Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Formulaic Magic

 Formulaic Magic
type
FeatureClass
 Formulaic Magic
label
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic
page
FormulaicMagic
 Formulaic Magic
comment
Modern science loves explaining complex physical phenomena through comparatively simple-looking mathematical abstractions. Motion of an object? F = ma. Energy content of a mass? E = mc2. State of a gas? pV = nRT. Exceptions to these rules are themselves often explainable through math — more intimidating calculations, of course, but still math. These equations are only useful, however, because they accurately describe physical interactions in nature; without this connection, they're just meaningless jumbles of symbols.
Authors often neglect to establish this link between math and reality, instead treating equations as if they possess a power all on their own.note There are power functions, though! And some theorems are said to be more powerful than others. As of today, real life mathematicians still struggle on how to harvest math's magical potential. This often manifests in two ways:
 Formulaic Magic
fetched
2024-02-07T04:14:00Z
 Formulaic Magic
parsed
2024-02-07T04:14:00Z
 Formulaic Magic
processingComment
Dropped link to AllThereInTheManual: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Formulaic Magic
processingComment
Dropped link to RealityWarper: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Formulaic Magic
processingComment
Dropped link to Reincarnation: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Formulaic Magic
processingComment
Dropped link to SolarFlareDisaster: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Formulaic Magic
processingComment
Dropped link to Teleportation: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Formulaic Magic
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Formulaic Magic / int_15234bc6
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_15234bc6
comment
In The God Eaters, this appears to be how the very powerful 'Pattern Magic' works.
 Formulaic Magic / int_15234bc6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_15234bc6
featureConfidence
1.0
 The God Eaters
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_15234bc6
 Formulaic Magic / int_1adee40d
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_1adee40d
comment
The World Ends with You: Minamimoto summons a nuke by initializing the Level i Flare, which consists of reciting pi to 150 digits. Of course, there are a lot of people capable of reciting pi to 150 digits, but they aren't Minamimoto, and they don't have a graffiti covered dead end alleyway and eldritch tattoos.Fun bit of math/Final Fantasy info here "Level x Flare" is a type of spell that casts Flare (one of the most powerful attack spells) on everything with a level divisible by whatever number x is. i is a mathematical term referring to the square root of -1, the consummate imaginary number. In addition to that, as the root of -1, that also makes it a possible factor in every number, real or imaginary. It would affect everything, across all possible realities. Useful when your target can travel through dimensions,
 Formulaic Magic / int_1adee40d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_1adee40d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The World Ends with You (Video Game)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_1adee40d
 Formulaic Magic / int_1b9ff2f3
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_1b9ff2f3
comment
π: Max starts the film with a dogmatic belief that "mathematics is the language of nature", which straddles the line between "math is capable of explaining everything in existence" and "math determines our existence". He later encounters a 216-digit number that seems to have a catastrophic effect on anything it touches: the stock market, his mentor's health, and eventually his (already tenuous) sanity.
 Formulaic Magic / int_1b9ff2f3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_1b9ff2f3
featureConfidence
1.0
 π
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_1b9ff2f3
 Formulaic Magic / int_1cba4fec
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_1cba4fec
comment
Fine Structure uses science, not magic. In later stories, scientists fluent in Eka can unlock the "The simple knowledge of an equation is powerful in itself" kind of formulaic magic. It's also revealed that the universe, or more accurately the imprisoning god, doesn't like anyone messing around with Eka.
 Formulaic Magic / int_1cba4fec
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_1cba4fec
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fine Structure
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_1cba4fec
 Formulaic Magic / int_1f76648
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_1f76648
comment
Grimoires and parchments in A Certain Magical Index seem to contain complex formulas which need to be deciphered in order for it to work — kind of like math books, except those don't attempt to destroy their user.
 Formulaic Magic / int_1f76648
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_1f76648
featureConfidence
1.0
 A Certain Magical Index
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_1f76648
 Formulaic Magic / int_25f6f1a0
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_25f6f1a0
comment
In Umineko: When They Cry, the Power Levels for Leviathan and Kyrie are determined in how many hours they've experienced intense envy. In-game, Leviathan attempts the multiplication for the latter's multiplication formula, along with revealing her own, giving players the idea; in the TIPS, Kyrie is shown actually chanting her formula as she runs to give her husband (flirting with a younger girl) what for.
 Formulaic Magic / int_25f6f1a0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_25f6f1a0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Umineko: When They Cry (Visual Novel)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_25f6f1a0
 Formulaic Magic / int_2bbcacd9
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_2bbcacd9
comment
Looney Tunes has Egghead Junior, who can accomplish anything, even to the point of bending reality, so long as he has a few seconds to write down an appropriate equation for doing so.
 Formulaic Magic / int_2bbcacd9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_2bbcacd9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Looney Tunes
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_2bbcacd9
 Formulaic Magic / int_30a1b7de
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_30a1b7de
comment
The Rhapsody of Fire song "The Mystic Prophecy of the Demonknight " has the narrator mention the heroes using "black geometry" to create a bridge over a deep chasm. When being pursued on the way back, they don't have enough time to work it out and are forced to make a Leap of Faith.
 Formulaic Magic / int_30a1b7de
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_30a1b7de
featureConfidence
1.0
 Rhapsody of Fire (Music)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_30a1b7de
 Formulaic Magic / int_31508337
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_31508337
comment
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run takes geometry very seriously. A short two-page lesson on the golden ratio gives Johnny the power to create miniature wormholes.
 Formulaic Magic / int_31508337
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_31508337
featureConfidence
1.0
 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run (Manga)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_31508337
 Formulaic Magic / int_3199e98a
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_3199e98a
comment
In A Practical Guide to Evil, most of the major characters use Trimegistan Magic, based on spell formulas, experiments and quantifiable effects. This isn't the only magical theory, but it is the most reproducible and teachable. However, because it was developed by The Dread Empire Of Praes on the back of a foundational theory by the series Big Bad, other nations tend to be wary of it.
 Formulaic Magic / int_3199e98a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_3199e98a
featureConfidence
1.0
 A Practical Guide to Evil
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_3199e98a
 Formulaic Magic / int_31aedabc
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_31aedabc
comment
Magic in the Cthulhu Mythos is often related to mathematics, and it makes sense considering H. P. Lovecraft's preference for Alien Geometries. In "The Dreams in the Witch House", for instance, the protagonist is a mathematician who researches geometrical principles that would allow him to travel outside normal space. If you can understand the true nature of the universe, you can use that knowledge to do things that seem physically impossible to us... provided you don't first Go Mad from the Revelation or attract the attention of some Eldritch Abomination, of course.
 Formulaic Magic / int_31aedabc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_31aedabc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Cthulhu Mythos (Franchise)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_31aedabc
 Formulaic Magic / int_37a6e77b
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_37a6e77b
comment
In an episode of Camp Lazlo, being flipped upside down gradually changes the Too Dumb to Live characters Chip and Skip into geniuses (it increases the blood flow to their heads). At the height of their intellect, they use their brains to flip themselves right-side up again: this involves rattling off a lengthy Newtonian formula, and then simply glowing with a pink light that levitates them into position. Unfortunately, this reduces the blood flow to their brains, and they soon turn right back into idiots.
 Formulaic Magic / int_37a6e77b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_37a6e77b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Camp Lazlo
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_37a6e77b
 Formulaic Magic / int_3b34143f
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_3b34143f
comment
The Harry Potter series has an Arithmancy class. The reader doesn't get to hear much about the subject, though, beyond the fact that Hermione's studying it (and apparently enjoys it).
 Formulaic Magic / int_3b34143f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_3b34143f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Harry Potter
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_3b34143f
 Formulaic Magic / int_3c1668d9
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_3c1668d9
comment
In The Epic of Zektbach, the Ristaccia grants its wielders the ability to see and understand the fundamental building blocks of reality, represented as mathematical equations, as a form of Combat Clairvoyance. Lien Clewing's prodigious math skills even allow him to transcend reality and understand the ultimate truth of the world.
 Formulaic Magic / int_3c1668d9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_3c1668d9
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Epic of Zektbach
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_3c1668d9
 Formulaic Magic / int_3c912cc2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_3c912cc2
comment
Rita's non-spell special attacks in Tales of Vesperia take the form of mathematical equations.
 Formulaic Magic / int_3c912cc2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_3c912cc2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tales of Vesperia (Video Game)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_3c912cc2
 Formulaic Magic / int_42ffb88e
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_42ffb88e
comment
SCP Foundation:
SCP-033 is an equation which adds up to a "missing number", an integer which non-paranormal mathematics has somehow missed. If it's recorded in any sort of computing device or written on machine-made paper, whatever it's recorded on starts to physically degrade.
SCP-233 is a 23-sided (impossible) polyhedron that magically accelerates calculations done in base-23 but reacts extremely violently to the number [REDACTED] (nine) and causes rounding errors in every calculation not done in base-23.
During this lecture, the speaker explains that almost anybody who does not believe in luck cannot create a luck charm with magic, unless they are an actual statistician, because they know what it would actually take to create luck, as an example of how not everyone can or can't do the same things with magic.
SCP-1313 is an equation whose solution is a live grizzly bear, which materializes when the equation is solved (and quite possibly mauls the solver).
 Formulaic Magic / int_42ffb88e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_42ffb88e
featureConfidence
1.0
 SCP Foundation (Website)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_42ffb88e
 Formulaic Magic / int_436883f7
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_436883f7
comment
The Great Equation from the Well World series. A couple of supercomputers are capable of warping reality retroactively (that is, those who didn't see the change actually happen are incapable of realizing that anything actually changed) by "altering" the Equation, which basically is reality. By moving a few numbers in the equation, the result — that is, our reality — changes to suit.
 Formulaic Magic / int_436883f7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_436883f7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Well World
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_436883f7
 Formulaic Magic / int_49a87cb3
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_49a87cb3
comment
Final Fantasy VII has an interesting example: When Safer Sephiroth casts Super Nova, four equations fly by the screen. They are, roughly, the potential attractive force between the sun and the planet, the Earth's potential attractive force, and... the area of a circle. Still, 75% good scientific formulae being used in a magic spell is better than average.
 Formulaic Magic / int_49a87cb3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_49a87cb3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Final Fantasy VII (Video Game)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_49a87cb3
 Formulaic Magic / int_49a88442
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_49a88442
comment
In Final Fantasy XIV, the background lore about the Arcanists reveals that they study their magic through the art of mathematics and geometry. Apparently in this realm, finding X on the Triangle, understanding Pi, the square root, cubic powers, and combining multiple symbols together, gives you access to magic and the ability to summon gods.
 Formulaic Magic / int_49a88442
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_49a88442
featureConfidence
1.0
 Final Fantasy XIV (Video Game)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_49a88442
 Formulaic Magic / int_52dd4a4c
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_52dd4a4c
comment
The Ultimate Marvel version of the Scarlet Witch needs to work out the statistical probability of her hexes before she casts them for desired effects.
 Formulaic Magic / int_52dd4a4c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_52dd4a4c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Ultimate Marvel (Comic Book)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_52dd4a4c
 Formulaic Magic / int_553051f
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_553051f
comment
One member of the Green Lantern Corps is a sentient mathematical equation, and so is his ring.
 Formulaic Magic / int_553051f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_553051f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Green Lantern (Comic Book)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_553051f
 Formulaic Magic / int_5ce3fc86
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_5ce3fc86
comment
Witches in Soul Eater use "calculation magic" to make their spells more precise.
 Formulaic Magic / int_5ce3fc86
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_5ce3fc86
featureConfidence
1.0
 Soul Eater (Manga)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_5ce3fc86
 Formulaic Magic / int_5cfb879b
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_5cfb879b
comment
The Anti-Life Equation from New Gods is usable as a method of Mass Hypnosis. It runs Loneliness + Alienation + Fear + Despair + Self-worth ÷ Mockery ÷ Condemnation ÷ Misunderstanding x Guilt x Shame x Failure x Judgment, n=y where y=Hope and n=Folly, Love=Lies, Life=Death, Self=DARKSEID.
 Formulaic Magic / int_5cfb879b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_5cfb879b
featureConfidence
1.0
 New Gods (Comic Book)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_5cfb879b
 Formulaic Magic / int_5e59ce49
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_5e59ce49
comment
The Aons (runes) necessary to make the magic system from Elantris work are very much like a combination of mathematical symbols and a very complex alphabet. Learning magic is incredibly difficult for this reason, and it can take weeks for even an experienced practitioner to write out the more complex spell "equations".
 Formulaic Magic / int_5e59ce49
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_5e59ce49
featureConfidence
1.0
 Elantris
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_5e59ce49
 Formulaic Magic / int_5f76cba1
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_5f76cba1
comment
In the New 52 Stormwatch series, Jenny Quantum uses glowing mathematical symbols to activate her Reality Warper powers. In the zero issue, her predecessor a thousand years earlier, Janni Algebra, used something similar.
 Formulaic Magic / int_5f76cba1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_5f76cba1
featureConfidence
1.0
 New 52 (Comic Book)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_5f76cba1
 Formulaic Magic / int_6059ad6b
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_6059ad6b
comment
xkcd:
The last panel of Comic #804 treats the (very counter-intuitive) Banach-Tarski paradox as a result you can get in real life if you take the axiom of choice.
Comic #687 abuses dimensional analysis to "prove" that certain absurd constants must be related by some fundamental law. So if they build a better Prius, either England must drift out to sea, or the pressure at the Earth's core must rise slightly.
 Formulaic Magic / int_6059ad6b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_6059ad6b
featureConfidence
1.0
 xkcd (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_6059ad6b
 Formulaic Magic / int_61d236b7
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_61d236b7
comment
InCryptid: All Johrlac have an unusual affinity for math, and Imaginary Numbers, the first book with one as the main POV character, reveals that a sufficiently powerful Johrlac can use their mathematical skill combined with their Psychic Powers to rewrite reality and tear a hole between dimensions, which would destroy Earth (and fry their own mind) in the process.
 Formulaic Magic / int_61d236b7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_61d236b7
featureConfidence
1.0
 InCryptid
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_61d236b7
 Formulaic Magic / int_62570927
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_62570927
comment
Marvel Universe:
Amadeus Cho (the seventh-smartest person on the planet) sees the world as mathematical formulas. The Incredible Hulk does as well, according to Cho (albeit unconsciously), which explains how he somehow doesn't hurt any innocent bystanders while Hulk-smashing.
The small-time villain Mathemanic has an array of math psycho-powers. On his first appearance, he makes Firestar believe that she's the equivalent distance between the Earth and the sun away from everything else, up to and including the smallest speck of matter. She promptly becomes catatonic.
One Fantastic Four arc involves a mathematical formula that gains sentience. It becomes a low-grade Reality Warper that deals with reality in mathematical terms and sees Reed, its accidental "creator", as its only equal — to the point that it resembles a Stalker with a Crush. Reed stops it by creating a formula version of himself, balancing the equation.
The Ultimate Marvel version of the Scarlet Witch needs to work out the statistical probability of her hexes before she casts them for desired effects.
 Formulaic Magic / int_62570927
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_62570927
featureConfidence
1.0
 Marvel Universe (Franchise)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_62570927
 Formulaic Magic / int_68237790
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_68237790
comment
Pathfinder has the Sacred Geometry feat, which turns spellcasting into a minigame resembling Countdown. A player who wants to add certain metamagic effects to their spell can roll several dice. If they can reach a specific target number by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing the values of the dice, then they get to apply the metamagic "for free" (i.e. without using a higher-level spell slot).
 Formulaic Magic / int_68237790
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_68237790
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pathfinder (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_68237790
 Formulaic Magic / int_6ac55ec7
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_6ac55ec7
comment
In Dungeons & Dragons 3.5's Complete Arcane rulebook, there is a Prestige Class called the Geometer. They learn to describe magic as using abstract geometric designs. This is an advantage, if nothing else, because they can save a ton on spellbooks: they need only a single page to depict any spell, regardless of complexity, whereas with the traditional method one would need more pages with higher-level spells. They can also use scribe glyphs of these designs to cast a spell silently.
 Formulaic Magic / int_6ac55ec7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_6ac55ec7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dungeons & Dragons (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_6ac55ec7
 Formulaic Magic / int_705bb59a
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_705bb59a
comment
In Vampire: The Masquerade, one branch of Tremere Thaumaturgy concerns itself with Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism heavily based in numerology derived from the Torah. In the same way other magi would seek out a person or thing's True Name, Kabbalists use calculations to derive someone or something's True Number. Blood magic as derived through math. It's worth noting that, like basically all magic in the Old World of Darkness — blood, hedge, or mortal magick — this method only serves as a focus for the user's will. The equations need to have conscious intent in order to reshape reality. Hence why numbers scrawled on primary school blackboards don't end up melting the instructor's face.
 Formulaic Magic / int_705bb59a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_705bb59a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Vampire: The Masquerade (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_705bb59a
 Formulaic Magic / int_71995767
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_71995767
comment
Prince of Darkness has ancient, complex mathematical equations of extraterrestrial origin with seemingly magical powers. They predict the existence of a God and Anti-God and, once understood, they open up whole range of bizarre phenomena, including leaping headlong through mirrors into an abyssal darkness on the other side.
 Formulaic Magic / int_71995767
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_71995767
featureConfidence
1.0
 Prince of Darkness
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_71995767
 Formulaic Magic / int_72029828
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_72029828
comment
Magic in The New Math works via complex math equations. The most powerful mages are also really, really good at math.
 Formulaic Magic / int_72029828
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_72029828
featureConfidence
1.0
 The New Math / Fan Fic
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_72029828
 Formulaic Magic / int_72508928
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_72508928
comment
Dresden Codak: In a game of Dungeons & Discourse, Kim Ross plays a "Bayesian Imperimancer". Bayesian probability concerns itself with the likelihood of a given event based upon the outcome of past events; for example, if a coin has landed heads ten times, Bayesian probability dictates it is highly likely to land heads an eleventh time (because it's probably a Two-Headed Coin). Kim's class is a play on "Bayesian Imperative" as in, she can basically tell the world how to work if she makes strong enough judgments about how it should work.
 Formulaic Magic / int_72508928
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_72508928
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dresden Codak (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_72508928
 Formulaic Magic / int_72f8201c
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_72f8201c
comment
Chaos;Head has fun10 × int40 = Ir2, the equation Takumi discovered in elementary school and the basis of the Noah Project.
 Formulaic Magic / int_72f8201c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_72f8201c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Chaos;Head (Visual Novel)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_72f8201c
 Formulaic Magic / int_7396397f
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_7396397f
comment
In "Career Day", one of the stories in the Chicks in Chainmail anthology, the protagonist comes from a world where magic is done with mathematical formulas. She brings her daughter's class there on a field trip to observe her in her career as a barbarian swordswoman. When her opponent in a duel cheats by hiring a wizard to help him, the other chaperon on the trip, her daughter's math teacher, counteracts the magic with his knowledge of calculus. It Makes Sense in Context. Later expanded to a full novel, called Mathemagics with this entire premise for the magical system.
 Formulaic Magic / int_7396397f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_7396397f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Chicks in Chainmail
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_7396397f
 Formulaic Magic / int_752142f5
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_752142f5
comment
In The Case Study of Vanitas, 16th Century alchemist Paracelsus created the World Formula, a mathematical equation that is reality. Any changes to the formula also changes reality. It's believed that vampires resulted from the formula for humans being changed, and Astermite resulted from the formula for coal being changed. Vampires are able to see the World Formula and change it on the fly, giving them magical powers like Playing with Fire and so on. In turn, Chasseurs have developed technology to blind a vampire's ability to see the Formula, thus disorientating and weakening them.
 Formulaic Magic / int_752142f5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_752142f5
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Case Study of Vanitas (Manga)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_752142f5
 Formulaic Magic / int_78ec49bd
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_78ec49bd
comment
In the Young Wizards series, all magic is based in math and science, and the kids have quite high-level discussions of these things, because part of magic is being able to completely describe what you want to change.
 Formulaic Magic / int_78ec49bd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_78ec49bd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Young Wizards
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_78ec49bd
 Formulaic Magic / int_7ca6656c
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_7ca6656c
comment
Miskatonic University - Elder Gods 101: Sheryl Mason discovers that her proclivity with mathematics allows her to wield powerful supernatural forces. Unfortunately, her attempts to combine them with occult forces leads to the resurrection of Herbert West.
 Formulaic Magic / int_7ca6656c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_7ca6656c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Miskatonic University Elder Gods 101
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_7ca6656c
 Formulaic Magic / int_7d20ef2c
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_7d20ef2c
comment
Bloom County: Child Prodigy Oliver Wendell Jones claims to have completed the "Great Unification Theory", a set of equations that explains everything in the universe... except flightless waterfowl. As a result, Opus the penguin is erased from reality — that is, until Oliver realizes he "didn't carry the 2". Once he fixes his mistake, Opus pops back into existence.
 Formulaic Magic / int_7d20ef2c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_7d20ef2c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Bloom County (Comic Strip)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_7d20ef2c
 Formulaic Magic / int_8b957d5d
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_8b957d5d
comment
Life, the Universe and Everything introduces the field of Bistromathics, math that can be used to warp spacetime for purposes of Faster-Than-Light Travel by taking advantages of the unique properties numbers take on when written down within the confines of an Italian restaurant.
 Formulaic Magic / int_8b957d5d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_8b957d5d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Life, the Universe and Everything
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_8b957d5d
 Formulaic Magic / int_8d817ccb
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_8d817ccb
comment
While not stated in Lost itself, the Alternate Reality Game The Lost Experience states that the numbers (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42) are parameters in the Valenzetti equation used to derive the time remaining before humanity's extinction.
 Formulaic Magic / int_8d817ccb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_8d817ccb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Lost
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_8d817ccb
 Formulaic Magic / int_8feafd95
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_8feafd95
comment
The small-time villain Mathemanic has an array of math psycho-powers. On his first appearance, he makes Firestar believe that she's the equivalent distance between the Earth and the sun away from everything else, up to and including the smallest speck of matter. She promptly becomes catatonic.
 Formulaic Magic / int_8feafd95
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_8feafd95
featureConfidence
1.0
 New Warriors (Comic Book)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_8feafd95
 Formulaic Magic / int_980c3316
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_980c3316
comment
Dr. Sivana, longtime enemy of Captain Marvel, broke out of Cardboard Prison by memorizing and reciting a mathematical equation that allowed him to walk through the wall.
 Formulaic Magic / int_980c3316
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_980c3316
featureConfidence
1.0
 Shazam! (Comic Book)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_980c3316
 Formulaic Magic / int_9bb5aad4
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_9bb5aad4
comment
In Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Misawa has a monster called Mathematician, a goofy-looking wizard wearing a mortarboard and academic road. Its attack is called "Battle Curriculum" (or "Number Cruncher" in the dub) and consists of a beam of magical energy full of numbers and mathematical symbols. Konami eventually made it into a real card.
 Formulaic Magic / int_9bb5aad4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_9bb5aad4
featureConfidence
1.0
 Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_9bb5aad4
 Formulaic Magic / int_9d34190a
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_9d34190a
comment
In The Elder Scrolls, the Altmeri (High Elven) Clan Direnni, who once ruled nearly 1/3 of Tamriel's land mass as the Direnni Hegemony in the 1st Era, were known to use "hidden magic" in the form of signs and runes in their financial reports in order to keep them out of the hands of their competitors. "Sorcerous precautions" were required on the part of the reader, lest these magic numbers prove fatal. Per one text on the subject:
 Formulaic Magic / int_9d34190a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_9d34190a
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Elder Scrolls (Franchise)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_9d34190a
 Formulaic Magic / int_a03824e8
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_a03824e8
comment
The DCU:
The Anti-Life Equation from New Gods is usable as a method of Mass Hypnosis. It runs Loneliness + Alienation + Fear + Despair + Self-worth ÷ Mockery ÷ Condemnation ÷ Misunderstanding x Guilt x Shame x Failure x Judgment, n=y where y=Hope and n=Folly, Love=Lies, Life=Death, Self=DARKSEID.
The pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths Round Robin maxiseries DC Challenge had a series of numbers in the first issue (written by Mark Evanier) that were somehow important — but none of the other writers could ever really figure out how. Several of them later used the numbers in formulas for this, that, and the other. The secret? Add them up on a calculator and turn the calculator upside down; it spelled out the name "ELI ELLIS", a character from the first issue who was key to the whole crisis.
The Golden Age superhero Johnny Quick and later his daughter Jesse Quick accessed their superspeed powers by reciting the mathematical formula "3X2(9YZ)4A". More recent materials have retconned this as a mantra that allows him to tap into the mystical Speed Force.
One member of the Green Lantern Corps is a sentient mathematical equation, and so is his ring.
Dr. Sivana, longtime enemy of Captain Marvel, broke out of Cardboard Prison by memorizing and reciting a mathematical equation that allowed him to walk through the wall.
In the New 52 Stormwatch series, Jenny Quantum uses glowing mathematical symbols to activate her Reality Warper powers. In the zero issue, her predecessor a thousand years earlier, Janni Algebra, used something similar.
 Formulaic Magic / int_a03824e8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_a03824e8
featureConfidence
1.0
 The DCU (Franchise)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_a03824e8
 Formulaic Magic / int_a0ff9e30
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_a0ff9e30
comment
In Pyramids, You Bastard the camel is a genius mathematician, able to use complex equations to step in and out of pocket dimensions.
 Formulaic Magic / int_a0ff9e30
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_a0ff9e30
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pyramids
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_a0ff9e30
 Formulaic Magic / int_a1475bc0
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_a1475bc0
comment
In Dungeons of Dredmor, one of the skill sets you can choose at start is Mathemagics. It gives you access to fun spells such as Curse of the Golden Ratio and Beklam's Diminishing Calculus!
 Formulaic Magic / int_a1475bc0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_a1475bc0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dungeons of Dredmor (Video Game)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_a1475bc0
 Formulaic Magic / int_a81325d3
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_a81325d3
comment
Final Fantasy:
Final Fantasy VII has an interesting example: When Safer Sephiroth casts Super Nova, four equations fly by the screen. They are, roughly, the potential attractive force between the sun and the planet, the Earth's potential attractive force, and... the area of a circle. Still, 75% good scientific formulae being used in a magic spell is better than average.
This is echoed in Dissidia: When doing Supernova as his EX Burst, Sephiroth will begin chanting the equations, which briefly appear on-screen.
The Final Fantasy Tactics series has a Calculator class that uses various magical effects, such as casting spells that hit every target whose level is a prime number. How their abilities work from an in-universe perspective is not specified. According to the remake for the PSP's tutorial, Calculators are attuned enough to the flow of mist that they can manipulate it in unique and bizarre ways which other classes just can't pull off. In other words: SE knew it made absolutely no sense and Hand Waved it.
In Final Fantasy XIV, the background lore about the Arcanists reveals that they study their magic through the art of mathematics and geometry. Apparently in this realm, finding X on the Triangle, understanding Pi, the square root, cubic powers, and combining multiple symbols together, gives you access to magic and the ability to summon gods.
 Formulaic Magic / int_a81325d3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_a81325d3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Final Fantasy (Franchise)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_a81325d3
 Formulaic Magic / int_a825da3e
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_a825da3e
comment
In Magic: The Gathering, several Blue-aligned schools of magic are based around this, but the Strixhaven college of Quandrix is particularly about this trope. Most of the spells depicted have a mathematical perfection about it, and students can even summon Fractals, which are described as math-elementals.
 Formulaic Magic / int_a825da3e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_a825da3e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Magic: The Gathering (Tabletop Game)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_a825da3e
 Formulaic Magic / int_b50cc7e6
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_b50cc7e6
comment
Amadeus Cho (the seventh-smartest person on the planet) sees the world as mathematical formulas. The Incredible Hulk does as well, according to Cho (albeit unconsciously), which explains how he somehow doesn't hurt any innocent bystanders while Hulk-smashing.
 Formulaic Magic / int_b50cc7e6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_b50cc7e6
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Incredible Hulk (Comic Book)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_b50cc7e6
 Formulaic Magic / int_b7c37594
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_b7c37594
comment
Magic in Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid is incredibly similar to computer programming, to the point that wizards that migrated to Earth used it as the basis for the programing language at Kobayashi's workplace.
 Formulaic Magic / int_b7c37594
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_b7c37594
featureConfidence
1.0
 Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid (Manga)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_b7c37594
 Formulaic Magic / int_b96ef98c
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_b96ef98c
comment
The Harold Shea books are heavily based on mathematics causing magic.
 Formulaic Magic / int_b96ef98c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_b96ef98c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Harold Shea
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_b96ef98c
 Formulaic Magic / int_bdc49dbe
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_bdc49dbe
comment
The Laundry Files shows magic as mathematics, to the point that computers solving certain equations can warp reality as per magical spells. Becomes a bit of a problem when the walls around reality start weakening, to the worst-case scenario of somebody solving equations in their head running the risk of accidentally summoning an Eldritch Abomination.
 Formulaic Magic / int_bdc49dbe
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_bdc49dbe
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Laundry Files
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_bdc49dbe
 Formulaic Magic / int_bee47cbe
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_bee47cbe
comment
The Khert in Unsounded is a Background Magic Field that oversees the setting's reality and powers its magic system, pymary. The incantations for spells are a very precise shorthand spoken in the Language of Magic describing which materials and physical properties are to be manipulated and how. Logic errors, on the other hand, get messy: when someone tried to liquefy a material that turned out to be saturated with water already, the Khert glitched and melted his casting hand instead.
 Formulaic Magic / int_bee47cbe
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_bee47cbe
featureConfidence
1.0
 Unsounded (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_bee47cbe
 Formulaic Magic / int_c43df4d8
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_c43df4d8
comment
Doctor Who:
"Logopolis" features a planet where they've developed a branch of mathematics in which the act of performing the calculations changes the fabric of reality. The entire population takes shifts in calculating a never-ending formula that holds the end of the universe at bay. Bonus points to the Master for destroying an entire quarter of the Universe by killing a couple of the guys doing the math.
A more abstract example is seen in the episode "The Shakespeare Code"; the Carrionites use words as magic, like witches, and the Doctor explains this as completely non-magical by comparing it to mathematics on earth; "With the right string of numbers you can split the atom!" Except, of course, that saying the number out loud will not cause an atom to spontaneously divide in two.
 Formulaic Magic / int_c43df4d8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_c43df4d8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Doctor Who
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_c43df4d8
 Formulaic Magic / int_cae588dc
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_cae588dc
comment
Calcumon of Digimon Universe: App Monsters is able to alter any data, including the power stats of other Appmon, by applying mathematical operations to it. It renders most of the Buddy Appmon powerless by plugging in multiplication and division operations with the buttons on its arms and then firing a Breath Weapon at them. It's one of the few instances where the Appmon's stat screens are actually story-relevant. The only one this doesn't work on is Dokamon, who is Hot-Blooded enough to straight-up ignore it.
 Formulaic Magic / int_cae588dc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_cae588dc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Digimon Universe: App Monsters
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_cae588dc
 Formulaic Magic / int_d2c5e3ee
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_d2c5e3ee
comment
Mages of the Acedia archive in Trinity Seven use Logos Arts, magic that manipulates movements, space, and time through numbers and calculation.
 Formulaic Magic / int_d2c5e3ee
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_d2c5e3ee
featureConfidence
1.0
 Trinity Seven (Manga)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_d2c5e3ee
 Formulaic Magic / int_d3b17858
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_d3b17858
comment
The Final Fantasy Tactics series has a Calculator class that uses various magical effects, such as casting spells that hit every target whose level is a prime number. How their abilities work from an in-universe perspective is not specified. According to the remake for the PSP's tutorial, Calculators are attuned enough to the flow of mist that they can manipulate it in unique and bizarre ways which other classes just can't pull off. In other words: SE knew it made absolutely no sense and Hand Waved it.
 Formulaic Magic / int_d3b17858
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_d3b17858
featureConfidence
1.0
 Final Fantasy Tactics (Video Game)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_d3b17858
 Formulaic Magic / int_d4ea787a
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_d4ea787a
comment
This is the premise behind Simon Bloom.
 Formulaic Magic / int_d4ea787a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_d4ea787a
featureConfidence
1.0
 SimonBloom
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_d4ea787a
 Formulaic Magic / int_da92c130
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_da92c130
comment
Erfworld has Mathamancy, which involves "analyzing probabilities", "predicting outcomes", and "the raw calculations thereof". It should be noted, however, that Mathamancy in Erfworld (or at least Parson's Mathamancy Bracer) seems to be more than merely math from the real world: for example, Parson has a magical deal to give Charlie twelve Mathamancy calculations whenever he wants. At one point, when negotiating whether to give up the deal in exchange for information, Charlie asked Parson to calculate whether the information was worth the nine calculations remaining. The answer was that there was a probability of 4% that it was worth the exchange, something that should not be possible to calculate.
 Formulaic Magic / int_da92c130
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_da92c130
featureConfidence
1.0
 Erfworld (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_da92c130
 Formulaic Magic / int_df8856e6
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_df8856e6
comment
Reinhart Manx, the playable mage character in Dungeon Siege III employs both this and Magitek, using the power of math rather than fireballs.
 Formulaic Magic / int_df8856e6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_df8856e6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dungeon Siege (Video Game)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_df8856e6
 Formulaic Magic / int_e6b694fc
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_e6b694fc
comment
Ra is about actual magic, which is a poorly-understood branch of physics. Magic is accessed by reciting specific incantations while performing mental exercises stated to be not dissimilar to solving differential equations. More generally, spells also require a lot of math to design, and resemble computer programs (right down to concepts like modularity, recursion, and writing interpreters to parse gestures as incantations).
 Formulaic Magic / int_e6b694fc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_e6b694fc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Ra
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_e6b694fc
 Formulaic Magic / int_e9c7b01b
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_e9c7b01b
comment
This is echoed in Dissidia: When doing Supernova as his EX Burst, Sephiroth will begin chanting the equations, which briefly appear on-screen.
 Formulaic Magic / int_e9c7b01b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_e9c7b01b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Dissidia Final Fantasy (Video Game)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_e9c7b01b
 Formulaic Magic / int_ebbf0abf
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_ebbf0abf
comment
In Monday Begins on Saturday, a book called Equations of Mathmagic is mentioned.
 Formulaic Magic / int_ebbf0abf
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_ebbf0abf
featureConfidence
1.0
 Monday Begins on Saturday
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_ebbf0abf
 Formulaic Magic / int_ef7b3325
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_ef7b3325
comment
One Fantastic Four arc involves a mathematical formula that gains sentience. It becomes a low-grade Reality Warper that deals with reality in mathematical terms and sees Reed, its accidental "creator", as its only equal — to the point that it resembles a Stalker with a Crush. Reed stops it by creating a formula version of himself, balancing the equation.
 Formulaic Magic / int_ef7b3325
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_ef7b3325
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fantastic Four / Comicbook
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_ef7b3325
 Formulaic Magic / int_f4a1d45b
type
Formulaic Magic
 Formulaic Magic / int_f4a1d45b
comment
The pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths Round Robin maxiseries DC Challenge had a series of numbers in the first issue (written by Mark Evanier) that were somehow important — but none of the other writers could ever really figure out how. Several of them later used the numbers in formulas for this, that, and the other. The secret? Add them up on a calculator and turn the calculator upside down; it spelled out the name "ELI ELLIS", a character from the first issue who was key to the whole crisis.
 Formulaic Magic / int_f4a1d45b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Formulaic Magic / int_f4a1d45b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Crisis on Infinite Earths (Comic Book)
hasFeature
Formulaic Magic / int_f4a1d45b

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Formulaic Magic
processingCategory2
Magic and Powers
 Formulaic Magic
processingCategory2
Math Tropes
 Formulaic Magic
processingCategory2
Speculative Fiction Tropes
 The Epic of Zektbach / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 DC Challenge (Comic Book) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Aeon Natum Engel / Fan Fic / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 The New Math / Fan Fic / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 π / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 A Boot Stomping a Human Face Forever / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Anti Magic Academy The 35th Test Platoon / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Chicks in Chainmail / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 InCryptid / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Miskatonic University Elder Gods 101 / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Pyramids / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 The Arts of Dark and Light / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 The Broken Empire Trilogy / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 The God Eaters / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid (Manga) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 The Case Study of Vanitas (Manga) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Academy of Merlin (Roleplay) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Delta Green (Tabletop Game) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Dungeon Siege (Video Game) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Honkai: Star Rail (Video Game) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Nelson Tethers: Puzzle Agent (Video Game) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Noita (Video Game) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 The World Ends with You (Video Game) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Chaos;Head (Visual Novel) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Dragon Mango (Webcomic) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Unsounded (Webcomic) / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic
 Mighty Max / int_d7c059b2
type
Formulaic Magic