The science behind why ineffective agent magic doesn't work

Ineffective agent magic refers to the concept of using supernatural powers or abilities in a way that does not produce the desired or intended results. It is a term often used in fantasy literature, movies, and games to describe situations where a character with magical abilities fails to achieve their goals or tasks due to their lack of understanding or proficiency in using their powers. One common example of ineffective agent magic is when a character does not properly harness or control their magic, resulting in unintended consequences. This can happen when a character is naive or inexperienced in using their powers and lacks the knowledge or training to fully utilize them. For example, a character who can manipulate fire may accidentally start a massive forest fire instead of simply lighting a campfire. Another example is when a character relies too heavily on their magical abilities and neglects other important aspects of a task or situation.

Nothing like a full sized oak delivered from half a mile up.

Speaking of dropping things, and yes I know this is getting way OT, but Shrink Item on an entire barrel 50 doses or so of holy water, then toss at a demon. I have to say as much as I want a suit of armor that protects me from elemental attacks or a headband that boosts my stats my favorite magic items are the neat little slice of life magic items that often don t give a mechanical benefit but are still neat flavor items that help flesh out your character and game world.

Another example is when a character relies too heavily on their magical abilities and neglects other important aspects of a task or situation. This can result in them being ill-prepared or underestimating the challenges they face. For instance, a character who can teleport may try to solve all their problems by teleporting away, but may find themselves in even more dangerous situations or without the necessary resources to survive.

Why not to attack a transforming Magic Girl, solved with SCIENCE! (1 Viewer)

A scientist notes the effects that accompany a transformation sequence, calcs them, and concludes why it'd be a bad idea to attack.

Question: The transformation scenes in Pretty Cure are very long, so why don’t the bad guys attack the girls in the meantime?

"Even when I was little, I was thinking ‘Hey! Attack them now!"

"I found this odd as well, so I watched the transformation scene many times. And what I noticed is, when the Pretty Cures yell ‘Dual Aurora Wave!’ and transform, a rainbow-colored column of light shoots up from the ground, going BOOM!"

"And then the Pretty Cures levitate, and go up into the air. Based on this, I believe the protagonists of Pretty Cure are being held up in the air by the power of light.”

"When we think of light, we usually think it heats up things or lights up things. But in reality, light has the power to hold up things as well."

"When the sun is beating down on us in the summer, the human body is being pressed downwards by the sun beams with a force of 2/100,000g.”

"But this is only about a one-hundred of the weight of a mosquito, so no matter how hot it is, we don’t feel that sunlight is heavy."

"So that means the light holding them up must be extremely strong. If we assume that the two Pretty Cures each weigh about 45kg and do some calculations…”

"It means the light during the transformation must have the energy of 2,100,000,000kW per 1m2.”

"While the entirety of power that Japan is capable of generating is only 100,000,000kW.”

"So they’re using 21 TIMES the amount of energy the whole of Japan can generate.”

"So what would happen if a bad guy jumped in to try to sabotage their transformation?"

"He would EVAPORATE INSTANTLY.”

“DEATH AWAITS ANYONE WHO DARES TO DISRUPT A PRETTY CURE TRANSFORMATION."

Ikselam

exits, pursued by a bear

Explains why Nagisa and Honoka turn silver during the first part of the transformation, too. Reflective coating prevents them from being burnt up.

cliffc999

Validated User

Bad Guy: "Unfortunately for you, I have the mutant power to shoot guns! This allows me to kill at a distance!"

Minion: "But master! How did the bullets survive the destructive aura?"

Bad Guy: "I jacketed the rounds in fibers from scraps of magical girl costumes painstakingly collected from our prior fight scenes! After all, magical girl costumes are the only known non-living substance proven able to survive the transformation intact!"

*Minion and Bad Guy both indulge in megalomaniacal laughter*

Ikselam

exits, pursued by a bear

That doesn't make any sense. The costumes vanish when the girls detransform. There would be no scraps to pick up!

cliffc999

Validated User

Mounrou

Moo?

costumes are solidified photonic projections that are a fraction of strength of the transforming lights, hence they always appear to be new every transformation, and disappear afterwards.

ie. no shreds would be left.

It'd be akin to the ST Holodeck or the photonic tech in Zegapain.
(Yes, I always try to bring up Zegapain whenever possible. )

BTW : The white hair guy above have a huge series of books on anime vs actual physical laws, and they are so freakingultra cool.

RoadsOfShadow

Validated User

How do they hold on to them?

I mean, what probably happens is that the material that fades is pulled back to wherever the costume is when the MG is untransformed, to be reconstituted into the costume during the next transformation.
Alternatively, if the costume if made from scratch every time, it might actually evaporates into component magics leaving nothing behind. In that case anything capable of interfering in the process of mote decay would most probably have applications interfering with some element of the Magical Girl's magic directly.
And all of this is assuming is assuming that the shielded bullet is actually a threat to the Magical Girl in question. More than a few have demonstrated physical resilience that certainly implies that such attacks are ineffective, or at least less than lethal, and we all know that less than lethal attacks are worst than useless against Magical Girls.

Naturally, depending on type, generation, and particular expression one or more of these points might be mute, or another complication might enter into the calculus, but still. Not worth it. Probably just best to take your lumps and prey She feels like making a new friend and not a magical stain.

EDIT: Or yes, the costume might be pure photonic expressions, in which case, again, anything capable of collecting them probably has better applications.

Ineffective agent magic can also occur when a character is not fully committed or motivated to use their powers effectively. This can arise from doubts, fears, or personal issues that hinder their ability to concentrate or tap into their magical potential. An illustration could be a character who has the ability to heal but refuses to do so because of past traumas or a lack of emotional stability. Furthermore, ineffective agent magic can be a narrative device used to add complexity to a story or to explore themes such as the limitations of power or the consequences of misuse. It can serve to highlight the importance of knowledge, training, and responsibility when wielding magical abilities. Additionally, it can be a way to depict character growth and development as a character learns from their mistakes and becomes a more skilled and responsible magic user. In conclusion, ineffective agent magic is a concept frequently encountered in fantasy storytelling. It involves characters with magical abilities who fail to achieve their goals or tasks due to various reasons such as lack of control, overreliance, lack of motivation, or personal issues. This concept not only adds depth and complexity to a story but also explores themes of power, responsibility, and character growth..

Reviews for "The role of technology in replacing ineffective agent magic"

1. Emma - 2 stars

I found "Ineffective agent magic" to be quite boring and underwhelming. The plot was predictable and lacked any excitement or depth. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked development, making it difficult to connect with them. The writing style was also mediocre, with awkward dialogue and unnecessary descriptions. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.

2. Matthew - 1 star

"Ineffective agent magic" is a complete waste of time. The story is confusing and poorly structured, with numerous plot holes that are never explained. The pacing is incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest after just a few chapters. The characters are forgettable and lack any real motivation or purpose. Additionally, the writing is filled with grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. I cannot express how much I regret reading this book.

3. Sarah - 2 stars

I had high hopes for "Ineffective agent magic" but was thoroughly let down. The plot had potential but was poorly executed. The world-building was superficial and left many unanswered questions. The main character was unrelatable and made questionable decisions throughout the story. The writing style was also lackluster, with repetitive descriptions and weak dialogue. I struggled to finish this book and will not be reading any further installments in the series.

4. John - 1 star

I found "Ineffective agent magic" to be unoriginal and unengaging. The story followed a predictable formula, with no surprises or twists. The concept of agent magic felt underdeveloped and lacked any real depth. The characters were flat and lacked personality, making it difficult to invest in their journey. The writing was uninspiring and failed to create any sense of atmosphere or suspense. Overall, I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.

The rise of alternative methods for achieving goals without ineffective agent magic