Talk:Magic/@comment-187.19.127.210-20150726123838

Basically, magic is the focus of will to create effect, often with trappings and tools to make it easier or direct it precisely. Physical trappings, while not always strictly necessary, help to focus the thoughts of the spellcaster—until they’ve reached a high level of experience, concentration, and power, most mortals have problems holding all the distinct elements completely in their minds.

Spellcraft is different from innate powers, such as speaking with the dead, precognition, empathy, etc. Think of spellcraft as a toolset, rather than as a single tool. When crafting the spell you need for the job, you’re accessing what you need from the toolset and giving it power from a wide variety of sources. An innate power, on the other hand, is a single tool used for only a small sub-set of tasks and it draws its power from a single source that never changes. It’s the difference between a carpenter’s workshop and a hammer.