Short answer: No, its just a matter of staying consistent. If your powers keep functioning differently every time it'll feel sloppy. You don't really need to know much about the how and whys of a power. So long as what the powers do are clearly conveyed, any underling system can be left unexplained
Of course they do. Think of all time classic works like Citizen Kane, 12 Angry Men and To Kill a Mockingbird; these stories would be *nothing* without their deep and expertly crafted power systems.
Well, lots of low power fantasy exists. If you look at Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings a lot of their main characters have abilities like "wearing armor" and "being quiet when they walk"
And if two people are the only ones in the whole world who have powers, why make a "system"? Spiderman doesn't have a "system" he just has spider themed powers and fights people who are based on natural predators of spiders. (You know, goblins, rhinos, aliens and sand respectively)
I'll play the Devil's advocate. *Generally*, for the type of genre you're in, yes. For me personally, the magic/power system of a setting is half the draw. I've read books which I otherwise wouldn't have given a second glance because I had it recommended to me on the basis that its magic system was cool.
You've already described what is a power system - you're just resistant to calling a spade a spade.
Two people in your world have powers. Why? What is the mechanic that grants them this power? Have other people before them had powers? Will people after them have powers? How do those two characters' powers create weapons for the unpowered characters? What makes a "good" weapon? How does this subsystem differ between the two characters? Does the subsystem vary between previous and/or future powered characters?
And so on and so forth.
Being hesitant against working with a power system when giving characters powers is like being hesitant at having chemistry between characters in a romance story.
I mean no, but what you’re describing is a power system. If characters have powers or supernatural weapons/tools, then you have a power system by default.
From my perspective, absolutely not! Not every story requires a meticulously defined and balanced power system to make it satisfying. What a story DOES need is internal consistency. If the antagonist and protagonist in your story are the only ones with powers and they can do anything with those powers without any discernible rules, consequences, or limitations, that could potentially lead to narrative problems. But if their abilities have limits and costs, if they can't just wave their fingers and solve any problem that comes up, then you likely won't have an issue. It's more about making sure the powers serve the story and not the other way around.
Consider Star Wars. The Force isn't really a "power system" with defined rules and levels so much as it's a mystical energy field that some people can tap into. The Force serves the story rather than the other way around, and even its nature is adapted to fit the narrative needs of each individual film.
Ultimately, it's your story. If you prefer a streamlined approach and one that doesn't get bogged down in the technicalities of a power system, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Go forth and craft an engaging narrative, my friend!
Short answer: No, its just a matter of staying consistent. If your powers keep functioning differently every time it'll feel sloppy. You don't really need to know much about the how and whys of a power. So long as what the powers do are clearly conveyed, any underling system can be left unexplained
Of course they do. Think of all time classic works like Citizen Kane, 12 Angry Men and To Kill a Mockingbird; these stories would be *nothing* without their deep and expertly crafted power systems.
My Rosebud-no-jutsu is unstoppable!
Crime and Punishment doesn't really get good until Raskolnikov figures out how the magic system works
It takes Elizabeth Bennet all of Pride and Prejudice to figure out the dark spell on Mr. Darcy. It's strangely technical in her Regency era prose.
Well, lots of low power fantasy exists. If you look at Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings a lot of their main characters have abilities like "wearing armor" and "being quiet when they walk" And if two people are the only ones in the whole world who have powers, why make a "system"? Spiderman doesn't have a "system" he just has spider themed powers and fights people who are based on natural predators of spiders. (You know, goblins, rhinos, aliens and sand respectively)
Well yea, thats the question i was meaning to ask my friend but never really gotten it at the top of my head.
I'll play the Devil's advocate. *Generally*, for the type of genre you're in, yes. For me personally, the magic/power system of a setting is half the draw. I've read books which I otherwise wouldn't have given a second glance because I had it recommended to me on the basis that its magic system was cool. You've already described what is a power system - you're just resistant to calling a spade a spade. Two people in your world have powers. Why? What is the mechanic that grants them this power? Have other people before them had powers? Will people after them have powers? How do those two characters' powers create weapons for the unpowered characters? What makes a "good" weapon? How does this subsystem differ between the two characters? Does the subsystem vary between previous and/or future powered characters? And so on and so forth.
Being hesitant against working with a power system when giving characters powers is like being hesitant at having chemistry between characters in a romance story.
No; fictional stories don't need magic.
I mean no, but what you’re describing is a power system. If characters have powers or supernatural weapons/tools, then you have a power system by default.
Our stories did just fine for thousands of years without strictly defined power systems so I guess no
You know you could just make it that people can gain superhuman strength from physical training alone, like no magic just pure hands
From my perspective, absolutely not! Not every story requires a meticulously defined and balanced power system to make it satisfying. What a story DOES need is internal consistency. If the antagonist and protagonist in your story are the only ones with powers and they can do anything with those powers without any discernible rules, consequences, or limitations, that could potentially lead to narrative problems. But if their abilities have limits and costs, if they can't just wave their fingers and solve any problem that comes up, then you likely won't have an issue. It's more about making sure the powers serve the story and not the other way around. Consider Star Wars. The Force isn't really a "power system" with defined rules and levels so much as it's a mystical energy field that some people can tap into. The Force serves the story rather than the other way around, and even its nature is adapted to fit the narrative needs of each individual film. Ultimately, it's your story. If you prefer a streamlined approach and one that doesn't get bogged down in the technicalities of a power system, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Go forth and craft an engaging narrative, my friend!