Alternative names for the magic attack parameter? No "Intelligence" please! >.>

[Sixth]

I am not sure where should I post this, but I will try my luck here.


If I am at the wrong place, feel free to move this topic to the appropriate section of the forum!


Now for my question...


Can anyone suggest me any good alternatives for the name of the MAT parameter?


I am not looking for abbreviations like MAT or INT, but for a full name!


Also I don't find the word "Intelligence" any good for this, because one can use magic and be dumber than a cracked stone in my game, and in all games overall. I wonder who made that name up for that stat? -.-


Anyway, any suggestions?


It can even be a made up word, it just needs to sound good and easy to pronounce, not like some Latin words from the stone age.


I have been thinking on this for a few days now, but can't make up my mind, so help me out with this please!


Thanks for any answers in advance!

 

[Andar]

In one of my rulesystems I made a difference between Intelligence, Willpower and Mana as the parts to get magic to work, requiring Understanding/Knowledge, pure stubborness/willpower and an affinity to magic as the three components for different parts and types of magic.

 

[Valkyriet]

1. SEPH - Spiritual Energy Harness(ing) Power : This is useful if you're intending to refer to magic as a form of energy that can only be born from the strength of one's soul. It might make less sense if you think of magic as something that is purely taught, and in which case, maybe even a fire elemental can learn ice magic.Not sure if that makes sense.

2. Flux - Abbreviation for flexibility (in a way), particularly magical. The term itself generally indicates a process of flow, and in this case, from within/out the body. Therefore, a person with higher flexibility of mind and body will be able to do more magical damage with less energy spent...or something of that sort.

That's all I can come up with for now.

 

[Mimironi]

Wisdom (WIS)

I guess... the understanding of magic?

 

[Kai Monkey]

Also I don't find the word "Intelligence" any good for this, because one can use magic and be dumber than a cracked stone in my game, and in all games overall. I wonder who made that name up for that stat? -.-

That would be Gary Gygax, in ~1974, along with the entire RPG genre

 

[Sixth]

Wow, didn't expect such quick replies! o.o


I really like Flux!


Willpower is reserved for MDF already (as in "the will to stand up and fight"), also Mana is my MP, and Magic is reserved for a custom "wrapper" attribute for all magical stats. That's why I couldn't get any good names for my MAT stat.


Thanks for the replies guys!


I am still interested in more alternatives, one can never get enough diversity!


@kaimonkey


Lol, how did you find out that? O_O

 

[Kai Monkey]

And to answer your question, if it's tied to force of will what about Cha: Charisma or PER: Personality?

Edit: He invented Dungeons and Dragons, and the entire Roleplaying Game genre

 

[Wavelength]

"Aura" (AUR) is the one that immediately comes to mind for me.

If your magic is themed you could also figure out a word appropriate to that, such as "Divinity" if your magic is based on holy power, "Force" if it's based on energy/physics, or "Communing" if it's nature magic.

I usually just call it "Magic" (MAG) in my games - much cleaner than the clumsy sounding "Magic Attack".

 

[Benjamin Kuli]

Initiation - Magic is not only determinated by mana. Of course, mana, and the amount of it, can limit how much you can use a certain kind of magic, but to learn it, you have to learn the knowledge itself. However, as the world of magicians is actually a hierarchy (either being an Arcane Academy, or just by "word by word"), one magician cannot learn everything by itself, nor by immediately. It needs dedication and practice to learn everything about the world of mana and magic. The number of Initiation shows how much someone is in this world. A magician with low amount of "initiation" is just an apprentice, while someone with a high amount of "initiation" is an arcane wizard, whom is either an Arcanist themselves, or someone who has strong relation with magic itself.


Alternate keywords for the same term: Link, Bond, Impulse, Source, Will, etc.

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

Mind Force

 

[Takeo212]

I sometimes refer to it as "FOCUS" (ability to focus your energy type of thing) but not exactly great if you want an actual term for it.

I would say "Aura" and "Chi" possibly. If you dont have specials/skills, then Chi can be the "inner power", ie mana flow, I suppose?

Overall Magic I like to refer to as Archana (or something similar) so the Archane Arts is my curently used one.

Though I do personally like Flux actually as Valkyriet said.

Some randoms while I'm here:

Mystics

Dark/Light Arts

Spirit

 

[Warpmind]

How about Conviction (abbreviated CNV)?
If you don't have the necessary belief in your ability to fling fireballs, well...

 

[Vox Novus]

If there are religious affiliations for magic you could use Faith.

Other possibilities:

-Spirit  (one of my favorites-Takeo212 said it before me though )

-Intuition or Aptitude

-Focus

-Affinity

-Understanding or Insight

 

[Probotector 200X]

Sorcery (used in Wild ARMs)

Ether (used in Xenogears)

Those aren't super unique terms though.

 

[Oddball]

Rune (RUN)

Logos (LOG) (although, most people dont know what that is)

If its a post apocolyptic setting you could use science (SCI) and have a chemist or physisist instead of a mage

Chakra (CHA)

Matter (MTT) sense thats basicly what magic manipulates

Light (LIT) if the source is the sun

Ill try to think of more

 

[Warpmind]

Logos (LOG) (although, most people dont know what that is)

Word.

 

[Tetsune]

For my game, I used Mana Force (MNF) and for MDF I used Mana Block! It just worked for me, especially since there's a lot of mana things around :U

 

[Redeye]

I have set names for virtually any stat.

Health

-Life

-Vitality

Mana

-Energy

-Power

Attack

-Strength

-Power

Defense

-Armor

-Endurance

Magic

-Sorcery

-Psyche

Magic Defense

-Resistance

-Ward

Agility

-Reflex

-Speed

Luck

-Fortune

-Karma

Just to name a few.

 

[captainproton]

You could use Willpower (POW) for magic attack, as spells require not just knowledge, but the force of personality to impose your will on reality and leash elemental forces.

 

[skool90]

Arcane Arts (ARA, ART, ACA, ANA)