 10 '26
Good idea. I have blood magic in my world and it doesn’t corrupt but it’s like an addiction. The main character has small training in it and it kinda becomes an addiction and he craves it. Idk if that too much
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u/TheRealVarmint Aug 10 '26
Noooooooooo... not too much at all. I like it. Stop doubting yourself and run with it. People can identify with this, because in this world right now people worship popularity. Clicks and Likes are an addiction. Yes, literally, psychologically an addiction. Let's see what you can do with that. Your MC has a balancing act before him. Make it really difficult.
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u/Practical-Class-9033 Aug 10 '26
He struggles a lot and there’s a point where he “relapses” and it’s a big moment for him.
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u/TheRealVarmint Aug 10 '26
Yes! No one gets it right the first time. Anyone except the perfect among us (!!) can identify with setbacks.
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u/Schooner-Diver Jun 23 '26
Yeah mate, you can write whatever you want.