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| '''Sanderson's First Law''' is the first ] developed by epic fantasy author ] for use in designing settings for ]. While originally created as a rule for magic systems in fantasy novels, Sanderson has specified that this law need not apply just to ], but is applicable to ] as well.<ref name=SFL>{{cite web |url=http://www.brandonsanderson.com/article/40/Sandersons-First-Law |title=Sanderson's First Law |author=Sanderson, Brandon |accessdate=10 February 2011 }}</ref> | |||
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| * Sanderson's First Law. An author's ability to solve conflict satisfactorily with magic is directly proportional to how well the reader understands said magic. | |||
| This Law was originally defined in Sanderson's essay, "Sanderson's First Law" located on his website.<ref name=SFL/> In the essay he qualifies the two extremes{{ref|a|1}} of design as being: | |||
| # Magic/technology has well defined rules that the audience understands. As a result, one can use this to solve conflict more easily as the capabilities are cleanly defined. Sanderson classifies this as "Hard Magic". ] in her essay "Worldbuilding 101 - Making Magic"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clwilson.com/2008/03/01/worldbuilding-101-making-magic/ |title=Worldbuilding 101 - Making Magic |author=Wilson, C.L. |accessdate=12 February 2011 }}</ref> advocated this method of creation, stating, "...create your rules, then follow them." | |||
| # Magic/technology has unclear or vague rules, or none at all. This allows for a greater sense of wonder to be attained for the reader, but the ability to solve problems without resorting to ] decreases. Sanderson classifies this as "Soft Magic". ] specifically advised "The trick is to be a benevolent and consistent deity, not one who pulls miracles out of a hat as needed"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.watt-evans.com/playinggod.html |title=Deus ex Machina and Writing Fantasy |author=Watt-Evans, Lawrence |accessdate=12 February 2011}}</ref> | |||
| == Additional information == | |||
| Since the creation of the first, Sanderson has developed a rudimentary second law: | |||
| * ]: Limits > Powers | |||
| Sanderson's Second Law was initially set down in Episode 14 of the podcast ].<ref>{{cite podcast|url= http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/05/18/writing-excuses-episode-15-costs-and-ramifications-of-magic/ |title=Writing Excuses Episode 15: Costs and Ramifications of Magic |website=www.writingexcuses.com |host=Sanderson, Brandon; Howard Tayler, ] |date=18 May 2008 |accessdate=10 February 2011 }}</ref>{{ref|b|2}} ], likewise looked to Sanderson's work in his own essay involving magic systems, noting "What are the ramifications and conflicts of using it?"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://johndbrown.com/2008/07/inventing-magic/ |title=Inventing Magic |author=Brown, John |accessdate=12 February 2011 }}</ref> ] likewise noted several issues on this topic ranging from magic suppressing other technologies, to how a magic might affect farming.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfwa.org/2009/08/fantasy-worldbuilding-questions-daily-life/ |title=Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions: Daily Life |author=Wrede, Patricia |accessdate=12 February 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfwa.org/2009/08/fantasy-worldbuilding-questions-commerce-trade-and-public-life// |title=Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions: Commerce, Trade, and Public Life |author=Wrede, Patricia |accessdate=12 February 2011 }}</ref> | |||
| == Notes == | |||
| :1.{{note|a}}In the essay, Sanderson clarifies, "Most writers are somewhere in the middle between these two extremes." | |||
| :2.{{note|b}}From the same episode, this law is also called ] First Law. "If the energy you are getting from your magic is cheaper than letting a donkey do it, your medieval economy just fell apart." | |||
| == See also == | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| == References == | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Sanderson's First Law}} | |||
| ] | |||
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