This TV Show Has The Best D&D-Style Magic I’ve Seen On-screen! [Ep. 09]

[@vonamarak]

Great episode. I love the notion of bringing magic back in magic wherever I find it. An insignificant nitpick: Paul Kaye plays Vinculus, the Gentleman is played by Marc Warren.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Dammit, I knew I’d mess something up like that! Thanks for pointing that out. And I’m glad u liked the vid!

[@GreifRitter]

I recognized him from Band of Brothers where he played Blithe. I really respect the way you handled the correction.@@tabletopalchemy

[@pardotkynes1]

years ago when I played D&D. Our group was complaining it didn't seem fair we could only remember so few spells. so our DM created a magic method for us. to prove the point. when ever a magic user learnt a new spell he would hand that person a scrap of paper with a number of non sense syllables written on it, around 3 per lvl of the spell. you were not allowed to write them down or use a cheet sheet. but he kept one for himself. you were allowed to remember as many as you actually could. but you had to recite it on spell cast, and if you got it wrong he would hit you with some misfire consequences. to this day I still remember some of my spells (its been over 30 years)

[@tabletopalchemy]

Lol that’s genius! What a great experience (although probly harsh at the table lol).

[@mockupguy3577]

Fun! Though I kind of agree with your group. I’ve always found the ‘cast and forget’ idea absurd. I use a different system where you need to study a spell for a long time to lear it but then you know it. Casting is limited by mental drain requiring the mage to rest and sleep after a certain amount of magic.

[@vukkulvar9769]

@@mockupguy3577 That's why I like the "perils" system in magic. Whenever you cast a spell, you throw a dice of perils, the more potent the spell, the more dices thrown. Your wizard has a limit of how much perils he can sustain. If you go overboard, the magic unstability is released and causes havoc on the wizard and maybe others around with various possible effects. A long rest reset the perils.

[@mockupguy3577]

@@vukkulvar9769 , that’s good

[@phoenixcreates8686]

I need to ability to save comments for reference. This is gold.

[@frankling.robertsiii6811]

I enjoyed much of the show “the Magicians,” because they used lots of verbal and somatic casting.

[@darschpugs4690]

i loved when they learned battle magic and it was magic missile.

[@erikanderson123]

I was thinking the same thing as soon as he started talking about the usage of gestures and verbal commands. "The Magicians" rewrote the book on that.

[@chaosordeal294]

The Magicians is not the greatest show ever, but beyond having wonderful fantasy elements, the show is watchable for adults (sure, it's fantasy BS, but it isn't insultingly awful). And it's often sexy -- something weirdly missing from far too many TV shows.

[@tabletopalchemy]

It’s on my list now, I remember watching some of the first episode and not being captured by it but I’m famous for second opinion viewings lol.

[@cyrusmagnus]

@@tabletopalchemy Don't judge a series by its first season. Cardinal rule of watching fantasy. The other being, of course, never watch fantasy without a touch of madness in you... ...you'll miss the magic.

[@Mekhami]

The show is based on what might be the greatest fantasy novel to come out since Tolkien. Seriously. It's so worth reading.

[@tabletopalchemy]

100% agree!

[@stephenharris8041]

I watched until you said what the show was, paused the video, binged the show, then came back to finish. Great video essay and superb show. I agree with all the D&D-like stuff you mention. It's not like the creators went through the PHB and found spells to cast, it is more that as you say, the art is treated in a way that *feels* D&D like, and that is pretty rare and pretty great.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Awesome! So glad u liked it! Yeah I def feel like a lot of stuff draws from a common well for sure.

[@MichaelHarto]

yes, like having the power of the cosmos, but confined to a lamp. everything has limitation and price. we really need more of these.

[@PhoenixWrites2309]

You have no idea how happy I am to see this show getting more love. The book and show are both wonderful but seem to have gone mostly under the radar.

[@tabletopalchemy]

I agree! I really liked her short stories and her latest novel too!

[@Xylus]

I've felt since reading the novel the way magic was treated was the closest to how I want magic to be treated in my own fictional universe. I also felt it was the most intriguing depiction in the show. I love the ideas of unintended consequence, or differing methods or procedures to produce like effects. It is so cool.

[@tabletopalchemy]

100% 🤙

[@korendirWS]

I love the discussion on the science of magic. I've always felt, as you, that it is not represented correctly in movies and other cinematic media. Thank you for pointing out this series.

[@grahamward7]

I read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell back in 2006 and it totally shaped how I judge magic in fantasy. Glad we got a good adaptation of it.

[@Morfeusm]

One of the best fantasy novels IMO. A true underrated masterpiece.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Agreed!

[@keithpogue6080]

Merlin’s magic as portrayed in the old 1980 film Excalibur was always inspiring to me. An Al nathrach, orth’ bhais’s bethad, do chel denmha.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Yeah Excalibur is a great example. That flick always makes me feel vaguely uneasy lol it’s pretty wild.

[@Len0Grady]

The cool thing is that it’s just horribly mispronounced Irish (Anglo phonics being dropped on Gaelic words) What’s being said is; Anáil nathrach, ortha bháis is beatha, do chéal déanaimh (modern Irish). This translates as: Serpent's breath, charm of death and life, thy omen of making. I think that’s what makes it unsettling and sound authentic. It doesn’t do any harm that Excalibur was shot in Ireland too.

[@TKFKU]

Hush you madman! Are you trying to wake the dragon!?

[@AndreyKrichevsky]

This looks like a really cool show! I do also like the way Dr. Strange in the Marvel movies depicts somatic components. Each spell is an elaborate dance of the hands and fingers creating the proper shape for the spell. But in this show based on what you've shown magic looks so much more raw. Like it's a force that a magician taps into but maybe not fully controls.

[@tabletopalchemy]

I think that’s a good assessment of the magic, it’s like a natural resource or something and they have to engineer ways to access/manipulate it.

[@Dani_77709]

I thought Jonathan Strange was a book about regular detectives...this is a valuable lesson to never assume again.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Lol!

[@edbdavis4]

JSMN and The Magicians gave me the same vibes as The Expanse. All of them present a type of fantasy or sci-fi that seems to be rooted in reality. Very gratifying to watch.

[@MrExit181]

Fantastic episode. I really like The Magicians tv series for the way they depict the somatic aspects of spellcasting, specifically showcasing the dexterity required.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Others have mentioned this series so it’s on my list now. Glad u liked the vid!

[@roland9958]

@@tabletopalchemy have you never watched The Magicians? It's definitely a great show. really enjoying your videos.

[@tabletopalchemy]

@roland haven’t seen the Magicians yet - glad u dig the content, thanks!

[@brianreck5971]

The setting lent so much to this series that the magic is just “well, of course it works that way”. I really enjoyed this show!

[@tabletopalchemy]

Yeah I like this setting and the Victorian era’s aesthetic for dnd!

[@streampunksheep]

I am so happy someone is doing an essay on this show!

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

Don't see the D&D link myself, but Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is one of the best alternative history novels ever written. . It's a satirical / alternate reality story about the rise of ' magic(k) societies like the Golden Dawn in the 19th century , and the how some upper class eccentrics took the study of grimoires & ritual magic serious . The first time i read it felt so realistic , i actually thought it was based on urban myths and folklore. I even looked up the books and sources online, and noticed wikipedia had a page because a lot of people fell for it as well 😅.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Lol yes! I’ve really enjoyed all her writing, she’s got a unique style of both prose and storytelling. Always great characters too.

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

@@tabletopalchemy Yes she's is already one of the best writers in this genre . Thank god she did not become one of those 'one book a year ' , milk- it- out for every dollar ' writers. ;) But i hope she will write many more in the years to come. Anyway your video made me realize this series was made. Never noticed that before. So i'm giving it a try .

[@HandOfVecna1188]

I remember the show blew my mind when Strange was asked for a road. It's something so basic, so unflashy, so NOT a fireball, but it was absolutely vital and likely changed history. Time for a rewatch maybe.

[@tabletopalchemy]

That got me like that on my first read of the book too! Utilitarian/strategic use of practical magic. I loved that.

[@agentcooper6361]

Dragon Prince is cool. I like the way material components are used and how the casters somatically paint runes in the air to prep the spell. Neat.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Ah I haven’t seen that I don’t think, I’ll have to check it out,

[@jimjones7980]

I was also going to mention The Dragon Prince. It's portrayal of magic is one of my favorites.

[@stephenbaxter5804]

@@jimjones7980 Decided to scroll the comments to see if someone mentioned this particular show.

[@Creepyslandofdreams]

4:36 I've always played under the assumption that the spells a player casts are the spells they were taught or made aware of, and with good enough skill checks can break those rules. I highly recommend using "spell-breaking" in your games. I allow players to make a check to bend the rules of the spell, in exchange if they fail it could be bended in a unpredictable way that could have consequences. It makes powerful magic feel like a force to be reckoned with, for the both the caster and the castee. (The skills I typically use are: Artificer: tool check, Bard: Instrument check, Cleric: Religion check, Druid: Nature check, Sorcerer: Usually because sorceress are strange I do a normal charisma check or let them use sorcery points, Warlock: Religion, or for more fun let the player take it into the hands of their patron, with little control over the way the spell is bent, but somehow beneficial, just maybe not how they expected, Wizard: Arcana)

[@tabletopalchemy]

Very cool ideas! I love the concept of “spell bending”!

[@tonyhind6992]

Just ordered it on Amazon. Thanks for the recommendation. Looks great.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Awesome! I sure hope you’re not disappointed lol I accept full responsibility.

[@tavishn]

I ritually watch this show once a year since I saw it first. The book is also my all time favorite fantasy novel!

[@tabletopalchemy]

Both versions are so good! 🍻

[@ThosDowling]

One thing I related to D&D when I watched this series is how Mr. Norrell exemplifies the careful studied magic of a Wizard, while Strange exemplifies the wild intuitive magic of a Sorcerer. This is why he is able to do the first trick without understanding theory, and is able to improvise Sand Horses and other spectacular feats. As you alluded to, The Gentleman also offers to become an Archfey Patron to Mr. Norrell, neatly allowing all three major D&D spellcasting classes to exist in this universe. One thing I really like, unlike D&D, is that there is no hard delineation between these approaches. Strange becomes a better Sorcerer through study, and I'm certain Mr. Norrell could become a better Wizard by being far less rigid in his approach to magic... and of course they're both tempted by a pact with an otherworldly being.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Agreed! And I think that idea you like about how different approaches to learning are not inherently skewed towards “one right way” is exemplary of life in general lol.

[@GeminiLibra73]

And oh my, the book's description of magic is powerful and poetic.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Very!

[@Banzai431]

Wow thanks for turning me on to this excellent series!

[@tabletopalchemy]

Totally welcome!

[@jeffr5221]

The video game "Outward" has pretty cool magic mechanics where to cast a powerful spell, smaller spells need to be cast in a particular order in order to cast the main spell.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Oh I like that game a lot. I’m terrible at it but it’s a very cool game!

[@hammond1994]

That show was a fantastic portrayal of magic use. One Wizard and one Sorcerer. Cool video!

[@tabletopalchemy]

Definitely!

[@iskandarthegreat0487]

Absolutely loved this show

[@tabletopalchemy]

🍻

[@HighmageDerin]

the one season series of DC's Constantine, and the Animation movies of him did a good job at how magic works too. Willow (the original movie, not the current Crap show Disney made) did a good job of that too. The Anime "The Slayers" did a great job too. As did Record of Lodos War.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Oh Lodos War! I’ve got an awesome art book of that series. I haven’t seen the Constantine show, I’ll have to check it out.

[@crooker2]

THANK YOU for referring me to that show. So far we're just over half way through it and I think it's amazing! So underrated.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Glad u dig it!

[@crooker2]

@@tabletopalchemy thoroughly.

[@Aku9466]

I’ll need to check out this series at some point, but a lot of this is why I enjoy the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Private investigator wizard in modern Chicago who uses his talents to try and help people, spells having set rules on how they can or can’t work, where the energy has to come from or go when cast, materials and thought that goes into making magic tools and potions, all kinds of things that just make playing wizards that much better.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Interesting! Sometimes I have a hard time with genre mashups but I haven’t read any Dresden Files (and I loved Shadowrun so I’m just weird lol). I’ll check the books out.

[@hawkname1234]

@@tabletopalchemy Dresden Files are the best modern magic stories BY A MILE. They are so good!

[@fuzzzone]

@@tabletopalchemy I agree with hawkname and Aku, I can't recommend The Dresden Files enough. The first novel isn't the best of them, though still good. But if you consider that it was literally his first attempt at a long format story it's certainly impressive. The series pulls you in really quickly. Lots of great characters and it all just keeps building and building and building. They're very fun :)

[@blackcatgraphics1483]

Awesome that you gave a shout out to this book and series. Fantasy and sword and sorcery have always been my favorite genre, and this series was one of the best in recent memory. Criminally under represented.

[@brandonandreski1709]

The book is amazing and the show was wonderfully fulfilling. I adopted a lot from this show in my games. The idea that your state of mind has a lot to do with how magic is performed and the effects they have on mortal minds and bodies.

[@gebatron604]

JS&MR is my absolute gold standard for fantasy feel

[@olliegeorge3102]

While watching the Merlin series, I was thinking about how I liked the the magic representation in the show. There was almost always verbal components, but not on the smallest spells, and there was kind of somatic movements but I sticking out hand doesn’t really count. Also Merlin is an almost exact representation of what I think a d&d wizard would look like, despite being called a “sorcerer” and “warlock” throughout the show.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Yeah good points!

[@danwebber9494]

This is the first I’ve heard of the adaptation, the book was a great blend of elements. I’ll add it to the list!

[@monstermancave1994]

Oh wow. You are nailing it. Before I even got into your content I noticed the quality of your lighting, the fact that you've blocked your shot asymetrically yet balanced, and your editing. Only to find out you ARE a pro. I think your channel is going to do well. It really stands out.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Well thanks a lot, much appreciated! It’s definitely more difficult to do all the stuff alone *while* being the on-camera “talent” lol but you know, if we ain’t winning, we learning!

[@3nertia]

I subscribed almost instantly; I concur with this prediction!

[@rustedbeetle]

It was a fantastic show! I immediately went out and picked up the book afterwards. The magic felt grounded, like it had ties to the world and costs to be borne. Then you had the contrast between the academia of magic and the personal and emotional creation of magic.

[@tennisfameguy]

Surprisingly, the old Disney film Dragonslayer has always had a really nice D&D feel to me, particularly the rarity and difficulty of mastering magic. 4:17

[@tabletopalchemy]

Oh I have to revisit that one!

[@shenkyeirambo5601]

back when i watched jonathon strange and mr norrell i've always interpreted the two main characters as the difference between a wizard and a sorcerer. mr norrell does things very by the book, following formulas and understanding that there is a requirement and a cost to use magic in its various forms. jonathon strange often does things on a whim, sometimes trying things without thinking or researching. he does look into more powerful things of course, but often his actual use of magic is "this might work". at least going by what i remember from watching it some years ago

[@tabletopalchemy]

I think that’s a pretty accurate take!

[@leebrown1049]

I didn't know this show existed, going to check it out right now. Many thanks

[@loriensnowdrop]

I love how whenever they do magic in the show, and the sounds of wood creaking start occurring, it feels as if reality is a ship and the magic they've cast is causing that ship to alter course just enough for the sound of the timber under strain to be heard.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Agreed! Like moving between realms is stressing the reality lol. 🍻

[@Cesly-mo3uf]

You reminded me how much I loved this show. Damn gotta go by this for xmas.

[@johnbiggscr]

Strange and Norell was an awesome show. It’s portrayal of magic made it look like it was possible.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Yeah! I just like the whole “world building”, works really well for me!

[@toodleselnoodos6738]

I also love how Mr. Norrell and Jonathan Strange express the difference between a Prepared/INT and a Spontaneous/CHA caster. Strange doesn’t remember how he does some spells, he comes up with new ones not recorded, and he takes inspiration from what he sees and feels to make things happen - to great effect. Mr. Norrell is incredibly bound his knowledge of magic and spells, possesses numerous spells from the various books he has (and loans to Strange). Lastly, he attempts his own cantrip in his fight with Strange…and barely conjures a sprinkle of water. It’s definitely a wonderful mix of things. Loved this show and glad you highlighted it! Edit: I also love the interplay between magicians and religion. They aren’t separate. After Strange casts Speaking Dead and then Comprehend Language, he runs off to a corner and begins praying. Additionally, one of Strange’s confidants is a pastor also. He’s there, supports him, watches him cast spells. Edit: I’m glad you showed the Waterloo fight! Especially when the commander yells at him to stop making rain.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Lol awesome!

[@sirguy6678]

Great video! I really loved the magic system of “Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell” - it demonstrates the difference between magic used by practitioners and the magic of natural magicians like fairies

[@tabletopalchemy]

Totally! Thank you!

[@edwardwalter3100]

One show that I've seen that does a great job of tying somantic and verbal elements in magic is "Motherland: Fort Salem". Probably not on your radar as it is solidly YA/teen show on a FXX but my wife started watching it and I absolutely loved the way they used "songs" as their basis of their spell casting. Really leaning into the physical production of their songs to produce their magical effects really impressed me and they layered in more other elements throughout the run of the show. As a person who loves to sing, I really like this shows represtentation of magic. Thanks for the thoughtful vid and happy gaming!

[@tabletopalchemy]

You’re right I’ve never heard of it! I’ll try to check it out, thanks!

[@bainslayer]

had to stop myself just about halfway through, now I'm gonna have to finish the book and come back :)

[@TheDonjuan502]

What a great show!

[@tabletopalchemy]

🍻

[@minibuscus2]

defo make this a series my guy, would love to see more inspiration like this

[@tabletopalchemy]

🍻 Awesome! I break down my sorta “topic” schedule in my first video on the channel to hopefully give some sort of expectation lol.

[@yoroshiku137]

I absolutely *love* that series! I watched it four times the year it came out. I read the book and loved the footnotes that added to the worldbuilding. 10/10 would recommend it!

[@tabletopalchemy]

It’s probably the only book I’ve read 100% of the footnotes of lol! 🍻

[@akv-e5t]

One of the great fantasy books. Susanna Clarke deserves much praise.

[@mikeet207]

I really enjoyed how they portrayed magic in the Warcraft movie. They took to effort to get the somatic stuff correct and the mage in the story showed how exerting it was on him each time he was casting a spell.

[@tabletopalchemy]

This is true - I didn’t like the movie at all as a whole so I haven’t thought about it much, but I do recall liking several disparate elements of it.

[@mikeet207]

@@tabletopalchemy agreed. Definitely a great movie at all, but I liked the magic scenes a bit.

[@JustIn-mu3nl]

I didn't mind the movie, but I'm not a WOW nerd, I've never played the game. But the way magic was done made it entertaining alone, without it I probably wouldn't have liked it.

[@soulnoyz8514]

The cues that this video gave me is absolutely fantastic, i'm writing a D&D campaign , I haven't played for a long time and i found this hint of yours a treasure!

[@tabletopalchemy]

Excellent! Super glad u liked it!

[@codyschulte9649]

The magic used in the BBC show Merlin was pretty inspirational to me, just the sequences to learn some of those spells and the certain rare components

[@MaxSMoke777]

Curse you for reminding me of such an excellent series THAT NEVER GOT A SECOND SEASON!!!!! This has been a hole etched in my soul deeper than Firefly.

[@MaxSMoke777]

And fairies are not demonic! They're eldrick. They are not of mortal souls. Their desires and whims are something incomprehensible to a human. Think more lovecraftian, but without the tentacles.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Lol we all share the pain!

[@greenguy369]

It was a mini series. It was never meant to get another season

[@tabletopalchemy]

This is how I felt at the end of west world season one, what a perfect single chunk of storytelling! Also The English! Both westerns I know but so so good finite stories, just like JSMN. JSMN makes me want more but I’d be nervous about it lol.

[@kspayton]

the magicians tv show on the syfy channel really nailed the somatic components. check it out if you want some inspiration for that side of things.

[@tabletopalchemy]

It’s on my list 😎

[@kspayton]

@@tabletopalchemy i the first few episodes are kind of slow but the show gets waaaay better and a lot more intense as it goes on. the other worlds they go to and the beings they meet are awesome, terrifying and hilarious.

[@tabletopalchemy]

All right I’ll give it a shot lol

[@AcePlaysTCGs]

All of these clips look fantastic. I've always pictured my D&D campaigns in more of a 1800s time frame. I have got to check out this show because like you said, it's exactly what I picture when I play or run a D&D campaign.

[@tabletopalchemy]

I really like the setting too, more than traditional medieval for sure. Just my own personal aesthetic. 🍻

[@AcePlaysTCGs]

@@tabletopalchemy A lot of times I felt myself resistant to traditional medieval times. I flock to steampunk because I prefer a more urban setting. This book and its adaptation just taps right into what I'm looking for. It's got some gritty magic without having to go full science fiction to get there. It's beautiful. This my first video from your channel, but I'll definitely be checking out more because we seem like kindred spirits.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Awesome! Check out my first video, I explain my sorta topical release schedule etc.

[@AcePlaysTCGs]

@@tabletopalchemy thanks.

[@ICLHStudio]

One of my favorite fantasy books (technically series) which I like to recommend to other DMs and players for magic inspiration, is the Riddlemaster trilogy by Patricia A. Mckillip. It's definitely pretty soft magic, and doesn't have as much in the way of unique mechanics compared to what was demonstrated here (although it does have a few really cool ones, especially in the second book, such as when a character places a tangle of string as a trap that makes the person who steps on it follow the mixed up path that the string takes, very like a maze spell), but it's got really good descriptions; not so much of the physical events, but of the experience of casting (and also things like will saves and spell DCs, some of the magic feels very compatible with those kinds of game mechanics imo). When I read a Brandon Sanderson book I know pretty much exactly how the magic works, but when I read Riddlemaster, I know what the magic like. Which I think is actually the more useful thing for D&D.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Oh this is great! I’ve read only one book by her and I loved it and I forgot the title 20 years ago and I’ve been trying to find it since! I’ll check this series out thanks!

[@eifpr0n]

You're already pretty good at this. If this is the awkward teenage years of this channel, in a year or two I think you could be a top tier content creator. Matt Colville might be the only other content creator I've seen come out this fully formed.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Hey thank you very much! All I know is that more the channel grows the less I gotta think about things cause I tend to get overthink sometimes when I definitely should not lol. Colville is fantastic!

[@adrianwebster6923]

This was on my list of books to maybe check out some day, but this video sold me. I know I will love the show and probably the book. Ordering both. This kind of depiction of magic is right up my alley.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Excellent! The book is written in a stylish Dickensian sort of prose I thought would turn me off, but I’ve read it twice now and all her other work as well!

[@EssentialNPC]

HOLY BAHAMUT! You've gained literal thousands of subscribers overnight! I really enjoy your content; it's super inspiring for DMing ideas!

[@tabletopalchemy]

Lol yeah lil crazy. Glad u dig the content!

[@RavixAryss]

Yes, I loved this show! The moment I saw the mud hand crush I remember screaming "Holy shit that's Earthen Grasp!"

[@tabletopalchemy]

Lol yep! And Control Water happens right before that!

[@haroldhughes977]

This show was amazing and I need to rewatch it. Definitely picked up inspiration from this show. Fantastic video.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Right on! I’ve read the book twice, it’s just so cool!

[@stochasticagency]

A solid show and a solid observation concerning the depiction of magic. This is a fantastic overview; well done.

[@FolkBlue]

you should check out the magicians. I loved that (I know it's different from the book by a county mile) they had hand exercises to prep their somatic components for spells.

[@tabletopalchemy]

This series has been mentioned quite a few times, I need to check it out.

[@litlclutch]

It was such a GREAT show... I only wish it received a second season or even a third and forth as I just so thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@tabletopalchemy]

I agree! I want a sequel either in show or book form for sure!

[@Joaremy]

Wow this was a fantastic video and I really enjoyed it. The portrayal of magic in the show is excellent and how it should be in more adaptations!

[@tabletopalchemy]

Glad u liked it!

[@XianJaxxon]

Totally loved this show! Great show with a very grounded, practical, believable approach to magic, and visually stunning!

[@2DGraphicDesign]

Another series aired around the same time as Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell: The Magicians (TV Series 2015-2020) where the motions of making magic is more than waving a wand.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Yes! I’ve seen quite a few mentions of that show, I need to check it out.

[@FulcanMal]

Love 'Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel', and always go back to it as my inspiration for 'Mage: The Awakening' games.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Someone else mentioned Mage, I’ll have to check that game out!

[@StarlasAiko]

I also like the way Magic skill is shown in the Warhammer movie (really the only thing about that movie I really liked). A novice has to meticulously draw the cricles, gather the ingredients and speak the incantation while a grandmaster can just wave a hand. This shows all the ritual and components to be focus items, keeping the will and concentration of the magician on the task of casting. The more experienced one is with a particular spell, the less ritual and components one needs as a "crutch". I am implementing this in a TTRPG I am currently working on creating. Each spell has its own experience levels, with the highest being Cantrip, which signifies that one has cast the spell so many times, it has become as routine as breathing.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Ah interesting concept with the spell levels! Nice! Yeah I kinda blocked the Warcraft movie out of my mind lol but someone else mentioned the magic use too.

[@NomadSoulfire]

the magic in this show is so good

[@shaunhall960]

I think we are entering an age were having experiences are more important to people. Your video supports that notion. Love it!

[@tabletopalchemy]

Ah thanks!

[@MarkTyger]

One of the great things about well conceived "harder" magic systems, is that it can create dramatic tension because the audience can see the effect coming. With Sci-Fi technology its easier because a modern audience tends to understand the context clues (Energy weapon charging sounds and lights, commands like Shields Up! and Photon Torpedoes, Fire!). But magical systems are so plot and writing dependant that real work has to be done by the production in writing and direction to create a system the audience can get an understanding of to then create that sense of dramatic tension. Like the incredible moment when Mjolnir flies into Captain America's hand. It was momentus because the audience knew the rules and what that moment implies, as well as what my happen next. I'll definitely be giving Strange and Norrel a look, but I have a reccomendation of my own. The series Avatar the Last Airbender did an excellent job of matching distinct martial arts moves to element bending effects, to the point that you really felt the choreography of the moment to moment use of bending. I can't help but think of those moves now when visualizing classic D&D spells like Firebolt, Wall of Earth, Wall of Fire, Control Water, Gust of Wind and of course, Fireball. I also appreciated the use of geometric magical forms and intricate hand gestures in Marvel's Doctor Strange movies, which seemed to actively attempt to be the counterpoint of much softer magical systems like LOTR and the Harry Potter films. Really enjoying your videos and your insights (we have similar backgrounds). Looking forward to more from your channel!

[@tabletopalchemy]

This is great! And yes I really like The Last Airbender series, it’s pretty phenomenal.

[@scottgray7718]

Awesome! Thanks for creating this! I loved Dr. S and Mr. N quite a bit; especially the mix of magic and sense of wonder. It felt very real in the world Sussanna Clarke created! Best!

[@brenmend]

i will always ALWAYS ask my player to describe what their spell looks like. it never fails to make the players feel cool, and it really helps set the scene and visual storytelling. Sometimes they'll even think up a crazy description without my prompting!

[@tabletopalchemy]

Excellent!

[@billthecanuck]

the magicians is another interesting series that has a neat magic system with various verbal/somatic/material components, they even showed a bag of holding in one episode ;)

[@tabletopalchemy]

I’ve heard this quite a bit lol it’s on my list!

[@IkariMadness]

One thing I have always loved about D&D and other tabletop games is that magic is almost an expected branch of science. Right components, right words, right hand signs, magic. We have always played and adjusted certain aspects for different classes. For instance, Sorcerers, whos magic is innate, we always drop the scientific feel and just let the magic happen by manifestation.

[@tabletopalchemy]

This is how I’ve always thought of it - the “science” part is almost how I think we can get around the plot hole of why technology doesn’t advance lol.

[@SasukeX53]

I've never heard of this series and I am SO upset I never heard of this! If there is a dvd/blue-ray of this show I will diffidently going to get this!

[@tabletopalchemy]

My sister was able to check it out from her local library on dvd so hopefully u can find it!

[@SasukeX53]

@@tabletopalchemy Not sure if my library would have it but again will keep an eye out for it! :D Thanks again!

[@MadiRage]

With myself and the DM being the only semi seasoned DND players(we played 2 one shots prior) in our current campaign with two other players who this is their first time playing watching DND Streams and web series like CritRole and Dimension20 has really helped me personally bring more character to the campaign and helped the new party members come out of their shell more especially when I started to become more descriptive and animated when casting spells [My character is a Tiefling, Rouge with a arcane trickster archetype and a magic initiative (wizard) feat and the two other players in the party are a Lightfoot Halfling Rouge and a Half-Orc Bard] So being able to show them how you can really spice up the description of what your doing to make it more fun really makes it more fun for everyone, especially since we don’t have to opportunity to play in person and play over Roll20.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Yeah this is great! Showing folks what is possible is always very cool!

[@leviathan.7756]

This show is SOOO good. Love it love it love it.

[@raymondparisza5094]

I love how Liam described everything. Really made it seem real, especially when he would repeat spells and you could almost guess what he was casting by his description

[@tabletopalchemy]

Yes! I even liked how he’d do little vignettes like setting out all his characters stuff and then collecting it all back up etc just pure flavor stuff. Very cool.

[@darschpugs4690]

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is such a great show.

[@paulsavas2394]

This book and it’s series are wonderful!

[@dougwhiddon8227]

My friends joke that "the book was better" will be written on my gravestone. Loved the book and liked this movie. It was pretty good within the limitations of the format, and did some small things that rewarded people who had read the book. I need to watch it again.

[@tabletopalchemy]

I think that’s a common epitaph lol!

[@eponatwospirithorse4980]

This weekend I plan for my players to go one a vision Quest (an excuse for me to get creative with some visions and atmosphere) this video reminded me how important developing the accessories around the edges of the scene can help to build up the effects far more convincingly. My D&D sessions are very much about story telling but sometimes I do find myself rushing a little through the story aspects to get my players toward the next combat. Luckily this next session has not combat planned and I have more time just to tell story and give my players an "experience", to aid in this we shall all have our eyes closed and eat some brownies to heighten the visions I have planned for each of them. So thank you for reminding me how great "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell" truly is.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Lol, I don’t think I’d be able to focus after brownies myself but I’ll bet your game is fun. Glad the show is inspiring for u, sure is for me!

[@eponatwospirithorse4980]

@@tabletopalchemy Well the session went amazingly well, If ever you are likely to be in SW London on the Second Sunday of the month give me a heads up and I will write you into the story for the session, if you like

[@tabletopalchemy]

That sounds amazing, thank you! Goin on my bucket list (cause I guess it’s time to start calling my list a bucket list lol).

[@IIIGioGioStarIII]

I have an artificer who has shield and I to it that when they activate it, there's a humming sound as they press a button and a force field goes on. If an attack ends up hitting them with it, it's the shield transferring that damage to them because it temporarily had an overload

[@tabletopalchemy]

That’s some nice in-game lore!

[@Christobanistan]

One of the best non-scifi TV shows I've ever seen. Right up there with Halt and Catch Fire.

[@bsboy773]

I know many many comments have already said this, but as soon as you started talking I thought this video was going to be about The Magicians. Absolutely fantastic show! The magic system is possibly one of my favorites I've ever seen! Hope you'll check it out. Great video here and I'll have to find this show and give it a watch!

[@tabletopalchemy]

Planning on it!

[@noquedaniuno]

I feel very lucky to see this channel at this time... it's gonna be big!! Keep the good work!

[@tabletopalchemy]

Well thank you very much!

[@cd8868]

I always though that guillermo del toro's show: trollhunters (and later, wizards) had some fresh and interesting depictions of magic use, especially near the end when morgana and merlin show up. Can't recall too many specifics but it always usually more than just some hand waving

[@graefx]

I love being reminded of this show. I always expected it to have a bigger fandom footprint but it just sort of came and went. For my personal tastes, I like the interpretation of magic as being another element or humor that skilled practitioners understand and can utilize in an almost scientific fashion. Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic to those who don't understand. Having predictable or recognizable patterns and expectations giving magic some grounding while still being thoroughly esoteric to the base level. I might not understand thermodynamics or combustion, but I can change my battery and accept turning the key will start my car. I enjoyed Dr Strange explaining magic as basically a form of programming or Eragon having the rule that magic uses the amount of energy it would take to physically replicate the action. Things like iron harming fae. Consistency to the logic even if the underlying mechanics aren't explicit. This gesture causes this result reliably, so what if you take half that gesture and combine it with another gesture, does that do anything new or useful. That also is what makes narratives compelling, having a through line of logic that even if you weren't ahead of the characters thought process, you can go back and connect the dots to get there.

[@graefx]

My goal/hope/desire is that magic isn't used in the pejorative. It's not deus ex machina, it is a fantastical element.

[@tabletopalchemy]

This is awesome! I agree 100%.

[@brucebrown2241]

The Magicians TV series has great somatic gestures.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Someone else mentioned this - it’s in my queue to check out!

[@MessalineApghar]

It has a lot of somatics but i think that theyre overused and some are overly complex. Dont get me wrong, love the show, but the somatics ... Meh. Also the Wheel of Time tv series has some somatics, however weak it is

[@tabletopalchemy]

Lol “however weak it is”. You’re right tho it’s actually got more somatics than this show.

[@CourtneyVarner]

Another incredible show is the aptly named The Magicians. The do a lot of finger tutting for the somatic components.

[@tabletopalchemy]

I haven’t watched that one, it shall go in the queue, thank you.

[@davidkelly5459]

I wondered if anyone else had watched this series. I enjoyed it and the audio books. The thing with the show was that each actor had to practice their hand/finger gestures and not everyone couldn’t do certain movements due to their own limitations.

[@tabletopalchemy]

Ah interesting.

[@justinbell7309]

I was part of a Jasper's Game Day stream with Runesmith, where another player cast Fireball by blowing up a frog like a balloon and then releasing it, with the balloon frog making off-gassing noises as it careened through the air to the target location to explode. I always remember that, and have found it pretty great.

[@tabletopalchemy]

That is pretty spectacular lol!

[@LyingTube]

I love the magic in this show so much!

[@anonymousbosch9265]

We loved this show, I had to buy it on Blu-ray as it’s hard to find

[@tabletopalchemy]

Yeah I bought it on vudu, set to reclaiming the shelf space from discs lol

[@baggymacaw]

Love the drawing of Susanna Clarke into DnD. Thank you for this wonderful comparison. I have read and watched the story, but did not draw the connection to Gaming. Well done. Have you read Piranesi?

[@tabletopalchemy]

Awesome! Yep, read Piranesi few months ago, loved it. Very surreal of course but there’s just something about her writing and storytelling I really enjoy. I also like her short stories!

[@baggymacaw]

@@tabletopalchemy maybe you should do a video on world building ot how to create a labyrinth like Piranesi's castle.

[@tabletopalchemy]

A vid on world building will be in the pipeline but I gotta work a lot more in my own before I can discuss the process with any confidence. Now a vid talking about other artists world building is much more doable and sooner rather than later. Thank u for the prompt!