View source for Limits of Magic


[[Hermetic Magic|Hermetic magic]] is subject to various limits that even the most powerful and most sophisticated [[Spell|spell]] can not overcome.

==  Limit of the Divine ==

This limit states that [[Hermetic Magic|hermetic magic]] can never override the power of the [[Divine]].

==  Limit of Essential Nature ==

This limit states that all things have an [[Essential Nature|essential nature]] that can not be changed by [[Hermetic Magic|hermetic magic]].

==  Lesser Limits ==

There are lesser limits that, unlike the two fundamental limits above, may be overridden by powerful or sophisticated [[Hermetic Magic|hermetic magic]] - at least temporarily, or to a lesser, incomplete degree.

* The Limit of Aging
* The Limit of Arcane Connections
* The Limit of Creation
* The Limit of Energy
* The Limit of the [[Infernal]]
* The Limit of the Lunar Sphere
* The Limit of the Soul
* The Limit of Time
* The Limit of True Feeling
* The Limit of [[Vis]]
* The Limit of [[Warping]]

==  Not Strictly Limits, But... ==

There are other things magic is not generally capable of doing, or doing well:

* The Limit of Experience: [[Houses of Hermes: Societates]] 68 states that "...the creation [including transfer] of Abilities is currently beyond the limit of Hermetic understanding".
* The Limit of Universal Magic Resistance: As explained by the [[Line Editor]] on several occasions, no tradition of magic should be able to grant universal [[Magic Resistance]]. Every [[tradition]] breaks a Lesser Limit in some way, and Hermetic Magic breaks it by allowing magic resistance against ''anything'' in the form of the [[Parma Magica]], [[Aegis of the Hearth]], and so on. Other Magical traditions should provide partial Magic Resistance at best. Note that non-Magical traditions, such as Divine or Infernal ones, may offer universal magic resistance.

==See also==
*[[Hermetic Breakthrough]]
*[[Ancient Magic]]
*[[Tradition]]
*[[Magic Resistance Design]]

==  Reference ==
* [[ArM5]], page 79
===  Legacy Page  ===
The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at [[Legacy:limits_of_magic]]