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Now, I’m not talking about wielding great magic or superheroes with an array of abilities because those are rather heavy. I’m talking about this minor abilities that some heroes in fiction have. Maybe it’s an enhanced sense or the natural ability to read a dead language that is essential to the quest. I’m struggling this morning to figure out an example here that isn’t from my own books. Guess I’m stuck.
Luke Callindor has the ability to see sound, which is revealed at a pivotal moment. It’s actually used without mention a lot throughout the series. If he notices something moving or making noise that’s far away then he’s using this special sense. Sari is another who has the ability to make her body immovable to the point where you can’t even pierce her flesh with a blade. You can break her bones and she can’t move, but it comes in handy when people try to move her.
Are these plot essential abilities? Not in the grand scheme, which makes one wonder what the point is. Well, here’s my take on it:
They build the character and make them stand out. A character with a special ability is more than their basic role. Sari is not an average gypsy and Luke is not an average warrior simply by being main characters. That isn’t really a thing in their world, so these abilities help increase their specialness in the world. There can even be subplots that stem from them or development from utilizing the powers. Everything for the cause of character development for me.
I do think one has to be careful and not make such a thing too powerful. These abilities should have weaknesses and not be at the same level as full-on magic. If you wanted that then the character should be a spellcaster instead of a warrior or should seek to learn such power during the story. Never start out with high skills in sword AND sorcery. Anyway, I prefer the weakness method here. For example, Sari can’t move when her power turns on, so she’s left open to getting hit. Loud noises and Luke don’t get along when he has his power turned on. Also, the tips of his pointy ears are a lot more sensitive to pain than those of other half-elves and elves.
So, what do you think when you come across a character with a strange power and they’re not a superhero or wizard?
Legends of Windemere 
This comment has absolutely nothing to do with powers. Well maybe indirectly. But my secretary’s 9 yr old daughter said that all moms were superheroes and the dads were their sidekicks. I enjoyed that.
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I can see that. Though, do single dads get an upgrade to full hero status? Sidekicks can rise up to that level in the comics. At least it happened with the original Robin.
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Well since this little girl only has the perspective of a mom and dad in the home, I doubt it occurred to her.
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True. Guessing my son would go for something similar.
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I wonder how the characters of your world would deal with the Drow of my world who are immune to magic… kind of funny in my story I mention magic… I imply it is used, but the only example I provide is the way the Queen lights her chamber… lol… and the savage elves ability to shape shift into their animal form… and the sages opening a portal to enter and exit their tower… other than that I hardly mention magic because I figure it was so prevalent in the world it wasn’t worth mentioning much… I haven’t given much thought to minor powers to be honest…
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My spellcaster has faced a few magic immune and magic absorbing enemies so far. Without knowing the specifics of the magic immunity, it’s hard to decide on what to do. For example, if she enhanced her strength with magic and punched them, would the Drow full the physical force of the blow? Or do their powers mean anything enhancement magic does nothing? Even barring that,destroying the ground or knocking things onto them would still be an option. The warriors would have no problem getting into the fight.
Are the Drow of your world immune to all magic or only most magic? For example, the magic of a god or healing magic or dragon breath.
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the only spell known to work on a Drow is the one that transforms them into a Drider and can only be performed by the High Priestess of the Cult of the Spider… although I will have a twist on that in the next book because I have a Drider running around looking for the cure… lol…
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magical enhancements have no effect… God magic works… but God’s are not prevalent and relegated mostly to myth… a magically enhanced weapon would inflict the damage of it’s non magical counterpart… same with enhancement spells… they will only hit the drow with regular strength… oh by the way… it is not common knowledge except among drow… their enemies really don’t know this about them…
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I’m still not sure how it would go because it sounds like we’re working with different magic systems. This is why magic immunity isn’t really something you find in Windemere. It’s more absorption, deflection, and reflection because everything has magic within it. Given your descriptions, my spellcaster would use the landscape. Shatter the ground, summon non-magical lava from the earth, crumble mountains on them, etc. Honestly, I’m not a fan of total magic immunity with no way for a spellcaster to fight back.
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I wanted to nullify my sages and put them more in an advisory roll… in future I can open it up to forms of magic they are not immune to… the mountain regions of the world contain many strange creatures not yet introduced…
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That would interesting. How would a creature that has been immune to magic deal with a new type of magic that hurts them?
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I haven’t quite got there yet… but I have the Savage lands and the mountains which the inhabitants don’t know much about… well the Orc know about the savage lands but not the mountains…
I don’t have any undead in my world as of yet… so that can be brought into the world too…
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I was wondering about necromancy. What about shamanism like nature spirits or summoning magical creatures?
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the Orcs of my world are shamanistic the sages can control the elements… Prince Maelgad who was transformed into a Drider will become a Necromancer once he has successfully transformed back to Drow form… but first he must find the counter spell…
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Are there healing priests? I know far too many magic types.
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mostly through herbalism…. the Orc take the ill and injured to the Shaman…
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Sounds like the Orcs have a simple system that’s more interesting than the Drow. At least to me because I think Orcs never get enough love from authors.
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my orcs have a structure similar to that found in many aboriginal cultures… they also use individual combat in ceremonies and as a way to prove themselves… Kobolds follow a pack mentality often displayed in dogs… lol… the largest and the strongest is the alpha male…
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Nice twists. The kobolds are a nice use because most people go for goblins.
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my research showed Orcs and Goblins are actually the same (according to Tolkien they are at least) and I always liked the dog men… and troglodytes but I haven’t included them yet… another book probably…
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Yeah. Tolkien really did a number on the goblins. They used to be trouble-making fairy types. I always wonder why Tolkien did that.
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in the hobbit he called them goblins… in LOTR and other books he called them Orcs… later he confessed they were one in the same… but its odd because also there is the line in LOTR when Soron combined goblin and Orc… that is a little confusing… but from what I understand it would be similar as mating African with Asian or Caucasian if they were human…
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Unless Tolkien messed up and tried to play it off. Goblins would work better for a children’s story like the Hobbit (it’s original intent) while Orcs might be better for the adult LOTR.
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I read a lot of fantasy. Minor powers are only annoying if they aren’t explained or if only one character has them and no one ever says why that is. -OM
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Explanations are definitely key. Even if it’s kind of silly and not big in the plot. For example, I have a character with the power to become immovable. It’s a family power stemming from an ancestor who attempted a force field spell and died. The woman was pregnant at the time and they saved the child who passed the immovability power down the lineage. Simple explanations like that can really clear up the confusion.
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Yes, I agree. I think some authors use the excuse though that their main character can just “do.” Sounds silly, but I run across this a ton. “He or she just can.”
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I hate that. Though, I think every authors slips into that every now and again. It could even be that they have an explanation, but they couldn’t get it into the story without straining the narration.
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Yep, probably. But a good author goes back and fills the holes…even Robert Jordan missed some… but in his defense he didn’t finish his series. =/
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That’s what editing is for. At least Jordan left notes for it to be done. Fans need some form of closure.
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God, we sure did!
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Like you, I prefer characters with powers, to also have flaws. It makes them seem more human-like, something we all can relate too. I think super powers should be left to the mighty Wizard of Oz; but then he also had flaws.
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Flaws are definitely needed even without the powers. Even Superman has a weakness and he’s all major powers.
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I agree with one of your other commentors who mentioned an explanation should tell why the character has the minor power. It makes for a good backstory opportunity!
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Yeah. It’s definitely turning into explanation is everything when it comes to writing.
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I think this also applies to skills in non-fantasy. A minor character who can pick-locks or hot wire a car, who can read Latin, or has some knowledge of how to close a wound with duck-tape, they come in handy.
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I so need to have the gnomes of my world invent duct tape. 🙂
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Gnomes scare me.
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Sorry about that.
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I feel that a character having diverse abilities, some of them lesser than others in importance gives you a more balanced character. You never know when that minor ability will become the most important one the character can rely on. I also think this has a lot to do with the length of the book and or series. If the book is a standalone, the author must be careful not to over inflate the character with too many abilities to where they cannot all be used within due course of the book. I hate it when there are things the author mentions, but then never bothers to do anything with. (Wand**) If there is enough room to mention it, then there has to be room somewhere to do something with it. (If you don’t use it you lose it.)
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I’m working on the wand thing and I have a long term answer for it. Hard to explain without spoilers.
I fully agree with the powers not being used at all and some growing unexpectedly. I know two of the powers that get introduced in my series started as tricks and now they’ve become very useful.
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That’s a good way to go though, no? When the characters surprise you by taking your ideas and making them into useful instruments?
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I love it when that happens. For example, I’ve realized that Luke uses his special ability a lot more often than I first thought. It’s when it’s hard to sneak up on him some times.
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I love when characters make you think they are done growing and then they do something so surprising that you just want to jump in the book and hug them.
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Hug them right around the neck. 🙂
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