Through some quirk of bloodline or destiny, wizards can access impossible forces simply by saying magic words.
This does not engender caution.
And if you throw four of this dim demigods together?
Middle-click to cast on yourself, right-click to cast out into the world.
Dangerously, Magicka will cast exactly what you tell it to.
So sure, you might create a cool beam which murders enemies in a pretty way.
You might lay down landmines which explode for huge damage and apply debuffs.
You might raise a barrier of deadly ice spikes, or imbue your sword with the elements.
You might also fumble the hotkeys or forget your combinations and heal the boss for thousands of health.
Or electrocute innocent villagers.
Or drop a boulder on your own head.
Or throw a point-blank fireball with such force that it launches you over a wall and breaks the tutorial.
Usually, it’s a combination of good and bad.
Many games warn you that magic is dangerous but don’t follow through with consequences.
Some make you ignore that warning for scripted plot reasons.
And it really, really wants you to die in foolish ways and laugh at your mistakes.
This is pure wizard nonsense.
This is what I understand wizarding to be.
Witches learn magic through apprenticeship with a holistic view and a cautious, respectful approach.
Wizards luck into it through quirks of birth or bloodline.
They become toddlers all over again.
They will likely mispronounce half the words, too.
But rather than call your nan a poobumwillyfart, you accidentally burst your playmate and heal the boss.
